Lionel Messi has enjoyed a rare break in recent weeks, taking time to recover from a hamstring injury that forced him to retire against Nashville. The Inter Miami captain was unable to attend Argentina during the international break and hopes to return in time for the Concacaf Champions Cup match against Monterrey.
During this brief break of FIFA date, Messi gave an interview on the Big Time podcast and has revealed his other sporting interests, away from football. Leo made his professional debut at 16 and has spent two decades in elite football, but he still has a passion for other sports.
When asked what his favorite sport was outside of football, Messi replied: “Tennis, paddle tennis, basketball and also American football. “I am learning a lot about American football and I have come to understand it better and enjoy it,” he explained.
Lionel Messi is a favourite among stars of other sports, including Serena Williams and LeBron James.MIKE EHRMANNAFP
We have previously seen the Argentine linked in some way to paddle tennis and basketball and his interest in tennis is not a big surprise, but many will have been intrigued to know that Miami Messi is getting into the NFL.
Lionel Messi’s growing interest in the NFL
Maybe it was inevitable. Within a few months of his move to the United States, Lionel Messi has developed a taste for the NFL. American football remains the most-watched sport in the United States, and the biggest games have a global audience that dwarfs most major events.
The big game is the Super Bowl, an annual mega sporting event that draws attention in the United States like no other. Earlier this year, Lionel Messi made his first appearance in the sacred match, starring in a commercial alongside Jason Sudeikis and Dan Marino.
Messi was recruited for a Michelob Ultra commercial, which helped introduce himself to the national NFL watching community. The Argentine reportedly pocketed $14 million for his role in the 90-second ad.
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His first public involvement with the NFL came in 2017, when he met four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski in Barcelona. The tight end visited the Camp Nou team stadium and spoke with ESPN about his meeting with Lionel Messi.
When asked about his favorite player, Gronkowski diplomatically responded: “I’m going to have to go with Messi. We just met him today, he was great in practice and we’re just having a good time. He can dribble so well and he’s so fast it’s unbelievable,” Gronk said.
2024-03-27 18:22:01
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