In an unexpected turn of events, football legend Lionel Messi chose Major League Soccer (MLS) and will be signing with Inter Miami CF. Messi, who was pursued by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, has already made a decision to take his talents to America. But, with such a very lucrative price on Lionel Messi, there is a thing called “Messi tax” circulating the internet. Let’s find out what is Messi tax and how Lionel Messi could affect MLS in the future.
Argentina legend Lionel Messi is headed to the United States!
Lionel Messi‘s contract with Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) will expire by the end of this month, which means he will finally be a free agent. However, before that even happened, La Pulga had already committed to playing for Major League Soccer in the United States of America.
🚨 BREAKING: Lionel Messi is headed to the MLS and has decided to join Inter Miami, per @GuillemBalague. pic.twitter.com/xVIAEe5pdB
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 7, 2023
Messi will be playing for Inter Miami CF, which is currently at the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference. The details of his transfer, such as the contract and requirements, are not yet shared with the public, but various reports already suggest that he is finalizing the deal.
There are also reports that the deal would include Messi’s potential partnership with Adidas and Apple. These two companies also happen to be two major MLS sponsors. In addition to that, La Pulga could also have the chance to buy a minority stake in his new team. Another football legend, David Beckham, also now owns a part of Inter Miami.
Before signing with MLS, Messi was reportedly interested in returning to Barcelona. However, Barca never made a sound offer to reunite with the football GOAT. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia offered Messi about €400 Million a year, but the Argentine legend declined.
What is the “Messi tax”?
Believe it or not, Lionel Messi would require a hefty salary. Saudi Arabia offered him about half a million dollars before, and MLS must match that. Although Inter Miami CF may give the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner a slightly lower deal, they will probably compensate it with some additional commercial contracts. If that is still not enough, there is something the MLS can do – the Messi Tax.
Major League Soccer clubs have found a way to pursue Messi to come to America. That is, by way of contributing to Messi’s salary. There are currently 29 clubs in MLS, and each club has agreed to pay a portion of the 35-year-old superstar’s annual income. This idea was reported by the Spanish sports website called Sport.
What could be Lionel Messi’s impact on the MLS moving forward?
Just by looking at this colossal move, Lionel Messi is likely going to boost MLS’ popularity. The viewership will probably go higher, and ticket prices will also become more expensive. A lot of people would want to watch La Pulga live, so that wouldn’t be impossible.
Moreover, he is going to make another legendary run in the U.S.A. The country is set to host the 2024 Copa America and will also co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. By that, it’s evident that both parties will benefit from this transfer.
USA to host next copa America
USA jointly hosting next World Cup
Messi reportedly joins MLS… pic.twitter.com/zHFeMzLWQ9
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) June 7, 2023
To add, some European football players who want to retire come to MLS. With Messi in the league, he could eventually invite the interest of bigger names to join him. There have been rumors of some iconic players that could potentially come to the league, but those are just speculation.
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