Messi van't Ruytershof competes in his first Grand Prix in Oliva with Janne Friederike Meyer Zimmermann after a long break
Messi’s Grand Prix Comeback in the Spanish Autumn Sun
from Jan Tönjes 
Messi Janne and Janne Friederike Meyer Zimmermann, pictured here in Hagen, placed in the Belgian’s first Grand Prix last weekend after a long hiatus. Photo: sportfotos-lafrentz.de It is the first week of the MET Autumn (Mediterranean Equestrian Tour) fall series in Oliva, on the Spanish Mediterranean coast between Valencia and Alicante. While his namesake was preparing for his final soccer match in the national jersey in Argentina, Messi competed in his first Grand Prix since February 2025 under Janne Friederike Meyer-Timmermann.
Messi in Oliva at the CSI2* Grand Prix
63 pairs competed in the 1.45-meter jumping event in Oliva. Eleven of them advanced to the jump-off. Among them was the pair from Pinneberg, the only German team to do so.
The pair galloped smoothly through the jumping course—at a brisk pace, but without taking any unnecessary risks. In the end, the pair finished in eighth place with one knockdown. “Feels like coming home,” wrote the 2010 team world champion on Instagram.
Six riders managed to complete the jump-off course, consisting of eight jumps, without any faults. The victory went to Ireland’s Niall Talbot riding Charming Dream Z by Carrera VDL.
Messi’
Comeback
After the Nations League stage in Rotterdam in June 2025,
Messi
had to take a break. It wasn’t until July 2026 that the son of Plot Blue returned to competition for the first time, but he took it easy. In Valkenswaard, the Belgian competed in two jumps over 1.20 meters and 1.30 meters. In September in Gassin St. Tropez, he tackled his first 1.40-meter jumps after the break.
