Lionel Messi’s official two-and-a-half-season commitment to Inter Miami CF as a free agent back in July has sparked discussions on what this historic move will mean for the future of Inter Miami, the MLS, and American soccer as a whole.
Messi’s notorious 150 million-dollar contract and revenue-sharing agreement, providing another stream of income from Apple, Adidas, and Fanatics, may seem extravagant, yet in a short few months, Messi has already delivered both on and off the field, creating a mutually beneficial partnership.
Not only did Messi’s first debut game in the MLS against the New York Red Bulls end in a two-goal win for Miami, and Apple’s MLS season pass gained more than 100,00 subscribers, but the initial announcement of his arrival in the MLS created a price surge across all stadiums that Inter Miami will be playing in throughout the season.
Inter Miami’s most recent game against LAFC was nothing short of a star-studded event, with the likes of Selena Gomez, Prince Harry, and LeBron James in attendance, just to name a few. This notable guest list seen all over social media felt reflective of an NBA game with its celebrity coverage that hasn’t been witnessed in US soccer before.
On their home field, LAFC was dominant in the first twenty minutes but couldn’t convert opportunities into goals; instead, once the game settled down, Messi’s magic went on display through his ability to make plays and elevate his teammates. In short, Inter Miami overran LAFC. The game ended 3-1.
However, notable footballers, whether from Europe or South America, softening their transition into retirement through entering the MLS or the now-defunct NASL is not news, as seen with Beckman joining the LA Galaxy in 2007 and Pele’s move to the Cosmos back in the 1970s. This all begs the question: will it be different this time around? Can Messi elevate Miami, the MLS, or perhaps US soccer into a sustainable, world-class contender?
While it is still early and the answers are still very much up for debate, the biggest foreseeable difference between these players’ impact on American soccer could all come down to timing. Messi, who still has life left in his game, is entering at a time when the MLS is on its front foot when technology exposes the MLS to a global audience through international broadcasting and Messi’s massive social media presence. Furthermore, Messi’s entrance into the league comes only three years before the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives in North America, adding a global spotlight and investment to US soccer.
Will these events that surround this legendary player result in the United States no longer being seen as a backwater of soccer but as a desirable place to play?
Perhaps we should wait to see how the play unfolds before writing the ending.
California native who has somehow ended up on the east coast.
