Lionel Messi has wasted no time settling into life at Inter Miami.
Having arrived at the Major League Soccer side in mid-July, millions of eyes turned to North America as football fans across the world waited with bated breath to see the World Cup winner's first matches for David Beckham's franchise.
Having left Paris Saint-Germain, there was a great deal of excitement surrounding Messi's next move. MLS sides have managed to pull off some major coups when it comes to signing players in the past - Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andrea Pirlo to name a few - but nothing has come close to this.
Having got off to a flying start at his new club, it appears Messi has also brought with him a new celebration, one that has got fans pondering over its meaning.
READ MORE ON LIONEL MESSI'S MOVE TO INTER MIAMI
What does Lionel Messi's new celebration mean?
Messi managed a wonderful stoppage time free-kick winner on his debut for Inter Miami against Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. It was a dream start that only improved on his second outing; the Argentine scoring a brace in a 4-0 thrashing of Atlanta United.
The first was a rebound from his own shot off the post, while the second was a simple finish after a beautifully-timed run into the Atlanta penalty box.
Messi celebrated by standing motionless, holding his arm out for a moment with an open hand and looking directly into one of the cameras, before smiling and walking back to the centre circle. While many were speculating on what this celebration may mean, some even suggesting it was a 'hold my beer' celebration, it appears Messi's wife Antonela Roccuzzo has confirmed its intentions.
Posting on Instagram, Roccuzzo put up the picture on her story along with a Thor sticker. The implication is that the celebration was dedicated to Messi's son Thiago who is an enormous fan of the Marvel character. So, just a little bit different to the 'hold my beer' theories.
Whether this celebration will be repeated in the days and weeks to come remains to be seen, but Messi will probably get a lot of opportunities to showcase it regardless. The attacker may return to his usual 'point to the sky' celebration, an iconic pose he is synonymous with.
Messi will next get an opportunity to repeat his Thor celebration on 3 August when Inter Miami next play in the Leagues Cup. While the club's opponents are yet to be confirmed, Messi will undoubtedly fancy his chances of finding the back of the net no matter who he faces.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Lionel Messi’s celebration for Inter Miami explained.
