Meanwhile, forward Fafa Picault, one of the new players in Inter Miami camp, is feeling at home. The 33-year-old Haitian American spent his teen years in Cutler Bay, where his family still lives. He attended Miami Killian High School and played for local youth clubs and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers before heading overseas.

If Messi needed a stage to prove his connection with former teammates still worked, he found it. At the 34th minute, Jordi Alba delivered a pinpoint cross to Luis Suárez, who showed his class with a perfect assist for Messi.

Inter Miami on Monday completed the second training session of the 2025 campaign under new head coach Javier Mascherano on Monday in Ft. Lauderdale, giving players a taste of what's to come under the new leadership.