Lionel Messi To MLS: The Argentine Magician Is Miami Bound!
Inter Miami Gets the High Five
Sound the trumpets and roll out the red carpets: Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, the man, the myth, the legend, has decided to bring his inimitable brand of football to the sandy beaches of Miami.
Messi’s move to the MLS is set to be a game-changer for the American soccer scene and for Inter Miami, a team co-owned by former England captain David Beckham. Having spurned a huge offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami adds to the glamor and glitz of American Major League Soccer. Remember, this is Messi, a man who has amassed 672 goals and secured 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and seven Spanish Cups during his time with Barcelona. His PSG tenure, despite a Champions League, upset, saw him secure two Ligue 1 titles, leaving the French club with an impressive tally of 32 goals from 75 games.
Messi is all set to join Inter Miami after concluding his stint with French champions Paris St-Germain. The seven-time world’s best player awardee’s move comes fresh on the heels of his World Cup success and an anticipated eighth award for World’s Best Player.
It also marks the former Barcelona icon’s first time he has decided to play outside the European domain. This is history in the making, with Messi’s reign getting ready to light up the American soccer scene.
Deal Comes With Collabs From Adidas and Apple
Anticipations are running high, as Messi’s arrival is poised to drive viewers to the Apple TV streaming platform. Because it’s not just about football; this deal also wraps in some colossal commercial collaborations with giants like Adidas and Apple, further setting the stage for Messi to expand his brand beyond the pitch.
Tech giant Apple, with its global broadcasting rights to MLS, is poised to bolster its streaming subscriptions dramatically with Messi joining the fray. Adidas, donning the role of MLS’s exclusive jersey provider, also stands ready to capitalize, with Inter Miami’s swanky pink-and-black gear expected to become the hot commodity.
MLS and Apple are reportedly in talks about giving Messi a slice of the revenue from the sales of Apple’s MLS Season Pass subscriptions. In a coincidental turn of events, Apple had recently secured a deal with Messi to bring his stellar career to the screen in a four-part documentary series.
So, Miami, get ready! Messi is coming home. Well, yeah, he already has a house there, but still, he’s ready to swap the cozy confines of his European home with the electrifying action of the pitch.
But, Why Not Barcelona?
Messi had dreamt of continuing his European journey, hopeful of another vibrant season in the continent, namely Barcelona. Messi’s potential Barcelona homecoming was actually buzzing in the rumor mill, but the iron grip of La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations, coming into effect next season, swiftly turned this dream into an impossibility.
The football god’s script was to be written otherwise. With no attractive propositions on the table, the Argentine star was caught between two disparate choices – the emerging soccer landscape of Inter Miami or the rich deserts of Al-Hilal.
Often viewed as the likely destination, the pull of Saudi Arabia was immense. But an enticing package in the hundreds of millions that could have paired Messi with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema – a prospect that could rattle the football universe- was a no-go for Lionel. Miami got the high five.
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sportswashing’ Controversy
With Messi’s dramatic metamorphosis to “bad boy” after Qatar, the Argentine maestro found himself on the receiving end of a two-week suspension in May, following an unsanctioned expedition to Saudi Arabia.
It seems the Saudi government has long been under scrutiny, accused of employing a strategic method referred to as ‘sportswashing’. Using large-scale sports events and associations as a smoke screen, the aim is to repair the country’s tarnished reputation, a reputation marred by allegations of discrimination against women, strict prohibitions on homosexuality, and suspected links to terrorist activities.
Other accusations have pointed towards Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman as the alleged mastermind behind the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Furthermore, a two-year-old U.S. government report linked an official from Saudi Arabia to the infamous September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. These allegations, specifically, were fiercely brought to light by the families of the victims when the PGA-Saudi peace agreement in the golf scenario was unveiled.
It’s All About the Journey, Actually
From his humble beginnings to his monumental World Cup victory last December, Messi has proven that victory is not just about the destination, but the journey. His metamorphosis since Qatar, amid all the star-studded flurry surrounding him, has been a captivating spectacle on the global football stage.
Welcome to Miami, bienvenido a Miami, Maestro!
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