Lionel Messi may not be competing at the 2024 Olympics, but he’s keeping a close eye on his fellow competing compatriots.
On Wednesday, the GOAT congratulated Argentine BMX biker Jose Torres Gil on his gold medal. The 29-year-old scored 94.82 in his first freestyle, enough to place him in the middle of the podium.
“Total craziness, it brought tears to my eyes,” said Gil who came into the games an underdog. He wins his country’s first gold medal at the Olympics.
“The level was extraordinary. The best athletes of the planet were here in Paris. I competed against the best of the world and I felt incredible; I feel part of this incredible universe.”
To top off Gil’s first-place digs, he opened his phone to receive Messi’s celebratory message, which the No. 10 shared with his 500 million followers.
“Congratulations, enjoy that gold very much,” Messi wrote on Instagram stories. Messi also won Gold at the 2008 Olympics.
That international trophy appeared to be his last until he went on a trophy-laden run after winning the 2021 Copa America. Since then, Messi has become the most decorated footballer with 45 pieces of silverware, including the elusive World Cup.
Messi is taking a much-needed rest after earning his second Copa America title this summer. The 37-year-old also banged up his ankle in the final match, pretty much putting the nail in the coffin on his chances of participating in the Olympic games.
Plus, Messi gets to avoid the former city that once booed his name at the Parc des Princes stadium. The Parisians once jeered homegrown Mbappe, who left for Real Madrid this summer.
Messi has yet to return club side to Inter Miami, having missed the last three matches.
Photo: ig/malignobmx, leomessi
