After a stressful start to life with Inter Miami, Lionel Messi was caught relaxing at a friend’s house in Fort Lauderdale.
The 36-year-old was seen leaving his South Florida home with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, 35, and their three children Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5.
Messi sipped his favorite yerba mate tea while dressed casually in a loose white t-shirt, black shorts, and flip flops, just two days after guiding Inter Miami to a comeback victory over FC Dallas in the League Cup last 16.
Antonela, a model and influencer from Argentina, looked effortlessly beautiful in long, wide-leg black pants and an orange crop top.
Antonela, who married the soccer player in 2017, wore her brown hair up in a high ponytail and carried a bright pink and coral Louis Vuitton tote bag.
Lionel Messi was spotted unwinding with a visit to a friend’s house in Fort Lauderdale
He was accompanied by his stunning wife Antonela and their three children
Friends joined the couple and their boys Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5.
Messi appeared to be with Argentine soccer coach and former player Lucas Saglia.
Scaglia, Antonela’s cousin, grew up with Messi and allegedly introduced the couple when they were children.
Their family vacation comes just over a week after the couple was spotted scouting for a home in Boca Raton following Messi’s historic move to Inter Miami.
Thiago, the couple’s eldest son, was clothed in an Inter Miami jersey with his father’s name on it.
Messi’s move to the United States was revealed last month in a glitzy ceremony ahead of his debut, and the World Cup winner has made an immediate impact at Inter Miami, scoring seven goals in four games.
Messi was given a tour of the property, which appeared to have a golf putting green. Someone was even seen giving Messi a brief demonstration with a club in hand.
He and Antonela were beaming as they took a tour of a luxurious home in Boca Raton, which is an hour north of Miami but only 25 minutes from DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
This would not be the family’s first investment in south Florida. They already own a $9 million luxury home with views of Sunny Isle Beach and Miami.
Antonela, 35, who is an Argentinian model and influencer, looked effortlessly stylish
Messi appeared to be unwinding after inspiring Inter Miami to a comeback win over FC Dallas
The World Cup winner looked relaxed in a baggy white t-shirt, black shorts and flip flops
Messi appeared to be joined by friend Lucas Saglia, an Argentinian soccer coach, (left)
Scaglia is Antonela’s cousin, and reportedly introduced the couple when they were youngsters
Their family getaway comes only one week after the couple was seen house hunting.
According to sources, the World Cup winner purchased the Porsche Design Tower apartment in 2019.
Messi, who signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami and is expected to earn $50-60 million per season, was spotted sipping mate tea as he walked out of a friend’s house on Tuesday.
The traditional South American drink, which is high in antioxidants and manufactured from the Yerba mate plant, is a favorite of the soccer player.
It has the same amount of caffeine as coffee and burns fat. It is also supposed to reduce fatigue and improve muscle contractions, which is vital for players like Messi, who has been seen drinking it frequently.
And as their friendship grew, the Argentine’s love of the drink persuaded Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham to give it a try.
Last month, the Manchester United legend shared a picture on Instagram sipping the drink with a bombilla – a metal straw it is customarily drank with – and wrote: ‘If it’s good enough for Leo’.
He captioned an Instagram story photo of Beckham, ‘I’m going to make you drink some good mate.’
Messi has been seen drinking it throughout his career, even bringing the gourd from which it is drank to games.
The global soccer superstar clutched a gourd of his favorite yerba mate tea
Antonela looked glamorous in long, wide-leg pants and an orange crop top
She topped the look off with a bright pink and coral Louis Vuitton tote bag
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The 35-year-old wore her brunette tresses sleeked back into a high ponytail
Antonela was observed dancing with the youngsters in the front yard.
Messi, on the other hand, appeared to disapprove of the brand Beckham was drinking.
Beckham and Messi were photographed having supper with their wives, Antonela and Victoria Beckham, only days before Beckham’s friend taster.
Messi’s teammate Sergio Busquets and his fiancée Elena Galera were spotted at Gekko, as were Beckham’s co-owner Jorge Mas and his wife Aleyda.
The SoFlo hotspot is owned by Bad Bunny and chef David Grutman, and it combines elements of a standard steakhouse with Japanese cuisine, including sushi and sashimi.
The restaurant, located in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood, has previously hosted Eva Longoria, Kaia Gerber, Joe Jonas, and Sophie Turner, a friend of the Beckhams.
Kendall Jenner, Bad Bunny’s girlfriend, was also spotted at the restaurant, as were her sister Kim Kardashian and NBA player Tristan Thompson, who were spotted together at the restaurant following Messi’s debut.
Beckham and Messi appear to have a close friendship, with Beckham recently revealing that bringing Messi to Inter Miami was one of his proudest memories.
Mate tea, a traditional south American drink, is one of the soccer superstar’s favorites
Messi is regularly seen sipping the drink, which is believed to reduce fatigue
‘I never thought I would have the same feeling as an owner as I had when I was a player,’ Beckham told The Athletic.
‘When I got the phone call (to confirm Messi was joining), I had the feeling I had when I walked out at Old Trafford or Wembley. I was like, “We’ve just beaten all competition to sign the greatest player to ever play our game”.
‘This will be up there with the biggest moves in American sporting history.’
When asked if it was one of the best moments of his life, Beckham responded: ‘Without a doubt’.