“He was doing pull-ups buck naked, and all the guys were around him” - Inter Miami star opens up on first day with Lionel Messi at the club

Argentine goalkeeper Oscar Ustari has lavished praise on Lionel Messi, hailing his work ethic and competitiveness. The 38-year-old recalled his first day with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner at the club.

Lionel Messi had an excellent campaign for Inter Miami last season, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists in 25 games across competitions. He became the most decorated player of all time after lifting the MLS Supporters' Shield with the Herons last term, his 46th trophy.

Ustari reunited with his fellow countryman at Inter Miami after joining the club last September. Speaking about Lionel Messi's dedication to the game on DSports Radio, the former Getafe shot-stopper said (via GOAL):

“Messi is unbearably competitive, he is incredible at everything. There are team-mates who had never seen him and are surprized. Nothing is a coincidence at that level. You see that his passion is football, training, being well and showing every day who he is.”

Ustari then shared a story about his first day with Messi at Inter Miami, revealing that the World Cup winner was completely unclothed while working out in front of all his teammates.

He added:

“He has fun doing what he does. The first day I arrived at the club, he was doing pull-ups buck naked, and all the guys were around him. He treats everyone equally, he's very family-oriented. He's a person who generates a lot for everyone. He is very involved in the academy, he is aware of everything. That is how I see it.”

Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami is set to expire in 12 months.

“I’ve never seen such a big difference between one player and the rest" - Barcelona star heaps praise on Lionel Messi

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is in awe of Lionel Messi's talent on the pitch and the training ground. The Dutchman believes his former teammate's vision and passing prowess are unparalleled.

De Jong shared two years with Messi at Barcelona after joining the club from Ajax in 2019. They made 80 appearances in that period, combining to score seven goals.

Speaking to Voetbal International about their time together at Camp Nou, De Jong said (via GOAL):

“I’ve never seen such a big difference between one player and the rest. Whatever we did in training, Messi was the best, always. He sees solutions on the field that you as a coach cannot think of in advance.”

After his Barcelona contract expired, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021 in one of the most high-profile free transfers ever. He then made his switch to Inter Miami in 2023 after winning two Ligue 1 titles with PSG.