International Soccer Star Messi Unveils Plan To Sign With MLS Inter Miami FC

By Barry Janoff

Photo: Mundo DeportivoUPDATED June 20, 2023: Miami Herald: Inter Miami CF are planning for Lionel Messi to make his club debut on July 21 in a Leagues Cup match, owner Jorge Mas told reporters.

Messi, who is on holiday in Rosario, is scheduled to make his debut in DRV PNK Stadium Ft. Lauderdale against Mexican side Cruz Azul. Full story here.

June 7, 2023: Lionel Messi, regarded as one of the most prolific players in soccer history, said today he is coming to America.

In an exclusive interview with Mundo Deportivo, a nationwide daily sports newspaper in Barcelona, Spain, Messi said he plans to join the MLS Inter Miami FC this summer pending final contract details and approval.

Inter Miami FC is co-owned by soccer legend David Beckham, who made similar global headlines when he joined MLS Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

“Messi: "No vuelvo al Barça, iré al Inter Miami” (“I’m not gong back to Barça. I’m going to Inter Miami”) read the headline of Mundo Deportivo’s article.

Messi’s two-year contract with Paris St Germain ends this month, with reports indicating he was considering an offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal or returning to his longtime club Barcelona FC, for whom he played from 2004-2021 before joining Paris St Germain.

"Tenía muchas ganas, mucha ilusión de poder volver, pero después de haber vivido lo que viví y la salida que tuve, no quería volver a estar otra vez en la misma situación: esperar a ver qué iba a pasar y dejar mi futuro en mano de otro.”

“I really want, I was very excited to be able to return, but after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had I did not want to be in the same situation again: waiting to see what was going to happen and leaving my future in the hand of others,” Messi said in the story.

“Escuché que tenían que vender jugadores o bajar sueldo a jugadores y la verdad es que yo no quería pasar por eso, ni hacerme cargo de obtener algo que tuviera que ver con todo eso.”

“I heard that they had to sell players or lower players’ salaries and the truth is that I didn’t want to go though that, nor take take charge of obtaining something that had to do with all that.”

Messi’s deal with Miami could include a club ownership stake and a piece of the revenue from the MLS-Apple TV ten-year deal, according to industry analysts.

He owns a home and other real estate in South Florida.

"Tomé la decisióPhoto: MLSn de que voy a ir a Miami. Todavía no lo tengo cerrado al cien por cien. Me faltan algunas cosas pero decidimos continuar el camino. Si no salía lo del Barcelona, quería irme de Europa, salir del foco y pensar más en mi familia."

“I made the decision that I’m going to go to Miami, I still haven’t closed it 100%. I’m missing some things but we decided to continue on the path. If the Barcelona thing didn’t come out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more (about) my family,” Messi said in the Mundo Deportivo article.

Messi is the second highest-paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes.

He earns $130 million total, with $65 million from off-field deals, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo ($136 million total earnings/$90 million off-field).

Among Messi’s lead partners is adidas, which has been a MLS partner since the league’s inception in 1996.

Messi also has deals that include PepsiCo brands Pepsi, Gatorade and Lay’s; Anheuser-Busch, MasterCard and South Florida-based Hard Rock International.

“We are pleased that Lionel Messi has stated that he intends to join Inter Miami and Major League Soccer this summer,” MLS posted to its Web site.

“Although work remains to finalize a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest soccer players of all time to our league.”

On its Web site, Messi’s former team Barcelona FC shared details regarding negotiations to have Messi return to the club, and also indicated he would be honored in the future.

“On Monday, June 5, Jorge Messi, the player’s father and representative, informed Club President Joan Laporta of the player's decision to join Inter Miami, despite having been presented with a proposal from Barça, in consideration of the desire of both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi for him to once again wear blaugrana.

“President Laporta understood and respected Messi's decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.

“Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from Barça fans to honor a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barça.”

Among his achievements, Messi received his second career men's "Footballer of the Year" honor at The Best FIFA Football Awards in February and has a record seven Ballon d'Or trophies. He won the FIFA Men’s 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

Inter Miami is last in its MLS division and last week fired its head coach, Phil Neville.

Back to Home Page