Argentine football legend Lionel Messi is now playing with MLS’s Inter Miami, a move that shocked the global soccer community after turning down an expected deal with Barcelona and a $1.6 billion 3 year contract from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Tickets for all of Miami’s games are already skyrocketing in price, with seats for Miami’s game against Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium in October ranging in price from $181 to over $12,000 per ticket.
In an interview with Spanish media outlet SPORT, Messi said, “I have made the decision to go to Miami. If the Barcelona thing didn’t work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more of my family.”
Messi: “I have made the decision to go to Miami. If the Barcelona thing didn’t work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more of my family.” pic.twitter.com/QJe4LNVZaS
— MC (@CrewsMat10) June 7, 2023
Although the exact figures have not yet been released, the deal promises to be the largest in MLS history.
The details of Leo Messi’s proposed contract with Inter Miami 👀 pic.twitter.com/Kz8M7upev0
— ESPN (@espn) June 7, 2023
Inter Miami CF, co-owned by former England captain David Beckham, joined the MLS as an expansion team in 2020. The club has shown ambition in bringing high-profile players to improve the team’s performance and global recognition.
Earlier on Wednesday, Inter Miami’s CEO posted a cryptic tweet featuring a No. 10 shirt showing just the last two letters, “SI”, of a last name. The league has confirmed that a deal with Messi is not yet finalized but expressed enthusiasm about the prospect.
Messi’s move to the American MLS comes after a somewhat tumultuous period with French side Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). After leaving Barcelona in 2021 due to the club’s financial difficulties, he joined PSG, where he won two Ligue 1 titles but failed to secure the club’s first-ever Champions League title. His stint at PSG ended under less than ideal circumstances, with the club suspending him for an unauthorized trip abroad.
Messi, with his illustrious career spanning 17 years at Barcelona and two at PSG, would significantly enhance the star power of MLS. Known for his exquisite skill and prolific goal-scoring ability, Messi would undoubtedly boost the popularity of soccer in the United States and Canada, elevating the MLS to new heights. His move, if it materializes, will likely bring a surge of fans and interest to Inter Miami and the league as a whole.
What do you think about Messi’s decion?