Lionel Messi’s new nemesis? Bucks star and Nashville SC minority owner Giannis Antetokounmpo performs Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘SIU’ celebration – mimicking Inter Miami star’s biggest rival ahead of Leagues Cup final

Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar and minority owner in Nashville SC, had some fun at the expense of Lionel Messi ahead of Saturday’s Leagues final by following the Inter Miami star’s biggest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. imitate.

The six-foot-tall Antetokounmpo was hard to miss on the field before the championship game, doing television interviews and scoring a free-kick from about 30 yards out.

To celebrate his impromptu goal, Antetokounmpo did the pirouetting ‘SIU’ celebration popularized by Ronaldo. Cameras didn’t seem to capture Messi’s reaction, but Antetokounmpo’s brother and teammate, Thanasis, laughed.

The Antetokounmpo brothers, the sons of a former Nigerian Football Federation footballer, were born in Athens and grew up in Greece when the country’s national team won the 2004 European Cup. In fact, Giannis’ eldest brother, Francis, has been a professional football player, while another brother Kostas plays basketball for Fenerbahçe in Istanbul – the same sports club that has won 28 Turkish football titles.

But despite his family’s penchant for football, Giannis hadn’t attended a Nashville SC game until Saturday, when Messi and Inter Miami came to town to play for the Leagues Cup title.

“It was a great experience,” Antetokounmpo told Apple TV before the game. “I haven’t had the time to enjoy it as much because of course it’s the season, and obviously I’ve been extremely busy with my kids, things I do off the field, training and getting better, but this was the only chance that I could come and watch this game with my little brother.

“I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to come to a game this big,” he continued. “With Lionel Messi, you know, playing against us, one of the best players ever to play this game, and probably this will be the first time in my life that I’m fighting him. So Nashville, we’re gonna get this one.”

Giannis, a former NBA champion and MVP of the 2021 Finals, said he hopes Nashville players appreciate the opportunity they got on Saturday.

“At the end of the day, when I was in the NBA Finals two years ago, I loved every minute of it,” he said. “You will never get this moment back. You can never take it for granted.’

Giannis, along with NHL and Nashville Predators star Filip Forsberg, became minority owners of Nashville SC in March.

He is one of several players with interests in MLS teams, including Kevin Durant (Philadelphia Union) and James Harden (Houston Dynamo).