Lionel Messi’s impending move to Inter Miami has generated a huge amount of excitement among fans, driving unprecedented growth in social media engagement and ticket sales.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner announced on Wednesday that he would be joining the Major League Soccer club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. Within 24 hours of the announcement, Inter Miami’s Instagram following had quintupled to over 5.7 million, and its total social media following had surpassed 7.5 million. Ticket sales for Inter Miami matches also skyrocketed, with four times as many tickets sold on the secondary market in the 24 hours after Messi’s announcement as had been sold during the entire previous 169-day sales period.
Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami came as a surprise to many, as he had been linked with a move back to Barcelona. However, the 35-year-old cited a desire to “get out of the spotlight a bit” and focus more on his family as reasons for his decision. He also reportedly turned down a more lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia in order to join Inter Miami.
Messi is not expected to make his debut for Inter Miami until late July at the earliest. The MLS season begins in late February and runs through October, and Messi will need to complete his medical, finalize his contract, and get up to speed on the team’s system and style of play before he can start playing. However, even after he does start playing, it is likely that he will be eased into action slowly in order to avoid injuries.
Despite the long wait, fans are eagerly anticipating Messi’s arrival in Miami. The club has already sold out its season tickets for the 2023 season, and there is a growing sense of excitement among the city’s soccer community. Messi’s arrival is a major coup for Inter Miami, and it is sure to have a positive impact on the club’s long-term prospects.
How much money will Lionel Messi earn at Inter Miami?
“If it had been a matter of money, I’d have gone to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere,” said Messi as he confirmed his decision to move to MLS. “It seemed like a lot of money to me. The truth is that my final decision goes elsewhere and not because of money.”
Lionel Messi reportedly turned down a €400 million per season offer from Saudi Arabia to join Inter Miami. While his base salary at Inter Miami is significantly lower, he is expected to earn a lot more through other means.
Messi is reportedly in line to receive a purchase option for an MLS club when he retires, similar to what David Beckham received at LA Galaxy. He is also expected to benefit from lucrative sponsorship deals with brands like Apple and adidas.
In March, Apple and MLS announced a $2.5 billion deal that will see the tech giant stream MLS games for the next 10 years. It is believed that Messi will be a part of this deal, which could earn him millions of dollars.
Adidas is also reportedly interested in a profit-sharing agreement with Messi. This would mean that Messi would share in the profits from adidas’ sales of his merchandise.
The exact terms of Messi’s contract with Inter Miami are not yet known, but it is clear that he will be earning a lot more than his base salary of £43 million per season.
Here are some additional details about the potential benefits that Messi could receive from his move to Inter Miami:
- Purchase option for an MLS club: When David Beckham retired from playing in 2013, he was given an option to purchase an MLS club. He used this option to purchase the Miami Beckham United, which was later rebranded as Inter Miami. It is possible that Messi could be given a similar option when he retires.
- Sponsorship deals: Messi is one of the most popular athletes in the world, and he is sure to be in high demand for sponsorship deals. He is already sponsored by a number of major brands, including adidas, Pepsi, and Mastercard. It is possible that he could sign even more lucrative sponsorship deals with companies that want to be associated with him.
- Other benefits: Messi may also receive other benefits from his move to Inter Miami, such as a tax break or a home in Miami. The exact nature of these benefits is not yet known.
Overall, it is clear that Messi could earn a lot more than his base salary of £43 million per season through other means. His move to Inter Miami is a major coup for the club, and it is sure to have a positive impact on his financial situation.