BUENOS AIRES — Thiago Messi, the 12-year-old son of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, recently made his debut at the “Newell’s Cup” tournament held in the city of Rosario.

Wearing the iconic No. 10 jersey for an Inter Miami youth squad, Thiago participated in a match on Monday where the team faced off against local favorites, Newell’s Old Boys, ultimately suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat. The youth team continued their participation by playing another match on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi launched his own career at the same club in Rosario, located approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) northwest of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires.

In the stands cheering for Thiago were his mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and various family members, including his grandparents, Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini. Notably absent from the event was Lionel Messi himself.

During the match, Thiago was substituted in the second half, but not before he had the opportunity to play alongside his friend Benjamín Suárez, the son of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez. Suárez is not only a close friend of Lionel Messi but also a former teammate at both Barcelona and Inter Miami.

Following the early exit of Inter Miami from the MLS playoffs, both Messi and Suárez have returned to Rosario. On Sunday, they attended a friendly match involving the Inter Miami U13 team against Unión, which took place at the same sports facility.

The prestigious youth tournament showcases eight different teams from both North and South America, highlighting the rising talent in the sport.