Lionel Messi has wasted no time settling into life in Miami as he mingles with the locals in South Beach.
The soccer star touched down in Miami on Tuesday ahead of his imminent MLS move to Inter Miami being officially confirmed.
And the World Cup winner has already been spotted out and about in the city as he and his family adjust to their new home.
But the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner isn’t living a flashy lifestyle like Miami’s other A-Listers or his fellow soccer players, instead choosing to spend time with his wife Antonela and their three sons Mateo, Thiago and Ciro.
Messi is set to earn $54million per year but won’t be splashing the cash on groceries as the local supermarket appeared to be just fine.
Lionel Messi and his wife Antonela and their three sons landed in Miami on Tuesday
The family was spotted doing its own grocery shop at the local supermarket Thursday
Messi’s glamorous wife Antonela has also been spotted out and about with her husband
The Messi clan were spotted doing their own grocery shopping Thursday night at US supermarket chain Publix on just his second day in South Florida.
The family appeared to be embracing the American culture as Messi was spotted pushing a cart at the grocery store’s checkout with different types of cereal including General Mills’ Lucky Charms and Kellogg’s’ Fruit Loops.
The family trip to the shop came a day after they were spotted out for dinner at one of SoFlo’s hotspots.
On Wednesday night, Messi attempted to leave Italian restaurant Cafe Prima Pasta in Miami Beach through the back door with Antonela Roccuzzo and their sons, while his dad Jorge also appeared to be with them.
The Italian restaurant has been open since 1993 and is no stranger to wining and dining celebrities with the likes of NBA legend Michael Jordan, Pitbull and actor Michael Caine having eaten there in the past.
But it wouldn’t have put a dent in Messi’s millions as the most expensive main course on the menu is the skirt steak served with truffle fries and grilled asparagus at $36.95.
Despite his attempt at a sneaky exit, Messi was swarmed by fans with one overenthusiastic supporter even kissing him on the cheek.
But, despite the fuss, the family seemed unfazed as Antonela led their kids to the car with her husband following as he occasionally graciously posed for a selfie.
After their ventures out into Miami, the family likely returned to their $9 million apartment, where they are believed to be staying.
Messi has been on vacation in the Caribbean with Antonela and their three sons
Messi looked like any other shopper walking down the aisles of the supermarket with family
On Wednesday night, Messi dined at Italian restaurant Cafe Prima Pasta in Miami Beach
Messi was kissed on the cheek as he left the Miami restaurant with his family Wednesday
Messi’s building overlooks Sunny Isle Beach and the city of Miami, as well as the beach
The Argentinian had already owned an apartment in Miami for a number of years.
According to Spanish outlet Cadena Ser, the World Cup winner bought a Miami apartment in the Porsche Design Tower all the way back in 2019.
The Porsche Design Tower, which was built in 2017, is the perfect place for the family to settle down in America, as the forward wants his three 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren to go to high school in the States before going to university.
The 60-floor tower is situated between Bal Harbour and Aventura and is located 25 minutes away from the Inter Miami stadium.
It offers residents stunning views of the surrounding area, including Miami Beach, which is located just seconds away from the tower.
The building boasts several lifts designed exclusively for residents’ cars, allowing owners to park their vehicles in their exclusive suite.
As well as car lifts, the apartment has its own private restaurant, an outdoor lounge that faces the sea.
Messi’s jaw-dropping new home also features a cinema, golf and racing simulators, which offers perfect downtime opportunities for his family.
Miami’s new power couple? Antonela Roccuzzo and Messi already have a $9m condo
The luxurious apartment has its own private restaurant, an outdoor lounge that faces the sea
A view of the car-lifts during the Grand Opening Event of the Porsche Design Tower Miami
A general view during the Grand Opening of the Porsche Design Tower, Messi’s new home
He isn’t far from a familiar face either. His friend and former international teammate Sergio Aguero reportedly lives in Hollywood, Miami after he and his girlfriend Sofia Calzetti bought a $15 million waterfront mansion.
Meanwhile, other stars have splashed the cash for the luxurious properties in the area with Tom Brady and ex-wife Gisele Bundchen spending $17 million on constructing a mansion in Billionaire Bunker, until the supermodel paid $11 million for a property across the water following their divorce.
The Messis are also expected to follow Bundchen and Brady in sending their brood to the same school.
Messi has already vacationed with his family in South Florida back in 2021.
Photos from his Instagram account show him swimming with wife, Roccuzzo, and their three sons, Thiago (𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 2012), Mateo (2015) and Ciro (2018).
Later Messi was seen at a local restaurant, where he was swarmed by fans, who appeared to be quite familiar with the foreign visitor.
The city is also home to one of America’s largest Latino populations and according to the National Association of Realtors, more than half of Miami’s foreign real estate buyers come from Latin America.
Furthermore, as recently as 2010, nearly 9 percent of Miami residents were of South American descent.
Messi’s wife Antonela, alongside two of his sons, Thiago and Mateo, on a vacation in Miami
‘When people feel like they want to put money into a secure investment, they think of the luxury apartment market in Miami and Miami Beach,’ John Stuart, a professor at Florida International University’s College of Architecture + The Arts, told AFP in 2017.
Messi turned down a return to Barcelona and Saudi Arabia’s millions to make the move to Miami but the decision might have had its own financial motivations.
His contract reportedly will be bankrolled in part by adidas, who will give him a share of the shirts they sell with his name on, and Apple TV, who will share the money made from TV subscriptions to MLS.
But if his start to life in Miami is anything to go buy, he’s quite content not to be spending the big bucks, preferring the simple life.