Inter Miami youngster Facundo Farias went to extreme lengths for a chance to play alongside seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
Messi called time on his spell in Europe this summer, as he left Paris Saint Germain to join the David Beckham-owned Inter Miami.
At the Florida club, Messi has been a revelation, as he has revived the team back to winning ways as they recently won the Leagues Cup.
Another little-known player who also recently joined Inter Miami is Facundo Farias, whose family had to make some huge sacrifices to help him see out his dream.
As reported on The Athletic, Farias narrated how he had to convince his partner to give up her education so the couple can move to Florida for his Inter Miami transfer.
"She was studying her major but we had to move here," the 21-year old said.
"She wanted to kill me! But I told her, 'We're going to play with Messi!'"
An opportunity too good to pass out
Farias hails from the humble town of Los Hornos, located in Santa Fe, Argentina.
Notably, Santa Fe holds football in high regard, and the sport is highly enjoyed in the small city.
Because of Farias' early interest in the sport, his mother enrolled him in local football academy Corinthians de Santa Fe before passing away when he was just 10.
Prior to his move to Inter Miami, Farias had never left Argentina, but he is reportedly very happy with life in America at the moment.
"We played with bare feet because we didn't want to ruin the shoes that we had," Farías tells The Athletic. "My mother was always at my side...I grew up.
Farias and his partner welcomed their first child in June 2023, just months after he secured a move to Inter Miami.
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