According to Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, Lionel Messi has decision-making power over a key aspect of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicked off just a few days ago and has already delivered memorable matches that have captured the attention of fans around the world. Lionel Messi has played a major role in that, leading Inter Miami in the tournament’s opening match against Al Ahly. However, Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director revealed that the Argentine forward has a say in important organizational elements of the competition.
In an interview shared by Sporty, Sebastian Kehl discussed how some conditions at the Club World Cup differ from what Borussia Dortmund is used to in both the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League.
“The grass is different, it has a different height, a different quality,” said the former midfielder. However, he immediately downplayed those differences. “It’s nothing unusual when you go to new countries. We’ve been to the United States a lot, to Asia, and I think you adapt very quickly.”
Kehl then surprised many by speculating about organizational details of the tournament that had not been disclosed until now. “What’s special here is that I think Lionel Messi chooses the height of the grass,” he said casually, though he gave no further details regarding the origin or reasoning behind that assumption.
“I think where we’re training, it’s good. The grass is very short, but the guys are having a great time,” said the 45-year-old former German player. “The field is watered, the balls are different, but nothing that holds us back in any way.”
Messi and the fields in the United States
Sebastian Kehl’s comments about Lionel Messi’s role in deciding the length of the grass during Club World Cup matches come as a surprise, given that this is an area in which the Argentine forward had never previously been linked since his arrival in the United States in the summer of 2023.
In fact, the only connection between Messi and the league’s playing surfaces occurred early in his time in Major League Soccer. Back then, there was curiosity about how he would adapt to the fields in the league, many of which feature artificial turf—such as those used by Charlotte FC and New England Revolution—something uncommon in Europe. However, Leo has never publicly commented on the issue.
Borussia Dortmund in the Club World Cup
Kehl’s Borussia Dortmund had a disappointing start to the Club World Cup. On Tuesday, they drew 0-0 with Fluminense of Brazil at MetLife Stadium in what was the opening match for both teams in Group F, which also includes Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. The German side’s next match will be on Saturday against the South African club at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
From: bolavip.com
