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Tyreek Hill challenges Lionel Messi to a race before his arrival in Miami

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•06/08/23•

SamraSource

Tyreek Hill
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Arguably the biggest athlete in the entire world is headed to America, as Lionel Messi chose to join Inter Miami, announced on Wednesday afternoon and shaking the sports world to it’s core.

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 decided to join Inter Miami over a potential return to Barcelona, or taking his talents to Saudi Arabia. 

Following the gigantic news, one of Miami’s finest in Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill made sure to welcome him to town, and made a challenge to the global superstar.

“Hey what’s up, this is Tyreek Hill,” stated the Miami Dolphins star wide receiver. “I just want to say welcome to the 305, Lionel Messi. Now we’ve got two No. 10s. I just want to know which one is the fastest.

“But anyways, congrats to you, man. Shoutout, and qué lo que Papi. Welcome to Miami, 305.”

Tyreek Hill versus Lionel Messi in a race? Hill might have the advantage there, but we’re not willing to count Messi out of anything.

Alas, a sports renascence is happening in Miami, with the Dolphins future looking up, Messi headed to Inter Miami and the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. It’s a beautiful time to be in South Beach — I mean, it always is — but now more than ever.

More on Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

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.