Fans Go Wild as Lionel Messi Trains in Spain

More than 20,000 fans came to watch Lionel Messi play in an open training in Elche, Spain, before their match with Angola. Messi, a world star and the former Barcelona player, praised the crowd of his warm reception and that they continue to make him excited.

When a One Hour Practice Turned into a Festival

The sun was yet to rise and the crowd of Lionel Messi and Argentina national football team supporters had already crowded the stands in Elche, Spain. Their friendly against Angola was scheduled to take place after what was to be an ordinary training session. More than 20,000 fans appeared, and waving flags, singing songs, hoping to see their hero. It was more of a final in the world cup than a weekday training.

Hacía tiempo que no venía por acá y, la verdad, el cariño que me mostraron siempre en cada lugar al que fui todavía me emociona. Muchas gracias a todos los que vinieron hoy, había muchísimos argentinos también!!! Siempre es un gusto volver a verlos!! pic.twitter.com/Wh1blKYrsm

— Leo Messi (@leomessisite) November 13, 2025

Since the original whistle the atmosphere in the stadium was explosive. When Lionel Messi received the ball, the crowd screamed every time. A warm-up that should have been a quiet one was like a football festival in itself.

People sang the national anthem of Argentina, and a huge banner with a text Coronados de gloria vivamos was stretched over the stands. The incident was a reminder to everybody that football is not merely a game. It is a feeling, a culture, and affiliation simultaneously.

The moment was even more special because of the reaction of Messi. He smiled when he was given a jersey with his name on it on which he had an Elche name on it and put his hands on his head in surprise. The act immediately became viral on the internet.

La reacción de Messi al ver su camiseta del Elche CF 🤯💚 pic.twitter.com/DyyAfjlFqZ

— Elche Club de Fútbol (@elchecf) November 13, 2025

It was sincere and heart-felt. This brief training exercise was an outburst to the international connectivity between Lionel Messi and the fans. To some hours Elche was a mini Buenos Aires. It demonstrated the ability of football to unite people regardless of their location.

Why This Matters

This was because I could see thousands of fans attending a training session reminding me of how football has transformed. No longer it is about matches or trophies. It is of those times when people are brought together and build common memories.

Even a simple practice could be transformed into a celebration as the open training in Elche demonstrated. The presence of Lionel Messi attracted both crowds of Argentinians and the locals and united cultures and interests. It demonstrated how sport has the power to bond people together in an aspect that we tend to ignore.

The moment was well captured by Messi, himself after the fact. He thanked the fans of their love and it was emotional to take a flight back to Spain. Such sincerity was the reason why people still admire him. This was the moment when it was proven that the magic of football is not about the goals or wins.

It lies in the human relationships that it fosters. Lionel Messi did not just train that morning. He took them back to the reason why football is home to most people.