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Lionel Messi And Sergio Busquets Get To Work As They Take Part In First Inter Miami Training Session

Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have been pictured training with their Inter Miami teammates for the first time. Watch photos and footage of the session here.

Robert Summerscales

Lionel Messi And Sergio Busquets Get To Work As They Take Part In First Inter Miami Training Session
Lionel Messi And Sergio Busquets Get To Work As They Take Part In First Inter Miami Training Session /

Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have been pictured training with their Inter Miami teammates for the first time.

The star duo were officially unveiled in front of 20,000 fans at Miami's DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday evening after joining Major League Soccer's lowest-ranked team on free transfers.

But Messi, 36, and Busquets, 35, began work for real on Tuesday when they took part in a practice session at Inter's Fort Lauderdale training base.

The session was watched by a hoard of journalists and photographers.

Club president David Beckham was also in attendance.

Wearing a club-branded baseball cap, Beckham cut a casual figure as he sat on a ball and watched from the sidelines.

Messi and Busquets both looked sharp as they took part in various fitness drills.

The next big step is set to come on Friday when Miami and Mexico's Cruz Azul meet in the Leagues Cup.

That game has long been penciled in the diary as when Messi will likely make his Miami debut. Busquets could also feature in Friday's match.

Four days later, Miami will face Atlanta in their second and last Leagues Cup group game.

If they finish first or second in their three-team group then Miami will progress to the round of 32.

The new mid-season tournament is scheduled to finish with the first ever Leagues Cup final on August 19, two days before Miami's next MLS game.

Lionel Messi pictured in July 2023 during his first training session as an Inter Miami player
Lionel Messi pictured on Tuesday during his first training session as an Inter Miami player :: Twitter/Major League Soccer

Miami will likely be relishing the chance to play some non-MLS games in the coming weeks.

Since beating New England 2-1 in May, Inter have failed to record a win in 11 straight MLS matches. 

Messi and Co will need to win the majority of their remaining 12 regular season fixtures to stand a chance of reaching the MLS playoffs.

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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.