Lionel Messi confirms son Thiago has not joined Barcelona academy

Lionel Messi addressed rumors about his son Thiago joining FC Barcelona's La Masia after Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Atlético San Luis. Messi firmly responded to a question about Thiago's potential move, stating, 'No.' Thiago, 13, currently plays for the Miami academy, having previously been associated with Barcelona's youth programs and PSG's academy. Comparisons emerged noting Thiago's age parallels with Messi's own academy start, but these were deemed unfounded gossip. Messi continued to perform well, scoring twice and assisting in Miami's 4-2 victory over San Luis.

• 3:00 AMYahoo Sports — Lionel Messi denies viral rumor that son has joined Barcelona