Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sports, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, greeted Lionel Messi in her country. She could not contain her excitement upon meeting the football star and shared it with the world.
Messi arrived in Jamaica with Inter Miami CF for a CONCACAF Champions Cup match, where they will face Cavalier FC. This is the first time the Argentine legend will play on Jamaican soil, and he will do so at the country’s national stadium, Independence Park.
Everything is set for the Inter Miami vs Cavalier match
Once the plane landed in Jamaica, the minister warmly welcomed Inter Miami and its captain, Lionel Messi, on the runway. There was a lot of uncertainty about the Argentine star’s participation in the match due to recent injuries. Additionally, Messi has been quite absent in Miami’s recent games, which led fans to question whether he would travel to Jamaica.
In fact, Inter Miami led the two-legged round of 16 qualifiers, but Messi did not play. However, it seems that he is in good health and ready to play against Cavalier FC.
They’re here. Tonight Minister Grange @Babsy_grange welcomes Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates to Jamaica ahead of their Concacaf Champions Cup match against Jamaica’s Cavaliers at the National Stadium on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/9bj5wKZQjT
— Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport (@MCGESJamaica) March 13, 2025
Regarding this, Javier Mascherano reported, “Messi trained very well this morning, completed the full session with the team, and the feeling is good.” Therefore, there is no doubt that we will see him on the field.
A warm welcome for the Argentine star
Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange greeted the Inter Miami team with great warmth. When talking about her meeting with Lionel Messi, she said: “I asked him, ‘Messi, can I hug you?’ and he said, ‘Yes,’ and you see, I received a great hug!”
Furthermore, Grange revealed that the team captain told her, “I love Jamaica and I’m happy to be here.”
She, visibly excited to meet the world’s best football player, told journalists, “I feel so happy… I’m thrilled that Jamaica can host such ‘high-profile’ matches… I’m also proud of the Cavaliers… The fact that they can play against some of the world’s top players and compete with them.”
