Lionel Messi officially joins Inter Miami as Designated Player

The wait is over, Lionel Messi is officially an Inter Miami player.

Messi officially joined the club on Saturday, signing a Designated Player contract through the 2025 MLS season, Inter Miami announced. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 FIFA World Cup winner is eligible to make his Herons debut on July 21 in Leagues Cup play at Liga MX side Cruz Azul.

“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” said Messi. “This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”

Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal reportedly offered Messi a massive $300 million per year deal, which could’ve seen him reunited with longtime La Liga rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Professional League. However, Messi chose Miami, which he already owns property in.

The 35-year-old recently helped PSG capture the Ligue 1 crown in 2022-23, registering 21 goals and 20 assists across all competitions.

Messi previously starred for Barcelona, racking up 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 combined appearances for the La Liga club. Messi lifted 35 major trophies during his time at Barcelona, winning four UEFA Champions League titles and 10 La Liga crowns.

“We are overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our League and our sport in North America,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “We have no doubt that Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a League of Choice for the best players in the game. We look forward to seeing his debut for Inter Miami in our Leagues Cup tournament later this month.”

Messi’s move is the latest major acquisition by MLS over the league’s history. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xherdan Shaqiri, Lorenzo Insigne, and David Beckham are just some of the key names that have made the move from Europe to MLS at the latter stages of their professional careers.

Inter Miami will desperately need Messi to hit the ground running if it wants to propel itself up the Eastern Conference standings. The Herons sit last in the East, 11 points out of the final playoff spot.

Messi’s former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are reportedly set to join him in Miami later this summer in separate deals.

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