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Miami, United States – Singing to the rhythm of the drums, jumping and dancing with joy, sporting their famous blue and white shirts, and waving huge flags with pictures of their heroes, Argentine soccer fans have announced their team’s arrival in Miami in high fashion.
A day before Argentina will participate in the first FIFA World Cup 2026 – and their first match in the Sunshine State – the part of Miami Beach known as Little Buenos Aires came alive with about a thousand people preparing for the “coming” of Lionel Messi on Friday.
The defenders and one of the pre-tournament favorites will take on the fairytale team of the World Cup – the small African island nation of Cape Verde.
The match at the Miami Stadium will pit a team backed by one of the sport’s biggest fans against an outfit that may not have strong support in the stands but has made itself neutral with its bold performances.
Among Argentina’s supporters, there is no room for sympathy for a team that is punching above its weight.
For Adrian Elizondo, his thoughts are simple: “Messi deserves to win another World Cup.”
“It’s Messi’s last World Cup and since he’s the greatest player of all time, he has to run away with another trophy,” Elizondo told Al Jazeera.
Elizondo believes there is more to Argentina’s success than Messi.
“We have good players, a good coach and thousands of people supporting this team. We make a big difference.”
A quick look at the party-like scene in Miami Beach confirmed Elizondo’s claims.
Miami, where Messi has been playing club football since 2023, is home to at least 30,000 Argentines, according to the local census.
Add to the mix another 20,000 fans following the team in their quest to defend the title in the United States and it is clear that Miami is “Messi Country”.
The crowd in North Beach, home to Argentine restaurants and bars for decades, began building more than 24 hours before the game began and showed no sign of letting up in the evening.
Fans, from young children to supporters in their 70s, were seen walking through the central area of Little Buenos Aires.
A small pocket of fans may start singing “Muchachos” – Argentina’s famous soccer song – and hundreds of others will soon join in.
Although the words speak of the sadness of the lost World Cup finalists and former champions, the joy among the fans was palpable, especially when Messi and Co broke a 36-year drought four years ago in Qatar and emulated his hero Diego Maradona in leading them to the World Cup trophy.
For Argentine fans, Maradona and Messi are often seen as lords and protectors. It is part of their football legend that is reinforced every time.
In Miami, while men, women and children danced in the streets, a group of followers dressed in the jerseys of the Argentine soccer team Newell’s Old Boys proudly stood in front of the flag connecting the two national heroes and the club.
Jorge Martinelli traveled to Miami from Rosario, where the club is located, with his friends and proudly shared his hometown.
“Messi was born in Rosario and played in Newell’s youth teams before joining Barcelona, when Maradona came to the club in 1993,” he tells Al Jazeera.
Is there any other connection between the two famous captains? Martinelli said: “Yes, it’s a natural connection.
“Many here believe that Maradona is leading this team from heaven,” he said with a laugh.
In the midst of Martinelli’s explanation of the spiritual connection between the two, the fans stopped interrupting to celebrate the son who loves Miami football back home.
The Rosario native said he does not want to think about the future after Messi retires from international football.
“It will create a big hole in the national team, similar to what happened after Maradona,” he said.
At the moment, it is believed that Messi is the favorite to do what even the great Maradona could not: successfully defend the title.
“He (Messi) is here. He is playing. Maradona sees it.”
