After a prolonged period of anticipation and negotiations, Lionel Messi has officially completed his move to Major League Soccer, and Inter Miami has successfully secured the services of a global icon.
Messi’s contract was finalized on Saturday, a little over five weeks after he announced his decision to join Inter Miami. The team is set to unveil him on Sunday evening at their stadium in Fort Lauderdale, with the first home match of the Messi era potentially taking place as early as Friday against Cruz Azul in a Leagues Cup match.
A formal news conference is scheduled for Monday, and Messi is expected to have his first training session with his new club on Tuesday. Inter Miami had previously revealed that Messi’s contract would span 2 1/2 seasons, with an annual salary ranging from US$50 million to US$60 million. This means the total value of the contract in cash alone falls between US$125 million and US$150 million.
“BIENVENIDO 10,” the team tweeted on Saturday, welcoming Messi to the club.
Indeed, welcome, Messi.
“We are overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our League and our sport in North America,” commented MLS Commissioner Don Garber in a statement. “We have no doubt that Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a League of Choice for the best players in the game.”
This union is somewhat unconventional. Messi, still considered one of the biggest stars in the sport, is joining a team that currently sits at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference standings. Inter Miami, in only its fourth season, has never clinched a championship and currently plays in a temporary home with a seating capacity of around 22,000, which will increase after additional bleacher seats are added.
Nevertheless, the arrival of soccer royalty elevates Inter Miami’s status.
Messi arrived in South Florida on Tuesday after a vacation and underwent medical examinations and paperwork procedures on Wednesday, culminating in the finalization of the deal on Saturday afternoon. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, awarded to the world’s best player, is making his move to Miami after spending two years with Paris Saint-Germain.
“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” Messi stated in a club-distributed release. “This is a fantastic opportunity, and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we have set, and I’m very eager to start contributing here in my new home.”
Messi’s departure from PSG was widely anticipated, but the destination remained a mystery. Speculation suggested that he might join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo to a country where certain clubs are backed by sovereign wealth funds. Another possibility was a return to Barcelona, the club where he had spent the majority of his career.
Ultimately, Miami emerged as the chosen destination. An idea initially put forth by co-owner David Beckham in 2021, well before the team had seriously considered how to make it a reality, has now materialized.
“After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the United States league to experience football in a different way,” Messi had announced in June when revealing his decision.
Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the World Cup last December, has scored over 800 goals for club and country, cementing his status as one of the greatest goal-scorers in the history of the sport. He netted twice in the 2022 World Cup final against France, a match that ended 3-3 in regular time, with Argentina prevailing 4-2 in the penalty shootout.
With four Champions League titles to his name, Messi’s 129 goals in the prestigious club competition place him second behind Ronaldo’s 140. He has won 10 La Liga titles, two Ligue 1 championships, seven Copa del Rey trophies, three Club World Cups, a Copa America, and an Olympic gold medal with Argentina.
“Ten years ago, when I embarked on my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamed of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city,” expressed Beckham. “Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.”
“Today, that dream came true.”