In a monumental move that could alter the course of Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi has chosen to sign with Inter Miami.
After generating momentum for days and engaging in a years-long pursuit, MLS and Miami emerged victorious in a three-horse race against Barcelona and Saudi Arabia to secure the world’s greatest player.
Messi announced the decision on Wednesday in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, confirming earlier reports. Although no contract has been signed yet and no details have been announced, sources suggest that it is a complex two-and-a-half year deal with a total value surpassing $100 million.
“I made the decision that I’m going to go to Miami,” Messi said in the interview. “I still haven’t finalized [the contract] 100% … But we decided to [take this path].”
In a statement, MLS said that “work remains to finalize a formal agreement,” but it concluded: “we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest soccer players of all time to our league.”
The deal will reportedly include commercial arrangements with Apple and Adidas, two key MLS partners, for cuts of the broadcast and merchandise revenue that the Argentine superstar will generate. It also could give Messi an option to purchase a minority stake in Inter Miami after he has finished playing.
And it will surely boost the profile of soccer in the United States, both immediately and long term. Demand for Inter Miami tickets spiked on Wednesday, as opposing clubs made plans to accommodate the planet’s most popular athlete.
Paris Saint-Germain Contract
Messi, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain officially expires at the end of June, cannot officially join Inter Miami until MLS’ summer transfer window opens on July 5. He’ll likely debut, therefore, in either July or August.
One mooted date is a July 21 game against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, a monthlong competition featuring teams from North America and Mexico. The MLS season will resume thereafter — and Messi will have the unenviable task of lifting a last-place, frequently dysfunctional franchise to the playoffs.
