Euro Championship - Qualification · Midfielder · #8 · Portugal · 28 yrs
During his presentation, new Inter Miami star Casemiro filled Lionel Messi with praise: "Messi is one of the gods, if not the god of football." Casemiro has emerged as Inter Miami’s marquee addition of the 2026 summer transfer window, instantly filling the high-profile defensive midfield void the club struggled to replace. Set to share the pitch with Lionel Messi, the Brazilian superstar offered glowing praise during his official introduction: “Messi is one of the gods, if not the god of football.“ Following his starting run with Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, Casemiro opted to join Inter Miami in free agency, providing the Herons with a proven defensive anchor in the wake of Sergio Busquets’ retirement. Although the 34-year-old made his club debut last Saturday, logging a full 90 minutes in a 1-0 road victory over CF Montreal, his formal unveiling took place Thursday at Nu Stadium. During Thursday’s press conference, as reported by journalist José Armando, Casemiro spoke passionately about teaming up with Messi: “I am living a dream to play with one of the greatest of all time. I want to enjoy it, I want to help him continue winning because he is a winner. He teams up with another player who wants to win, who wants to compete. In the end, the margin between winning and losing is always very close, we know that, but we want to compete, and we want to compete.“ Casemiro expressed gratitude to managing owner Jorge Mas and co-owner David Beckham, noting that despite lucrative interest from European suitors, South Florida was his top priority. “I had many options—I had offers in Italy, I had many teams reaching out—but I am exactly where I want to be,” he stated. Casemiro sobre la oportunidad de jugar con Messi: "Quiero ayudarle a seguir ganando; es el Dios del fútbol"#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/9Lxx6yGgPI— José Armando (@Jarm21) July 30, 2026 He concluded by placing Messi among the most influential figures in sports history: “I want to enjoy that, being with him, making him win, making him greater; he is one of the gods, if not the god of football. So I want to enjoy it with him and keep winning with him.“ Since Busquets hung up his boots, Inter Miami struggled to replicate the midfield balance that drove their previous championship runs, a vulnerability Casemiro’s presence is expected to resolve. The five-time Champions League winner inked a deal through June 2027 that includes a club option through 2029. Casemiro joins exclusive club to play alongside Messi and Ronaldo During their prime years in Europe, Messi and Casemiro shared an intense rivalry on opposite sides of El Clasico, featuring in epic Barcelona–Real Madrid clashes alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as heated international battles between Argentina and Brazil. Now in the twilight of his career, the decorated midfielder finds himself partnering with the player he once spent years trying to suppress. With the move, Casemiro becomes just the 28th player in soccer history to play alongside both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is also the eighth former Real Madrid player to subsequently share a locker room with Messi, joining Angel Di Maria, Sergio Ramos, Gonzalo Higuain, Achraf Hakimi, Keylor Navas, Pablo Sarabia, Fernando Gago, and Ezequiel Garay. Complete List of Players to Play with Both Messi and Ronaldo Angel Di MariaGerard PiqueSergio RamosPaulo DybalaGonzalo HiguainCarlos TevezAchraf Hakimi Keylor NavasDecoVitinhaHenrik LarssonMartin CaceresMiralem PjanicArthur MeloNelson SemedoAndre GomesDanilo PereiraNuno MendesRenato SanchesFrancisco TrincaoPablo SarabiaAlejandro GarnachoLisandro Martinez Gabriel HeinzeFernando GagoEzequiel GarayGonzalo MartinezCasemiro
Casemiro appears set to begin a new chapter of his career after agreeing to join Inter Miami, a move that would see the experienced Brazilian midfielder continue playing at the highest level alongside Lionel Messi after years of sharing the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo. Casemiro appears set to begin a new chapter of his career after agreeing to join Inter Miami, a move that would see the experienced Brazilian midfielder continue playing at the highest level alongside Lionel Messi after years of sharing the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo. The transfer has generated excitement for more than just its soccer implications, as it would also place the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star into a unique piece of soccer history. With Messi already leading Inter Miami’s ambitious project and Ronaldo having shared some of Casemiro‘s greatest triumphs at Real Madrid, the transfer represents another landmark moment in the Brazilian’s decorated career. While the official announcement is still pending, reports indicate that all major details have already been agreed. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano: “Inter Miami complete deal to sign Casemiro as new midfielder, here we go! Verbal agreement sealed with all parties involved and all formal steps resolved, now waiting to sign and announce the Brazilian.” The reported agreement follows months of speculation linking Casemiro with Major League Soccer. Although several clubs, including LA Galaxy and teams from the Saudi Pro League, were credited with interest, Inter Miami ultimately won the race for one of the world’s most accomplished defensive midfielders. 🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Inter Miami complete deal to sign Casemiro as new midfielder, here we go!Verbal agreement sealed with all parties involved and all formal steps resolved, now waiting to sign and announce the Brazilian.Casemiro wants to play with Messi. Future in MLS. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/gHty3SWAIM— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2026 Casemiro is expected to arrive as a free agent following the expiration of his Manchester United contract. The proposed three-year deal would reunite him with several familiar faces from Spanish soccer, including Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul, while strengthening an area the Herons have sought to improve since Sergio Busquets’ retirement. Casemiro set to join an exclusive soccer club Beyond the transfer itself, the Brazilian veteran’s move carries another remarkable significance. By joining Inter Miami and becoming Messi’s teammate, he will become part of an elite group of just 27 players who have played alongside both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during their senior careers. Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF poses with Carlos Casemiro The list includes some of the biggest names of the modern era, such as Angel Di Maria, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Paulo Dybala, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Keylor Navas, Achraf Hakimi, Deco, Miralem Pjanic, Arthur Melo, Lisandro Martinez, Alejandro Garnacho, and Henrik Larsson, among others. No.PlayerPlayed with Lionel Messi atPlayed with Cristiano Ronaldo at1.Angel Di MariaArgentina / PSGReal Madrid2.Gerard PiqueBarcelonaManchester United3.Sergio RamosPSGReal Madrid4.Paulo DybalaArgentinaJuventus5.Gonzalo HiguainArgentinaReal Madrid / Juventus6.Carlos TevezArgentinaManchester United7.Achraf HakimiPSGReal Madrid8.Keylor NavasPSGReal Madrid9.DecoBarcelonaPortugal10.VitinhaPSGPortugal11.Henrik LarssonBarcelonaManchester United12.Martin CaceresBarcelonaJuventus13.Miralem PjanicBarcelonaJuventus14.Arthur MeloBarcelonaJuventus15.Nelson SemedoBarcelonaPortugal16.Andre GomesBarcelonaPortugal17.Danilo PereiraPSGPortugal18.Nuno MendesPSGPortugal19.Renato SanchesPSGPortugal20.Francisco TrincaoBarcelonaPortugal21Pablo SarabiaPSGReal Madrid22..Alejandro GarnachoArgentinaManchester United23.Lisandro MartinezArgentinaManchester United24.Gabriel HeinzeArgentinaManchester United25.Fernando GagoArgentinaReal Madrid26.Ezequiel GarayArgentinaReal Madrid27.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
