It took less than three days in Miami for Lionel Messi to take his first steps toward becoming a true Floridian.
On Thursday night, the Argentine great was pictured at Publix, a regional supermarket chain adored by Floridians past and present. A few fans and curiosity-seekers grabbed selfies with Messi as he cruised the aisles of the store with his wife Antonella and his two young sons. His haul, the photos show, included a box of Froot Loops (that’s a cereal, for any non-Americans reading).
Casual 🐐 sighting at Publix.
Lionel Messi is a Florida Man, confirmed.
(via @Rosariotres, @FCBAlbiceleste) pic.twitter.com/3MubCH9RDM
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 14, 2023
It should be noted that Publix is a corporate sponsor of Inter Miami, the MLS club for which Messi is expected to sign officially soon. But that’s done little to dampen the impression that this was a rare and endearing “everyman” moment from one of the greatest players of all time.
In nearly every photo taken on Thursday, Messi looks at peace and unbothered; a far cry from his life in Paris, Barcelona or elsewhere, where every venture into the public eye brought a throng of press photographers and hundreds of adoring fans. Clips of Messi leaving restaurants in Argentina look borderline scary, replete with…
