Staff Writer
Lionel Messi, a star from Argentina, arrived in Florida on Tuesday to complete his transfer to Inter Miami of the US Major League Soccer.
Messi was captured on camera by ESPN television exiting a private plane at a small executive airport close to the Inter Miami stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Early in the morning, supporters had started to assemble at the stadium in anticipation of his arrival.
Before being introduced to the crowd at a stadium event on Sunday, the World Cup winner is anticipated to sign a two and a half year contract, which is said to be worth $60 million annually.
The most well-known player to ever play in the MLS and travel to the United States is Messi.
since 1975, when Brazilian legend Pele signed with the New York Cosmos.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) hopes that Messi would significantly raise the league’s visibility and increase subscribers to their streaming broadcast agreement with Apple TV. Prices for games where Messi will likely play have already skyrocketed.
His arrival will also increase the excitement surrounding the game in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, which the United States, together with Canada and Mexico, will host.
Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, a former teammate of his at Barcelona, is anticipated to join him there. Former Barcelona coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has assumed the position of head coach.
Messi and Busquets may be among “three to five” new additions made by Miami’s owner Jorge Mas during the current transfer window.
The team, which is co-owned by former England and Manchester United star David Beckham, has also been closely connected with a move by another ex-Barca player, Spanish full-back Jordi Alba.
Messi is anticipated to make his new team’s League Cup debut on July 21 against Cruz Azul of Mexico.
Miami presently sits last in the MLS’s Eastern Conference with only five victories.
28th out of 29 clubs in the league after 21 games played.
However, the team is up against the league-leading FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner moved from Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career, in 2021, and has spent the past two seasons there.
Messi earned four Champions League championship medals, seven Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) titles, 10 Spanish league championships, and ten Spanish league titles while playing for Barca.
When the game ended 3-3 after extra time in the World Cup final, which Argentina won in Doha in December, he scored twice for his country and raised the trophy as captain.
Messi also took home an Olympic gold medal.
2008 Olympic medal with Argentina and the 2001 Copa America.
