Thiago Messi follows in dad’s footsteps, debuts with No. 10 jersey in Rosario

The 12-year-old Thiago Messi wore the No. 10 jersey for an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 to Newell's Old Boys on Monday in the under-13 competition. The team also played on Tuesday. Thiago’s father, Lionel Messi, began his football career at Newell's Old Boys in Rosario, located 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires. Thiago's mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, along with several family members, including his grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were present in the stands to watch his debut. Lionel Messi, however, was not in attendance.

Buenos Aires: Thiago Messi, the eldest son of the Argentina star, has made his debut in the “Newell’s Cup” tournament in the countryside city of Rosario.

The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 on Monday to host Newell’s Old Boys in the traditional under-13 competition. The team also played Tuesday.

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Lionel Messi took his first steps as a footballer in the Argentinian club in Rosario, 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of capital Buenos Aires.

Thiago’s mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and several members of his family, including grandparents Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini, were in the stands to watch him play. Lionel Messi did not attend.

Thiago, who was substituted in the second half, played with his friend Benjamín Suárez, son of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, Messi’s teammate and close friend at Barcelona and now at Inter Miami.

Messi and Suárez are in Rosario after Inter Miami’s early elimination in the MLS playoffs. On Sunday, they watched a friendly game of Inter Miami’s U13 team against Unión at the same sports complex.

The youth tournament in Argentina brings together eight teams from North and South America.