Lionel Messi opts to join MLS's Inter Miami over lucrative offer from Saudi-run team, return to Barcelona

Arguably the biggest star in all of sports is headed to America, as Lionel Messi has reportedly chosen to play for Inter Miami of Major League Soccer.

The MLS has landed stars before, like David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but nothing of this level. According to Guillem Balague of CBS Sports, Messi has decided to join Inter Miami over a potential return to Barcelona, or taking his talents to Saudi Arabia.

Messi has decided. His destination: Inter Miami

Leo Messi se va al Inter Miami

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) June 7, 2023

“Messi has decided. His destination: Inter Miami,” tweeted Balague. “Leo Messi se va al Inter Miami.”

That’s a seismic shift for the soccer world. Messi, who’s still at the top of his game coming off delivering a World Cup to Argentina in 2022, joining the MLS. That would’ve been unthinkable not too long ago.

Moreover, the addition of Messi to Inter Miami will be aided by two of the league’s biggest partners, and two of the biggest brands in the world in Apple and Adidas, according to The Athletic.

“MLS’s offer to Messi involves contributions from the league’s two biggest commercial partners,” reported The Athletic. “Multiple sources involved in or briefed on the high-level league discussions said earlier this week that MLS and Apple have discussed offering Messi a share of the revenue generated by new subscribers to MLS Season Pass, the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+. Both sides view Messi’s potential involvement in Major League Soccer as a boon; Apple and MLS signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement this spring. On Tuesday, Apple revealed that a four-part docuseries chronicling Messi’s five World Cup appearances would stream on Apple TV+.

“Adidas, which is among MLS’ largest corporate sponsors, has prepared its own potential arrangement to entice Messi to the United States, multiple sources briefed on those plans told The Athletic on Tuesday. Messi is being offered a profit-sharing agreement with the sportswear giant, those sources said, which would involve the player receiving a cut of any increase in Adidas’ profits resulting from his involvement in MLS.”

Just like that, Inter Miami has become one of the most fascinating teams in all of the sport, regardless of league. With a player the quality of Messi joining the fold, there’s no telling how far they can go, both in the MLS and pop culture wise.

Lionel Messi to the MLS. It’s arguably the biggest win for the league since it’s inception. It’s going to be fascinating to watch where it goes from here.