Messi's Inter Miami Deal: A Game-Changer in MLS History, Surpassing Beckham and Rooney

Messi's Inter Miami Deal: A Game-Changer in MLS History, Surpassing Beckham and Rooney Clean Nutra

Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi, regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, has confirmed in an interview with Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo that he will be joining American side Inter Miami. This move comes after Messi's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired and amidst interest from his former club FC Barcelona and a lucrative offer from the Saudi Arabian league, which recently added Cristiano Ronaldo to its roster along with Karim Benzema. At the age of 35, Messi remains a highly coveted player, recently leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup. His arrival at Major League Soccer (MLS) is seen as one of the most significant player acquisitions in the league's history, alongside other legendary players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and David Beckham, who is now part of Inter Miami's ownership group. The MLS has worked closely with Inter Miami to create an enticing deal for Messi, even though his heart still lies with Barcelona, as he has admitted. Reports indicate that Messi's contract is taking on an interesting shape, with two of the MLS's major commercial partners being included to make a valuable offer. Apple, which signed a 10-year deal worth US$2.5 billion with the MLS earlier this year, will provide their streaming service Apple TV+ with the MLS Season Pass. Messi will receive a portion of the revenue shares generated by Apple during his contract, which could last for two or four years. Additionally, Apple TV+ plans to release a four-part docuseries covering Messi's World Cup journey, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Argentina's triumph in Qatar. Adidas, the MLS's long-standing partner and the brand that has represented Messi since 2006, is also part of the contract. They recently extended their partnership with the MLS until 2030, with a deal worth $830 million. Messi will benefit from a profit-sharing system with Adidas, earning a share of the brand's profits from the MLS. As the football world's star athlete for Adidas, this contract makes Messi a stakeholder in the future of the MLS. In a fascinating turn of events, Messi's connection with David Beckham, the face of Inter Miami and the MLS, has come full circle. Beckham, the first global superstar in the MLS, was spotted alongside Messi at a PSG training camp earlier this year. The two have maintained a strong business relationship, with Messi congratulating Beckham on the establishment of Inter Miami in 2018. Although specific details of Messi's contract with Inter Miami have not been disclosed, the structure of the deal highlights his immense commercial and financial value to both the club and the MLS. Messi is expected to join Miami on July 5, coinciding with the opening of the MLS transfer period, and his first game is anticipated to be a Leagues Cup home match against Cruz Azul on July 21, which is already sold out.