Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, has confirmed that he will join Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami CF after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine superstar announced the move in an interview with Spanish publications Mundo Deportivo and Sport on June 9, 2023.
Messi, who is 34 years old, is expected to sign a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami, with an option for a further year. He is reportedly set to earn a salary of between $50 million and $60 million per year, which would make him the highest-paid player in MLS history.
Messi’s move to Miami is a major coup for the MLS, which has been trying to attract top European talent for years. It is also a personal decision for Messi, who has said that he wants to experience life in the United States and raise his family in Miami. The city is home to a large Hispanic population, and Messi has said that he feels comfortable there.
Messi’s arrival in Miami is sure to boost the popularity of the MLS. The league has already seen a surge in interest in recent years, and Messi’s presence is likely to attract even more fans. His arrival could also help to improve the level of play in the MLS, as he will be playing alongside other top players such as Gonzalo Higuaín and Blaise Matuidi.
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Messi’s move to Miami is a major moment for the MLS and for American soccer as a whole. It is a sign that the league is now a major player in the global soccer landscape, and it is sure to have a positive impact on the sport in the United States.
Speaking at a seminar, Beckham said: “A couple of weeks ago, I woke up to about a million messages on my phone. I was thinking, ‘What’s gone off? I don’t usually get this many messages.'”
“All of a sudden, I hear Leo has come out and announced he’s coming to Miami. Obviously, it wasn’t a surprise to me. I have always said, from the word go, that if I had the opportunity to bring the best players in the game to Miami, at whatever time of their careers, I would do that,” Beckham added.
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the premier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1996, the league currently has 29 teams, with plans to expand to 30 teams in 2025. MLS teams play a 34-game regular season, followed by a single-elimination playoff to determine the league champion.
MLS has grown in popularity in recent years, with average attendance increasing from 17,872 in 2010 to 22,289 in 2022. The league has also attracted top international talent, including stars such as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.