Topline
Lionel Messi’s first game with Inter Miami is set for July 21 in a home match against Mexican soccer club Cruz Azul, the team’s owner told Axios, in what will be one of the most highly anticipated club soccer matches ever played on American soil.
Lionel Messi of Paris Saint Germain (PSG) warming up before the French league football match between … [+]
Key Facts
The debut match, which was confirmed by the team’s managing owner Jorge Mas to Axios, will come about a month-and-a-half after Messi confirmed he would join Inter Miami.
Single resale tickets for Messi’s debut match start at around $1,000 on sites such as Ticketmaster and StubHub.
All Inter Miami tickets for home and away games quickly sold out after news that Messi would join the club—leaving expensive resale tickets as the only way to watch team games in-person.
Messi, 35, is the world’s second-highest-paid athlete and is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all-time—he led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he was named the tournament’s best player.
Big Number
Up to $150 million. That’s reportedly the estimated value of Messi’s two-and-a-half-year deal with Inter Miami, which includes revenue-sharing agreements with Apple, Adidas and sports retail company Fanatics.
Key Background
Messi’s move from French club Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami was confirmed by the soccer star early this month. The two-and-a-half-year deal has yet to be finalized, with Messi set to make around $55 million a year before revenue agreements with Apple, Adidas and Fanatics are taken into account. The impact of Messi’s arrival was felt instantly, as ticket prices for Inter Miami matches skyrocketed. The cheapest ticket for Miami’s September match against defending MLS champions Los Angeles FC rose from $81 to $599. Prior to joining Inter Miami, Messi was being courted by Saudi Arabia with an offer that reportedly would have paid him $1.6 billion over three years to join a Saudi club. Rumors around his potential return to Barcelona also swirled around as his father and manager, Jorge Messi, met with team officials.
Tangent
Veteran Barcelona midfielder and one of Messi’s oldest teammates, Sergio Busquets, is expected to sign with Inter Miami in a contract lasting through 2025.
Further Reading
Messi’s first match with Inter Miami set for July 21, owner says (Axios)
The Messi Effect: Inter Miami Ticket Prices Jump 1,000% After Messi Joins MLS (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/06/19/messi-making-inter-miami-debut-on-july-21-report-says/