Kily Gonzalez Joins Elite Group as Third Former Messi Teammate to Manage Inter Miami Star

Lionel Messi is preparing for his third coaching change at Inter Miami, as Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez takes over as head coach, succeeding Guillermo Hoyos. The appointment places Gonzalez in an exceptionally rare category within world football: only the third person to have played alongside Messi before managing him.

On Thursday, August 27, Inter Miami confirmed in an official statement that Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez had been appointed as the club’s new first-team head coach. While the length of his contract has not been disclosed, the former Argentina international will officially take charge of the team once his work authorization is processed.

A former international teammate of Messi, Gonzalez now belongs to an exclusive group of figures who have transitioned from sharing the pitch with the Argentine captain to managing him from the sideline. He follows Lionel Scaloni, who set the precedent with the Argentina national team, and Javier Mascherano, who recently led Inter Miami before his departure.

The most high-profile member of that group is Mascherano, who ranks fifth in the all-time list of players who have appeared alongside Messi, with 414 shared matches. The defender and forward built a strong partnership with Argentina’s senior national team, won Olympic gold together at the 2008 Beijing Games, and were key figures during Barcelona’s dominant era. Their connection was renewed when Mascherano was appointed Inter Miami head coach in 2025.

Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Luis Suarez of Barcelona celebrate with the UEFA Champions League trophy. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Scaloni started the trend when he was appointed Argentina head coach in 2018, eventually guiding Messi to his first major international titles with the Albiceleste. Before stepping into management, Scaloni shared the pitch with Messi during the forward’s brief 2005 international debut against Hungary, a 2006 friendly against Angola, and their final appearance together against Mexico at the 2006 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Kily Gonzalez played alongside Messi while representing Argentina during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, appearing with the young star in a 2-0 victory over Peru and a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay, the latter marking Gonzalez’s final international appearance. While former teammates such as Pablo Aimar, Walter Samuel, and Roberto Ayala have worked with Messi as assistant coaches within the Argentina setup, the group of head coaches who once played alongside him remains limited to Scaloni, Mascherano, and now Gonzalez.

Messi’s Output Under Familiar Faces

Being managed by former teammates reflects Messi’s remarkable career longevity while creating a distinctive dynamic within the squad. Despite the unusual nature of the relationship, the Argentine forward has consistently delivered elite-level performances under his former peers, setting a high standard for Gonzalez to meet in Miami.

During Scaloni’s tenure with Argentina, Messi appeared in 79 international matches, scoring 60 goals and providing 26 assists. Beyond the impressive individual statistics, their partnership produced historic results, including Messi’s first major international titles: the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa America.

Mascherano took charge of Inter Miami ahead of the 2025 season following Gerardo Martino’s exit and concluded his tenure in April 2026. Across 57 matches under his leadership, Messi tallied 51 goals and 25 assists for the Herons, a run highlighted by the club winning its first MLS Cup title at the end of 2025.

Source link