FORT LAUDERDALE, UNITED STATES: Argentine celebrity Lionel Messi landed in Florida on Tuesday forward of placing the general touches on his transfer to US Major League Soccer membership InterMiami,
Argentine tv pictures confirmed Messi, with individuals of his circle of relatives, strolling off a non-public jet at a small, govt airport adjoining to Inter Miami’s stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The World Cup winner is predicted to place pen to paper on a two and a part 12 months deal, reported to be price $60 million a 12 months, sooner than being introduced to lovers at a stadium tournament on Sunday.
“We are happy with the decision we made. Prepared and eager to face the new challenge, the new change,” Messi mentioned in an interview with Argentine TV display, Llave a los angeles eternidad, launched on Tuesday.
“My mentality and my head are not going to change and I am going to try, wherever I have to be, to give my best for myself and my new club and continue to perform at the highest level,” he added.
Messi is the largest identify to ever transfer to MLS and the best participant to move to the United States since Brazilian nice Pele signed for the New York Cosmos in 1975.
MLS hopes that Messi will hugely building up the profile of the league and spice up subscriptions to their streaming broadcast maintain Apple TV. Ticket costs for video games more likely to contain Messi have already sky-rocketed.
Fans had begun to assemble on the membership’s DRV PNK stadium early within the morning forward of his anticipated arrival.
One of the supporters, Julio Iglesias, 42, mentioned he based the ‘Messias 305’ fan team when he realized the Argentine celebrity was once coming to Miami. He did not prior to now watch MLS video games however mentioned he now would possibly not leave out any Miami fits.
“For us, Messi coming means everything, wherever he goes there is always incredible happiness,” he mentioned, whilst status through a banner mentioning ‘We are looking forward to you Messis’.
Messi’s arrival can even upload to the momentum across the recreation forward of the 2026 World Cup, which shall be hosted through the United States at the side of Canada and Mexico.
He is predicted to be joined on the membership through former Barcelona team-mate Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, whilst ex-Argentina and Barcelona trainer Gerardo “Tata” Martino lately took over as trainer.
Miami proprietor Jorge Mas has steered Messi and Busquets might be a part of “three to five” new signings for the South Florida membership within the present switch window.
Another former Barca participant, Spanish full-back Jordi Alba, has additionally been strongly related with a transfer to the group, which is co-owned through former England and Manchester United celebrity David Beckham.
Messi is predicted to make his debut for his new membership within the July 21 Leagues Cup fit in opposition to Mexican membership Cruz Azul.
Miami are recently backside of MLS’s Eastern Conference with simply 5 wins from 21 video games and are ranked twenty eighth out of the 29 groups within the league.
But the membership are within the semi-finals of america Open Cup, the place they have got been drawn in opposition to league-leaders FC Cincinnati.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has spent the final two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, after transferring from Barcelona in 2021, the place he spent the vast majority of his occupation.
During his time with Barca, Messi received ten Spanish league titles, seven Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) titles and 4 Champions League winners’ medals.
He scored two times for Argentina within the World Cup ultimate which they received on consequences in Doha in December, after the sport ended 3–3 after extra-time and raised the trophy as captain.
Messi additionally received an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2008 and the Copa America in 2001.
Argentine tv pictures confirmed Messi, with individuals of his circle of relatives, strolling off a non-public jet at a small, govt airport adjoining to Inter Miami’s stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The World Cup winner is predicted to place pen to paper on a two and a part 12 months deal, reported to be price $60 million a 12 months, sooner than being introduced to lovers at a stadium tournament on Sunday.
“We are happy with the decision we made. Prepared and eager to face the new challenge, the new change,” Messi mentioned in an interview with Argentine TV display, Llave a los angeles eternidad, launched on Tuesday.
“My mentality and my head are not going to change and I am going to try, wherever I have to be, to give my best for myself and my new club and continue to perform at the highest level,” he added.
Messi is the largest identify to ever transfer to MLS and the best participant to move to the United States since Brazilian nice Pele signed for the New York Cosmos in 1975.
MLS hopes that Messi will hugely building up the profile of the league and spice up subscriptions to their streaming broadcast maintain Apple TV. Ticket costs for video games more likely to contain Messi have already sky-rocketed.
Fans had begun to assemble on the membership’s DRV PNK stadium early within the morning forward of his anticipated arrival.
One of the supporters, Julio Iglesias, 42, mentioned he based the ‘Messias 305’ fan team when he realized the Argentine celebrity was once coming to Miami. He did not prior to now watch MLS video games however mentioned he now would possibly not leave out any Miami fits.
“For us, Messi coming means everything, wherever he goes there is always incredible happiness,” he mentioned, whilst status through a banner mentioning ‘We are looking forward to you Messis’.
Messi’s arrival can even upload to the momentum across the recreation forward of the 2026 World Cup, which shall be hosted through the United States at the side of Canada and Mexico.
He is predicted to be joined on the membership through former Barcelona team-mate Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, whilst ex-Argentina and Barcelona trainer Gerardo “Tata” Martino lately took over as trainer.
Miami proprietor Jorge Mas has steered Messi and Busquets might be a part of “three to five” new signings for the South Florida membership within the present switch window.
Another former Barca participant, Spanish full-back Jordi Alba, has additionally been strongly related with a transfer to the group, which is co-owned through former England and Manchester United celebrity David Beckham.
Messi is predicted to make his debut for his new membership within the July 21 Leagues Cup fit in opposition to Mexican membership Cruz Azul.
Miami are recently backside of MLS’s Eastern Conference with simply 5 wins from 21 video games and are ranked twenty eighth out of the 29 groups within the league.
But the membership are within the semi-finals of america Open Cup, the place they have got been drawn in opposition to league-leaders FC Cincinnati.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has spent the final two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, after transferring from Barcelona in 2021, the place he spent the vast majority of his occupation.
During his time with Barca, Messi received ten Spanish league titles, seven Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) titles and 4 Champions League winners’ medals.
He scored two times for Argentina within the World Cup ultimate which they received on consequences in Doha in December, after the sport ended 3–3 after extra-time and raised the trophy as captain.
Messi additionally received an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2008 and the Copa America in 2001.