Inter Miami v PSG: Lionel Messi mania impacts US football – big decisions to come after Club World Cup
The Messi effect extends much further than merely from what happens on the pitch.
Inter Miami, co-owned by Sir David Beckham, were just three years old as a club when Messi signed for them two years ago.
He chose them over the world record numbers on offer from Saudi Arabia because he was assured they had a project in place that would make Miami the beating heart of US football. He is still reportedly the highest paid player in MLS but on a significantly lower sum than was offered elsewhere.
The Inter Miami model has ensured the arrival of top players, combined with establishing an elite mentality from the owners to the players and then all the way down to the academy.
And Messi is in line to become a co-owner of the franchise when he retires.
Had Barcelona been able to offer him anything remotely similar, he would have joined them and played for nothing – or, to make it legal, for the minimum wage.
In the end, despite conversations with then-manager Xavi about a role not unlike the one we’re now seeing at Inter Miami, the much-anticipated talk of his return to Catalonia amounted to little more than politically expedient hot air, to appease the masses.
Barcelona offered nothing in the way of a contract nor even the slightest clue how they might be able to register him if he did return.
True to their word, Miami, since Messi’s arrival, has become America’s soccer city.
A higher class of player has been attracted to the club – like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – bringing greater focus, more fans, better chances of victory, more sales and bigger profits to the club.
The winning mentality that now runs from top to bottom was demonstrated just days ago as the club’s under-17 side won the 2025 MLS NEXT Cup title in Nashville.
There is now talk about holding a youth tournament for around 16,000 youngsters. Interest in ‘soccer’ is growing and a lot of it stems from the arrival of Messi.
Furthermore, the influence of Inter Miami extends beyond the boundaries of the United States.
The club currently sell more shirts than Juventus, and Vogue magazine features Messi’s shirts as a fashion item.
Success brings more success, with increased sponsorship deals, corporate boxes sold out and with a waiting list and a host of footballing superstars including the likes of Luka Modric, Kevin de Bruyne and Neymar making contact via representatives about possibly joining.
But MLS roster rules do not allow them to take on any more big contracts.
The Messi effect has created, much earlier than expected, a winning team. They have won two trophies in a year and a half, and there is a footballing frenzy which ensures that wherever Messi plays, every stadium is packed.
It has been reported MLS teams have earned more than $80m (£58m), external in extra revenue when Inter Miami come to town, through dynamic ticket pricing.
Miami attracted their record attendance for a football match when 62,358 fans flocked to Soldier Field in Chicago in April.
Soon after, Miami played at Columbus Crew in front of 60,614 fans — the largest home crowd in Crew history and the biggest non-NFL crowd in the Huntington Bank Field stadium’s history.
At the current Club World Cup, Inter Miami have played in two of just the six matches to attract more than 60,000 fans.