Leonardo Frugis Afonso, 23, has been out of Brazil for over ten years. With her family (father businessman, mother, older sister, younger brother), she moved to Boca Raton (USA) and touched her life there.
Good ball since boy, he joined his studies football, acting at Boca United, a soccer club in the city of Florida dedicated to playing players.
The good performances in Juvenile Championships caught the attention of Philadelphia Union, who recruited him in 2018 to work in the grassroots categories. He returned to Florida a year later to play at the base of Inter Miami, a newly founded team that has English David Beckham as owner.
In 2020, he migrated again to attend international relations at the University of Virginia, starting to work in university football by Virginia Cavaliers. Again, he stressed.
Fast striker who has good movement, a destro one who plays on the left, and aware that in modern football it is also necessary to give hard on the mark, Leo Afonso, as he is known, was chosen by Inter Miami in the second round of the players (“Draft”) that MLS (Major League Soccer, championship with the main teams of US and Canada) did in 2023.
The only Brazilian on the squad, the fan of Neymar and Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal and Brazilian National Team striker) has fought for space in the team whose main name Lionel Messi, 37, eight times elected the best in the world, World Cup champion with Argentina and one of the best footballers in history.
Shirt 22 (was already 7 and 73) claims not to be close to Messi – that, like him, is called Leo – but emphasizes more with the star than with the family, due to the routine of training and games and living in Fort Lauderdale, home of Inter Miami.
Parents and brother live in Delray Beach, about 40 km away, and their sister in New York.
Inter Miami is one of the participants of the new 32 teams organized by FIFA clubs, which many have agreed to call Supermundial (and now the Club World Cup) and starts on Saturday (14), with the team facing Al Ahly, from Egypt.
In the group stage, one of the US team’s opponents will be Palmeiras. Leo Afonso does not reveal the team for which he cheers, but his mother is Palmeirense, which can give rise to guess.
In this interview with the blog, Leo Afonso talks about his expectations for Supermundial, reveals childhood idols, addresses the dream of playing in Europe and remembers the day Messi surprised him before a Brazil x Argentina.
What is your expectation for the first Club World Cup, which will be in the US, where do you play?
I look forward to the beginning of the games, not to play. Our expectation … we don’t have much expectation. Of course we want to win the games, but without a concrete expectation in the club to move to the next phase.
Is there anything specific to say about Palmeiras?
We didn’t even talk much about Palmeiras, we are focused on the first game, which will be against the Egyptian team [Al Ahly]. It’s been a little time since I have seen Palmeiras play, so it’s hard to talk about some player, but for me it will be really cool to play against Stephen.
What is your childhood team and your idols in football?
I have a team, but I won’t talk to which team I hope is my preference. I would like to see, when I was younger, Neymar, the [Luis] Suárez [atacante uruguaio que está no Inter Miami]the kaka. Are my top 3. Currently, besides Neymar, I like the [Gabriel] Martinelli [atacante do Arsenal e da seleção brasileira].
What is your level of contact with Messi? Are you close?
We are not best friends, but we are teammates, I see him more than I see my parents. We have a good relationship in everyday life, he is good people, we train together.
Have you ever had a conversation you and he, about football or other subject?
This year, when Brazil went to play with Argentina [derrota brasileira por 4 a 1 nas Eliminatórias da Copa de 2026]I asked who he thought he was going to win, and he said he didn’t know. It was very funny to me, because I was sure he was going to say that Argentina was going to win, and he said he didn’t know.
Straight for me is the way he trains. Over the weekend, it is scoring and assisting. Arrives on Monday, is ‘destroying’ in training
How is Messi in everyday life? And on games days?
He is quieter in everyday life. On the day of the game, it’s a leader, is always talking and motivating everyone for us to win. Tell everyone calm, play ball, that we will be able to win. And striking to me is the way he trains. Over the weekend, it is scoring and assisting, arriving on Monday is “destroying” in training. This is very striking, shows why he arrived where he arrived.
Does he have any superstition?
I never realized anything. But there must be something, every player has something. I have. Before the game, I like to pray a little, I see in my head the position that I will be playing and do some good action: score a goal, dribble someone. Think about the positive.
Have you ever asked for an autograph for Messi?
At the end of last year, I ordered a signed T -shirt and he gave me. The staff [jogadores do Inter Miami] Asks for everyday life, “an autograph for a friend”, has no problem.
Who do you have more proximity to the team with, and why?
There are two boys on the team that are also new, Noah Allen [21 anos]in a very good season, and Ian Fray [22 anos]in very good season too. We are closer because you played at Inter Miami’s base before going up to the professional. I’ve known them for a long time.
You used the 73 shirt at Inter Miami last year, now you are with 22. Why did you change?
When I arrived at the club, in team B they gave me 7, and on the first team they gave me 73, they didn’t ask which one I wanted, they gave this one. Earlier this year, I chose 22. [O número] It was open, that’s what I used at the base, I thought it would be nice to use the 22 again.
What can you talk about Inter Miami’s coach, Argentine Javier Mascherano?
We had not very good results in the last two months in US leagues, but his tactics are very good, he is a very good coach. In paper, everything makes sense. It missed a little luck in these games that we didn’t win. He gives me tips on what to do every week.
You have had little time time. How do you deal with it?
Any professional player worldwide wants to play, it’s hard not to be playing. I am every day working harder to be able to play more minutes.
How do you evaluate your characteristics as a player? What is good and what you need to improve?
I have a strong kick, I can dribble on one against one, hard work out of attack, defending. I think I need … I want to score goals, but I’m very hurry, I need to be a little calmer [nas finalizações].
Whose position do you dispute the position with?
Who plays on the left is the [venezuelano] Tablasco Segovia.
Do you play more than him?
(laughs) Each one has their opinion, I don’t know.
What is your career goals?
The most important thing is that I am improving every day. Obviously, I want to have more minutes in the games, score more goals, show that I can play at this level. For the coming years I don’t know, God who knows what will happen. What matters is that I am focused on improving every day and waiting for a chance to make an impact.
If you could choose a team to play in the future, which one would it be?
My dream has always been to play in Europe, so playing on a team in England is a dream I have. I always dreamed of playing on Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, in the largest in England. And in Brazil it would be really cool because my family is all there, without my parents and my brothers, so it would be very special. It can be any team from Sao Paulo.
Your birthday is on July 13, the day of the Club World Cup final.
It would be a great birthday gift to be in the final (laughs). We are going day a day, play per game, let’s see what happens.
