Lionel Messi has been spending time with his family in Miami after a hectic start to his soccer career in the United States.
After his recent heroics on the soccer field, the superstar shared some photos on social media with his lovely wife, Antonela, and their two oldest sons, Thiago and Mateo.
Argentina’s star was also seen sipping mate tea, a wellness drink popular among South American players, from a personalized Inter Miami flask of warm water.
It comes after Messi started his debut Major League Soccer game as a substitute against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
He came off the bench and scored in the second half as his club began its playoff drive with a 2-0 victory in New York.
+4View gallery
Lionel Messi has been enjoying downtime with wife Antonela and his much-loved mate tea
+4View gallery
Messi, 36, also posed for a picture with two of his three sons – Mateo and Thiago
Miami coach Tata Martino started him as a substitute after Messi had played 120 minutes in the penalty shootout victory against Cincinnati last Wednesday night.
‘Leo and many other players are reaching an important physical limit and from today we will start to evaluate this – how do I face at least the next three games,’ Martino said after Wednesday’s win over Cincinnati.
Miami’s next MLS match is on Wednesday night against Nashville, whom they defeated on penalties in the League Cup final 10 days ago.
Messi is expected to return, since Nashville is one of the more difficult opponents Miami will face in the final third of the MLS season.
He has 11 goals in nine games for Miami, but the team is still 11 points out of the playoffs. The Chicago Fire are in ninth and final place for the postseason, while Miami are 14th, despite having played two games fewer.
Following Wednesday’s game against Nashville, Messi and Miami will travel to Los Angeles to face MLS Cup holders LAFC.
Meanwhile, Messi’s 10-year-old son Thiago joined the Inter Miami academy over the weekend.
