MIAMI — Lionel Messi has accomplished yet another amazing feat by joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Messi has confirmed his choice to join a Miami team that has been coached by another legendary soccer figure, David Beckham, since its formation but has not yet made any major waves on the field after months, if not years, of rumors.
That most likely will alter shortly. Shortly before Messi made his decision public in talks with the Spanish news agencies Mundo Deportivo and Sport, one of Inter Miami's owners, Jorge Mas, tweeted a picture of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey.
There was widespread speculation that Messi will eventually decide to sign with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo to a country where several clubs are currently supported by the state's sovereign wealth fund. Another option was to return to Barcelona, the legendary team where he played for the majority of his career.
But in the end, he made the decision that shocked a lot of people. Messi is moving to the MLS. Although certain last-minute arrangements still need to be worked out, he said in the interviews on Wednesday that he has decided to "continue my path" in Miami.
Messi stated, "It was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way after winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona."
He declined to accept the cash. The recollections weren't ones he picked. Instead, he decided on Miami. Messi's upcoming games are probably exhibitions with Argentina against Australia in Beijing on June 15 and against Indonesia in Jakarta four days later. His Inter Miami debut is probably going to happen sometime in July.
After spending two years with Paris Saint-Germain, the seven-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, which is awarded annually to the world's best player, makes his move. Messi completed the single big unchecked box on his résumé in December by leading Argentina to the World Cup victory, therefore at the age of 35, he has nothing left to prove in the game.
One of the best goal scorers in the history of the game, Messi has scored more than 800 goals across his club and national team careers. He has scored 102 goals in more than 17 years of playing for Argentina against 38 different national teams, with 16 of those goals coming on American territory. Last year's World Cup final between Argentina and France, which officially finished 3-3 but Argentina won on penalties, saw him score twice.
He has reached the very peak of the competition.
And now he joins an MLS team in last place in the Eastern Conference, only a few days after Phil Neville, the team's hand-picked coach from two years ago, was fired.
The largest boost for American soccer on the professional level may have ever come from Messi's choice to play in the United States. Pele, Thierry Henry, and Beckham himself are some of the biggest names in the game who have relocated to the United States toward the end of their careers, but bringing in a player who is still no worse than near the top of his game and who has just lifted a World Cup is simply enormous.
Bringing Messi to Miami's pitch required months of talks with MLS, Inter Miami's ownership, Adidas, and even Apple participating in a creative proposal. The four-part documentary series will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes access to global superstar Lionel Messi, according to an announcement made by MLS broadcast partner Apple on Tuesday. "In his own words, Messi tells the definitive story of his incredible career with the Argentina national football team, providing an intimate and unprecedented look at his quest for a legacy-defining World Cup victory," the announcement read.
And now Miami will be a chapter in his story.
From its inception to its first game, Inter Miami needed six years, and its first four seasons haven't exactly been great.
Messi is joining a squad that recently sacked its coach and is currently last in the Eastern Conference. In two of its first three seasons, it made the playoffs, but it has yet to end a campaign with a winning record or even a positive goal differential.
However, there had been signs for weeks that Miami was still very much in the running for Messi. This spring, Messi met with Beckham, a co-owner of Inter Miami, and the meeting was almost immediately made public to let everyone know that the parties were still in communication. The MLS team informed supporters that the only option to get tickets for the second half of this season was to buy a season-ticket package. Messi and his family also own numerous pieces of opulent real estate in South Florida.
Everywhere in the world, including Miami, he is a huge draw. Kyle Lowry, a guard for the Miami Heat, missed a game due to injury two days after Argentina won the World Cup and sat on the bench for his team. That evening, he wore a Messi jersey.
Approximately 45 minutes north of the Miami site where the team plans to construct a permanent structure, Inter Miami continues to play home games in a temporary facility in Fort Lauderdale.
Inter Miami has struggled to attract the same attention as the region's top professional teams, including the Miami Heat of basketball, the Miami Marlins of baseball, the Miami Dolphins of football, and the Florida Panthers of hockey, despite the area's pronounced Latin influence and the fact that more people might actually refer to the sport as futbol than soccer.
Messi has the power to instantly alter that. He quickly ascends to the top of the MLS, making everything Miami does newsworthy.
His choice puts an end to a wild saga. Messi was made famous by Barcelona, but the money problems that led the team to release him two years ago are still a problem.
Messi stated on Wednesday, "I heard they'd have to sell players or lower players' salaries and the truth is, I didn't want to go through that."
There are no financial problems with Saudi Arabia, and rumors that he might end up there grew after Messi traveled there without permission. Near the end of his time with the French club, PSG suspended him, and some supporters turned on him, booing and jeering him.
Everyone anticipated that he wouldn't rejoin PSG. Few probably believed he was going to Miami. But here he is, a superstar moving to Miami in a move that may even be more unexpected than LeBron James's 13-year-old arrival to join the Heat.
Messi has confirmed his choice to join a Miami team that has been coached by another legendary soccer figure, David Beckham, since its formation but has not yet made any major waves on the field after months, if not years, of rumors.
That most likely will alter shortly. Shortly before Messi made his decision public in talks with the Spanish news agencies Mundo Deportivo and Sport, one of Inter Miami's owners, Jorge Mas, tweeted a picture of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey.
There was widespread speculation that Messi will eventually decide to sign with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo to a country where several clubs are currently supported by the state's sovereign wealth fund. Another option was to return to Barcelona, the legendary team where he played for the majority of his career.
But in the end, he made the decision that shocked a lot of people. Messi is moving to the MLS. Although certain last-minute arrangements still need to be worked out, he said in the interviews on Wednesday that he has decided to "continue my path" in Miami.
Messi stated, "It was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way after winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona."
He declined to accept the cash. The recollections weren't ones he picked. Instead, he decided on Miami. Messi's upcoming games are probably exhibitions with Argentina against Australia in Beijing on June 15 and against Indonesia in Jakarta four days later. His Inter Miami debut is probably going to happen sometime in July.
After spending two years with Paris Saint-Germain, the seven-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, which is awarded annually to the world's best player, makes his move. Messi completed the single big unchecked box on his résumé in December by leading Argentina to the World Cup victory, therefore at the age of 35, he has nothing left to prove in the game.
One of the best goal scorers in the history of the game, Messi has scored more than 800 goals across his club and national team careers. He has scored 102 goals in more than 17 years of playing for Argentina against 38 different national teams, with 16 of those goals coming on American territory. Last year's World Cup final between Argentina and France, which officially finished 3-3 but Argentina won on penalties, saw him score twice.
He has reached the very peak of the competition.
And now he joins an MLS team in last place in the Eastern Conference, only a few days after Phil Neville, the team's hand-picked coach from two years ago, was fired.
The largest boost for American soccer on the professional level may have ever come from Messi's choice to play in the United States. Pele, Thierry Henry, and Beckham himself are some of the biggest names in the game who have relocated to the United States toward the end of their careers, but bringing in a player who is still no worse than near the top of his game and who has just lifted a World Cup is simply enormous.
Bringing Messi to Miami's pitch required months of talks with MLS, Inter Miami's ownership, Adidas, and even Apple participating in a creative proposal. The four-part documentary series will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes access to global superstar Lionel Messi, according to an announcement made by MLS broadcast partner Apple on Tuesday. "In his own words, Messi tells the definitive story of his incredible career with the Argentina national football team, providing an intimate and unprecedented look at his quest for a legacy-defining World Cup victory," the announcement read.
And now Miami will be a chapter in his story.
From its inception to its first game, Inter Miami needed six years, and its first four seasons haven't exactly been great.
Messi is joining a squad that recently sacked its coach and is currently last in the Eastern Conference. In two of its first three seasons, it made the playoffs, but it has yet to end a campaign with a winning record or even a positive goal differential.
However, there had been signs for weeks that Miami was still very much in the running for Messi. This spring, Messi met with Beckham, a co-owner of Inter Miami, and the meeting was almost immediately made public to let everyone know that the parties were still in communication. The MLS team informed supporters that the only option to get tickets for the second half of this season was to buy a season-ticket package. Messi and his family also own numerous pieces of opulent real estate in South Florida.
Everywhere in the world, including Miami, he is a huge draw. Kyle Lowry, a guard for the Miami Heat, missed a game due to injury two days after Argentina won the World Cup and sat on the bench for his team. That evening, he wore a Messi jersey.
Approximately 45 minutes north of the Miami site where the team plans to construct a permanent structure, Inter Miami continues to play home games in a temporary facility in Fort Lauderdale.
Inter Miami has struggled to attract the same attention as the region's top professional teams, including the Miami Heat of basketball, the Miami Marlins of baseball, the Miami Dolphins of football, and the Florida Panthers of hockey, despite the area's pronounced Latin influence and the fact that more people might actually refer to the sport as futbol than soccer.
Messi has the power to instantly alter that. He quickly ascends to the top of the MLS, making everything Miami does newsworthy.
His choice puts an end to a wild saga. Messi was made famous by Barcelona, but the money problems that led the team to release him two years ago are still a problem.
Messi stated on Wednesday, "I heard they'd have to sell players or lower players' salaries and the truth is, I didn't want to go through that."
There are no financial problems with Saudi Arabia, and rumors that he might end up there grew after Messi traveled there without permission. Near the end of his time with the French club, PSG suspended him, and some supporters turned on him, booing and jeering him.
Everyone anticipated that he wouldn't rejoin PSG. Few probably believed he was going to Miami. But here he is, a superstar moving to Miami in a move that may even be more unexpected than LeBron James's 13-year-old arrival to join the Heat.
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