Messi meets Djokovic as Tennis legend qualifies for Miami Open final
Novak Djokovic eased into the Miami Open final with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-final at the Hard Rock Stadium. The Serbian barely broke a sweat against the Bulgarian, securing yet another ATP final appearance.
Among the spectators was football legend Lionel Messi, who was spotted cheering for Djokovic. Messi, widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, currently plays for MLS side Inter Miami. With eight Ballon d’Or awards to his name, Messi is football’s most decorated player, just as Djokovic holds the men’s tennis record with 24 Grand Slam titles.
After his win, Djokovic acknowledged Messi’s presence in his post-match interview, saying:
“It’s a huge honour. He’s such a great athlete, not just a football player. His impact on the world of sports over the last 20 years has been immense. To have him watch me live brings me great joy and excitement – and also a little pressure!”
Following the match, Messi, alongside his wife and children, visited Djokovic in the dressing room. The two stars exchanged gifts and posed for a photo, which Djokovic later shared on social media with the caption:
“An honour to meet the greatness @leomessi and his whole family. Gracias Leo. Hasta pronto,” meaning “See you soon.”
Social Media Goes Wild Over GOATs’ Meeting
Even before their dressing room meeting, social media was already buzzing with excitement. Cameras frequently captured Messi watching Djokovic play, leading fans to flood X (formerly Twitter) with reactions.
One user wrote, “THIS IS NOT A DRILL!” while another Messi fan page posted a dressing room picture with the caption, “Nothing to see here, just the GOATs of football and tennis – Messi and Djokovic.”
The excitement didn’t stop there. A fan page for Argentina’s national team shared a photo of Messi and Djokovic standing alongside former Argentine tennis star Juan Martín del Potro, who was also at the match.
With Djokovic now through to the Miami Open final, fans will be eager to see if the Serbian can add yet another title to his already historic career – with Messi possibly watching on again.
