In what must be the most exciting news ever for US soccer/football fans, Lionel Messi has officially signed with Major League Soccer (MLS) team Inter Miami.
Messi is one of two players, the other Cristiano Ronaldo, with 29 career titles, the best record of any player at the World Cup and an unprecedented seven Ballon d’Or in the sport. You could argue that he is the greatest player of all time. Or an award that recognizes the best athlete in a sport each year.
His entry into the US league would therefore be an unprecedented high-profile acquisition for MLS.
what about beckham?
Star player and model David Beckham joined the LA Galaxy MLS team in the late 2000s. But his record is nothing like Messi’s. The addition of the British player to his MLS has allowed the league to establish itself as a legitimate venue for great athletes to play the sport. But Messi’s deal with Inter Miami shows that one of the world’s best players thinks the American league is worth spending time on.
But Messi wouldn’t have come to the US if Beckham hadn’t come first. It’s not because Beckham paved the way. Because Inter Miami wouldn’t exist without Beckham, one of the club’s co-founders.
messi’s oyster
After winning the World Cup last year, Messi had a choice of where to go with his next club. His possible options were to return to his longtime home of Barcelona, spend 1 billion euros over two years to play for the Saudi team, or officially move to the United States and play in Miami. . Of course, the player had other options, but these three were the biggest options for him.
Considering the exorbitant amount of money he would have made playing for a Saudi Arabian team and how Ronaldo turned his back on the team he had the closest connection to during his career, choosing to sign for the Saudi team just a few months ago. And his choice is still a surprise.
fan reaction
Fan reactions are diverse. Some applaud Messi for refusing to play for the Saudi team despite his huge salary, others are saddened to see him leave Barcelona and play for the worst team in the MLS. Some people are shocked that they agreed to do so.
If Saudi money offered Messi this much, imagine how many billions they would have paid to buy Messi. @PGATOUR.perhaps @Daniel Rapaport can know Messi will be even more of a hero for saying ‘no’ to Saudi money. #messi #MLS
— Sports Business Radio (@SBRadio) June 7, 2023
Unfortunately today is not a good day🤦🏿♂️
— Napoleon (@LifeOfNapaul) June 7, 2023
Two years early for Miami…they are literally last in the MLS 😭
— Blurry face (@_soberslap_007) June 7, 2023
immediate impact
Whatever you think of Messi’s move to MLS, it’s already impacting ticket prices for Inter Miami games, as one fan points out. Tickets for the match have skyrocketed, but it’s no surprise that it will be the league opener for the World Cup winners.
Inter Miami ticket prices soared from $34 to $1,500 after news of Messi’s MLS debut. pic.twitter.com/jXrTqCc4bZ
— Madrid Fan (@peak_reborn) June 7, 2023
Kyle Logan is a film and television critic and general pop culture writer for Alternative Press, Cultured Vultures, Film Stories, Looper, and more. Kyle has a particular interest in horror and animation, as well as genre films written and directed by queer people and women. Kyle organizes her queer film Her Challenge at Letterboxd in parallel with her writing endeavors.
