Lionel Messi stuns soccer world, chooses Miami's MLS team.

Lionel Messi confirms move to Inter Miami's MLS Team

Image Credit: Pinterest

Lionel Messi has accomplished his latest remarkable achievement: He is set to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). After much speculation over several months, Messi has finally disclosed his decision to join the Miami-based team, which has been under the leadership of another prominent soccer figure, David Beckham, since its establishment. However, Inter Miami has not yet made significant impacts on the field.

This situation is likely to change soon. Jorge Mas, one of the owners of Inter Miami, tweeted a photo of a silhouette of Messi's jersey, creating anticipation just before the Argentine legend confirmed his decision in interviews with Spanish news outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport.

There was widespread belief that Messi would ultimately choose to play for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following in the footsteps of his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, as some clubs there are now financially supported by the country's sovereign wealth fund. Another possibility was a return to Barcelona, a renowned club where he had spent the majority of his career.

In a surprising turn of events, Lionel Messi has made the decision to join Major League Soccer (MLS), a move that caught many people off guard. In his interviews on Wednesday, Messi mentioned that there are still some final details to be sorted out, but he has chosen to "continue my path" in Miami.

"After winning the World Cup and being unable to return to Barcelona, it was my opportunity to experience football in a different way by joining the United States league," Messi stated.

Rather than prioritizing money or nostalgia, Messi opted for Miami. His upcoming matches are expected to be exhibition games with Argentina, facing Australia on June 15 in Beijing and Indonesia in Jakarta four days later. Subsequently, his debut for Inter Miami is likely to take place sometime in July.

Having spent the past two years with Paris Saint-Germain, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner (awarded annually to the best player in the world) at the age of 35 has nothing left to prove in the game. In December, he achieved the only significant milestone missing from his illustrious career by leading Argentina to win the World Cup.

Messi's career boasts an impressive tally of over 800 goals for both his clubs and the Argentine national team, solidifying his status as one of the greatest scorers in the history of the sport. Throughout his remarkable 17-year journey representing Argentina internationally, he has found the back of the net 102 times against 38 different national teams, including 16 goals scored on U.S. soil.

Notably, he contributed two goals in the World Cup final against France last year, a match that officially ended in a 3-3 draw and saw Argentina emerge victorious in a penalty shootout.

Messi has undeniably reached the pinnacle of the game, achieving extraordinary success and accolades throughout his career.

In his move to MLS, Messi joins a struggling team currently occupying the last place in the Eastern Conference. Inter Miami's recent firing of coach Phil Neville, who was specifically chosen by Beckham two years ago, adds to their challenges.

Messi's decision to play in the United States could potentially have an enormous impact on American soccer at the professional level. While legendary players such as Pele, Thierry Henry, and Beckham himself have previously come to the U.S. towards the later stages of their careers, signing a player who is still near the pinnacle of his game and just a few months removed from winning the World Cup is an immense development.

The arrival of Messi not only brings significant star power but also raises the profile of the league and showcases the growing appeal of MLS on a global scale. It is a major boost for American soccer, and the impact of his presence is expected to be substantial.

Bringing Messi to Miami's pitch required extensive negotiations involving MLS, Inter Miami ownership, Adidas, and even Apple, who played a part in a creative pitch to secure his signing.

Apple, as a broadcast partner of MLS, announced a forthcoming four-part documentary series featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Lionel Messi. The series aims to provide an intimate portrayal of Messi's career with the Argentina national football team, focusing on his pursuit of a legacy-defining World Cup victory.

Inter Miami, as a franchise, had a six-year journey from its inception to its first match on the field. However, the team's performance in its initial four seasons has been underwhelming. Joining Inter Miami means Messi becomes part of a team currently sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and undergoing a coaching change.

Although the team managed to make the playoffs in two out of three seasons, it has yet to finish a season with a winning record or a positive goal differential. The addition of Messi to the team brings hope for a positive turnaround and improved performance.

Throughout the past few months, there were indications that Miami was still in contention to sign Messi. A meeting between Messi and Inter Miami co-owner Beckham took place in the spring, and this information was shared publicly, likely to emphasize that discussions were ongoing.

Additionally, Messi and his family own multiple luxury properties in South Florida, further fueling speculation. As a potential sign of something significant on the horizon, the MLS club informed fans that the only way to secure tickets for the second half of the season was through purchasing a season-ticket package. These moves and hints suggested that there was a strong possibility of a major development involving Messi and Inter Miami.

Messi's immense global appeal extends to Miami as well. He is a significant draw for fans worldwide, including those in Miami. As an example of his popularity, shortly after Argentina's World Cup victory, Kyle Lowry, a guard for the Miami Heat basketball team, was seen wearing a Messi jersey on the bench during a game he couldn't participate in due to an injury.

Despite the strong Latin influence in the region, where the term "futbol" is often used instead of "soccer," Inter Miami has faced challenges in generating the same level of attention as the area's major professional sports teams. Currently, Inter Miami plays its home matches in a temporary stadium located in Fort Lauderdale, approximately 45 minutes away from the desired permanent complex site in Miami.

In Miami, where basketball's Heat, baseball's Miami Marlins, football's Miami Dolphins, and hockey's Florida Panthers hold significant prominence, Inter Miami has struggled to capture the same level of attention and popularity. However, the addition of a global icon like Messi is expected to bring a significant boost to the team's visibility and help establish a stronger presence in the Miami sports landscape.

Messi's arrival has the potential to transform the dynamics instantly. With his presence, he becomes the biggest name in MLS, generating widespread attention and making everything Inter Miami does newsworthy.

His decision to join Inter Miami brings an end to a tumultuous saga. Barcelona played a significant role in shaping Messi into a superstar, but the financial difficulties that led to his departure from the club two years ago still persist. Messi expressed his reluctance to be a part of potential player sales or salary reductions, which influenced his decision.

While there were no financial obstacles with a potential move to Saudi Arabia, speculation regarding his destination intensified when Messi made an unauthorized trip to the country. This led to his suspension by PSG, and some fans turned against him, expressing their displeasure through jeers towards the end of his tenure with the French club.

Although it was widely known that Messi wouldn't be returning to PSG, few could have predicted his move to Miami. This transfer has the potential to be even more surprising than LeBron James' arrival to join the Miami Heat 13 years ago, given Messi's status as a global superstar and the impact it could have on the MLS and Inter Miami.