Lionel Messi is proving to be worth all
the hype he's scoring and playing
brilliantly for inter Miami and
generating unprecedented excitement each
time he steps on the field Barcelona
wanted him back other European Giants
were interested and the Saudi Arabian
League reportedly offered him the
richest contract the sport had ever seen
so how did inter Miami get to sign
him Messi was a 4-year project in
September 2019 inter Miami owners jge
mass and David Beckham as well as former
sporting director Paul McDonna met with
Lionel's father jge in Barcelona the
meeting was a get to know you session
Mass the 60-year-old billionaire
chairman of Mast a South Florida based
Fortune 400 company founded by his
father spoke about his love for the City
of Miami Messi senior talked about how
his son liked the idea of helping to
grow the sport in the US it was a good
start and the two parties remained in
contact but there was still a long path
ahead fast forward to November 2022 and
the next notable event in the story the
MLS Board of Governor meeting held in
the one hotel in Brooklyn League
commissioner Don Garber then Deputy
Commissioner Mark Abbott Chief Financial
Officer sha prast inter Miami owners J
and Jose Mass sat down together to
discuss Messi from the first days of
joining the Miami ownership group the
mass Brothers had shown a level of
ambition with David Beckham to go after
the biggest stars a congratulatory video
when the franchise was announced in 2018
even included a message from Messi but
at that November meeting the mass
Brothers wanted to go over their initial
ideas for How to lure Messi to MLS there
were no limitations as to how much money
Miami could pay messy no rule changes
were needed but MLS would still have to
get creative among the ideas discussed
was an equity stake in inter Miami a
highly unusual move but one similar to
the deal Beckham signed which included
an option to purchase the rights to an
expansion team for a set $25 million fee
that meeting helped to lay the
foundation for what an offer to Messi
could look like in April 2023 the MLS
Board of Governors met again this time
in Northern California where the owners
also took a tour of the headquarters of
their New Media Partners Apple having
dinner with Executives of the global
tech company it was decided that Messi
would have a massive impact on
subscriptions for the MLS season pass
app on Apple TV and apple quickly warmed
to the idea of partnering with Messi as
part of the deal to bring him to the US
like the mass Brothers Apple's senior
vice president of services Eddie Q is a
Cuban American from Miami the shared
background helped Foster a relationship
and while inter Miami was not directly
involved in Apple's discussions with
Messi Apple's involvement undoubtedly
added another compelling reason for him
to choose MLS details of the agreement
remain unknown but negotiations included
a revenue share with Messi for new
international subscribers by may it
became clear that Messi would not be
staying at Paris sgain Mass flew from
Miami to Spain to meet with jge Messi he
felt that Miami could offer his son
something no one else could how many
times in a lifetime do you get to change
a sport Mass said there will be a before
and after Messi part of his s was that
Miami is just 99 hours from buenos Iris
compared to 13 and 1 half hours from
Barcelona and more than 20 hours from
Riad in Saudi Arabia it also focused on
Messi's post playing career and the
chance to be involved in the team and
the sport in retirement he could benefit
from the impact he made on MLS well
beyond the life of his contract and the
offer included equity in inter Miami the
potential partnership with apple and
other agreements with MLS apparel and
merchandise Partners Fanatics and Adidas
still Saudi Arabia remained an obstacle
amid all the heavy depending on other
players their Pro League's ultimate
Target was Messi with reports suggesting
that they were willing to offer him $1.3
billion over 3 years Mass though
remained optimistic and rightly so 6
weeks after that big final pitch in
Spain Mass was behind his desk in Coral
Gables when the call came Miami had won
out on June the 7th Messi let the world
know that he had chosen to play in MLS
there was excitement but a lot of work
ahead MLS League Executives weren't
actually prepared when the announcement
was made because no contract had been
signed owners started sending text
messages to GBA to congratulate him on a
massive moment for the league but Gabba
had to let them know that nothing was
yet official hectic days followed as the
sides hammered out an agreement for this
deal which is worth between 50 and $70
million annually depending on the
valuation of the equity in the team the
complications were even greater it would
take more than a month before the
contract was signed during which time
messy fever took hold ticket prices for
Miami's home and away away games
increased dramatically to a ridiculous
$111,000 on some reselling sites and yet
with no unveiling having taken place
employees at inter Miami's team store at
drv pnk Stadium still couldn't print
Messi shirts meanwhile the world held
its breath Messi and his wife posted
family holiday photos on their Instagram
accounts then finally on July the 11th
they arrived at Fort Lauderdale
Executive Airport the next few days were
surreal photos of Messi out and about in
Miami appeared all over social media he
was seen around Miami Beach then in an
image which captured the disbelieving
mood the most famous football player in
the world was shown grocery shopping
with his family and of course messy
being messy there was a fairy tale
ending to his long journey to the United
States in the 94th minute of his debut
with practically the last kick of the
game he killed a free kick into the top
corner to give Miami a 2-1 win over Cruz
aul in the leagues cup it was just the
beginning but truly finally he had
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