Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor expressed his desire to share the football field with Argentina legend Lionel Messi. The revered actor, who co-owns ISL team Mumbai City FC, has never been shy about sharing his passion for football, a flame that ignited him in his early years.
Kapoor recently unveiled Mumbai City FC’s stylish home kit for the 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) season. During the event, he reflected on his admiration for players such as Lionel Messi and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. He admitted (via ANI News):
“Every night before I go to sleep, I imagine myself on a football field. I don’t imagine myself on a movie set, not as an actor or a star, I imagine myself as a football player wearing the number 8 jersey.
“I dream of passing the ball to Messi and Iniesta. Sometimes I dream of playing for Mumbai City FC and sometimes for All-Stars Club.”
Kapoor, who regularly attends friendly matches at Mumbai’s local pitches, firmly believes that football in the city has a huge task ahead of it. The Bollywood superstar also acknowledged the struggle Indian football has to overcome:
“It’s been 10 years in the ISL, but there’s a lot to do at the grassroots level. Until we have our own superstars playing in the ISL, I don’t think we’re going to stop. There’s a long way to go. I can’t say we’ve been extremely successful, we’ve had successes over the years.”
Ranbir Kapoor is one of Lionel Messi fans and he was lucky enough to meet the Argentinian in 2011 in Barcelona.
Lionel Messi spotted heading to Inter Miami for training
Inter Miami’s famous new signing was seen stepping into the club during his first training session, sparking an already palpable buzz in the city. Starting with a family vacation, the 2022 FIFA World Cup champion wasted no time impressing the city.
Lionel Messi has been seen in supermarket sightings and now, he has entered the training ground for the first time. According to Goal, when Messi ran into the club, he greeted the waiting supporters with a wave.
The excitement fueled by the arrival of Lionel Messi is expected to rise in the coming days. Notably, the Argentina legend won’t be the only new face at Inter Miami. Rumors that former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will soon join Messi in Miami have added to the excitement surrounding the club.
Lionel Messi’s grand unveiling is on the calendar for July 16, and expectations are running high of what promises to be a major spectacle. The World Cup prizewinner is expected to square off against Cruz Azul in the League Cup on July 21 for his first match with Inter Miami.