Opinion: Messi’s arrival in Miami sparks a window of opportunity like no other.
Lionel Messi, who is perhaps the best player of all time and is barely six months removed from his greatest achievement, will soon call Inter Miami his home.
In a historic move for the league and for American soccer, INTER MIAMI will this summer welcome Lionel Messi to its roster. While the agreement is not yet final, it is near enough that Messi publicly announced his intention to move to Miami and the league said they are anticipating his arrival in a statement.
It’s easy to understand my thoughts when moving. Compared to David Beckham joining the LA Galaxy or Pele joining the Cosmos, this is a larger deal. As the United States national team was irrelevant, Pele exposed the nation to the “beautiful game.” It was extremely significant, but after he went, the sport suffered in the US.
Soon after, the NASL ceased operations, and the MLS didn’t start until 1996. While it’s true that Pele encouraged young people to play and that some of them went on to become international and professional players for the United States, Pele was only one of many factors that contributed to the beginning of the sport’s modern period in the nation.
There is no disputing that Pele assisted the sport in taking significant first steps, despite the difficulties it faced when he retired. One may contend that Pele’s signing with the Cosmos is necessary for the crucial events of hosting the 1994 World Cup and the launch of MLS in 1996.
Similar in magnitude was David Beckham’s entrance with the LA Galaxy in 2007. Beckham didn’t win the world cup, and there have been players in the league with considerably stronger résumés (Henry, Schweinsteiger, Villa, and Zlatan are just a few examples), but he brought celebrity. The league was in a far better state when he left than when he entered because he attracted more eyes to it. Owners had the option to avoid the salary cap by using designated players. Cities desired expansion teams in more cities. Teams were also using homegrown paths and academies to train new players.
Football in this country is at a far more advanced stage during the time of Messi’s joining Inter Miami. The country will shortly host its second World Cup, the league has a significant Apple TV agreement, there will be 30 clubs in the league, many teams have their own stadiums, the public is much more aware of and appreciative of the sport, and the league is producing better players from within.
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While Messi brings unmatched quality, Beckham provided fame and was a very excellent player in the league. Despite being 35 years old, Messi has only recently returned from leading Argentina to a World Cup victory. He’s always been a reclusive famous person.
The fact that Messi is arguably the best player of all time is wholly responsible for his over 15-year-long status as a global phenomenon. And he hasn’t been too far from his greatest success.
What does Messi intend to do if Pele ignited interest in the sport in the United States and David Beckham made it cool while also stabilising the league?
He’s here to bring more attention to the league, both from across the world and from those in the United States who enjoy the sport but follow other leagues. Essentially, his agreement will see him become an Apple TV partner in exchange for a cut of new subscriptions.
There is every reason to believe that this will be a home run since there is a larger strategy at work beyond Messi. His contract will last until the 2024 Copa America and then until the 2026 World Cup, which will be a big boost for football in the United States.
Some football enthusiasts did lose interest once Pele retired. The 1994 World Cup was a huge hit that summer, but not everyone continued with the sport. Millions upon millions, on the other hand, did. Many people became admirers and stayed with it. This is going to have that kind of impact. After Messi and the 2026 World Cup, there will be a massive net positive inflow of fans, even if some do not stay. The age of social media and easy access to sports viewers makes it even easier.
Beckham’s six years with the Galaxy were ultimately successful not for what they accomplished for the Galaxy or for the initial wave of spectators, but for the form of the league when he left.
Messi will be in the United States for a few years with Miami, but his success will be in attracting new fans to the sport. When he retires, and in conjunction with the 2026 World Cup, the league, Inter Miami, and the sport will be on a whole other level.
Given his track record of accomplishment and the fact that the World Cup and Copa America are coming to town, it appears to be a perfect storm of opportunity. Everything is falling into place.
