MLS
Lionel Messi Miami debut: Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas hints at first game date
The Argentine’s move to MLS has left soccer fans wondering when the World Cup winner will make his first appearance in the United States.
Lionel Messi is currently on international duty with his Argentina teammates as the Albiceleste have cruised to wins over Australia and Indonesia.
The 35-year-old may be on the other side of the world but soccer fans in the United States are eager to find out when he will bring his talents to MLS. After the expiration of his Paris Saint-Germain contract Messi agreed a deal to move to Inter Miami later this summer, but only after he has taken a break after an exhausting campaign in Europe.
Finally, we have the first indication from the club of Messi’s proposed debut date.
On Monday Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas told reporters that the club is planning to give Messi his debut on 21 July in the Leagues Cup fixture against Cruz Azul.
The came will be played in the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida against the Liga MX side. Work is being done to increase the capacity of Miami’s temporary stadium to 22,000 and additional security will be introduced to cope with the huge interest in Messi’s Miami move.
What did Jorge Mas say about the Messi transfer?
David Beckham has been the most visible face of Miami ownership in recent seasons, but construction tycoon Jorge Mas is also joint-owner of the team. On Monday Mas spoke to reporters about the incoming superstar, insisting that now is the time for MLS to “seize the moment”.
“I think there will always be a ‘before and after Messi’ when we talk about the sport in the United States,” Mas said.
“I cannot overemphasise the magnitude of this announcement. Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States.”
Messi’s arrival could be a real milestone for the popularity of soccer in the US, but Mas insisted that Inter Miami have received no special dispensation or extra support from the league to facilitate the transfer.
“No rules are being changed to incorporate Messi on to Inter Miami’s roster,” Mas said.
For now the talk of Messi’s impact on the league is all hypothetical. But the Inter Miami support now has a fixed date for the arrival of one of the game’s greatest players.