Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has revealed that padel is among his favourite sports to watch apart from football. Padel, a rapidly growing racquet sport that blends elements of tennis and squash, has been gaining massive popularity worldwide.
Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami, the Argentine star shared his passion for other sports, naming basketball, tennis, and padel as the three he enjoys watching most.
“I love all sports, I love watching them,” Messi said in an interview. “Since coming to Miami, I have learned more about American football in particular because I was already following sports like basketball, tennis, and padel.”
Messi’s love for padel adds him to the growing number of celebrities falling for the sport. It is especially popular in Spain and Latin America – regions deeply tied to Messi’s roots.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner also revealed that his move to the United States has expanded his sporting interests beyond football. “As for American football, we used to watch only the Super Bowl game, but now I have started following the regular season of the NFL,” he added.
Messi mentioned that his children’s involvement in American football at school has influenced his curiosity about the game. “My kids at school play American football, and through them, I started learning more about the game, so now I follow almost everything in general,” he said.
Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. Even as he continues to dominate Major League Soccer, it appears the football legend is embracing new sporting passions – with padel taking centre stage.