Miami International defender Falcon: Working with Messi, experience extraordinary

On June 14, Miami International defender Maximiliano Falcon publicly shared his true feelings about fighting side by side with Messi for the first time in an interview with the media. The Uruguayan defender, who was also the main player in the Chilean League Krokolo at the beginning of the year, said bluntly when talking about the decision to join Miami: "This is the most 'savory' choice in my career. I train with the football legend every day. This experience is like playing the real version of "Football Manager"!"

1. "Give up the main position? I choose the star-chasing ceiling"

Falcon revealed that although he has firmly taken the main position in Krokolo, he resolutely decided to join after seeing the signing trends of Miami International. "When I heard that Messi, Suarez, and Busquets were all in the team and directly turned on the 'one-click teleport' mode." He said with a smile, "In the Chilean League, I may never encounter such an 'all-star lineup' in my life. This wave is 'chasing stars and chasing the main players'."

According to the official records of Miami International's 2025 winter transfer window, the team spent $175,000 to buy international players and signed several young players, aiming to build a "passing and control system" around Messi. Falcon's joining is part of this strategy. He said: "The coaching staff told me that Messi's presence will make every teammate better, and this 'superstar magnetic field' can be felt in training." It is worth mentioning that Falcon chose the No. 23 jersey at Miami International, which has been used by many legendary defenders in the club's history.

2. Messi's "ordinary people's philosophy" and interesting things in the locker room

When talking about Messi's personality, Falconlian used three "shocks" to describe his feelings: "The first time I saw him in the locker room, my brain was 'crashed' - this is the first person in history! But when he came to say hello and said 'Welcome' in Spanish, I realized that he was really the same as us."

This approachable person is fully reflected in training. Falcon recalled a confrontation training where Messi had a "rare black face" because of being stolen, but then immediately smiled at Falcon, who was defending him, and said, "Remember to use fake moves next time, I will teach you." What's more interesting is that when the two were chatting, Falcon joked, "You have 8 Golden Globes and the World Cup, but you will never have a Chile Cup championship." Messi laughed after hearing this: "Indeed, I have to put this trophy in your closet." After hearing this conversation, the locker room was filled with joy.

3. Messi's "data universe" and dominance of the court

Although he is 37 years old, Messi's competitive state in 2025 is still amazing. As of June, he played for Miami International in 9 games and contributed 8 goals and 2 assists, and averaged one goal every 68 minutes, continuing the legendary efficiency of "making one goal per game". What's even more amazing is that his total career goals have reached 851 goals, 381 assists, and directly participated in 1,230 goals, making him the only "double data king" in football.

This dominance is everywhere on the court. Falcon recalled: "During the training match, Messi could pass three people with a 'fried croquette', and then accurately pass it to my head with the outside instep. This 'dimensionality reduction strike' made me understand that the 'ceiling' of top players can be touched."

4. Miami International's "Messi effect" and team transformation

Messi's joining completely changed the fate of Miami International. Since joining in 2023, the team has not only won the first League Cup championship in team history, but its commercial value has soared by 300%, and its social media fans have exceeded 14 million, becoming the "top star" of the American League. At the 2025 Club World Cup, Miami International led by Messi was in the same group as strong teams such as Porto and Palmeiras. Although he finally stopped in the quarterfinals, Messi's performance was still amazing - he averaged 1.2 goals per game, including a free kick against Porto.

Falcon was deeply touched by this: "In the past, we played away games, and the audience was sparse; now when we go anywhere, there are fans wearing No. 10 jerseys in the stands. Messi has turned Miami from a 'little transparent' to a 'top club'."

5. Falcon's "Notes on Academic Masters" and Growth Insights

As a loyal student of "Messi Classroom", Falcon pays special attention to observing the details of his idols during training. He revealed that he specially prepared "Messi Observation Notes" to record his idol's running habits, passing timing and even touching strength. "For example, when Messi catches the ball at the top of the penalty area, he usually uses the outside of his left foot to lightly hit it. I have practiced this move hundreds of times, but I still don't learn it."

This learning spirit has been recognized by the coaching staff. Miami coach Martino said in an interview: "Falcon is a typical 'Messi effect beneficiary'. His defensive awareness and position have been qualitatively improved under the leadership of Messi." So far this season, Falcon has made 12 appearances for Miami International, contributing 1 assist, helping the team maintain 4 clean sheets.

The "butterfly effect" of the legendary football world

From the Chilean League to the American League, Falcon's choice reflects Messi's unique charm in the football world. As he said in the interview: "Messi is like a 'sun of football'. His light not only illuminates the team, but also makes everyone close to him better." As Messi continues to write legends in Miami, his story with Falcons is becoming one of the most moving chapters in football history.