Lionel Messi was honoured by his MLS club Inter Miami following his Copa America triumph with Argentina that made him the most decorated player in history with a record 45 titles.
Before Inter Miami's 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday at Chase Stadium, club president Jorge Mas presented Messi with a commemorative painting that featured a montage of images of all the titles the Argentine captain won throughout his career featuring the number 45.
“Tonight we celebrate a great milestone for our captain Leo Messi, who has become the footballer who has won the most trophies in the history of this sport,” said Mas during the event. “And I am sure that he will not stop at 45, we hope that he can win more in the future.”
The special event also featured fireworks and a video highlighting the Argentine captain's greatest achievements.
Messi, 37, wore a protective boot during the ceremony after suffering ligament damage to his right ankle during Argentina's 2-1 win over Colombia in the Copa America final.
“Thank you very much for the recognition, @intermiamicf! It was a pleasure to be able to share this moment with our fans on the pitch,” Messi later wrote on Instagram.
Messi won 35 of his 45 trophies during his 17 seasons at Barcelona, including four Champions League titles.
The Argentina international added further silverware during his two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Miami in the summer of 2023. He helped the club win its first trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup, during his first season at the club.
