SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos track & field program recently helped Make-A-Wish unveil a granted wish for eight-year-old Team Impact member Abel.
 
Abel's wish was to meet soccer superstar Lionel Messi, and with help from Make-A-Wish, that wish became a reality.
 
Like previous years, Abel was invited to the track & field program's Mangrum Invitational on March 28. At a break in the meet, Abel was invited to play a quick game of soccer, and if he scored, he'd receive a prize. After scoring, he received a box of gifts along with a QR code. After scanning the code, Abel was taken to a video inviting him to meet Messi and other Inter Miami CF players.
 
Along with 22 other children, Abel was invited to a four-day Make-A-Wish initiative held April 12-15 by Inter Miami CF and Royal Caribbean. There, Abel made his debut as an honorary Inter Miami CF player, taking the field through the player tunnel at Chase Stadium where he was greeted by Messi and the rest of the team.

"Abel was matched with our team through Team Impact, and we had a wonderful experience getting to know him and his family," CSUSM Head Track & Field Coach Torrey Olson said. "He has a wonderful, kind personality and it has been easy to root for him. We were thrilled to see him honored with this experience through Make-A-Wish and were more than happy to be a part of the reveal."
 

Gallery: (5-1-2025) Make-A-Wish Reveal