Tennis Star Flopped At Wimbledon But Spotted Hanging Out With Lionel Messi

Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. HOME News Royal Showbiz & TV Sport Comment Finance Travel Entertainment Life & Style Football Tennis Transfer news F1 Boxing UFC Cricket Rugby Other Golf NFL Racing NBA The Wimbledon Championship might not have gone to plan for one player but it looks like he has friends in high places like Lionel Messi. 16: 56, Wed, Jul 26, 2023 | UPDATED: 16: 56, Wed, Jul 26, 2023

Tennis fans react to Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon winArgentine tennis star Diego Schwartzman has put his Wimbledon disappointment behind him by having a chinwag with Lionel Messi. The World Cup-winning Argentina captain has got his tenure at Inter Miami off to a flyer by scoring three goals in his first two appearances for the Florida club, already living up to the hype surrounding his arrival.

The 36-year-old came off the bench to score an injury-time penalty on his debut against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on Saturday before notching a first-half brace against Atlanta United on Tuesday evening during a 4-0 triumph in the same competition.

“He’s the best player in the world. This is what he does,” enthused teammate Robert Taylor, who scored the game’s other two goals with Messi assisting one of them. He told Apple TV: “It’s a dream come true to play with him.”

With the job done, Messi was substituted with 12 minutes left to play, prompting a large number of spectators to leave the stadium early. But after taking his seat, the former Barcelona great was caught on camera speaking to Schwartzman, who had a seat in the stand directly next to Messi.

Diego Schwartzman was dumped out of Wimbledon in the second round. (Image: Getty)

The world no. 97 was no doubt thrilled to be at such close quarters to one of his nation’s heroes and the meet-up might go someway to erasing the pain of his early exit from this year’s Wimbledon Championship.

Schwartzman, who has been ranked as high as eighth in the peak of his career, was dumped out of the All England Club Championship by Italian Jannik Sinner in the second round, 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

It meant that the 30-year-old was denied what would have been a third appearance in the third round at SW19 – the furthest he has ever progressed at the grasscourt slam.

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Lionel Messi (left) already has three goals to his name in just two appearances for Inter Miami. (Image: Getty)

Schwartzman was clearly thrilled to be able to have an intimate chat with Messi during the closing stages of the match, but Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino attempted to play down the mass exodus that greeted the former Paris Saint-Germain star’s withdrawal from the game.

Martino said: “I really didn’t notice. However, with the type of player he is, it’s justified that this happens. I would have preferred that the public stayed and pay tribute to the entire team, but I can also understand it.”

After two Leagues Cup matches, Messi is now in line to make his MLS debut at home to Charlotte FC on August 21.