Lionel Messi was unveiled as an Inter Miami CF player this past Sunday, and is now ready to make his debut this Friday as Leagues Cup 2023 kicks off. But he won’t be the first in the family to take to the field in a CONCACAF tournament, as Cruz Azul once lined up in attack with a relative of the former Barcelona man. Let’s take a look at how it went for him.
The Argentinian forward Maximiliano Biancucchi arrived at La Máquina ahead of the 2010 Bicentenario campaign, and is none other than the cousin of Lionel Messi. He was born on September 15, 1984, in Rosario Argentina, and started his professional soccer career with Libertad in Paraguay.
Biancucchi signed for the Mexican outfit shortly after Lionel Messi was crowned the 2009 Ballon d’Or winner. In one of his first press conferences, the center-forward sought to distance himself: “I know that I’m not here because I’m Messi’s cousin. I believe in my abilities and I know that I can contribute to Cruz Azul. I’ll be the one who’s out on the pitch - sometimes the comparisons can be tedious, but it’s a privilege to be Messi’s cousin”.
Biancucchi’s professional career
He started out in 2004 with Libertad, and up until 2007 he would turn out for four other Paraguayan teams: Club General, Tacuary FBC, Fernando and Luqueño.
On July 1 of that year he signed for Flamengo, where he was able to find some consistency over the next two and a half seasons. After handing in a transfer request over playing time concerns, Biancucchi made the move to Cruz Azul.
With La Máquina, the Argentinian striker stayed for two half-seasons, playing in 26 league games and scoring three goals in 1173 minutes.
The striker’s next move was a return to Paraguay and played at Olimpia for two seasons, during which he made 62 league appearances, scored 12 times, and won the Clausura 2011 title.
In 2013 he went back to Brazil to join Vitória, and a year later he signed for Bahia, a club with whom he was relegated to Serie B. Two years, later Biancucchi was released and returned to Olimpia for the 2016 Clausura season.
Six months later he terminated his contract, as he found himself on the sidelines of the squad. He was then at Rubio Ñú, the last professional club he played for, which he left in July 2017.
Biancucchi and his time at Cruz Azul
The Argentinian striker did not arrive to much fanfare, but he was keen to make his mark: "I know the responsibility that comes with being at a big club - you need to win the championship, they demand that you win and here is no exception. In addition, this is a great squad that plays good football, they’ve reached finals, and when you arrive at a big club you have the obligation to contribute and be at your best".
Although he did not go unnoticed at the club, his time there was nevertheless underwhelming. He played 37 times in all competitions but could not nail down a regular spot. In total, Biancucchi scored six goals, made six assists and received four yellow cards.
It just so happens to be that Messi's first match in North America will be in Leagues Cup 2023 against Cruz Azul, which begs the question: who will Biancucchi be rooting for?
