Meeting Messi, playing and winning in front of him was surreal

For most young footballers, the dream of standing face-to-face with Lionel Messi belongs firmly in the realm of fantasy. 

For one Cork footballer, however, that dream became reality last weekend when he traveled across the Atlantic to compete in the Mas+ Tournament in Miami, winning the event outright and shaking hands with the man widely regarded as the greatest of all time.

Cobh Ramblers player Evan Deasy, 20, was crowned 1v1 world champion, an experience he'll never forget.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” said Deasy. 

"To be there in front of the GOAT and shake hands with him is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. 

"That’s a story I’ll be able to tell my kids one day.” 

The road to Miami began months earlier when Deasy saw Dublin listed as one of the host cities for the qualifiers. 

Already a keen follower of Top Baller, he jumped at the opportunity. 

He ended up winning in Dublin, booking his ticket to the United States and setting himself on a journey that would span thousands of miles and bring family, football, and fulfillment together in an unforgettable way.

“The Travel alone was a test of endurance as I had the longest flight out of all the players,” he recalls. 

“From Cork to London, then London to Miami. I only arrived the day before the event.” 

There was, however, a silver lining. His mother and stepfather, who live in Connecticut, were able to fly down to Florida to watch him play. 

“I hadn’t seen them in nine months so the first thing I did was meet them for dinner. That made the whole experience even more special.” 

With family in the stands, he was determined to make the most of his moment. 

The format saw him pitted against well-known football content creators and emerging talents from across the globe. 

His opening match set the tone, a tense 3–2 victory over popular creator Kobi Thomas. 

“That gave me huge confidence,” he says.

The competition only grew fiercer, but so did his composure. 

Among the most memorable encounters was a clash with Timmy Abraham, brother of Roma and England striker Tammy Abraham. 

In a hard-fought match, the Cork teenager triumphed. 

By the time he reached the final, he was in full flow. 

“I was just focused on winning each game, I didn’t even realise my opponent hadn’t scored a point until after the final whistle. 

"To win 5–0 in the final was unbelievable.” 

The victory brought with it the ultimate reward: an introduction to Messi himself.

While Miami was a dream come true, his football journey started much earlier and on another continent. 

Having lived in the United States until age 15, he spent his formative years in youth academies with professional sides. 

At just 13, he was scouted by Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, representing their under-14 side and training in the same facilities used by the NFL’s New England Patriots.

“It was unreal playing almost every day in that stadium as a 13-year-old,” he says. 

“But it was tough mentally, too. I think that helped me develop the strength to block out outside noise and just focus on my football.” 

A year later, he moved closer to home to join Hartford Athletic’s under-15 squad. 

Competing in the USL Championship, the league just below MLS, Hartford provided a family-like atmosphere. 

“It was more personal, more of a family feel,” he reflects. 

“I’m really thankful to all the coaches and teammates I had there.” 

Three years ago, he made the decision to relocate to Ireland, where his father was based. 

The move, he explains, was partly motivated by the pathway it could open to professional football in Europe. 

“It’s easier to move to England from Ireland rather than America,” he says. 

“That was the main reason. I’d love to play in America again someday, but right now, I want to build a career in Europe.” 

Since then, he has been training regularly with Cobh senior squad, despite only recently turning 20. 

“This season has had its ups and downs,” he admits. 

“But being around senior players has helped me a lot physically, and that definitely gave me an edge in Miami.” 

There’s even a touch of fate to his story. Days before the Dublin qualifier, he was sent off in an under-20 match against Kerry following a mistimed challenge. 

It was his first red card, and he was gutted at the time. But when the tournament invite came through on the very same day he would have been suspended, he couldn’t help but see it differently. 

“I guess it was meant to be,” he says with a grin.

For now, he is savoring the experience — the competition, the victory, the handshake with Messi. 

But he also sees it as just one step in a much bigger journey. 

“I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity,” he says. 

“Hopefully it gets my name out there more. I just want to keep working, keep improving, and see where football takes me.” 

From Cork to Miami, from underage football in the US to shaking hands with Messi, his journey already reads like a storybook. 

But if his determination and talent are anything to go by, this is only the opening chapter.