Lionel Messi Joins Inter Miami In Advancing Future Of City And Community
When Inter Miami officially launched as a Major League Soccer franchise, managing owner and chief executive Jorge Mas declared, “Our club will have a global vision, but our fans in South Florida will always be our first priority, reflecting the best of our community.” The upcoming arrival of Lionel Messi—one of the greatest footballers of all time and one of the world’s most recognizable figures—to play for the team aligns with those principles, which the team has been building on since that day a little more than five years ago.
Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami comes after his two-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain in France’s Ligue 1. By choosing Miami, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and captain of the Argentina’s national team that emerged victorious in the FIFA World Cup 2022 also turned down a reported $400 million-a-year offer from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia’s Professional League. He had contemplated a return to FC Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga, as well.
Reports indicate that Messi will sign a two-and-a-half-year playing contract with an option for 2026. His salary, bonuses, and equity in the team will be complemented by contributions from MLS sponsors Apple and Adidas. Apple will offer a percentage of sales from MLS Season Pass subscriptions on Apple TV+ and Adidas will provide a percentage from Inter Miami jersey sales. While details of the deal have yet to be confirmed, Messi is evidently heading to “The Magic City.”
Most of the media attention around the news has been focused on the financial aspects of the deal, and the implications for Inter Miami, MLS, and their partners on and around the pitch. If it is any guide, consider a MARCA report from last year that showed Messi joining Paris Saint-Germain generated €700-million (more than $750-million US) for the club through new sponsorship deals, shirt and team merchandise sales, ticket purchases, and the uptick in millions of followers of PSG’s social media platforms. And Messi’s global popularity and social media following, which includes over 470 million followers on Instagram alone, have surely contributed to the buzz surrounding his arrival: when he announced his decision about where he would be playing next, Inter Miami’s social media platforms experienced a surge in millions of followers in less than half a day that more than doubled the club’s followers over the past half-decade.
That kind of outpouring lends to Inter Miami’s plans to expand its current home ground at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale by adding approximately 2,500-3,000 seats, raising the capacity to 22,000. Its proposed soccer-specific stadium at Miami Freedom Park is scheduled to open in 2025 with a seating capacity of 25,000. Along the way, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team arranges to hold some matches at the 65,000-plus seat Hard Rock Stadium in nearby Miami Gardens.
But beyond the field and social networks, Messi’s arrival holds greater significance for the city of Miami and its communities.
The Miami that Messi and his family will reside in has become much more than its long-standing reputation as a destination for residents and visitors to have fun in the sun. The city has undergone a transformation over the past decade, maintaining that allure while at the same time emerging as an arts, culture, and innovation capital. The ecosystem boasts one of the highest job growth rates in the country and has been attracting new waves of hedge fund honchos, real estate magnates, venture capitalists, and high-tech entrepreneurs. Miami has also long since come into its own as a sports city.
The city was already rising on the global sports scene even prior to Messi’s announcement. In addition to major golf and tennis tournaments, the four major league professional sports franchises in the greater Miami area have been leaving their marks on its social fabric and contributing to its sense of community.
The Miami Dolphins of the NFL first gained global attention with its undefeated season and two Super Bowl victories in the 1970s. In the following decade, the NBA granted the Miami Heat an expansion franchise, led by a group that included then-mayor Xavier Suarez, Carnival Cruise Lines founder Ted Arison, theater producer Zev Buffman, and NBA Hall of Fame member Billy Cunningham. The milestone helped pave the way for billionaire entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga to bring MLB and NHL expansion franchises to the region. Huizenga’s vision extended beyond team ownership, as he acquired the regional sports television network, secured stadium naming rights, and developed an economic and social sphere around the franchises and their facilities.
In 2008, Stephen Ross, chairman of the Related Companies, purchased a 50 percent share in both the Miami Dolphins and its home stadium. After purchasing a 95 percent ownership stake in both properties the following year, Ross began developing new ways of connecting the Dolphins to the community by bringing in global celebrities with local ties—musicians Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony and tennis players Venus Williams and Serena Williams came on as minority-share owners of the team, musician and Margaritaville entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett developed a stadium naming-rights partnership, and art installations and restaurant outposts from local creatives popped-up at the venue.
But it wasn’t the first time that sports were being ingrained in Miami’s popular culture. The city has witnessed memorable moments, such as when The Beatles, during their first United States tour, visited the 5th Street Gym to playfully jab around with Olympic gold medalist Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) at a training session before he shocked the world to take the heavyweight boxing championship from Sonny Liston. More recently, Miami served as the backdrop for the popular HBO series Ballers, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a former University of Miami football player turned WWE icon turned Hollywood A-lister. It has also served as the setting for multiple NFL Super Bowls and other sports mega-events, and is preparing to host FIFA World Cup 2026 football matches.
The impact of professional sports in Miami extends far beyond entertainment and cultural significance, of course. And the growth of Inter Miami CF, led by local businessmen Jorge Mas and Jose Mas alongside international football superstar David Beckham, reflects the city’s commitment to attracting global talent and reinforcing its cosmopolitan image.
Inter Miami’s strategy aligns with Miami’s growing status as a corporate headquarters hub. Like the companies choosing Miami as their home base, the soccer club has the potential to continue attracting a global set of talent and innovation—especially from Latin America and Europe—to the local culture in ways that elevate the city’s global standing. It can play a pivotal role in the city’s economic and social development, not least of the cosmopolitan sort promoted by current Mayor Francis Suarez. Messi’s arrival is certain to take that all to a new level entirely.
The economic impact of Messi’s arrival won’t be underestimated. The swirl of fans, tourists, and media attention that will follow Messi’s moves on and off the pitch can provide a significant boost to Miami’s economy. Hotels, restaurants, bars, local businesses, and the tourism sector are set to benefit from his presence.
But the social impact may be even more profound.
Last year, the Inter Miami CF Foundation was established with a mission of “harnessing the power of fútbol to do good.” The foundation’s year-round programming includes providing access to sports, education, and food for individuals throughout the community, promoting environmental sustainability, and supporting youth teams and a Special Olympics Unified Team. These efforts align with Messi’s own community and philanthropic engagements, many seen through the Leo Messi Foundation that draws inspiration from the medical challenges he faced in his youth. Bringing Messi into the fold has the potential to infuse the same—or even greater—benefits for the needs of the community, beyond the economic benefits that his presence can provide.
While the news of Messi joining Inter Miami is capturing the attention of billions of people around the world, the full effect is only beginning to be felt on American soil. In the coming months, with the countdown to Messi’s debut in an Inter Miami jersey now on the clock, Miami’s journey from a celebrated resort destination to a global economic, social, and cultural center is set to take a new form. This landmark moment in the club leadership’s vision will also be a landmark moment in Miami’s standing as a global city.
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
