Jack Popovics
One of the most famous athletes in the world just did.
Words by Jack Popovics
Lionel Messi, the greatest soccer player in the world (depending on who you ask), found himself a free agent this Summer.
Following the expiration of his two-year contract and a bitter fallout with his previous club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Messi made the decision to not only relocate to the United States for his future playing endeavors but specifically chose to join Inter Miami C.F. Which comes as a surprise considering a team in Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal SFC, offered Messi a $400 million contract for two years. And that doesn’t include the added incentives he would have received with goals and assists. All together, Messi would have made close to $1 billion over the course of the two years. Not to mention, these estimates exclude the revenue Messi makes from the many brand deals.
Even though he reportedly rejected the $400 million contract as per TalkSPORT, Messi is poised to become the top earner in Major League Soccer (MLS), raking in an impressive $54 million. He will also receive a share of the revenue generated from the new Apple subscriptions, including the MLS Season Pass, as well as a percentage from the sales of Adidas jerseys.
In recent years, Major League Soccer (MLS) has grown accustomed to attracting prominent stars and promising talents, including iconic players such as Pelé (Brazil) and David Beckham (England). Even legendary figures from earlier generations, like George Best (Northern Ireland) and Gerd Müller (Germany), have captivated the media and raised unprecedented awareness for the sport in the United States.
All of these players came to die in the MLS (their best days are behind them).
However, Messi is different. He is two seasons removed from winning the Ballon D’or, soccer’s most prestigious trophy (similar to being MVP of the sport). He is on track to win another Ballon D’or (his eighth) after leading a mediocre team to the trophy and surprising many fans.
Soccer has played second fiddle to the other major sports in the U.S. because of the American dream (and capitalism). In fact, I remember asking my dad when I was young if I could play soccer he said, “Soccer is for communists.”
The World Cup was held in Qatar in December of 2022 when Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybala, a left-footed genius, led Argentina to become world champions for the first time since 1986 when a coked-up Diego Maradona (and the hand of god) defeated West Germany.
The world cup brings unprecedented activities to your country. For example, in 2022, Qatar had to build the infrastructure from the ground up to accommodate the 64 matches played across 8 stadiums over the course of a month (yikes). The tournament brought ad dollars, sponsors, and most importantly, millions of viewers worldwide.
Prior to November 2022, I could not pinpoint where Qatar was, no one could.
According to The Athletic, Super Bowl LVII received 113 million views. The World Cup final got 1.5 Billion views. Billion with a B.
Unlike American sports, where the term “world champion” is often used even when other countries aren’t competing, in this context, the title of “world champion” is truly warranted. Qatar is now a place where history was made and Lionel Messi officially became the undisputed G.O.A.T. Soccer fans worldwide will forever yearn to visit the very field where Gonzalo Montiel struck the decisive penalty, granting Argentina their coveted third star.
Similar to the storyline in the Disney movie “Miracle,” the coach posed a critical question to the team, asking what team they played for. Initially, the players responded with their colleges, but eventually, they proudly declared themselves on the United States of America team. The Argentines underwent a similar transformation, solidifying their unified commitment to a common cause.
Instead of claiming the $42 million prize, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) intends to establish three satellite training grounds in the United States: Los Angeles, Atlanta, and San Francisco. These satellite facilities, owned and operated by the Federation, serve as training facilities based in a foreign country. Notably, the United States Soccer Federation has yet to establish an official training ground within its borders. The significance of these satellite training grounds lies in their potential to influence players with dual citizenship. A prime example is Gio Reyna, one of the brightest stars in the U.S. soccer scene, who holds eligibility to represent various national teams, including Italy, the United States, and Argentina. The Argentinians gain considerable leverage over the United States when it comes to dual-citizenship players who remain undecided. This exemplifies the impact a World Cup can have on a country, bestowing eternal glory, at least for the next few years.
The day before the announcement, Miami tickets were $29 as Inter Miami is the worst team in the MLS (4 wins in 17 matches). After the announcement, the ticket cost skyrocketed to $459. Even though this is still the worst team in the MLS. This is only a fraction of the draw that Lionel Messi has.
On Instagram, Inter Miami had an abysmal following of around 1 million. Immediately after signing the 7-time Ballon D’or winner, they have 8.3 million followers. Football is one of the most profitable businesses in the world. The US is just getting started in the realm of Football, because once American greed meets Corruption Football, the United States will be the best footballing nation on Earth.
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