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It's probably for the best that Lionel Messi was way too busy to watch Inter Miami play on Saturday night. While the Herons were getting smacked 4-1 by Philadelphia for a seventh consecutive defeat in MLS, Messi was celebrating his 36th birthday in his hometown of Rosario and playing in a testimonial match for Newell's Old Boys legend Maxi Rodríguez.
Rodríguez, who's six years older than Messi, was making his first team debut at Newell's while Messi was playing for the youth team, but the two would later square off in LaLiga (Rodríguez spent five years at Atlético) while also going to three World Cups together ('06, '10 and '14).
It was a star-studded night at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa (where Bielsa was in attendance) with Messi, Rodríguez, Ángel Di María, Martín Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Lionel Scaloni, Tata Martino, Gabriel Batistuta, Éver Banega and David Trezeguet all showing up.
But Messi (who's hinted at ending his career at Newell's before) was treated to a hero's homecoming.
¡Explosión COLOSAL con la salida de Messi!
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023
They sang happy birthday to him.
ROSARIO LE CANTÓ EL FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS A LEO MESSI.
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023
Then Messi showed his appreciation by scoring a hat trick before halftime.
The first was an effortless free kick.
¡¡EL PRIMER GOL DEL PARTIDO ES UNA MARAVILLA DE LEO MESSI, EL MÁS GRANDE DE LA HISTORIA!!
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023
The second was a chip over the outrushing goalkeeper.
¡¡MESSI SE LA PINCHÓ A VILLAR Y CLAVÓ UN GOLAZO PARA SU DOBLETE!!
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023
The third was Messi showing off.
¡¡HAT-TRICK DE LEO MESSI!! El capitán campeón del mundo bajó una pelota formidable de Paredes para su grito número TRES en la despedida de Maxi Rodríguez.
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023
26 days until July 21 and Messi's debut for Miami against Cruz Azul. 26 days! The Herons better be outside doing the beep test right now because whatever they lack in skill, they better make up for by running into the ground for Messi.
