Inter Miami celebrates Lionel Messi’s arrival; soccer great offers warning about MLS expectations

Lionel Messi was formally launched as a member of Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami on Sunday night time as he comes off a World Cup win and a season with Paris Saint-Germain in France.

The David Beckham-led franchise introduced Messi with a pink No. 10 jersey on the Fort Lauderdale stadium. It appeared the Argentinian soccer celebrity made it by the torrential rain properly sufficient to handle the gang and hype them up.

“I am positive we will have many fantastic experiences,” Messi stated.

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“I am very a lot moved to be right here in Miami, to be with you. I wish to thanks, all of you, on behalf of my household, for the kindness that you’ve got given me,” he added.

Beckham praised the followers for braving the dangerous climate to stay round for the revealing. Majority proprietor Jorge Mas additionally addressed the gang.

“When David and I first met and we dreamt of what Inter Miami represents, it began off with the liberty to dream,” Mas stated. “And we dreamed of not solely bringing elite gamers and the most effective gamers however the most effective participant to ever don boots – and his identify is Lionel Andrés Messi.”

Messi joins a membership useless final within the Jap Convention by 22 matches. The crew solely has 18 factors on the season and are 22 factors out of the ultimate playoff spot, behind D.C. United.

Former United star Wayne Rooney warned Messi about expectations upon becoming a member of MLS. The British soccer nice stated Messi gained’t have the best time right here as he discovered from his personal expertise.

Lionel Messi waves to followers at DRV PNK Stadium, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale. (AP Photograph/Marta Lavandier)

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“He gained’t discover it straightforward right here,” Rooney instructed The Occasions of London. “It sounds mad, however gamers who are available in discover it’s a tricky league. The touring, the totally different situations in numerous cities, and there’s loads of vitality and depth on the pitch.”

For now, it’s a celebration in South Florida.

“Right here we’re right this moment with a participant that I feel, doubtless, will not be solely a generational participant however in my view the best of all time,” MLS Commissioner Dan Garber stated. “Went by a course of all through his decision-making interval over the past variety of months, if not the final 12 months, to find out the place he was going to play. A lot of you’ve got heard us say that we would like MLS to be a league of alternative, a league of alternative for gamers, for followers, for companions, and finally for traders.

“And when you’ve got the most effective participant of all-time making Main League Soccer his league of alternative, I feel it’s an actual testomony to the place MLS is and the place it’s going within the years forward.”

Lionel Messi stands with homeowners, from left, Jorge Mas, Jose Mas and David Beckham after he was launched at DRV PNK Stadium, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale. (AP Photograph/Marta Lavandier)

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Messi will probably be with Inter Miami by the 2025 season. He’ll make his debut Friday in a Leagues Cup match in opposition to Cruz Azul.

The Related Press contributed to this report.