Is Lionel Messi a Swiftie?! Eagle-eyed fans spot Inter Miami star's strange Instagram activity after release of Taylor Swift's new album

As Swift unveiled the intricacies of her past relationship with actor Joe Alwyn in her new tracks, observant fans noted a peculiar change in Messi's Instagram account. The Argentine footballer's follower count witnessed a dip by one, leading fans to speculate whether Messi had indeed unfollowed Alwyn on the social media platform, to show his allegiance to Swift's narrative. One of the Swifties wrote on X, "After the release of THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, Lionel Messi has unfollowed Joe Alwyn on Instagram." The post soon went viral and many found that Messi had indeed unfollowed Alwyn.

Swift's latest album features several songs dedicated to her former lover hinting at themes of betrayal and heartbreak during their six-year relationship. The poignant lyrics in songs such as "Down Bad" and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" shed light on her emotional turmoil and hint at betrayal within her relationship with Alwyn.

In Down Bad, she writes: "Did you take all my old clothes just to leave me here naked and alone / In a field in my same old town that somehow seems so hollow now / How dare you think it's romantic / Leaving me safe and stranded."

Whereas in 'The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived' the words go like this: "And you'll confess why you did it / And I'll say good riddance / Cos it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden / You didn't measure up in any measure of a man / I would have died for your sins but instead I just died inside / You deserve prison, but you won't get time / You will slide into inboxes and slip through the bars.“

Messi's purported Instagram activity adds him to the list of celebrities who have shown support for Swift following her breakup with Alwyn. Notable figures like Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were also quick to unfollow Alwyn on social media after the lyrics went viral.

The emotional depth of Swift's lyrics has resonated deeply with fans, evoking feelings of outrage and empathy for the pop star's tumultuous journey. And it seems that footballing legend, Messi, is also one among the millions.