Lionel Messi Officially Joins MLS Club Inter Miami

Lionel Messi officially joins MLS Club Inter Miami

Lionel Messi has officially joined Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club, the transfer was formally announced by the club on Saturday.

#Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/4htCDmbDYf

— Inter Miami CF (@intermiamifc0) July 15, 2023

At 36, Messi’s engagement with Inter Miami is contracted to last until the end of the 2025 MLS season. The superstar expressed his anticipation for the new chapter in his football career, noting that he was “very excited” to be joining the team. In his statement, Messi underscored the synergy of the move, expressing confidence in the vision to “achieve the objectives we set.”

Inter Miami’s co-owner, David Beckham, a football great in his own right, hailed Messi’s signing as a “dream come true”. Beckham has harboured the ambition of attracting the world’s best talent to the club since its inception a decade ago.

“Today that dream came true. I couldn’t be prouder that a player of Leo’s calibre is joining our club,” Beckham enthused, adding that Messi’s contribution would significantly aid in the growth of football in the US, and leave a lasting legacy for the next generation of football enthusiasts.

According to Jorge Mas, part-owner of Inter Miami, Messi’s contract is reportedly worth between $50 and $60 million per year. Reports have also indicated that Messi’s agreement encompasses an option for part-ownership of the club, and a share of revenue from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service.

Messi’s much-anticipated debut with Inter Miami is set for July 21, where the team will face off against LIGA MX’s Cruz Azul in the inaugural match of the Leagues Cup.

Prior to the announcement of his signing, fans gathered at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 11, eager to catch a glimpse of Messi ahead of his maiden MLS season with Inter Miami. Inter Miami made a public declaration of his arrival during ‘The Unveil’ event at the club’s home stadium on July 16.

Before his transfer, Messi spent the past two years with French team Paris Saint-Germain after over twenty years at Barcelona, where he clinched 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League victories. His instrumental role in Argentina’s World Cup success in Qatar in 2022 is still fresh in the minds of fans, where he became the first player to win the Golden Ball twice, recognizing his exceptional performance throughout the tournament.

This new chapter in Messi’s football story promises to further enrich the sport’s popularity in the United States, while fans worldwide eagerly anticipate his performance in the MLS with Inter Miami.