Carlos Alcaraz presents Leonardo Messi and Inter Miami with MLS Eastern Conference champions trophy

From one champion to another!

Carlos Alcaraz and Lionel Messi had a championship reunion in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, with the ATP's world No. 1 presenting Messi and his Inter Miami CF team with Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference trophy after their 5-1 win over New York City FC.

Alcaraz accepted his second ATP year-end No. 1 trophy at the year-end Nitto ATP Finals in Turin earlier this month, and was on hand not just to present Messi with his first MLS postseason trophy, but also watch him make history.

The 38-year-old joined Inter Miami in 2023 on a two-and-a-half year contract, in an attempt to raise the profile of both the league and soccer in the U.S., and picked up an assist in his club's win—setting the record for all-time career assists in the process.

When the game began, Messi winked at Alcaraz when running onto the pitch, mimicking his acknowledgment of Alcaraz from their first-ever meeting at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards. The six-time Grand Slam singles champion later greeted the team's other stars including Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez—and a clip of the entrance racked up nearly 170,000 likes on MLS' official Instagram account.

Presented with a custom Miami jersey which reads "Carlitos," Alcaraz hugged it out with the winning players after handing the trophy over in a scene that also had social media buzzing.

"The GOAT and future GOAT of tennis," wrote one X user, while another dubbed it "a legendary crossover."

Alcaraz's offseason "side quests" have been a hit on social media after a 2025 year in which he posted a a 71-9 record and claimed a career-best eight titles, including two Grand Slam trophies. After also sitting courtside at a Miami Heat game earlier in November's final week, he'll participate that fans can watch on Tennis Channel or stream on the Tennis Channel app.