Riqui Puig Unveils Special Gift From Lionel Messi and Former Barcelona Teammates

Riqui Puig put in a sparkling performance against Inter Miami. His performance nearly helped LA Galaxy walk away with nearly all 3 points before the ‘best in the world‘ leveled things up. Ahead of the game, fans spotted the Spaniard sharing a warm embrace with Lionel Messi & his former teammates, Jordi Alba & Sergio Busquets. And through his social media, the 24-year-old has displayed a gift that reveals the close bond between the La Masia graduates.

On his Instagram account, Puig displayed signed jerseys of Lionel Messi, Busquets, and Alba. The story was without any caption, but Puig revealed how much the gift was worth to him with two heart emoticons. Puig, who played for Barcelona from 2018 to 2022, shares a special bond with fellow them. Ahead of their arrival at Inter Miami, Puig had said, “Busi and Alba helped me a lot in Barcelona’s dressing room. I think they’ll have a great time in Miami.”

However, Puig’s exit from Barcelona was an unceremonious one. The Spaniard was told by Xavi that he was not in the club’s plans. Moreover, he was not allowed to train with the first team. This resulted in him moving to LA Galaxy in 2022. There has been no looking back and he even featured in the MLS All-Star XI in 2023. With 12 goals in 47 matches, he is among the discussion for the best players in the MLS. However, he is adamant that the crown belongs to Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi ‘is the best in the league’, as per Riqui Puig

Lionel Messi has not been at his best in 2024. He has just 2 goals in the calendar year, one of which was a penalty. Yet, Riqui Puig believes La Pulga remains the No. 1 in MLS. He revealed, “Messi is the best player in history and I think the best in the league currently as well.” Moreover, ahead of the match, Puig had warned everyone of the threat posed by the Inter Miami captain.

Read More: LA Galaxy Star ‘Blacked Out’ During Heated Lionel Messi Confrontation in Record-Breaking MLS Opener

He said, “He showed on Wednesday against Salt Lake how well he plays and how well he is physically, so I think we have to be very careful with the best player in the world.” The warning came true as Lionel Messi through a Jordi Alba pass scored in the 90+2nd minute of the stoppage time. This meant that LA Galaxy started their campaign with a draw and will look to set things straight against San Jose on March 3rd.

What is your prediction for Inter Miami in the coming season? Tell us in the comments below.

Read More: How Far is Lionel Messi From Becoming Inter Miami’s All-Time Leading Goal Scorer After Late Equalizer Against LA Galaxy?