From champion to champion, Messi’s exclusive gift to Carlos Alcaraz that people is talking about

Lionel Messi gave a special to one of the best tennis players in the world.

09/06/2024, 07:04 PM +00:00

Lionel Messi is smileing and pointing while wearing an Inter Miami jersey while Carlo Alcaraz screams with joy holding a tennis racket.

Many athletes in the world admire Lionel Messi for his long and successful football career over the past two decades. Messi is looked up to by one of the best tennis players in the world, Carlos Alcaraz, and the Argentine star gifted him a special gift to wish him luck in the Roland Garros tournament. Messi sent his signed Inter Miami shirt to Alcaraz before his final against Alexander Zverev. A message Messi wrote read, “To Carlos with affection.” The gift may have motivated him to perform well as he won the Roland Garros tournament by defeating Alexander Zverev. The Spanish tennis player continues to shine as he now won the French Open, Wimbledon last year, and the US Open two years ago. It was a great sight to see a World Champion gift a present to another champion from another sport.

Alcaraz is a Real Madrid fan, but he is also a great admirer of Lionel Messi. He was starstruck when he first met Messi during the Laureus Sports Awards last year, as the moment was captured on film. The Spanish tennis player was in an interview, and everyone was excited to see Messi arrive with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, on the red carpet. Alcarez and Messi shook hands and briefly talked for a moment, as two different generations of sports collided.

While Alcaraz won the French Open, Messi is in Chicago with the Argentina national team for the first match against Ecuador, which will be played at Soldier Field. Messi and the rest of the team arrived at their hotel yesterday, and many fans in Chicago were excited to see him. Messi will reportedly not start in the game against Ecuador but will play in the second half. This will be a preparation match ahead of the Copa America.

Lionel Scaloni on playing Messi in the upcoming friendlies

Reports in Argentina suggest that Messi wants to play in every game with the national team, including friendlies, to prepare for Copa America. The head coach, Lionel Scaloni, wants to be precautious by playing Messi too much. Scaloni said, “I imagine that Leo Messi will play tomorrow [Ecuador], I don’t know if for 45 or 60 minutes but people will be able to see him. We must think about how many minutes he will play during the two matches in order to be ready for the opening match in Copa América.”