Brazilian midfielder Casemiro signed with Inter Miami last week as a free agent on a contract through the 2027 MLS season with an option until June 2029. The 34-year-old said he chose Miami over options in Italy and elsewhere solely to play alongside Lionel Messi, calling the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner the "god of football" and the best player of all time. "I want to help him keep winning because he is a winner," Casemiro told reporters at his introduction Thursday.

Since Messi joined in 2023, Miami has won the 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Supporters' Shield, and 2025 MLS Cup. Casemiro spent nine seasons at Real Madrid, where Messi's Barcelona were fierce rivals. "The amount of problems Messi gave me, of course I dreamed of playing with him," he said.

Casemiro debuted Saturday in a 1-0 win over CF Montreal and will play at Nu Stadium this Saturday against Columbus Crew. The reigning champions sit second in the Eastern Conference with 37 points, two behind Nashville SC. Messi, 37, has not played since the World Cup, where he scored eight goals but Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the final. He returned to training Wednesday, though his return date is uncertain. Casemiro played all five matches for Brazil, which exited to Norway in the round of 16.