After months — years, even — of speculation, Messi finally revealed his decision to join a Miami franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon, David Beckham, since its inception but has yet to make any real splashes on the field.
Superstar footballer Lionel Messi announced Wednesday he intends to play for Inter Miami, turning down offers from Barcelona and Saudi Arabia, in a move that shocked soccer fans around the world.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup champion is the second highest-paid athlete in the world as of 2023,1 and has earned an estimated $1.15 billion in his career so far, according to Forbes.2
The legendary Argentine soccer player told Mundo Deportivo in an exclusive interview that though it is not 100% final, he has made the decision to go to Miami.3
Fans aren’t waiting for a signed contract though—Inter Miami ticket prices soared within hours of Messi’s announcement, with tickets for Messi’s reported debut match jumping from $29 to $329 according to TickPick.4
Messi’s contract with Inter Miami (a team part-owned by David Beckham) is the biggest boost for U.S. soccer since Beckham signed for Los Angeles’s Galaxy in 2007. Messi’s contract will reportedly be valued between $125 million and $150 million, including salary, bonuses, and equity in the team according to Miami Herald.5 MLS league sponsors Apple and Adidas are also working on separate deals with the soccer champion, according to the Herald.
