By Victor Kanayo
The coach of Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami, Tata Martino has announced that Lionel Messi will be the new captain of the club.
Martino revealed this on Monday while fielding questions from newsmen.
The club’s previous captain was Brazilian midfielder Gregore, who is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a foot injury.
Asked if Messi would continue to captain Miami, Martino told reporters: “The other day he was (captain) too, when he entered. Yes, he will be.”
Messi, who signed for Miami earlier this month, wore the captain’s armband on his debut for the club in a Leagues Cup tie against Liga MX’s Cruz Azul on Friday, in which the Argentine forward scored a stoppage-time free-kick.
Inter Miami close out the two-game group stage on Tuesday when they host Atlanta United with hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Leagues Cup, which is a World Cup-style tournament featuring all teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.
Before joining Miami, Messi had played for PSG and Barcelona.
In December 2022, he led Argentina to World Cup triumph in Qatar.
