When acclaimed soccer writer Paul Tenorio followed Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team to Dallas for one of the superstar’s first road games in America in 2023, the scene outside the team’s Renaissance Plano hotel was strangely calm.

Scaloni openly discussed how closely he works with Messi on major decisions involving Argentina, leading many to wonder whether Martinez follows a similar approach with Ronaldo inside the Portugal camp.

Mbokazi was named as a starter in a team featuring Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Son Heung-min (LAFC) that will take on an All-Star team from Mexico's Liga MX in Charlotte, NC, on July 29.

Soccer fans got a rare treat in Aggieland as Lionel Messi and Argentina practiced at Kyle Field ahead of a match against Honduras. #KHOU #Messi #Argentina #Soccer

Both from humble beginnings, BBC Sport looks at how Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo became two of the greatest footballers of all time.