The Miami Open 2025 served up more than just world-class tennis this Friday—it delivered an unforgettable crossover between two of the greatest athletes of all time: Lionel Messi and Novak Djokovic.

Messi, accompanied by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children, was in attendance at Hard Rock Stadium to watch Djokovic defeat Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals, securing a spot in his 60th career Masters 1000 final.

Legends Exchange Jerseys in Heartwarming Gesture

Following the match, Djokovic shared a series of photos on social media capturing his emotional meeting with Messi. Also present was Argentine tennis legend Juan Martín Del Potro, adding to the star-studded moment.

In a gesture of mutual respect, Djokovic gifted Messi a signed green tennis shirt inscribed with a special message:
“To the Messi family, with love.”

In return, Messi presented the Serbian champion with his pink Inter Miami No. 10 jersey, a symbol of his new chapter in Major League Soccer.

The jersey swap quickly went viral, celebrated by fans around the globe as a symbol of mutual admiration and humility between two generational icons.

Djokovic: “It Was an Honor to Play in Front of Messi”

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Djokovic couldn’t hide his excitement about Messi’s visit:

“It was a huge honor to play in front of Messi. I saw him with his family in the stands—it added a bit of extra pressure,” he said with a smile.

Messi’s appearance at the Miami Open continues his trend of high-profile outings in the city since joining Inter Miami, further cementing his status as a global sports icon.

As Djokovic gears up for his 100th career title, and Messi continues to shine in MLS, this meeting between two legends serves as a reminder of the unifying power of sport across disciplines.