"I am very grateful to life for that situation" - Ex-Inter Miami star on playing alongside 'best in history' Lionel Messi

Former Inter Miami attacker Matias Rojas fondly remembers his lone season playing with Lionel Messi. The 29-year-old joined the Herons in April last year before leaving for River Plate this year, both on free transfers.

During his lone season in South Florida, the Paraguay international contributed nine goals and two assists in 20 games across competitions. Four of those goals and two assists in 14 games came in MLS, where the Herons won the Supporters' Shield for topping the regular-season points table under former boss Tata Martino.

After a successful lone season with the Herons, Rojas said that he will savour the experience of playing alongside Messi for the rest of his life:

"There is a lot that I will save for the rest of my life, things that obviously cannot be told," he said (as per the Herons' website). "But personally, I am very grateful to life for that situation that I got to play with the one who, for me, is the best in history.”

Meanwhile, it was an injury-ravaged but successful first full season for Messi in South Florida. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner led the Herons to their second-ever title - first in the league - contributing 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 games.

However, Martino's side fell in the first round of the MLS Cup, with the Argentine boss later leaving the club.

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How has Lionel Messi fared with Inter Miami so far?

Inter Miami attacker Lionel Messi

Widely regarded as one of the finest ever to grace the beautiful game, Lionel Messi has had an illustrious career for club and country spanning more than two decades.

He has scored 850 goals for club and country, with 34 of them coming with Inter Miami, whom he joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 after 19 seasons in European football.

Messi tasted success in his very first season in American football, leading the Herons to their first-ever trophy - the 2023 Leagues Cup. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner led from the front - scoring in all seven games - finishing with 10 strikes and an assist.

In 2024, playing his first full season with the South Florida side, Messi battled with injuries but was still impactful when he was fit. Apart from his 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 MLS regular-season outings, he also registered three goals and as many assists in six outings across two other competitions.