Topics: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, MLS, Argentina
Lionel Messi inadvertently paid for a fan's upcoming knee surgery - without even spending a penny himself.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has produced many acts of charity and heroism over the years but although this was technically not one of them, Amanda Libre from New Jersey has benefitted massively from his sheer stardom.
Messi has already been a revelation across the pond after signing for Inter Miami, scoring seven goals in four games and completely transforming the Herons.
The numbers for Apple TV's MLS Season Pass have gone through the roof since he put pen to paper and demand for tickets has been nothing short of incredible.
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Many are selling for outrageous prices, such is the clamour to see the World Cup winner in the flesh. And one supporter, Amanda Libre, decided to cash in order to cover the costs for her knee surgery.
Messi, who scored twice in his first appearance on the road for Inter in a thrilling eight-goal thriller with FC Dallas, is slated to play against New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull Arena in the MLS on 27 August.
Libre has a season ticket and would ordinarily be behind the goal to see Messi strut his stuff.
However, she is having surgery on a torn meniscus on August 18 and with the "crazy" healthcare system, has decided to make the most of 'Messi Mania'.
"I have season tickets for Red Bull games and I usually go to all of them but I noticed as soon as they even started talking about [Lionel] Messi signing for Inter Miami, the tickets for the Miami game started to go up like crazy," she told The Mirror.
"I'm just in the supporters section behind the goal, which is the cheapest ticket and some of them are on sale for like $700 but I just wanted to sell it.
"Basically what happened was I have a really high deductible so I was paying down that deductible with all the other treatment I was getting and my ACL surgery is way more than $500 but I have about $500 left on my deductible I have to pay that to get the surgery, then my insurance covers the rest."
$505 (£396) is the amount she sold her ticket for, though TicketMaster took a $50 cut. But it's a savvy bit of business from Libre, who has already seen Messi live before for Argentina and Brazil.
She added: "So I'm not too disappointed to miss the game - I will just watch it on the TV. I mean he's not on my team and so I'm rooting against him."
Messi and Inter are next in action on Friday when they contest the Leagues Cup quarter-final against Charlotte FC.
