Lionel Messi went out to dinner with his stunning wife Antonela Roccuzzo, as well as close friend Sergio Busquets and his partner, Elena Galera, on Friday night in Miami.
The Inter Miami soccer star celebrated his 29th birthday at the luxury Asian restaurant, where he spent about two hours with his teammates and his sister Maria.
Antonela looked stunning in a revealing black gown, while Messi wore a black jacket, jeans, and white sneakers.
Messi, who was competing in the World Cup for Argentina at this time last year – they would go on to win the tournament – is taking a much-needed break after an almost nonstop soccer schedule in the previous year.
He had a short break between leaving PSG and joining Inter Miami in early July, but he needed his MLS team to manage his workload in the final months of the season.
On Friday night, Roccuzzo (left) was seen leaving the restaurant in downtown Miami.
He recently played for Argentina in two World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil, but he is now on leave until the new year.
Messi, 36, had an electrifying impact on soccer in the United States during his first few months in Miami, with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, and LeBron James watching him play for David Beckham’s MLS team.
He scored 11 goals in 14 games for his new team, helping them win the League Cup in August by defeating Nashville on penalties.
Miami also advanced to the final of the US Open Cup, but were defeated by Houston Dynamo; Messi was injured in that game as the long hours on the field caught up with him.
Due to a disastrоus start to the season under Phil Neville, who was replaced as Miami’s coach by Tata Martino shortly before Messi arrived, Miami failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs.
Messi controversially referred to MLS as “a minor league” in an interview this week in Argentina, despite the fact that his contract with Miami, worth up to $60 million per season, could last three years.
He made the remark in response to a question about whether he will still play for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
‘I said it several times and it is a reality – I will always try to compete to the maximum and I am the first to know when I can be there and when I can’t,’ Messi told Star+.
Messi and Antonela were at the venue for about two hours before heading home on Friday.
‘I am also aware that I played in the minor leagues, but a lot happens because of how one confronts and competes.’
Messi stated that he hopes to play for Argentina in next summer’s Copa America, which will also be held in the United States.
‘I’m going to do it as long as I feel fine and can continue contributing,’ Messi said.
‘Today, all I can think about is getting to the Copa América and competing in it. FigҺting it again, trying to be champions as we always have.’