Messi's deal with Inter Miami became official on July 15, five weeks after he announced his intention to join the club. The team will unveil him to supporters at their stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday night, with his first home match under the Messi era perhaps as early as Friday in a League Cup encounter against Cruz Azul.
A formal press conference and Messi's first practise with the club are scheduled for Monday, July 17, according to the news agency AP. Inter Miami earlier reported that Messi's deal will last two and a half seasons and will pay him an annual salary of $50 million to $60 million, for a total contract worth $125 million to $150 million in cash alone.
Don Garber, MLS Commissioner, expressed his joy in an official announcement.
Official: Inter Miami confirms Leo Messi signing. 👚🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/yrYc3OzpHy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 15, 2023
It is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our League and our sport in North America that the greatest player of all time has chosen Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer. Lionel will prove to the world that MLS can be a league of choice for the greatest players," AP reported.
Messi, probably football's biggest star, is joining a team that is now last in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. Inter Miami, now in its fourth season, has never won a title and plays in a temporary home stadium that will seat just roughly 22,000 fans after certain accelerated upgrades are finished.
Messi landed in South Florida on Tuesday after a holiday, and on Wednesday he began the requisite physical checks and paperwork, which led to the agreement being finalized on Saturday afternoon. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, an annual award given to the world's greatest player, moved to Miami after two years with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Inter Miami player Lionel Messi stated in a club-distributed statement: "I am very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami."
I'm very eager to help in my new home, and I'm looking forward to working together with you." Messi continued. "This is a fantastic opportunity, and I'm looking forward to starting working on this project together."