What’s it like to exchange jerseys with Messi?

Lionel Messi’s move to Miami International has given the USL players a sense of “honor”. The aura of the King is so bright that opposing players feel a sense of awe. The arrival of Lionel Messi gave USL players a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with a legend who has spent most of the last 20 years in Europe. However, the perks don’t stop there for the handful of competitors who get the ultimate souvenir.

Even in an era where all sorts of devices can be used to remember memorable moments, Messi’s match jersey from the Miami International is still the souvenir people gravitate to, and it means even more when that souvenir is earned through a competition after the match. Messi himself recognizes the impact of shirt swaps, and his collection at his home in Barcelona was decorated from floor to ceiling with swapped shirts six years ago.

LAFC’s John McCarthy, who managed to swap Messi’s jersey after Miami International’s 3-1 win over LAFC, said, “I’m a little surprised he’s still wearing his jersey, to be honest.” In total, Messi has exchanged his Miami International jersey after matches nine times since arriving in Miami three months ago, picking eight Argentines out of the 12 winners. McCarthy is one of 2 Americans on the list, the other being Nashville’s Dax McCarty. Orlando City’s Rafael Santos (Brazil) and Charlotte’s Harrison Afful (Ghana) are also on the list.
The jersey, which bears Messi’s stamp, isn’t available to just anyone, and is reserved for exclusive rivals and admirers to take home and treasure.ESPN spoke to some of the lucky winners, who described what it’s like to own sports’ newest Holy Grail.
Camiseta, a little help?
McCarthy was the only goalkeeper to swap jerseys with Messi since he joined the club, and he couldn’t even offer his own shirt in return – he gave it to another Miami international, Drake Callender. Possibly impressed by McCarthy’s brilliant saves on his own shots in the first half of the game, Messi was given his jersey in limited Spanish by McCarthy as he walked back to the locker room after the game. McCarthy said, “What I really said was: ‘Ah, Messi. Camiseta, a little help? I felt bad because he looked at me as if to say, ‘Where’s yours?’ In a way, I’m lucky because we don’t have a lot of Argentines on the team.”
A taste of the legend
Thiago Almada, an Argentine national teammate who won the 2022 World Cup with Lionel Messi, found Messi exchanging jerseys after Miami International’s 4-0 win over Atlanta United in the North American League Cup this summer. Almada was overjoyed, saying, “When I picked it up, it smelled as fragrant as perfume. With the national team, I never wanted his jersey or to bother him, so I’m happy to have his jersey in the USL.”