Lionel Messi Vows To Give ‘Maximum’ Effort At Inter Miami

FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has revealed he is relishing the challenge of playing in the MLS and vowed to give his all at new club Inter Miami in an appearance on Argentine public television.

Messi is yet to make his debut in the US since revealing last month that his next destination would be Fort Lauderdale after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired on June 30.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner had been heavily linked with a return to boyhood outfit Barca, and also had a reported €500 million ($550 million) a year offer on the table from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia that would have seen him comfortably top Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes in 2024.

In the end, however, Messi opted not to wait for the Catalans to get their financial house in order, and instead chose to make what he had previously described as a “dream” come true by playing in the US.

Gearing up to head north to Florida after spending time in his homeland Argentina, Messi has starred in a public television program named the ‘The Key to Eternity’ which features the heroes of La Albiceleste’s Qatar 2022-winning squad.

Asked about his move to Miami in an interview with Sofia Martinez, Messi explained: “Well, we’re happy with the decision we made.”

“[I’m] prepared and eager to face a new challenge, a new change. My mentality and my head are not going to change. I will continue to perform at the highest level for myself and for my new club,” he vowed.

Messi’s recent exploits on the pitch have communicated that despite an at times patchy last season with PSG, the 36-year-old is still able to put in top displays.

Against Australia for Argentina in Beijing, he scored his fastest career goal in 80-seconds, and also showed his class in testimonials for close friends Maxi Rodriguez in hometown Rosario and Juan Roman Riquelme in Buenos Aires.

Messi should be well rested ahead of making his MLS debut, which is expected to come in 10 days’ time.

Barcelona and Argentina’s highest all-time scorer will run out against Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21, but he will be officially revealed before that on Sunday July 16 according to CBS Sports.

The presentation event will be named ‘The Unveil’ and take place at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium home at 20:00 local time.

It should also feature the unveiling of former Barca teammate Sergio Busquets, and the icons of the Blaugrana’s last Champions League win and treble in 2015 could soon be joined by left back Jordi Alba too.

Whether it is just the pair of them who play for Miami or Alba as well, the European football legends have a job on their hands to get their new club back on their feet.

Inter Miami are winless in their last nine games, and lie rock bottom of the Eastern Conference.

In order to reach a wildcard play off spot, they will need to make up eight points on ninth-placed Montreal.