Lionel Messi team-mate ‘froze’ for 10 seconds during first training session with Argentine GOAT at MLS side Inter Miami

Brazilian forward Afonso was selected by the Herons in the second round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and was subsequently slotted into their reserve squad. A promotion to the first-team ranks in March saw the 23-year-old handed his senior bow.

Afonso is now gracing the same pitch as Messi and Co, but admits to being left a little starstruck when first crossing paths with the Argentine GOAT. Afonso has told Nosso Palestra: “I remember the first day I watched these guys. It was the first day of pre-season and the first time Messi passed the ball to me I just froze there, I stopped for about 10 seconds. But now it is easy having seen them every day in training.”

Afonso is having to prove his worth to Messi and other illustrious colleagues such as Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. He has said of training with all-time greats: “I think the biggest impact they’ve had on the team is that you now have to be perfect, you can’t make any mistakes. Even at their age, they still expect the best from everyone, so they have definitely raised the team’s standards.”

Messi claimed the MVP award in MLS for 2024, having helped Inter Miam to rewrite the history books en route to claiming the Supporters’ Shield, and will be back for more alongside Afonso and Co next season as he enters the final year of his contract in America.