In a gesture of humility and respect, Lionel Messi handed the captain’s armband to DeAndre Yedlin after Inter Miami’s victory over Minnesota United on Saturday.
Yedlin was the captain of Inter Miami before Messi joined the team in the summer. The Argentine superstar quickly established himself as the team’s leader, but he made it clear that he wanted Yedlin to continue wearing the armband.
After the match, Messi called Yedlin out to the center of the field and handed him the armband. The two players then lifted the trophy together.
“It was a great moment,” Yedlin said. “Messi is the best player in the world, and for him to do that for me was really special.”
Messi’s gesture was widely praised by fans and pundits alike. It was seen as a sign of his humility and respect for Yedlin, who has been a key player for Inter Miami since joining the team in 2020.
“It was a classy move by Messi,” said former USMNT player Brian McBride. “He didn’t have to do that, but he did it out of respect for Yedlin and what he’s done for the team.”
The victory over Minnesota United was Inter Miami’s third straight win. The team is now in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
With Messi leading the way, Inter Miami is hoping to make a run at the playoffs this season. And Yedlin will be there every step of the way, wearing the captain’s armband with pride.
