The invitations came in last Friday and were full of secrets. Inter Miami promised it would be a “special event” but were tight-lipped about details. There was a date, a time and a place. But otherwise very little. No guest list, no itinerary. Only the promise of “exciting entertainment, speeches … and more”. Oh, and a name: “The Unveil.”
Perhaps the club was reluctant to tempt fate. Maybe they thought that some people actually fall over under a rock. But really, they shouldn’t have bothered. Sunday’s event has long been the worst-kept secret in sport.
Still, they waited until Saturday night to tell the world what they already knew: Lionel Messi is in town.
“When I started building a new team in Miami ten years ago, I said my dream was to bring the best players in the world to this amazing city,” said David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami.
“Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the United States and build a legacy for the next generation in this sport we love so much… today that dream is coming true become.”
Inter Miami finally announced the arrival of Lionel Messi to confirm the MLS’s worst-kept secret
Messi signed a contract with the club until the 2025 MLS season following his departure from PSG
The Argentine superstar was spotted earlier this week adjusting to life in Miami alongside his wife Antonella and their three children
Can you blame them for being hasty? Beckham pasted the message on a wall in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami.
Co-owner Jorge Mas raves about the three-year plan that went into Sunday’s celebrations in Fort Lauderdale.
Adidas has used its New York flagship store on Broadway to sing about it. The Mayor of Fort Lauderdale filmed a commercial to mark the occasion.
Even the horse has torn its mouth open.
It’s been six weeks since Messi first announced his move to Major League Soccer. Ever since he snubbed Saudi Arabia over South Beach and sent shockwaves across this vast country.
Technically, the deal only became official last night. On Sunday, the 36-year-old will be presented to the world at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium.
MLS has been waiting for a night like this since 2007, when media and fans flocked to Los Angeles to welcome Beckham to the LA Galaxy. It caused a “hurricane”.
The hope? Messi’s move will be similarly transformative. For Inter Miami, who are still bottom of the table in the Eastern Conference.
And for football in America, which continues to gain momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Inter Miami pasted the message on a wall in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami
A sign reads ‘Bienvenido A Miami’ above a photo of Messi and Inter Miami merchandise
Messi landed in Florida this week. He already owns a $9 million apartment in Miami, and on Thursday night the family were spotted shopping at the Publix supermarket chain – mingling with their supporters and getting essentials: boxes of cereal, including General Mills good luck charms.
Inter Miami is rejoicing even before Messi put on the jersey – the club now has more Instagram followers than any other MLS, ice hockey, baseball or American football team. An Old Boys reunion takes place on the field in South Florida. Sergio Busquets has succeeded his former Barcelona teammate. Jordi Alba is set to join them.
No wonder Mas began chasing the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner before Inter Miami had even played a game. No wonder Beckham spent part of last week helping paint a Messi mural in Miami. No wonder Adidas also made money early on by putting up replicas of Messi in its Broadway store.
On site in Fort Lauderdale, politicians and footballers are already feeling the sand shifting. Ticket prices for his debut, which is set to take place next Friday, run up to $10,000. Mas believes he can make MLS one of the top three leagues in the world.
There is also hope that he can help break down structural barriers in US soccer and open up more opportunities for promising boys and girls. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis is already planning to give Messi a key to the city. He hasn’t kicked a ball yet. So no pressure. At least Messi has company.
It’s easy to see the connections between Sunday night’s revelation and Beckham’s arrival in 2007. MLS rewrote their own rulebook to bring about this deal and they used similar levers to lure Messi to Miami. Part of Beckham’s contract included a chance to own a team. He brought football to South Florida and now Messi – arguably the greatest player of all time – has joined him here.
Is there any other sports team that has such a strong commercial strike force? Mayor Trantalis burst out laughing as Mail Sport suggested his city might have hit the jackpot. “Yes,” he said. “It doesn’t get any better than this!”
And yet questions remain.
Messi, his wife Antonela and their three children went shopping at Publix in Palm Beach
The fine print of Messi’s two-and-a-half-year contract is a bit unclear. Mas said the 36-year-old will make $50-$60m a year at Inter Miami. Then there are the additional commercial partnerships that have helped make this possible.
Messi has held talks with the likes of Apple and Adidas about revenue sharing. It is believed he will earn a percentage of the money he makes from selling Adidas kits and Apple’s MLS subscriptions.
The deal also reportedly gives Messi a stake in his new club once he stops playing.
The true value of this clause obviously depends on the value of Inter Miami.
Prior to his signing, they were valued at $585 million. That will change with his arrival and upcoming move to a new $1 billion stadium.
Few knew about the ownership clause in Beckham’s contract 16 years ago. Back then, MLS had to find creative ways to consolidate the numbers. They have created a “Designated Player” (each team now has three spots) whose salaries are not bound by salary caps.
But will it be worth all this investment? Messi won the World Cup eight months ago, but does he still have that Midas touch at 36? His last stint at Paris Saint-Germain eventually ended in boos and bad blood.
The arrival of 36-year-old Messi represents a major coup for David Beckham’s (centre) Inter Miami and MLS
Beckham felt similar anger in LA – he was booed by some fans and branded a cheater before leading the Galaxy to back-to-back MLS titles.
Fans expect Messi to revive Miami’s fortunes. To help, an MLS coach has suggested he (Michael) should get the ‘Jordan treatment’. In other words: positive treatment by the referees.
It remains to be seen whether officials will heed this advice. What is clear, however, is that Messi is moving to a country other than where Pelé was a guest country in the 1970s and has been the conveyor belt of stars ever since. Even since Beckham’s arrival, the league has grown from 13 teams to 29, and its value has also increased rapidly. In 2007, the MLS TV deal was reportedly worth $8 million a year. As of this season, Apple’s 10-year deal is valued at $2.5 billion.
The country as a whole is more ready for a football icon. However, some believe this makes this deal riskier. US soccer doesn’t need a hero like it used to.
But that doesn’t make events like Sunday any less special.