Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi has had a sensational impact on American soccer following his move to Inter Miami. His remarkable debut featured a perfectly executed 94th-minute free-kick that secured a memorable 2-1 victory over Mexican side, Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. In the next match against Atlanta United, Messi's outstanding performance which saw him score a 22-minute brace and provide an assist, leading to an impressive 4-0 triumph. This marked Inter Miami's first back-to-back wins in 15 games and their first time scoring four or more goals since October 2021. Despite currently ranking at the bottom of the Eastern Conference in the MLS with 18 points from 22 games, Inter Miami sees Messi's arrival as a game-changer both on and off the pitch, holding hope for growth on and off the pitch. Messi’s two wins for Inter Miami has seen them top Group J of the Leagues Cup. At BetKing, we offer high odds for this tournament compared to other betting sites, and you can take advantage of this by checking out its latest games and other [live matches today.](https://m.betking.com/sports/football/todaysMatches) [Check Here for Betting Offers on the Ongoing Leagues Cup]( https://m.betking.com/sports/events/prematch/football/leagues-cup/leagues-cup-2023) On the 24th of July, news emerged that Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal were prepared to offer PSG’s disgruntled star attacker, Kylian Mbappé a groundbreaking £700m deal. The proposal was for a one-season contract with the condition that Mbappé could depart on a free transfer to any club of his preference afterward. This deal had the potential to become the most lucrative in the history of sports, surpassing all others by a considerable margin. Interestingly, few knew that a few months earlier, Lionel Messi received an even more substantial offer of £1 billion per year to move to Saudi Arabia. However, he rejected this offer, opting instead for a move to the MLS, where he accepted a lower salary. To fully understand the magnitude of Messi's decision, it is worth revisiting a similar move made by the person responsible for bringing Messi to the MLS, David Beckham.
**2007: David Beckham Joins MLS LA Galaxy** In 2007, a 31-year-old David Beckham joined MLS side LA Galaxy upon the expiration of his contract at Real Madrid. Many saw this move as puzzling because Beckham could still play at a high level, as evidenced by his successful loan spells at AC Milan. What made it even more surprising was that he willingly accepted a 70% pay-cut, reducing his annual salary from $20 million to just $6.5 million. While previous American soccer leagues had seen iconic figures like Pele, George Best, and Franz Beckenbauer, none of them had made a significant impact on the popularity of the sport in the country. However, Beckham was different. He was not only a respected footballers but also someone whose celebrity status overshadowed his footballing prowess. Despite being a Ballon d'Or runner-up and a two-time FIFA World Player of the Year runner-up, these impressive football achievements seemed to take a back seat to his high-profile marriage to Victoria of the famous 90s Pop Group, Spice Girls and the buzz that came with that. Beckham strategically capitalized on his fame and celebrity status by incorporating two crucial clauses into his contract when he joined LA Galaxy. First, he secured a percentage of the team’s revenue, which encompassed everything from merchandise sales, ticket sales, sponsorships, and even concessions like hot dogs and beer sold at games. Thanks to this clever move, Beckham's five-year tenure at the LA Galaxy resulted in an estimated earning of $255 million, making him the highest-paid player in the world at the time with an annual income of $51 million. The second clause granted him the right to purchase an MLS expansion team for just $25 million upon his retirement. In 2014, he exercised this option and led an ownership group to acquire Inter Miami. Since Beckham's arrival in the MLS, the league has experienced remarkable growth, with a 40% increase in attendance and annual TV revenue rising from a mere $8 million in 2006 to $250 million in 2023. The average valuation of an MLS team, which stood at $37 million in 2008, has now surged to $582 million. David Beckham's decision to join the MLS in 2007 exemplifies a true "win-win situation." His presence has been instrumental in the league's unprecedented growth over the 15 years since he joined, and, in turn, Beckham has amassed substantial wealth for himself. This success is the reason the league has now turned its sights on Lionel Messi, hoping to replicate a similar stroke of genius and achieve further outstanding results.
**2023: Lionel Messi Joins Inter Miami** **Off The Pitch** Undoubtedly, this deal is primarily motivated by commercial interests, and it is already yielding results. Prior to Lionel Messi's signing, the average cost of tickets for Inter Miami games stood at $25. However, with Messi now on board, the average ticket price has skyrocketed to $440, providing clear evidence of the substantial surge in demand. Notably, tickets for his debut game sold out within minutes, attracting A-list celebrities such as LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, and Serena Williams to grace the stands. The club store is experiencing a frenzy of $200 jerseys flying off the shelves, all thanks to the Lionel Messi effect. Jorge Mas, a part-owner of Inter Miami, stated in an interview that he expects Messi's presence to double the club's revenue, increasing it from $56 million last year to a remarkable $110 million this year. Mas also mentioned that with Messi's involvement, the team's valuation could reach an impressive $1.5 billion next year, marking a significant 150% increase from the current valuation of $600 million, consequently positioning Inter Miami as the most valuable MLS club, up from its current 11th place ranking. An intriguing aspect of this deal is that Lionel Messi will also have a stake in the team, allowing him to partake in its future success. Leveraging Lionel Messi's massive social media following has proven to be a game-changer for the club in this digital age, where a substantial online presence holds significant value. Messi is the second most followed celebrity on Instagram, boasting an impressive 480 million followers and the impact of his presence at Inter Miami is already clear, as the club has gained a staggering 11 million new followers since his arrival. This surge has propelled them to become the fourth most followed sports team in the United States, trailing only the Golden State Warriors (31 million), the Los Angeles Lakers (23 million), and the Cleveland Cavaliers (16 million). With 12.2 million followers at the time of writing, Inter Miami has now surpassed the combined followers of all the other 28 MLS teams, a remarkable feat considering they had just 1 million followers a month ago. Additionally, Messi has utilized his influential platform to promote the direct signup for Apple TV on his account. In return, he stands to receive a share of the streaming revenue, further showcasing the extent of his impact on the league’s commercial ventures and revenue streams. **On The Pitch** Despite already achieving significant commercial success, it remains crucial for Lionel Messi to replicate the on-field accomplishments of David Beckham. During Beckham's five-year tenure at LA Galaxy, he steered the team to three MLS Cup finals, winning two of them. He also led them to secure two Supporters' Shield titles and was honored as the Best MLS Player at the ESPYs twice. The MLS resumes on the 21st of August and if you think Messi can do the unthinkable by turning their league season around and taking them from bottom of the table to league champions, that is priced at 20.00.
Using his influence, Lionel Messi has successfully seen to the relaxation of some MLS rules to facilitate the addition of his favorite ex-teammates. Inter Miami has already signed Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and they have also secured an extra international roster slot, giving them the opportunity to add another non-U.S. national player before the MLS transfer window closes on August 2nd. It is widely speculated that this move aims to complete their quartet of former Barcelona players by potentially bringing in Luis Suárez. Believe Lionel Messi can lead Inter Miami to victory in the Leagues Cup? We have the best odds available for it @11.00 and our Bet of the Day is for the Argentine forward to do just that.
While Beckham made the move to the MLS at 31, Lionel Messi's transfer comes at 36, indicating that his time in the league may be comparatively shorter. Nevertheless, the little magician from Rosario has consistently achieved the unimaginable throughout his career and if his first two games are anything to go by, we’re in for a fantastic ride on the pitch. Make sure to [visit our blog](https://m.betking.com/blog/) daily, where you'll find the finest betting tips tailored for all online sports betting enthusiasts.