On the list was a surprising addition, an 11-year-old Thiago Messi.

Though the youngster just got to Miami, that didn’t stop Miami’s Academy from adding him to the squad.

Additionally, though he’s not officially listed on that particular list, 8-year-old Mateo Messi also joined Miami’s Academy.

Following in his Dad’s footsteps at Inter Miami

Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Though Mateo is still young, it appears he has the flair and leadership abilities of his dad.

On X, there have been several videos floating around showcasing the eight-year-old and his skills. Just recently, Mateo went viral for scoring a hat trick for one of Inter Miami Academy’s youth teams.

According to MARCA, Mateo scored three goals for Inter Miami Academy during the team’s run in the Freedom Cup in early December.

Scoring three goals at any age is impressive. The fact that Mateo was able to so do in only a few months of joining the club is remarkable.

Born in 2015, it’s still entirely too early to tell if he’ll become a professional player, but if the hat trick is any indication, the youngster is well on his well to becoming a top attacker. His dad’s legacy is incredible, but Mateo’s skills show he’s a player to equally be excited about in the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: Mateo Messi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/s3ciMBmKgA

— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) January 3, 2024

As far as the senior team goes, Inter Miami is set to kick off its preseason on January 19th against El Salvador. The Herons plan to have a successful 2024 by refreshing its roster.

After failing to make the playoffs last season, the organization is laying the foundation to challenge for MLS Cup.

Though there’s still a month until the season opener, the men in pink are preparing for whatever comes their way.