Carlos Alcaraz hands Lionel Messi trophy after Inter Miami’s Eastern Conference win

Carlos Alcaraz handed Lionel Messi a trophy for clinching the Eastern Conference title.

Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz was in Florida as Lionel Messi guided Inter Miami to the MLS Cup Final with a resounding 5-1 victory over New York City on Saturday. While Tadeo Allende scored a hat-trick, Messi provided one assist and created three chances.

Before the match, Alcaraz and Messi had a brief interaction as the former Barcelona star winked at the six-time Grand Slam champion. Apart from the Inter Miami captain, the US Open champion was also spotted spending time with former Barcelona players Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez.

After the Herons recorded a crucial win, Carlos Alcaraz handed the Argentine superstar a trophy for clinching the Eastern Conference title. Lionel Messi has now won 47 trophies in his professional career.

Carlos Alcaraz was also presented with the Inter Miami kit with the number 99. The Herons uploaded a video of the Spanish tennis star holding the jersey and talking about his experience on their official Instagram account.

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Alcaraz also met Messi during the Laureus World Sports Awards in 2023. Excited to see the football legend, the six-time Grand Slam champion said about his experience, “It’s crazy. I’ve never met him before. It’s crazy to see him here, metres away from me. This is crazy for me, honestly”.

Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz lights up NBA night with courtside appearance at Miami Heat game

On the other side, Inter Miami has reached the final of the MLS Cup for the first time, as they will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the summit clash on Saturday, December 6, at the Chase Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Spanish tennis star is enjoying the off-season to its fullest. Earlier, he watched the Miami Heat play from the courtside. He’s also set to team up with Frances Tiafoe and Joao Fonseca in a pair of one-night events on 7 and 8 December.

Alcaraz, who maintained a win/loss record of 71/9 in the 2025 season while winning eight titles, including two Grand Slams, came up short against arch-nemesis Jannik Sinner in the ATP finals. However, he still finished as the year-end World No. 1 for the second time in his professional career.

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