Inter Miami, a team in Major League Soccer, said on Saturday that Lionel Messi, an Argentine star player, has signed a deal with the team until 2025.
The 36-year-old scorer, who helped Argentina win the World Cup last year in Qatar, will be introduced by the team at an event on Sunday. He is scheduled to play for Inter Miami as soon as Friday.
Messi, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain, said in a statement, “I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States.”
The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or is expected to get more people interested in soccer and MLS in the United States. He may also help the Miami team, which is at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference with a record of 5-13 and three draws.
Messi said, “This is a great chance, and we’ll keep building this beautiful project together.” “The plan is to work together to reach our goals, and I can’t wait to start helping out here in my new home.”
Messi’s first game is likely to be on Friday, when Inter Miami plays Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. This is a new competition between teams from the Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Mexican league.
It’s the best news for the North American League since 2007, when David Beckham joined the Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham is now a co-owner of Inter Miami. He started the MLS team in 2020, after trying for years to find a place for a stadium.
Beckham said in a statement, “Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamed of bringing the best players in the world to this amazing city, players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the US and to leave a legacy for the next generation in this sport we love so much.”
“That dream came true today.
“I couldn’t be happier that a player like Leo is joining our club. I’m also happy to welcome a good friend, an amazing guy, and his beautiful family to our Inter Miami family.
“This is where our next adventure begins, and I can’t wait for Leo to take the field.”