Franco Colapinto has been on an absolute roll, and now he's got the ultimate seal of approval from none other than Lionel Messi. The Alpine driver turned heads at the Miami Grand Prix with a career-best seventh-place finish, but it was the support from Argentina's football legend that truly stole the show.

Just a week before the race, Colapinto visited Messi at Inter Miami's training ground, finally meeting his childhood hero. The connection was instant. "The truth is, I'd never had any contact with him," Messi shared on the podcast *Lo del Pollo*. "He gave me a helmet, and he was eager to meet me someday. We have mutual acquaintances, and the other day it finally happened. He's truly amazing."

Messi, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, didn't just offer kind words—he showed up in person at the Grand Prix with his family to cheer on his fellow Argentinian. For Colapinto, it was a moment he'll never forget. "Many dreams have come true in the last seven days," he said. "Seeing Leo here visiting, all the drivers were ready for the race, and I was with him in jeans. The fact that he came to support me with his whole family is very special. Seeing my idol and the hero of all Argentinians again was great."

That seventh-place finish wasn't just a personal best for Colapinto—it marked his strongest result since joining F1 and brought Alpine six valuable points in what's essentially his first full season with the French team. Riding the power of Mercedes' impressive 2026 engine, Alpine has shown real pace, and Colapinto has grown increasingly comfortable alongside teammate Pierre Gasly. While they're neck-and-neck on the season, Colapinto's adaptability is turning heads.

As Argentina's only driver on the F1 grid, Colapinto carries the hopes of a nation. Messi, who knows a thing or two about pressure, offered some sage advice. "I think he has to live his own story," Messi said. "And be prepared for a lot of things, because when you're in the public eye, things come at you from all sides—the good and the bad."

For Colapinto, the message is clear: this is just the beginning. "It's a great result, and it's good to give something positive to Argentinians," he said. "I'm very optimistic; this is a good start, and we're going for more." With Messi in his corner and momentum on his side, the sky's the limit.