Lionel Messi, regarded as the greatest football player of all time by many, is poised for a pivotal few months ahead.
Although the Argentinian will have his sights set on the World Cup over the next few weeks, the legend’s Paris Saint-Germain contract will only have six months remaining once the tournament has culminated.
This means the record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will have the freedom to officially speak to clubs across the globe to sign a pre-contract with a club for the 23/24 season.
With the 35-year-old also reigniting his untouchable form, the rumor mill has relentlessly linked him to a host of different clubs across the planet.
One of those clubs are Inter Miami, the newly established MLS team spearheaded by English icon David Beckham. Over the past few years, Beckham has publicly expressed the desire to sign Messi.
The interest has been mutual, with Leo Messi quite receptive to relocating to play in the Magic City.
Hence, here on Main Stand with Agastya Bajaj, we dissect the Leo Messi rumor mill, why La Pulga could truly join Inter Miami and the impact that would have on the football landscape.
Leo to leave Paris?
The Argentinian joined the Parisians last summer and has had a fascinating tenure thus far.
Messi’s first season at the home of the French champions Paris Saint-Germain was underwhelming by his standards, albeit still renowned as one of the best playmakers on the planet last season, he was far from his renowned best. The Parisians failed to capture their vied Champions League title.
Leo was also unable to reach the remarkable heights he reached at FC Barcelona, producing his lowest goal-scoring season since he burst onto the scene as a youngster, amassing 11 goals.
This season, however, after that unprecedented and unpalatable exit from the Catalonian side, Leo Messi has finally acclimated to life in the French capital.
Messi has revitalized his unfathomable ability, ranking first in goal contributions, assists, man-of-the-match awards, and chances created across Europe this season, for example.
The Argentinian has also been in the form of his life for the national team, winning Copa America and Finalissma too. The Argentinian captain has also led his side to an active record-breaking 35-game unbeaten streak.
“I’m more comfortable with the club (PSG), the dressing room, my teammates and the game. I feel very good, I’m starting to enjoy myself again,” said Messi in an interview from earlier this month.
Messi’s head coach at PSG, Christophe Galtier, also echoed these remarks, saying “I say it often, everyone is unanimous, Messi is the best player in the history of this sport.”
Galtier also added, “I don’t like to play with the 433 because it requires Messi to go backwards. Messi feels more comfortable when he’s deep in the field,” giving Leo the highest praise when discussing his system.
Galtier has given Messi the platform to perform at his best again, with the Argentinian influencing PSG’s build-up like no other player on the planet influences their side.
As a matter of fact, PSG are yet to win a game without Leo Messi this season. On the contrary, the Parisian side are unbeaten when the Argentinian plays.
The star-studded trio of Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr have already accumulated staggering 70-plus goal contributions in the opening third of the season. The trio has comprehensively propelled the club to first in Ligue 1 and their Champions League group.
That being said, with Leo Messi’s rejuvenated form and morale in Paris, there is still a real possibility he will depart at the end of the season.
The club Messi broke virtually every record at, Barcelona, have already briefed the press and publicly stated they will push to sign the player on a free transfer at the end of the season.
On the other hand, unconfirmed reports from England suggest Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side would be keen on signing the player, reuniting arguably the most successful manager and player combination the sport has witnessed.
Sources close to PSG have also indicated they will propose a “big, big offer” to Leo Messi soon. The Parisian hierarchy desperately wants to keep Leo Messi, particularly since his rich vein of form and marketability prospects.
However, despite a flurry of interest from elite European clubs, the most advanced club in the bid for Leo Messi’s signature is American side Inter Miami. Several sources, such as the Athletic, have indicated that “Inter Miami are becoming increasingly confident of signing Leo Messi.”
Discussions between Messi’s entourage and Inter Miami co-owners David Beckham, Jorge and Joses Mas have been going on for a couple of years with increasing confidence that a proposed transfer will soon materialize.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano stated, “My feeling is that one day Messi will sign for Inter Miami. I’m told there are good chances. Miami have been working on it for a long time.”
Why Inter Miami?
If Leo Messi is to sign for the Herons, why would he choose the MLS of all places, let alone a new and mid-table club in the form of Inter Miami?
As aforementioned, Inter Miami were founded in 2018 by David Beckham. The English icon’s ownership group, Miami Beckham United group, was founded in 2013.
The Man United legend had the concept of Inter Miami since 2014, successfully negotiating a blueprint for a new MLS franchise in beautiful Miami, Florida, with key figures in the city.
In 2018, the MLS transformed Beckham’s vision into fruition, approving the integration of the 25th MLS side, Inter Miami.
During the club’s launch, when David Beckham was asked about his transfer vision and strategy, he stated:
“We want to be the point of reference for soccer in the United States, but when you talk about the best players on the planet, Leo is obviously the best. We hope the conditions will be met for him to be there, playing with the US Inter Miami jersey. We aspire that.”
The former Galactico added, “I hope the circumstances are given. We have nothing guaranteed, there is no agreement, but I am a very optimistic man and I hope that in the future Leo Messi can be a part of our project.”
Current Inter Miami manager Phil Neville also shared his decision of why he chose to join his former teammate’s club.
“I am quite ambitious as a manager, I want to manage at the top level and the plans that David and the owners have got for this club are huge,” shared Neville. “He wants Inter Miami to be known worldwide.”
The interest isn’t one-sided either, with the Argentinian generational talent expressing the following in 2020.
“I always had the desire of being able to enjoy and have the experience of living in the United States, of living what the MLS is, what life is like there. I would like (to play in the MLS) later, if it happens or not, I don’t know.”
These comments during the tail end of his glittering Barcelona stint planted the seeds for a potential move to Inter Miami. This prompted Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas, to share his thoughts on the matter.
“It’s not out of the question that Lionel Messi will wear an Inter Miami uniform at some point in time,” he said.
“I think we have everything in our power to facilitate Lionel Messi coming to Miami and coming to the MLS. I will push as hard as I can personally, in making this happen.”
Leo Messi and his family also regularly visit Miami during the off-season. The possibility of living in Miami entices the Argentinian and his family. Besides, Miami has an immense Argentine population and is the largest-speaking Spanish city in the United States of America.
Messi has also recently purchased a $7.3 million mansion in The Magic City, adding fuel to the fire.
Groundbreaking impact
With all this said, if/when Leo Messi does join Inter Miami, it will completely alter the landscape of the MLS and the sport to come.
From a financial standpoint, the magician’s impact is second to none in the beautiful game.
The wealthiest sportsman of the year had an immeasurable and unrivaled influence on PSG this past year, generating a staggering $790 million for the French side.
Messi also secured the Parisians 10 new sponsors, ranging from high-profile luxury fashion brands such as Dior and GOAT. The Argentinan has also grown Paris shirt sales by over 40%, despite already boasting Mbappe and Neymar, two highly valued commercial assets.
Although Mbappe and Neymar may be two incredibly talented footballers and brands, Leo Messi single-handedly accounts for 60% of PSG shirts sold.
This unprecedented commercial influence would expand Inter Miami’s revenue flow and streams to unchartered heights, hitting David Beckham’s goal of globally expanding the league.
From a sporting standpoint, the arrival of Leo Messi would also cause a ripple effect of superstars joining the MLS. The Argentinian's arrival would cause other global icons to join the league, echoing but enhancing what the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney have initiated over the past 15 years.
Messi would also appeal to certain broadcasting companies to latch on to MLS television rights, with broadcasting being one of the biggest sources of revenue for the modern-day club.
The MLS attendance rate has also been rapidly increasing over the past few seasons, with a new record overall attendance of 10 million fans set this past campaign. The league also increased in viewership across its different services, ranging from 13% on ESPN to 8% on TSN Canada.
Leo Messi’s arrival would instantly change the landscape of MLS broadcasting, being the sole allure for certain television companies.
The Argentinian would also significantly increase interest in the league like no other. Especially before the North America World Cup in 2026, it would do the country a major favor in terms of marketing, exposing the sport to the locals and enhancing America’s footballing reputation.
Do we even need to discuss his footballing impact? After all, the Argentinian is still aging like a fine wine.
With sources stating Inter Miami “expect” to sign Lionel Messi in the next few months, it seems this fantasy is poised to become a reality sooner or later.
Sources:
https://theathletic.com/3750446/2022/11/01/lionel-messi-miami-mls-impact/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/lionel-messi-miami-apartment-beckham-26359843
https://www.marca.com/en/football/psg/2022/09/22/632c1ecaca47417e468b4577.html
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/lionel-messi-inter-miami-transfer-25404227
https://metro.co.uk/2022/10/31/man-utd-legend-david-beckham-expects-sign-lionel-messi-inter-miami-transfer-17667788/
