Inter Miami

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar believes former teammate Lionel Messi will leave a lasting impact on MLS once his move to Inter Miami officially goes through.

"I'm certain that Leo is going to change the league in the United States," the Brazilian said, per ESPN's Adriana Garcia. "I believe the league will become a lot more popular. So everyone has to take advantage and enjoy watching him play because unfortunately nothing lasts forever."

Neymar added he's "sad and happy at the same time" because he wanted to continue playing alongside Messi but knows the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will relish his new life in Miami.

The obvious parallels are being drawn between Messi's eventual signing and David Beckham's MLS arrival in 2007. Beckham's tenure with the Los Angeles Galaxy wasn't an overwhelming success, but there's no question he helped the league grow in popularity, both domestically and abroad.

While MLS is in a much different place than it was in 2007, moving heaven and earth to lure in Messi is obviously intended to have a similar impact.

There's only so much MLS can do to bridge the gap to the top European leagues when those competitions have been around in some form for decades or even a century or more.

But the way MLS is perceived could shift a lot over the next few years if Messi, like Beckham before him, can be a magnet for other top stars while helping to improve the league's bottom line.

It's not even clear when Lionel Messi will debut for Inter Miami, but the commercial effect of his impending arrival in MLS is already being felt.

According to ESPN.com, the lowest ticket price for Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul climbed 1,034 percent on TickPick from $29 to $329 once Messi's move was confirmed.

"We saw an almost instantaneous jump in Inter Miami ticket prices when the word got out that Messi was leaning towards joining the club," TickPick brand manager Kyle Zorn said.

"Given his status as arguably the greatest player in the world, every time Inter Miami plays on the road, we're going to see record-breaking ticket prices."

The allure of bringing Messi to Major League Soccer is obvious. He's one of the greatest players in the game's history, and even at a latter stage of his career, his presence gives MLS an added level of legitimacy.

The possible structure of his contract also reflects how the league's power brokers view the 35-year-old as a major revenue driver off the pitch.

The Athletic's Paul Tenorio, Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer reported Tuesday that MLS and Apple officials deliberated over potentially offering the Argentine a portion of the money generated through new subscriptions to the MLS Season Pass streaming package.

Adidas, meanwhile, is prepared to table a profit-sharing arrangement in which Messi would collect "a cut of any increase in Adidas' profits resulting from his involvement in MLS," per The Athletic. Adidas is the kit supplier for MLS and a major commercial partner.

For American soccer fans, it will never be easier to see Messi play for those who haven't had the opportunity. The experience is going to cost you, though.

Lionel Messi admitted a reunion with Barcelona was his preferred choice as he weighed his available options this summer.

The 35-year-old's move to MLS side Inter Miami was confirmed Wednesday, though the specifics of his deal have yet to be resolved.

Addressing his decision to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, he said he was hopeful of returning to Barcelona, but the lingering uncertainty hanging over the club took that off the table. La Liga president Javier Tebas made it clear in March that Barça needed to generate €200 million in revenue and/or cost savings to accommodate new signings.

Barcelona issued a statement in the wake of Wednesday's news that included a thinly veiled shot at MLS:

On Monday, June 5, Jorge Messi, the player's father and representative, informed Club President Joan Laporta of the player's decision to join Inter Miami, despite having been presented with a proposal from Barça, in consideration of the desire of both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi for him to once again wear blaugrana.

President Laporta understood and respected Messi's decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.

Messi said selecting Inter Miami wasn't driven purely by finances because he would've signed with the Saudi Pro League otherwise.

The Telegraph reported in May that the Saudi Arabian government was prepared to pay Messi £320 million annually to sign for the Saudi league. He's already a tourism ambassador for the country.

As Messi laid out, however, there were a number of factors at play before he came to a conclusion.

Messi's comments about Barcelona aren't all that surprising since he didn't seem to want to leave in the first place. Even though he had signaled his frustration with the club a year earlier, Barça's dire finances were the impetus behind his departure in 2021.

It makes sense the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would want the opportunity to have a second chance and do his Camp Nou farewell right.

French newspaper L'Equipe (via Samuel Draper of the Daily Mail) reported there was a belief Barcelona and Inter Miami were working toward a joint agreement that would've seen Messi loaned to the Catalan giant for 18 months.

Maybe that can happen down the road. David Beckham went on to play for AC Milan on loan while under contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, and he finished his career at Paris Saint-Germain.

For now, it appears Messi's focus is fully on MLS and Inter Miami.

More than a decade after the "Beckham Experiment" ended, MLS is reportedly repeating the formula.

Soccer insider Fabrizio Romano reported Wednesday that Lionel Messi has agreed to a contract with Inter Miami.

Guillem Balague of the BBC reported the agreement "includes collaboration from brands like Adidas and Apple." According to The Athletic's Paul Tenorio, Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer, Messi could potentially receive a share of revenue generated from new subscriptions to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+, and he was offered a "profit-sharing agreement" with Adidas.

As one would expect, social media was abuzz following the news.

A lot has changed within MLS since David Beckham signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, and that includes how the league is viewed outside of the United States.

But pulling out all the stops to attract Messi also shows how MLS is still fighting to be more relevant, both domestically and abroad.

Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, told reporters that MLS Season Pass was "certainly doing much better than we had forecasted" but declined to provide specific subscriber numbers.

The short-term commercial boost to MLS and its partners should be massive because Messi is one of the most well-known athletes in the world. It will be at least a few years before the full impact of his arrival is clear.

MLS club Inter Miami is reportedly making a strong push to attempt to sign legendary Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi at the conclusion of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

According to Paul Tenorio, Felipe Cardenas and Pablo Maurer of The Athletic, Inter Miami and MLS are "solidifying details" in their pursuit of Messi.

Sources with knowledge of the negotiations said there is "growing hope" the American soccer league will land arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport, but they added "confidence in a deal with Messi has fluctuated week to week and even day to day."

If Inter Miami and MLS were to get a deal done with Messi, the club is reportedly targeting his debut to occur during their home Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Cruz Azul on July 21.

World football insider Fabrizio Romano first reported last month that there were "no doubts" Messi would leave PSG this summer at the end of his two-year contract with the French club.

Around that same time, the Telegraph reported that the Saudi Arabian government was negotiating a deal that could pay him $400 million annually to play in the Saudi Pro League.

Per The Athletic, a source with knowledge of negotiations involving MLS executives was told that playing in Saudi Arabia is "not under consideration," and Messi is deciding between MLS or a return to Barcelona.

The 35-year-old spent 17 seasons with Barca until financial issues rendered the La Liga club unable to re-sign him in 2021. That led to Messi signing a two-year deal with PSG.

According to ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens, Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste said in April that the club was in talks with Messi for a potential return.

It was uncertain at the time if such a move was a legitimate possibility, though, since Barca needed to clear €150 million in space either through transfers or cutting costs.

If Barcelona is unable to make that happen, Inter Miami and MLS may be in the driver's seat to land a truly legendary figure in the world of soccer.

MLS has signed many big names late in their careers over the years, including David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović, but Messi would be the biggest signing in league history.

Signing a player with nearly 900 career goals, seven Ballon d'Or Awards, four Champions League titles and one World Cup title to his credit would be a massive coup for MLS, and it could lead to the biggest surge of interest the league has ever seen.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the league will be flexible in trying to add Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi, even offering a "David Beckham-like deal," per Paul Tenorio and Pablo Maurer of The Athletic.

As Garber explained, Beckham signed a contract in 2007 that gave him an option to purchase an MLS expansion team for $25 million as long as he played in the league for five years. The Englishman spent parts of six seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy, winning a championship in 2011, before becoming a part owner of Inter Miami.

Beckham and Inter Miami are considered a contender to sign Messi when his contract with PSG is up this summer. David Ornstein of The Athletic reported in October that there was "increasing confidence" in a deal.

Garber said Thursday that MLS will be willing to work with Messi to complete a deal:

You're dealing with perhaps the most special player in the history of the game. So when there are rumors of him connected to Miami, that's great. And if it could happen, it would be terrific for MLS, it would be terrific for Messi and his family, and like everything with us, we try to run every opportunity down. I can't give any more details than that because we don't have them.

Messi would be the highest-profile player to join MLS since Beckham with a resume that includes seven Ballon d'Or trophies as the best player in the world. He led Argentina to a World Cup title in December, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's top player.

The forward could provide a boost to any club around the world, and his joining an MLS team would bring positive publicity to the entire league.

Despite reports of a deal with Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has not yet finalized an agreement with the Major League Soccer squad, according to Julien Laurens of ESPN.

Matt Lawton of The Times reported Sunday the two sides were "close to agreeing a deal" that would make him the highest-paid player in MLS history.

Messi has denied there is a deal in place, however, according to Laurens. The 35-year-old will instead wait to consider his future until the new year.

The Paris Saint-Germain star is under contract through the end of the 2022-23 season.

According to reporter Fabrizio Romano, PSG also plan to offer Messi a new contract amid the interest from Inter Miami.

The player is said to be only focused on the World Cup and Argentina. He has two goals and one assist through two matches in two Group C matches.

Messi is in the midst of an impressive year at the club level, tallying seven goals with 10 assists in 13 Ligue 1 matches. PSG sits on top of the league table while advancing to the knockout stage in UEFA Champions League.

It's a continuation of an incredible career for the forward, who has won the Ballon d'Or seven times while winning four Champions League trophies.

Inter Miami is looking to make a big swing to bring in a big-name midfielder in also reportedly trying to add Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets. Either former Barcelona star would make the squad especially formidable after finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference last year while also becoming one of the most popular teams in the league.

It's still clear there is work left to finalize a deal with Messi.

Superstar forward Lionel Messi will reportedly sign with Inter Miami after this year's World Cup and join the MLS side following the 2022-23 European season, according to Matt Lawton of The Times.

Messi's contract with his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, expires after this season, though he does reportedly have an option to extend the contract another season. But if he doesn't exercise that option, he will be free to sign with a new team in January and would be made the highest-paid player in MLS history.

Per Lawton, the presence of Inter Miami president and co-owner David Beckham has played a key part in Messi's reported decision to join the club:

Football reporter Fabrizio Romano, however, reported Messi has not yet made his mind up:

The 35-year-old Messi, currently representing Argentina at the World Cup, has continued to produce in the twilight of his career, with seven goals and 10 assists in Ligue 1 play and four goals and four assists in the Champions League this season.

Paired with Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, he's given PSG one of the most dangerous attacking units in club football.

Inter Miami may look to surround him with talented attacking options as well, albeit older players than Mbappé and Neymar, with Lawton reporting the team may look to sign his former Barcelona teammates, Cesc Fàbregas and Luis Suárez.

Fàbregas is currently playing for Italian Serie B club Como, while Suárez is playing for Uruguay's Nacional.

Another former Barca teammate, Sergio Busquets, may be joining the party as well:

Messi would easily be the biggest star to ever join the MLS, though the league has attracted top talents nearing the end of their careers in the past like Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Wayne Rooney, Kaká, Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, among others.

Messi, however, is arguably the greatest player of all time, and if he chooses to finish his career with Inter Miami it would be a huge coup for the MLS.

Major League Soccer's Inter Miami has emerged as the front-runner to sign superstar Lionel Messi when his PSG contract expires in the summer of 2023, according to a report from The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Per Ornstein, signing with the MLS club is the "most advanced" of Messi's potential options, "to the extent that the Major League Soccer franchise now expect Messi to arrive and hope he will sign in the coming months. Discussions between the two parties have been going on for a couple of years and there is increasing confidence that the proposed transfer will materialise."

Ornstein also noted that PSG will "push hard" to sign Messi to a contract extension, while a return to his first club, Barcelona, is also a possibility.

But Inter Miami may have the inside track. As Ornstein reported, the city of Miami remains a "source of attraction for Messi's family, who already own a property there. Miami's community links with South America are strong, too."

Attracting arguably the greatest player who ever lived to MLS would be a huge coup for the American league, which has attracted major stars in the past like Zlatan Ibrahimović, David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney, among others, but always late in their careers. The cliche has been that football stars go to MLS for one last big payday.

Messi would be in a similar situation, though he continues to play at an incredible level with seven goals and 10 assists through 12 Ligue 1 appearances this season.

Going from PSG's wealth of talent to Inter Miami would be an enormous adjustment. There is no comparison to superstars like Kylian Mbappé or Neymar in MLS.

But there have also been rumors that Messi may take an ownership stake in Inter Miami upon joining the club, though his agent denied them in May.

Regardless, it's a situation worth monitoring. Landing the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would be an enormous moment for both Inter Miami and MLS in general and a major blow for European powers like PSG and Barcelona. It promises to be a fascinating storyline heading into the summer.