Lionel Messi has unveiled the inspiration behind his Marvel-themed goal celebrations for Inter Miami, attributing them to his nightly movie sessions with his sons in the United States.
After adopting goal celebrations inspired by Thor, Black Panther, and Spider-Man, Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, elaborated on their significance following his move to Florida as a free agent.
- Argentine made move to America as a free agent
- Already scored nine goals in impressive display
- Aims to secure silverware in the Leagues Cup
His dazzling start in the United States, with nine goals in six appearances in the inaugural Leagues Cup, allowed him to showcase these celebrations in front of his loved ones.
While his sons Ciro, Mateo, and Thiago took centre stage in his exploits, the Messi family maximized their summer vacation in America by indulging in numerous blockbuster movies.
Messi provided insight into the origin and evolution of his celebrations, revealing that his sons were the creative minds behind the concept.
Whenever he scores a goal, he performs a Marvel superhero celebration, a tradition they initiated during their movie nights.
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This ritual evolved as they watched new Marvel movies, practising different goal celebrations after each viewing.
However, Messi exclusively performs these celebrations during home games, when his children are present to share the special moments.
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He emphasized that the sight of his sons in the stands serves as his cue to execute these celebrations.
Messi’s initial Marvel-themed celebration occurred during a match against Atlanta United, where he extended his arm in a Thor-esque gesture, akin to summoning Mjölnir, instead of the usual “hold my beer” gesture toward Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham.
In subsequent games, he replicated Black Panther’s signature crossed-arm pose when finding the target against Orlando City and mimicked Spider-Man’s web-shooting stance during a clash with Charlotte FC.
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While some speculated that Messi’s celebrations were tied to a commercial partnership between Marvel and MLS, the football legend clarified that his actions had a more personal significance.
He expressed his desire to achieve immediate success at DRV PNK Stadium by incorporating these unique celebrations into his goalscoring moments.
