David Ruíz shared only a couple of seconds on the field with Lionel Andrés Messi in the victory against **Cruz Azul** in the **2023 Leagues Cup**. It is that the coach Gerardo el “Tata” Martino moved the bench in the 54th minute of the match and while the Argentine striker stepped on the playing field, the youth came out. But it is not the first time they have played together and, in fact, Ruíz is related to the victory of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Ruíz is 19 years old, was born in the United States, but plays for the Honduran Under 20 team. He was formed in the youth ranks of Inter Miami FC and on April 28 of this year he was promoted to the top squad. He entered the starting eleven this Friday in the match against Cruz Azul, in which his team won 2-1, with a wonderful goal from Messi in stoppage time.
He played until minute 54, when the coach made three changes together: Messi for Benja Cremaschi, Sergio Busquets for Ruíz and Josef Martínez for Leonardo Campana. But with Messi they have known each other before.
In September 2022, before Leo was crowned World Champion, the Argentine National Team was finalizing details of the squad list. Obviously, Messi was not in doubt, since he was the captain and star of that team, but Lionel Scaloni, coach of the selected team, had to clear up some doubts about the squad. The Argentine Soccer Association (AFA) organized a tour of the United States with two friendlies against Honduras and Jamaica.
In those matches, Scaloni requested that some sparring partners join the training sessions to be able to try out work with the ball and different tactics. Being in Miami, the Inter youth team joined and, among them, was David Ruíz. The young man of Honduran descent confronted his "idols" and froze that September 26 in a post on his Instagram that months later would have another meaning.
“First of all, I want to thank God for this incredible opportunity, it is a dream come true, words cannot explain what I feel. I am very grateful for having been able to play alongside my idols and meet the best player in history", wrote the youth.
Although at that time Messi had not yet won the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Ruíz was in the last minutes of preparation for the team that would establish itself as the best on the planet.
He trained with them. His dream, which until then was only a practice with the best in the world, changed in just 10 months. Today they are teammates and Messi's gestures bring him closer to the group. The turns of life -and of football- brought them together on the field and it seems that they will be even until, at least, 2025.
