“Ohh my god, I died. All of a sudden I see, that’s Serena,” remarked Rennae Stubbs, former coach of Serena Williams, as the tennis legend stole the spotlight at the 59th Super Bowl halftime show. And honestly, who could argue? Time and time again, Serena has proven that her charisma and sporting brilliance transcend the boundaries of the tennis court. Take, for instance, that unforgettable night in 2023, when she watched in absolute awe as Lionel Messi delivered a last-minute winner on his Inter Miami debut: a moment that left even a champion like Serena speechless. Now, fast forward two years, and here she is again, back in the stands at Chase Stadium, witnessing the soccer maestro weave his magic once more.
Just days ago, the Olympic gold winner took center stage in a way no one expected: stepping into the Super Bowl LIX halftime show with an electrifying cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s performance of Not Like Us. Dressed in a striking blue tennis skirt, the 23-time GS champion stunned the crowd with her Crip Walk moves, a nod to her LA roots shared with Lamar.
But for longtime fans, the moment carried an even deeper meaning: it was a memorable callback to her 2012 Olympic gold medal victory, when she faced unwarranted criticism for celebrating with the same dance after defeating another legend of the game, Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon. This time, however, there was mostly celebration, as the crowd roared in approval of Serena’s commanding presence at the New Orleans. And in the days that followed, the internet erupted, with fans in absolute awe of the tennis icon’s show-stopping return to the sporting spotlight.
But Serena isn’t just a legend on the court, she’s a lover of greatness in all forms of sports in general. And just when fans thought the spectacle was over, the veteran, who has a whopping 73 singles titles to her name, was spotted at the Chase Stadium, ready to witness another sporting icon at work: Lionel Messi. A queen of the 27-foot court, watching the king of soccer: a sporting royalty at its finest.
The MLS season opener saw the New York City FC travel to Inter Miami’s home turf, with high-profile figures adding to the spectacle at the Miami’s home turf. Among them were the Hollywood star Eva Longoria and Serena herself, highlighting the league’s growing ambition. Serena, who has strong ties to soccer through her involvement with Angel City FC in the NWSL, shared a glimpse of the electrifying atmosphere on her IG story as the match unfolded. The game, however, ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Messi’s team unable to secure a win after going down to 10 men early on. Tomas Avilés received a direct red card in the 25th minute for a reckless challenge on Alonso Martínez.
Talking about Lionel Messi, well does he need any introduction? The 2022 World Cup champion and eight-time ‘Ballon d’Or’ winner has rewritten soccer history, from his UEFA Champions League dominance to his record-breaking era at FC Barcelona. And, since his sensational move to Inter Miami in 2023, he has continued his magic, becoming the fastest player to reach 40 goal contributions in MLS history: netting 21 goals and 19 assists in just 26 matches. A true GOAT of the game, no matter where he plays!
Coming back to Williams, she not only mesmerizes with her occasional appearances on different sporting fields, but she is also enjoying her life to the fullest and sharing her healthy dietary routines with fans.
“This is my drawer full of treats” — Serena Williams sharing her dietary routines with the fans
“My philosophy is eat to live. Don’t live to eat,” a quote Serena once stood by, remains as true as ever. She embraced veganism in 2011, not only to maintain peak performance but also to prioritize her overall well-being after battling a pulmonary embolism and hematoma. Another driving force behind her switch? Her sister: Venus Williams – who adopted a raw vegan diet following her Sjögren syndrome diagnosis.
Serena’s commitment to a healthy plant-based lifestyle is as strong as ever. Just recently, she offered a glimpse into her lush green garden at her Florida estate, before drawing attention to her kitchen, where she proudly showcased her wholesome, vegan meals.
“This is my drawer full of treats, this is Moringa leaves I pull them from the tree, dehydrate them. And this is gold, this is my soursop leaves also pulled them from the tree. I dehydrate them,” Serena said while flexing her “Wellness Routine” through her IG stories.
While Serena keeps giving her fans a glimpse into her daily life from time to time, do you miss her on the tennis court? Let us know in the comments below.
The post Days After Iconic Superbowl Appearance, Serena Williams Steals Time Off to Catch Legend Lionel Messi in Action in MLS appeared first on EssentiallySports.