Boys from Miami Lakes and the Country Club community who are shown at left play for the Inter Miami CF Academy’s teams, and train at the MLS team’s headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.
The academy selects the players and coaches them at no charge. The kids travel to games around the state, have competed in Argentina and the Dominican Republic and this year will play in Austin, TX.
Among the perks? Seeing Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi up close; his sons play for the academy. The young players began their soccer careers on Miami Lakes recreation teams and with Miami Lakes United travel team at Royal Oaks Park in town.