Messi’s here! Celebrate with Messi-themed food, drink & more in South Florida

Feeling Messi Madness? Soccer superstar — and Argentina World Cup champion — Lionel Messi is finally here, so now it’s time to celebrate!

And there are plenty of places where you can do just that. With this handy guide, you can eat, drink and be merry while you count the days till his first game in that pristine pink, black and white jersey.

Who wants a burger?

You’re in luck, because there are options! The Hard Rock Cafes in Hollywood and downtown Miami invite you to “experience the taste of victory” with a special Messi Burger, a double stack loaded with provolone cheese, sliced chorizo, caramelized red onion, lettuce, tomato, a sunny-side-up egg and a “spicy smoky sauce.” On a toasted brioche bun. Plus french fries. Wow, that’s goals right there.

“We had the opportunity to build and create the burger with him, you know?” says Elena Alvarez, vice president of sales and marketing for Hard Rock International. “We created the burger with 10 ingredients to commemorate his (jersey) number, No. 10.”

That runny egg makes it extra-special, she says. When you smash it all together, “then it gets ‘messy,’ right?” Wink, wink. Visit hardrockcafe.com/messi-burger-new.aspx.

Up in Palm Beach County, Argentinian Grill also scores big points in the fandom with its Double Cheese Burger Messi.

The Boca Raton eatery cooks up two Black Angus beef patties, two slices of cheese, plus bacon, egg, caramelized onion, mayo and ketchup. It comes with fries too, of course, because no champion’s meal is complete without them. Visit argentiniangrill.us.

Get your gear

Hard Rock’s partnership with Leo doesn’t stop at burgers. They’ve also got The Messi Collection, so you can “Live Greatness” (their words, not ours). That’s asking a lot from fashion, surely, but there is quite the selection, including the Messi Adult Fit Navy Hoodie, Messi Beanie in Navy and White, Messi Bucket Hat in Khaki, Messi Drawstring Bag and Water Bottle … you get the picture. There’s even a Messi Guitar Pin. Go nuts! Visit shop.hardrock.com/new/the-messi-collection.

Since we’re talking gear, this is important too: Argentines are very serious about their “mate gear,” or kit. If you know anything about Messi, you know he’s never without his special herbal beverage of choice. To drink it, you need a mate gourd and a thermos for hot water, at the very least. Kits can also come with a “yerbera” (container for the mate leaves), “azucarera” (container for sugar) and a “bombilla” (metal straw).

Yes, you could buy all these things separately, but one online business, Argentina Select, has five- and six-piece sets sporting his image, with everything necessary for you to channel your inner Messi. There’s even one showing him kissing the FIFA World Cup trophy, if that’s your thing. Visit argentinaselect.com (or find other models at sites like etsy.com and ebay.com).

Not ready for the whole set? (Or not ready to try mate, which is certainly an acquired taste … ) Get just the thermos and use it for any liquid. The Latin food distribution company Amigofoods, headquartered in Doral, has a 1-liter Lumilagro Luminox steel thermos dedicated to the 2022 “Mundial” champs, with Messi front and center. Visit amigofoods.com/lumilagro-luminox.html.

Speaking of drinks …

Ok, let’s shift gears, leave the mate behind and go for the good stuff: the Messi Favorito Mojito.

The Knife Restaurant, which has two locations in Miami and one pending in Coral Springs, serves up this tall glass of yummy with Bacardi Rum, sugar and lime. Your choices are: classic, mango, strawberry or passion fruit. Choose wisely. Then, before you take that first sip, make sure to toast to all the Messi goals coming to Inter Miami this season. We hope.

You get to take home the glass as a keepsake, but be warned: It says The Knife, not Messi. Try not to be too disappointed. Visit thekniferestaurant.com.

Soccer field trip

Ready to embark on a South Florida Messi tour? If you’re a true diehard, you won’t mind driving around town.

First stop: The brick-painted mural at Miami’s Fiorito Argentinian restaurant. Created by local artist Claudio Picasso, it’s been there for years, even before Messi found the ultimate glory by winning three major international tournaments for his country.

Maximiliano Alvarez, who co-owns Fiorito with his brother, Cristian, couldn’t be prouder of this work of art, because he is a fan of Messi no matter what, “even if he had never won a trophy with Argentina.”

He says people love to see and be seen with it, so here’s your photo opportunity: Strike a pose, take a picture, see if Messi’s eyes follow you around as you move. Visit Facebook.com/fioritomiami.

While you’re down there, pop in at Parrilla Liberty on South Beach. The theme at this Argentine eatery is FUTBOL from top to bottom, and they’ve been visited by international greats including Brazil’s Ronaldinho and Adriano, and Argentina’s Carlos Tevez. The TVs are set to matches, and the walls are packed with framed photos and signed jerseys — so, naturally, Messi appears throughout. (There are even Leo cardboard cutouts. Another photo opp!) If you time it right, you could order yourself a Quilmes beer, maybe an empanada or two, and watch a game. Visit laparrillaliberty.com.

Another Messi mural? Yes, please. The new KAO Bar & Grill in Hallandale Beach proudly displays Leo’s likeness overlooking the dining room.

A creation of Argentine artist Falopapas, the face sketch includes the words: “Anda pa’ alla bobo!” (loose translation: Get lost, fool!) — from a viral meme that came out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Angry after a heated quarterfinals win over the Netherlands, he directed this statement at a Dutch player who was passing by while Messi was being interviewed. It’s an interesting choice of words to include in the mural, given that Leo is known for his (mostly) calm demeanor and has said he regrets the remark. But the internet has had a lot of fun with the statement, so maybe that’s where the artist was going with that … Visit kaobarandgrill.com.

Let’s talk Messi sightings. There are South Florida spots where Leo was once discovered and mobbed, er … greeted, by fans in recent years. Case in point: Fort Lauderdale’s Baires Grill. The Argentina captain dined at the Las Olas restaurant with the national team last September, just a few short months before they’d go on to win it all at the World Cup in December. When word of their presence got out, well, you can imagine … Visit bairesgrill.com.

The same thing happened in the Miami-Dade town of Surfside in 2021, when crowds gathered outside Cafe Ragazzi chanting “Dale campeon!” (Let’s go, champion!) at full throttle. Messi was sans team that time, and the scene got a little chaotic. The eatery, owned by Argentine-Venezuelan singer Ricardo Montaner, boasts a wall of celebrity photos inside (don’t think we need to tell you who’s there, right?). Visit caferagazzimiami.com.

If you stop by either place, try reenacting fans’ chants, take a peek inside and imagine you were there when …

Soon, Messi sightings may become a common occurrence throughout South Florida. But for now, enjoy these places, these burgers and drinks and souvenirs.

Of course, you can’t do all this in a day, or even a week. So, while you await Messi’s arrival, give yourself a month. Yes, that sounds about right.

Happy Messi Month, South Florida!