Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players in history, is coming to Inter Miami after rejecting a $500 million offer from Saudi Arabia and pressure to return to FC Barcelona, where he spent the first 21 years of his career.
Messi has a vacation home in South Florida, frequently visits the city, and has stated on several occasions that the idea of playing in the United States and experiencing Miami’s lifestyle with his family attracted him.
“I had offers from other European teams, but after winning the World Cup, the only thing missing to close that chapter of my career, I decided it was time to go to MLS to experience soccer in a different way and enjoy my day-to-day life more,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo. “Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more tranquility.”
The deal includes salary, bonuses, and team participation for a total amount of $125 million to $150 million. Contributions from MLS sponsors, Apple, and Adidas are still being finalized and based on the league’s growth that Messi is expected to generate.And what does U.S. soccer gain from Messi’s presence?
Messi’s arrival in the U.S. will be the latest in what has been a trend of exceptional soccer players boosting American soccer with their presence, as was the case with Pelé in the 1970s and then Beckham in the 2000s.
No player in the history of American men’s soccer has had a seismic effect on the trajectory of the sport in the country like Pelé. The Brazilian legend joined the New York Cosmos of the newly formed North American Soccer League in 1975. The Cosmos, backed by the corporate power of the Warner Communications media empire, was trying to do what no other soccer club in American history had ever done: make soccer relevant in this country. For a brief period, it seemed they would succeed.
The mere presence of Pelé in the Cosmos certainly brought some short-term benefits: the club’s average attendance increased from about 3,500 fans in 1975 to around 45,000. Three times, the Cosmos attracted over 70,000 fans to watch Pelé at Giants Stadium, an unprecedented feat at the time.
The kids who watched Pelé during his three-year stay in the United States became the first major generation of U.S. soccer players, the pioneers who qualified for the 1990 World Cup and four years later in the 1994 tournament, which took place at home.
Years later, when Englishman David Beckham arrived in MLS in 2007, the league was better equipped to make the most of its new global superstar. That season, the league had 13 teams. In 2023, MLS has 29 teams. The growth of the sport in the country and the importance of these players is undeniable.
Messi’s presence in MLS could have a similar effect to what Pelé and Beckham had regarding the league’s international exposure, merchandise sales, and interest from other players in American soccer. And he is joining a league that is in a stronger position than any of its predecessors. It is hard to imagine any MLS stadium not being packed to see a man whom many consider the greatest player in the history of the sport. In any case, the soccer-specific stadiums of MLS, many of which have a capacity of 18,000 to 30,000 people, may not be large enough when Messi is playing. In 2017, preseason friendlies of Barcelona in the U.S. attracted crowds of 60,000 to 80,000 people.
By establishing a substantial presence in the country, Messi may even follow in Beckham’s footsteps, buying an MLS club one day – perhaps one in Las Vegas. It seems that the MLS and Inter Miami’s offer to Messi includes the option to buy a part of an MLS team after leaving the league or retiring as a player.
Source: Miami Herald and The New York Times