Lionel Messi copied Dwyane Wade, Dan Marino and LeBron James on Sunday as he was unveiled as Miami’s latest sporting superstar. Messi is a fantastic addition to the Major League Soccer franchise and for football fans in the Cayman Islands another great reason to visit the already buzzing city which is only a short hop away.
Messi may be in the twilight of his career but he is still an immense talent, worth watching at any level.
His first official appearance as an Inter Miami player took place in front of thousands of adoring fans at Fort Lauderdale’s DRV PNK Stadium.
“I’m very moved to be here in Miami,” Messi told the crowd in Spanish, which is spoken by over half of Miami’s population. “I want to thank you for the kindness and love that you have given me.”
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was given a number 10 shirt to rapturous applause on a $60 million a season deal until the end of 2025.
He has been reunited with defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets - with whom he played at Barcelona - who has also signed for Miami until 2025. Busquets, too, was formally unveiled at the event.
Inter Miami really made an effort to welcome the 36-year-old striker. Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry also recorded welcoming video messages.
Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer, said someone of Messi’s status choosing to play in the league was a “transformational moment”, and he hoped the signing would “shout to the world that this is a soccer nation”. He added: “It’s been so many years of developing this league into becoming a player on the global stage, so it’s a very momentous night for us.”
The DRV PNK Stadium is Inter Miami’s temporary stadium and has a capacity of 18,000, making it the joint-smallest in MLS along with San Jose Earthquakes’ PayPal Park in California. A temporary grandstand has been erected to allow more fans into the ground.
Messi left French champions Paris St-Germain in May after scoring 32 goals in 75 games across a two-year spell. He turned down lucrative offers from other countries to play in the US. This the first time he will play for a non-European club.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham hailed Messi’s signing as a “dream come true”. He said: “Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for the next stage in your career.”
Inter Miami’s primary owner, American billionaire Jorge Mas, called Messi “the best player ever to don boots”.
Messi is expected to make his Miami debut against LIGA MX side Cruz Azul on Friday in their opening match of the Leagues Cup.
He reunites with his former Barca and Argentina boss Gerardo Martino after the 60-year-old was appointed manager in June following the sacking of Phil Neville. Miami only started playing in the Eastern Conference of the MLS in 2020.
Messi was offered a deal by Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal worth $1.5bn over three years. But he chose Florida for many reasons other than money; its language and culture is more like Barca’s, it is easier to get to Argentina, the football standard is higher and Miami is a more exciting place for his wife and three sons to enjoy.
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