‘Champion’: Lionel Messi’s son Mateo captains Inter Miami Academy to Naples Cup title

Lionel Messi's son Mateo has taken another step in his budding football career, captaining the Inter Miami Academy to the Naples Cup title and giving fans another glimpse of the youngster's footballing journey.Mateo, Messi's second son, was part of the Inter Miami Academy side that emerged victorious at the Copa Naples, with the achievement drawing attention across social media. The youngster was seen celebrating with the trophy after the triumph, proudly posing for photographs with the Copa Naples Cup, which carried the word 'champion'.Inter Miami's academy confirmed that its teams from the U-8 through U-12 age groups were competing in the 2026 Copa Naples, held at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Florida, on September 5 and 6.The title represents another memorable moment in Mateo's early football journey as he continues to develop within Inter Miami's youth setup.Mateo follows in Messi's footstepsMateo is the second of Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo's three sons. He will turn 11 on September 11, with his older brother Thiago 13 and younger brother Ciro eight.While his father has already established himself as one of the greatest players in football history, Mateo has gradually attracted attention for his own footballing ability.Videos of Mateo playing football have previously gone viral, with his skills, goals and competitive nature drawing comparisons with his famous father. His latest achievement, however, came not through a social-media clip but on the youth football circuit, where he helped lead Inter Miami Academy to a tournament title.Social media users were quick to celebrate the achievement after images of Mateo with the trophy circulated online. A video shared by Spanish publication Marca showed the youngster smiling for the cameras while holding the Copa Naples trophy.The Naples Cup triumph comes at an interesting time for the Messi family, with Lionel Messi himself having recently closed one major chapter of his career.A new chapter for the Messi familyMessi recently announced his retirement from international football after a remarkable 21-year career with Argentina. The decision came after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where Messi's side finished runners-up. Messi had said the decision was painful but necessary after he had given everything to the national side.The 39-year-old had previously fulfilled his biggest international ambition by leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar.His international career may now be over, but Messi remains active at club level with Inter Miami. He recently assisted Casemiro's goal in a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United in his first club appearance after announcing his international retirement.That makes Mateo's Naples Cup success another intriguing development in a football family whose connection with the sport continues across generations.For now, Mateo remains at the beginning of his journey. But by captaining an Inter Miami Academy side to a tournament title and lifting the Naples Cup trophy, the youngster has added another notable achievement to a football story that is only just beginning.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.