Lionel Messi has already won virtually every major football trophy there is, but now he faces his biggest challenge yet: the Philadelphia sports fans.
Messi gets his first taste of the city of brotherly love when his new MLS side Inter Miami meet reigning MLS Cup runners-up Philadelphia Union in the semi-finals of the 2023 League Cup on Tuesday. Noted soccer fan and Philadelphia sports star Joel Embiid of the 76ers has a message for fans attending the game at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Union have enjoyed another strong year this season and are third in the MLS Eastern Conference going into the League Cup break. Inter Miami, meanwhile, is bottom of the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. But David Beckham’s team appear to have changed since Messi arrived at the start of the League Cup, bringing with him former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Inter Miami are currently considered favorites to win despite playing away against the experienced Union side. That would have brought Messi one step closer to winning a trophy on his first possible chance as an MLS player.
[2023 Leagues Cup odds: Bettors big on Lionel Messi, Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia]
There’s no word on whether Embiid himself will appear at the game, although he wouldn’t be the first NBA star to see Messi in person at Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi
Joel Embid
InterMiami CF
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