In a monumental move that could alter the course of Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi has decided to sign with Inter Miami.
After days of momentum and a years-long pursuit, MLS and Miami won a three-horse race with Barcelona and Saudi Arabia to sign the world's greatest player.
Messi announced the decision Wednesday in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, which confirmed earlier reports. No contract has yet been signed, and no details have been announced, but it is reportedly a complex 2.5-year deal with a total value well over $100 million.
"I made the decision that I'm going to go to Miami," Messi said in the interview. "I still haven't finalized [the contract] 100% ... But we decided to [take this path]."
In a statement, MLS said that "work remains to finalize a formal agreement," but it concluded: "we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest soccer players of all time to our league." [Reply]
Originally Posted by jd1020:
Wonder how low the other offers were.
He wasn't good at PSG and they had an option to keep him for a 3rd year but cut him. That offer is just slightly less than his PSG contract after 2 poor seasons. Cant imagine he would choose MLS over Barca if it wasn't like double the money.
He didn't get cut. They suspended him because he didn't come to a practice. [Reply]
Originally Posted by jd1020:
Riding the wave of the recent World Cup will do a lot for a guy who is the GOAT. Still doesnt mean he's better today than Mbappe. Probably put Haaland above him too.
Ok, so he's number 3 at worst? You're acting like he's washed up and doesn't have it anymore. [Reply]
Originally Posted by dlphg9:
He didn't get cut. They suspended him because he didn't come to a practice.
PSG held an option for another year. They let him go. Call it what ever you want. I'll call it what it is.
Originally Posted by dlphg9:
Ok, so he's number 3 at worst? You're acting like he's washed up and doesn't have it anymore.
When did I ever say that? I said he didnt play good on PSG. By his standards he didn't. He's pretty clearly declining and thats fine. Father Time is undefeated.
He'll probably rewind the clock 3 years like Zlatan in the US because MLS sucks ass. [Reply]
This is pretty cool for American soccer. I like soccer, and enjoy the EPL, but haven't ever gotten into the MLS. San Diego just got an expansion team, and I'll probably end up getting season tickets, as it'll be fun to get in on the ground floor of a team. I hope Messi comes to town in 2025, would be cool to see him play in person. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Shag:
This is pretty cool for American soccer. I like soccer, and enjoy the EPL, but haven't ever gotten into the MLS. San Diego just got an expansion team, and I'll probably end up getting season tickets, as it'll be fun to get in on the ground floor of a team. I hope Messi comes to town in 2025, would be cool to see him play in person.
Was surprised to see the expansion team was not aligned with the Loyal who seem to be doing good things.
Originally Posted by |Zach|:
Was surprised to see the expansion team was not aligned with the Loyal who seem to be doing good things.
What is the stadium situation for San Diego?
Congrats on getting your team.
Apparently, MLS reached out to SD Loyal, and they weren't interested. I haven't seen any details beyond that, but a lot of folks down here were surprised it wasn't going to be the Loyal. Hard to imagine them surviving at this point, but SD is a really good soccer town, so we'll see.
SDSU built a new stadium on the site of the old Chargers stadium, which just opened last year. Haven't been yet, but it's supposed to be really nice (and expandable for an NFL team). The NWSL team plays there currently.
Looking forward to having a local team to root for - I'm displaced from all my teams, otherwise. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Shag:
Apparently, MLS reached out to SD Loyal, and they weren't interested. I haven't seen any details beyond that, but a lot of folks down here were surprised it was going to be the Loyal. Hard to imagine them surviving at this point, but SD is a really good soccer town, so we'll see.
SDSU built a new stadium on the site of the old Chargers stadium, which just opened last year. Haven't been yet, but it's supposed to be really nice (and expandable for an NFL team). The NWSL team plays there currently.
Looking forward to having a local team to root for - I'm displaced from all my teams, otherwise.
Love it I will need to add that to my list of away trips. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
My son’s soccer club has over 1,700 kids trying out this Friday. That’s just his club which is one of several Premier clubs in KC. You’re high if you think soccer is not rising in popularity
Youth soccer participation has never resulted in soccer becoming a mainstream spectator sport in America.
The soccer zealots should just accept that soccer will never be anything more than a niche spectator sport in this country… at best on par with hockey and the NHL.
Pele played professional soccer in America, Beckham played in the MLS… it never results into anything more than a novelty act/temporary spike in interest among general sports fans. [Reply]