When it comes to measuring success in football, some regular parameters would be trophies, goals, assists, and more. Now, Lionel Messi’s fan base has come up with an entirely new concept called the ‘smile count.’ More of a meme trend than an actual football statistic, Messi’s smile count became a topic of discussion on social media platforms following his new team Inter Miami FC’s knockout victory over FC Dallas. Let’s take a look at what Lionel Messi’s smile count is all about and explain it with context to his time at Inter Miami and former club PSG.
Exploring the Lionel Messi Smile Count trend
Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami FC to a late comeback victory over FC Dallas in the Leagues Cup and sent them into the next tournament round. The match clearly had the star forward in high spirits as he was smiling throughout, following his goals.
Messi’s fans were ecstatic to see their idol wholeheartedly smile during the final stages of his glorious career. As a result, some took to Twitter to compare how much he used to smile when he played for his former club Paris Saint Germain.
The comparison posts featured clips of the #10 smiling from the FC Dallas game alongside a caption that addressed the smile count. The users claimed that Messi had smiled a total of 148 times in the two years he spent at PSG, while he has already smiled 150 times in a single month at Inter Miami FC.
Why does Messi smile more at Inter Miami than PSG?
To put things into perspective, we need to understand the basics of Lionel Messi’s time at Inter Miami FC so far. The Argentine footballer has played only four games for the American club, but he’s already been off to a fairytale start with seven goals to his tally. In stark contrast, he scored only six league goals in his debut season at PSG.
Despite winning two consecutive Ligue 1 titles, Messi’s time in Paris is a tad bit forgettable compared to his otherwise unparalleled legacy. The team could not win the coveted UEFA Champions League despite boasting an attack spearheaded by Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar Jr.
The 36-year-old footballer’s friendship with Inter Miami FC’s co-owner and retired superstar David Beckham is also a significant factor behind his happiness. He reunited with his old Barca teammates, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, to make things better.
Following his shock exit from his boyhood club FC Barcelona, the way he joined PSG was also a bit sudden. Compare that to the way he joined Inter Miami FC after a lot of deliberation and, of course, winning the World Cup and completing football – the smile makes sense now, doesn’t it?
Does the Smile Count really add up?
As audacious as it sounds, it’s difficult to entirely rule out the possibility that these enthusiastic fans actually sat down and took the time to compare all the footage of Messi smiling at his present and former clubs.
However, given how rare it was to watch Messi playing with complete satisfaction at the French club, it’s safe to say that he enjoys being at Miami, regardless of the smile count’s authenticity.
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