Lionel Messi dons Inter Miami jersey for the 1st time, after officially signing deal with MLS club

Lionel Messi has finalized his deal to join Major League Soccer, and after years of planning and pursuing, Inter Miami has landed a global icon.

Messi’s contract became official Saturday, a little more than five weeks after he declared that he would be coming to Inter Miami.  team will introduce him Sunday night at its stadium in Fort Lauderdale, and first home match of Messi era could be as early as Friday in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul.

A formal news conference is scheduled for Monday, and his first training session with his new club is expected on Tuesday. club previously anunced that Messi’s deal will be for 2 1/2 seasons and will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually — putting total contract value between $125 million and $150 million in cash alone.

“BIENVENIDO 10,” team posted Saturday on Twitter.

Welcome, Messi, indeed.

“We are overjoyed that greatest player in world chose Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to momentum and energy behind our League and our sport in rth America,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “We have doubt that Lionel will show world that MLS can be a League of Choice for best players in game.”

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"Very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami"

It is, in many ways, an unusual marri. Messi — still perhaps biggest star in game — is signing with a team that entered Saturday in last place in MLS’s Eastern Conference standings. It’s a club in just its fourth season that plays in a temporary home that will seat only about 22,000 people when some rushed revations like adding extra bleacher seats get completed.

Doesn’t matter. Soccer royalty w plays for Inter Miami.

Messi arrived in South Florida on Tuesday following vacation, n started process of physicals and paperwork on Wednesday and deal got finalized Saturday afteron. seven-time Ballon d’Or winner — trophy given annually to world’s best player — is making his Miami move after two years with Paris Saint-Germain.

“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in United States,” Messi said in a statement. “This is a fantastic opportunity and toger we will continue to build this beautiful project. idea is to work toger to achieve objectives we set, and I’m very er to start helping here in my new home.”

It was widely kwn that Messi would be leaving PSG. mystery was where he was going. Some thought Messi eventually would choose to play for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following longtime rival Cristia Ronaldo to a kingdom where some clubs w are funded by its sovereign wealth fund. Going back to Barcelona, a storied franchise where he spent most of his career, was ar possibility.

Dream comes true for legendary David Beckham

In end, Miami won. An idea that co-owner David Beckham began floating publicly in 2021 — two years before, evidently, team actually started thinking about how to pull this off — has w become reality.

“After winning World Cup and t being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to league of United States to live football in ar way,” Messi said in June when anuncing his decision.

He led Argentina to World Cup title last December. Messi has more than 800 goals in his career for club and country, making him one of greatest scorers in sport’s history. He scored twice in last year’s World Cup final against France, a match that ended 3-3 with Argentina prevailing 4-2 on penalty kicks.

He is a four-time Champions League winner and his 129 goals in top club competition are second to Ronaldo’s 140. Messi has won 10 La Liga titles and two Ligue 1 championships, seven Copa del Reys and three Club World Cups plus a Copa América and Olympic gold medal for Argentina.

“Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamt of bringing greatest players in world to this amazing city,” Beckham said. “Players who shared ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in USA and to build a legacy for next generation in this sport that we love so much.

“Today that dream came true.”

club had a road match Saturday at St. Louis, yet when word got out that Messi may have been at team’s facility that morning a couple hundred fans showed up just hoping for a glimpse, t even deterred by a late-morning thunderstorm. Many wore Messi jerseys — some light blue of Argentina, some pink-and-black of Inter Miami. Some carried flags; one carried a sign mostly in Spanish, but words “Messi” and “GOAT” made messaging clear.

It’s just part of a welcome party that is only getting started.

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Lionel Messi to be unveiled as Inter Miami and MLS player 

Messi was seen at a Publix supermarket near Fort Lauderdale — grocery chain is an Inter Miami sponsor — with his family earlier in week, and cart had a few items picked out by kids: Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Lucky Charms. scene went viral by time he hit checkout lane.

A serial goal scorer is evidently a cereal fan as well.

And w, it’s time for soccer to start. Inter Miami plans to introduce Messi on Sunday night, at an event club is calling “ Unveil.” Shakira is rumored to be attending, and tickets are long gone for show that has been anticipated for weeks.

Hopes for franchise are w officially sky-high. Inter Miami has never contended for a title; Messi could change everything in a hurry for a team that has won only 34% of its matches in MLS play.

“Lionel Messi is an incomparable talent,” Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson said. “What he brings on and off field will elevate everyone around him and we’re excited to have him at Inter Miami.”