Lionel Messi has paid respect to Argentina’s ultimate soccer legend, Diego Maradona, by posing in the uniform he wore when he scored his country’s final goal.

Maradona scored against Greece in the 1994 World Cup, which was hosted in the United States, but was kicked out after testing positive for ephedrine.

The symbolism of Messi posing in the shirt, though, will not be lost on his millions of supporters across the world.

Messi, Argentina’s current No. 10 player, led his country to World Cup victory in 2022, firmly establishing himself in the same league as Maradona in his own Argentina.

Furthermore, Messi is currently based in the United States with Inter Miami, and the United States, along with Mexico and Canada, is a co-host of the 2026 World Cup.

So far, he appears to be enjoying life in the United States, as he has led Miami to two victories in his first two games.

In his first game, a substitute appearance against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, he scored a spectacular 90th-minute winner.

He then scored twice in the first 22 minutes of Miami’s 4-0 win over Atlanta United on Tuesday.

Messi and his new side return to action against Florida rivals Orlando on Wednesday night.

In terms of the World Cup, the 36-year-old Messi has already stated that the 2026 World Cup may be too late for him, as he will be 39.

‘I think not,’ he declared recently to Titan Sports ahead of Argentina’s friendly against Australia in June. This was my final World Cup appearance.

‘I’ll see how things go, but in general, I won’t be attending the next World Cup.’