Lionel Messi displayed genuine kindness and humility after his initial outing with Inter Miami last year.
Messi’s remarkable journey started with Barcelona from 2004 to 2021, where he racked up an impressive 672 goals over 778 games – netting 10 La Liga titles, a whopping 14 domestic trophies, and securing four Champions League victories before opting for a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 at no cost.
Not content with just adding multiple Ligue 1 titles to his incredible collection of achievements, Messi made another headline-grabbing transition last year – this time landing at David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF. However, archiving colossal fame doesn’t seem to have given Messi a towering ego, which many football luminaries tend to develop.
Talking about his first game for Inter Miami, referee Said Martinez related his experiences refereeing the superstar on Rely Maradiagas’ YouTube channel, singing Messi’s praises. Martinez recounted: “He doesn’t get angry easily. When he complains about something, he is usually calm.”
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Following a successful debut, Martinez divulged a particularly touching scene, recalling: “I saw the most humble gesture of Messi that day. The whole stadium was chanting his name and he came to shake hands with four Honduran referees. The stadium was chanting ‘Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi’, and he went to shake our hands and congratulated us and gave us a pat on the back and said what a good game and what a good job.” reports the Express.
Martinez gushed about the incredible gesture from Messi, who not only signed a special memento for his daughter but also infused it with a personal touch, demonstrating a thoughtful side often unseen on the pitch. He shared a never-before-told tidbit: “There is something I’ve never revealed in the media.
“There is a very special object I have saved for when my daughter turns 15. I’m not someone who takes photos with players; for me, all players are the same. I’m there to do my job. However, I went with the dressing room delegate to check some things during a match involving Messi.
Lionel Messi has done fantastic things on and off the pitch (
(Image: Getty))
“At that moment Leo Messi was there signing some things. I decided to take out the FIFA card with which I officiated in the Gold Cup final between Mexico and Panama. It would be a memento for my daughter, not me. As you can see on the card, it says: ‘For Siham Martinez, with love, Leo Messi’.
“This is Messi’s original signature; this is the precious object I have from him. It’s Messi’s handwriting. He took the time to write it. These details are worth gold; it’s an invaluable memory.” Martinez also revealed an incident involving Cristiano Ronaldo during a Saudi Pro League match at Al-Nassr.
After disallowing two goals by the former Manchester United man, Martinez recounted receiving an apology. Ronaldo had been vocal about his frustration, with Martinez claiming that he suggested that the referees wanted to steal the spotlight with their calls.
The referee explained: “After checking the VAR, I asked him to come closer; Cristiano is Cristiano, and if he doesn’t want to come, he won’t. But he came over to where I was and I said to him: ‘You’re a great player, but what you said at half-time isn’t right. I respect you a lot, but we’re here to do our job just like you are’. He replied: ‘Yes, you’re right; it wasn’t the right way to express myself. I apologise’.”
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