Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of his generation and possibly of all time, has made the decision to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the final stage of his illustrious career. The 36-year-old’s move to the United States was announced by the club on Saturday.
According to reports, Messi’s contract with Inter Miami extends until the end of the 2025 MLS season. His compensation package is said to be worth an impressive $50 to 60 million per year, including a signing bonus and equity in the team.
In a statement, Messi expressed his excitement about this new chapter in his career with Inter Miami and in the United States. He referred to it as a fantastic opportunity and emphasized their joint efforts to build upon this beautiful project.
Last month, Messi had already revealed his intention to play for Miami, and he was recently seen shopping with his family at a local grocery store in the area.
It is expected that Messi will join the team within the next week, which will allow him to make his debut for Inter Miami in a significant Concacaf Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul of Mexico on July 21.
Having started as a prodigious talent in Argentina, Messi moved to Spain at the age of 13 to join Barcelona. He quickly made a name for himself as a young player with immense potential. He made his debut with the first team at the age of 16 and went on to achieve immense success, winning every major trophy and earning six Ballon d’Or awards as the world’s best player. In 2021, Messi joined Paris St. Germain where he claimed another Ballon d’Or; although his team dominated the French league, they fell short in the Champions League.
Messi has been a key figure for the Argentine national team since his debut in 2005, and most recently, he achieved the ultimate feat of winning the World Cup with them last winter.
Fans and historians widely agree that Messi’s greatness as a player is perhaps only rivaled by Cristiano Ronaldo in his era, and by legendary figures such as Pelé and Diego Maradona from any era.
Messi’s signing represents a significant milestone for Inter Miami, marking the club’s association with Barcelona. Both the team’s chief business officer and its top operations and facilities executive are former employees of Barcelona. Last month, it was announced that Messi’s former teammate Sergio Busquets would also be joining Inter Miami as their second marquee signing of the summer.
Furthermore, Inter Miami hired Gerardo Martino as their coach, who had previously coached Messi at Barcelona. Martino openly expressed his excitement about working with Messi and Busquets again, leaving no doubt that he sees this as more than just a reunion. He emphasized the competitive aspect and mentioned that they aim to be serious contenders rather than simply enjoying a vacation in Miami.
This signing draws parallels to 2007 when Los Angeles Galaxy signed David Beckham, the world’s most famous player at the time, at the age of 32. Beckham spent six years in L.A., winning two championships and significantly raising the league’s profile.
MLS has long aspired to match the quality and visibility of the world’s top leagues, and it undoubtedly hopes that Messi’s presence during his prime years will help propel it in that direction.
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