After Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup, the World Cup winner was seen making a tasteful gesture to his MLS rival and fellow Argentinian.
Despite being on the losing end of the match, Velasco said he will “never forget” it. Dallas was eliminated from the cup in a dramatic penalty shootout that followed a 4-4 draw at the end of regulation.
The Dallas winger’s experience playing against his idol and fellow countryman will live long in his mind, despite the fact that the outcome favored the opposition.
In an interview with ESPN, via Infobae, Velasco said, “It’s a game that I will never forget in my life.” “I played against Messi, and he hugged me and handed me his shirt. I explicitly asked for it. I’m content over there.
After scoring six minutes into the game that particular evening, Messi was able to take center stage. The World Cup winner went back in time when he teamed up with Jordi Alba, a former teammate from Barcelona who provided the assist.
After a flurry of opportunities from both teams, Dallas led 4-3 with five minutes remaining in the game. To ensure that the game went to penalties, a goal was required, which gave Messi the opportunity to step up and score with a well-timed free kick.
In the penalty shootout, Messi would score once again along with Sergio Busquets, another ex-Barcelona colleague. Dallas’ Paxton Pomykal missed the goal with his pivotal kick, handing Miami the victory.
Messi and Velasco were overheard talking during the game, and the 21-year-old player admitted: “I spoke [about] something that a buddy of his had told me, nothing nasty. That’s why he was shocked—that’s where he grew up in his youth.
Despite meeting his idol, Dallas was eliminated from the cup as a result, which left Velasco disappointed. We’re departing with sadness, he remarked. We played well up until the first 80 minutes of the game when we suddenly lost focus. We had two goals in the game’s favor.
On Sunday, August 20, Dallas will travel to Philadelphia Union. Friday night’s quarterfinal matchup between Charlotte FC and Messi’s Inter Miami will take place.