Inter Miami transformed their fortunes forever last year by pulling off the blockbuster signing of Lionel Messi.
The Argentine international left Europe having been released by PSG and made the move to Florida, with Messi rejecting a world-record $1.5bn contract offer from Saudi Arabia to instead sign for Inter Miami in MLS.
Since the move, soccer in America has changed forever, with Inter Miami a global brand and now just one win away from winning their first Supporters’ Shield title ahead of the MLS play-offs, where the Herons will be favorites for MLS Cup.
And Inter Miami director Xavier Asensi has shared just how big the changes have been at the club since Messi joined.
Inter Miami changes ‘night and day’ since Messi joined last summer
Speaking to ESPN, the Inter Miami president of business operations waxed lyrical about how the Florida franchise are thriving on and off the pitch since Messi’s arrival, with the Herons set to earn $200m in revenue in 2024, almost $100m more than compared to 2023.
Asensi said: “It is completely night and day [after signing Messi], because what we are doing now with the team is totally on an international level, now we are talking about the global interest. Now it is football, not soccer.”
Given the stature of Messi’s reputation as a soccer player and a celebrity, it is no surprise that Inter Miami’s revenues have doubled since the Argentine’s move to the club with the Supporters’ Shield leaders now a global sporting icon.
And with Inter Miami making the most out of Messi’s presence at the club, there’s a real chance that the Herons can only grow even bigger from here, with the sky the limit for Tata Martino’s side both on and off the pitch.
Inter Miami need to use success to transform soccer in the US
As stated MLS is as popular as it has ever been with Messi the star attraction for the league alongside other Inter Miami figures in Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, with other franchises now looking to bring in their own superstar names.
And Inter Miami using their success to help build MLS and to push soccer in the United States to new heights is only going to help the sport grow even further in the years to come, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon.
Indeed, soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the US with Messi supercharging this growth with his move to Inter Miami, and the Herons need to ensure they are using the Argentine’s profile to help raise the game in a way nobody else has in previous years.