Lionel Messi Makes Junior Tournament Titled Messi Cup, Inter Miami And Barcelona Join
JAKARTA - Lionel Messi has announced the inaugural edition of the Messi Cup, an international junior soccer tournament to be held in South Florida and will include Inter Miami and Barcelona.
Messi, along with his production company, 525 Rosario, will host the U-16 tournament between 9-14 December 2025.
The tournament will consist of 18 matches and will be attended by eight clubs, namely Inter Miami, Barcelona, Manchester City, River Plate, Inter Milan, Newell's Old Boys, Atletico Madrid, and Chelsea.
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"It's great to finally be able to share this with you. This December, Miami will host a very special junior soccer tournament, featuring some of the top clubs from around the world."
"The future of football will be clear. It's more than just a game. We've been planning incredible days with many other interesting activities."
"It's about future generations. Hopefully you like it! This is the Messi Cup," Messi said in an Instagram post.
Meanwhile, 525 Rosario said the purpose of the tournament was to shape the future of football.
"More than just a tournament, it's a series of live events and digital-based platforms that combine sports, culture and innovation."
"The mission is to produce long-term value for athletes who are developing their careers, for communities united with a love for sports, and for brands looking for authentic and lasting connections in the new era of football," the company said in a statement.
The eight teams will be divided into two groups each containing four teams, which will then face each other in a round robin system for the first three days.
The playoffs will be held to determine the final position before the third-place and final match is played at Chase Stadium, Inter Miami headquarters.
"Messi Cup is a common ground between today's football and future players. This is an opportunity to celebrate talent, culture and community, creating heritage and bonds that will last forever off the field," said Rosario's 525 CEO, Tim Pastore.