Hilarious clip shows injured Inter Miami defender Ian Fray dancing on crutches while Lionel Messi’s team celebrates Leagues Cup victory with victory over Nashville
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Hilarious footage from Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup final win shows injured defender Ian Fray joining his teammates in post-game festivities and dancing on crutches, just a few weeks after Lionel Messi dedicated a winning goal to him.
After the Herons defeated Nashville SC in an unusually long penalty shootout on Saturday night, the 21-year-old center-back made his way onto the field at Geodis Park to celebrate the club’s first-ever trophy in its five-year history.
He joined his teammates in a huddle after speaking with a member of Inter Miami’s medical staff and hopped on one leg while raising both of his crutches into the sky.
The defender, who’s considered as a hometown player, suffered a third ACL injury in three years during Inter Miami’s opening match of the Leagues Cup, which was also Messi’ debut for the club, against La Liga MX’s Cruz Azul on July 21.
Messi was interviewed after scoring a last-gap free-kick to give his new team a 2-1 win, and wished Fray a speedy recovery in his post-match comments at the time.
Ian Fray celebrated Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup final win by raising both crutches into the air
Lionel Messi, 36, wished Fray a speedy recovery earlier in the US domestic cup tournament
Fray, 20, has suffered three ACL tears in three years after coming through Miami’s youth ranks
In the 26th minute of the game, Fray went to ground under no contact and ended up leaving the pitch in tears.
The Florida-born player previously tore his ACL twice, including just a month into his professional career in 2021 and during the 2022 pre-season, bring his second season with Inter Miami’s senior team to a premature end after graduating from the club’s academy.
‘Let me dedicate this victory to Ian Fray, who was suffering in the locker room from the injury he sustained,’ said Messi after last month’s group stage victory over Cruz Azul.
‘He comes (back) from two serious injuries and today he has the bad luck to go through an injury again.’
Fray tore his ACL for a third time in Messi’s debut for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul on July 21
At the time, Messi’s heroics ended Miami’s seven losing streak, but Frey’s injury was a concern too.
The defender had turned into a first-team regular after recovering from his second ACL injury, but will now have to go through rehab for a third, and hopefully, final time.
Fray is eligible to represent the US men’s national team – the country of his birth and upbringing – or Jamaica, through his parents.
Messi, 36, is expected to feature in Miami’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal match against Cincinnati on Wednesday before finally making his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls three days later, on Saturday, August 26.
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