Artist Maximiliano Bagnasco paints a mural of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi on July 10 within the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami.

Lynne Sladky/AP

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Lynne Sladky/AP

Artist Maximiliano Bagnasco paints a mural of Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi on July 10 within the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami.

Lynne Sladky/AP

Lionel Messi has finalized his deal to join Major League Soccer, and after years of planning and pursuing, Inter Miami has landed a worldwide icon.

Messi’s contract grew to become official Saturday, a bit greater than 5 weeks after he declared that he could be coming to Inter Miami. The group will introduce him Sunday night time at its stadium in Fort Lauderdale, and the primary residence match of the Messi period could possibly be as early as Friday in a Leagues Cup match in opposition to Cruz Azul.

A proper information convention is scheduled for Monday, and his first coaching session together with his new membership is anticipated on Tuesday. The membership beforehand introduced that Messi’s deal shall be for two 1/2 seasons and can pay him between $50 million and $60 million yearly — placing the entire contract worth between $125 million and $150 million in money alone.

“BIENVENIDO 10,” the group posted Saturday on Twitter.

Welcome, Messi, certainly.

“We are overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our League and our sport in North America,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated in an announcement. “We have no doubt that Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a League of Choice for the best players in the game.”

It is, in some ways, an uncommon marriage. Messi — nonetheless maybe the largest star within the recreation — is signing with a group that entered Saturday in final place within the MLS’s Eastern Conference standings. It’s a membership in simply its fourth season that performs in a brief residence that can seat solely about 22,000 individuals when some rushed renovations like including additional bleacher seats get accomplished.

Doesn’t matter. Soccer royalty now plays for Inter Miami.

Messi arrived in South Florida on Tuesday following trip, then began the method of physicals and paperwork on Wednesday and the deal acquired finalized Saturday afternoon. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner — the trophy given yearly to the world’s finest participant — is making his Miami transfer after two years with Paris Saint-Germain.

“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” Messi stated in an announcement. “This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”

It was broadly recognized that Messi could be leaving PSG. The thriller was the place he was going. Some thought Messi finally would select to play for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo to a kingdom the place some golf equipment now are funded by its sovereign wealth fund. Going again to Barcelona, a storied franchise the place he spent most of his profession, was one other risk.

In the tip, Miami gained. An concept that co-owner David Beckham started floating publicly in 2021 — two years earlier than, evidently, the group really began fascinated about tips on how to pull this off — has now turn out to be actuality.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way,” Messi stated in June when saying his choice.

He led Argentina to the World Cup title last December. Messi has greater than 800 objectives in his profession for membership and nation, making him one of many best scorers within the sport’s historical past. He scored twice in final 12 months’s World Cup remaining in opposition to France, a match that ended 3-3 with Argentina prevailing 4-2 on penalty kicks.

He is a four-time Champions League winner and his 129 objectives within the high membership competitors are second to Ronaldo’s 140. Messi has gained 10 La Liga titles and two Ligue 1 championships, seven Copa del Reys and three Club World Cups plus a Copa América and Olympic gold medal for Argentina.

“Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city,” Beckham stated. “Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.

“Today that dream got here true.”

The club had a road match Saturday at St. Louis, yet when word got out that Messi may have been at the team’s facility that morning a couple hundred fans showed up just hoping for a glimpse, not even deterred by a late-morning thunderstorm. Many wore Messi jerseys — some the light blue of Argentina, some the pink-and-black of Inter Miami. Some carried flags; one carried a sign mostly in Spanish, but the words “Messi” and “GOAT” made the messaging clear.

It’s simply a part of a welcome get together that’s solely getting began.

Messi was seen at a Publix grocery store close to Fort Lauderdale — the grocery chain is an Inter Miami sponsor — together with his household earlier within the week, and the cart had a number of gadgets picked out by the children: Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Lucky Charms. The scene went viral by the point he hit the checkout lane.

A serial purpose scorer is evidently a cereal fan as effectively.

And now, it is time for the soccer to start out. Inter Miami plans to introduce Messi on Sunday night time, at an occasion the membership is looking “The Unveil.” Shakira is rumored to be attending, and tickets are lengthy gone for the present that has been anticipated for weeks.

Hopes for the franchise at the moment are formally sky-high. Inter Miami has by no means contended for a title; Messi may change all the things in a rush for a group that has gained solely 34% of its matches in MLS play.

“Lionel Messi is an incomparable talent,” Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson stated. “What he brings on and off the field will elevate everyone around him and we’re excited to have him at Inter Miami.”