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Major League Soccer and Inter Miami are all in on Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas stated that the Argentine superstar will earn close to $60 million per year which includes his salary, owning a stake in Inter Miami and his signing bonus. That contract runs from this July 1 2023 until late December 2025.
Oh, and the deal reportedly includes profit sharing with two of MLS’s biggest commercial partners, Apple and Adidas.
So despite turning down an eye-popping $1 billion from the Saudi League, it’s clear he’ll be well taken care.
Thus far, the results have spoken for themselves. Inter are 6-0 since Messi made his first appearance for the club and the superstar has scored nine times in just six games.
But what about the financial side of things for the club? In order to make their investment worth it, it needs to come with quite the return.
So far, that’s what it’s getting.
David Rumsey of Front Office Sports reports that Messi’s impact has already shone a bright light on Inter Miami’s financial outlook.
“Beyond the potential $2 million prize for winning the Leagues Cup — a new competition featuring MLS and Liga MX squads — Inter Miami’s performance has already secured the club a slot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup,” Rumsey writes. “That competition will provide a crucial opportunity to qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup — which is expanding to 32 teams and will be held in the U.S.”
The current Club World Cup format features just seven teams, one from each of the world’s six confederations and then an additional spot for the host country’s champion.
Additionally, Messi has sent demand for Inter Miami tickets skyrocketing.
“Inter Miami vies for the Leagues Cup title at Nashville SC on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on Apple TV,” Rumsey states. “Get-in ticket prices for the match at the 30,000-seat Geodis Park (in Nashville) are already nearing $500 in some secondary markets.”
Taylor Swift has nothing on Lionel Messi. And Inter Miami is reaping the rewards of its bold move.