On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi (10) reacts during a team practice at the Florida Blue Training Center.

Tuesday morning, in the scorching sun, 200 reporters, photographers, and television crews lined up on the north side of Inter Miami’s Fort Lauderdale training complex to get the first pictures of Lionel Messi working out with his new teammates. As Messi sprinted in, stretched, and took part in passing and dribbling drills, a helicopter circled overhead and scores of security personnel were posted all around the facility’s perimeter.