Lionel Messi is officially a Florida man.
The superstar soccer player who led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in Qatar last year, was spotted shopping at a Miami-area Publix, the official supermarket sponsor of Inter Miami CF, on Thursday.
Photos of the soccer icon at the Florida supermarket chain circulated on social media. They show him with his shopping cart and posing with fans, though the fanfare surrounding Messi inside the store looks considerably less than the bombardment treatment he receives in his native Argentina, Europe and other places around the world.
Messi, who has won the Ballon d'Or — an award given to the best player in the world — a record seven times, shocked the soccer world when he chose Inter Miami CF over playing in Saudi Arabia or returning to FC Barcelona.
Messi's highlight-reel career saw him tallying golazos galore during his prime years at the Catalan club, before shifting more into a deeper playmaking role.
In 2012, he scored the most goals in a calendar year with 91. After multiple UEFA Champions League titles and several other individual honors at Barca, Messi was forced to leave due to the club's financial situation in 2021.
He landed at Paris Saint Germain, where he's played the last two seasons. Deciding to leave PSG, Messi's suitors included MLS-side Inter Miami, his previous home of FC Barcelona and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hillal.
On Sunday, he's scheduled to be at DRV PNK Stadium for the official unveiling of his arrival at Inter Miami.
But this week, he's already doing Florida things with that shopping trip to Publix.
