FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – JULY 16: Lionel Messi reacts during “The Unveil” introducing Lionel Messi hosted by Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on July 16, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi, reigning FIFA Men’s Player of the Year and World Cup Golden Ball winner held his introductory press conference with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF on Sunday evening. This following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi will become the 14th World Cup winner to play in Major League Soccer. He's the first World Cup Golden Ball winner (tournament MVP) to play in the league.
Messi will be the 4th Ballon d’Or winner to play in the MLS, joining Kaká (2007), Hristo Stoichkov (1994) and Lothar Matthäus (1990).
The Adidas star joins (Adidas compatriot) David Beckham’s Inter Miami. The team is in last place in the Eastern Conference having failed to win its last 11 MLS games (0-3-8 W-D-L).
In fact, through the Leagues Cup Break, Inter Miami has the fewest points in MLS (18) and has lost a league-high 14 games this season with an offense that has mustered 22 goals, 2nd-fewest in the Eastern Conference.
Only Josef Martínez (6) and Leonardo Campana (4) have scored three or more goals on the team this MLS season.
Lionel Messi Impact On Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami is last in the Eastern Conference with Lionel Messi on the way. According to Stats Perform, only 1 MLS team since 2005 has made the playoffs after being in last place outright in a conference at least 20 matches into a season. That was D.C. United in 2018.
The morning of the day (June 7) when Messi announced he’d be joining Inter Miami, the club paid +10000 to win MLS Cup at Caesars Sportsbook (T-3rd-longest odds in MLS).
Those odds have moved up to +5000 (15th shortest), as of July 16. When Messi announced he’d be joining Inter Miami on June 7, FiveThirtEight’s SPI gave the club a 5% chance to make the playoffs, the lowest odds in MLS.
Inter Miami ranks 25th in average attendance in MLS this season and was last in 2022.
Lionel Messi’s records
Most FIFA World Player of the Year Awards – Man or Woman (7)
The Most World Cup Golden Ball awards (2, 2014 and 2022)
Most goals scored in LaLiga history (474)
Most goals scored for a single club (Barcelona, 672)
The Most titles in Barcelona history (35)
Most top scorer awards in LaLiga history (8)
Most consecutive top scorer awards in LaLiga history (5)
More on all of this on Shemon and Sheppard 2-6pm.
Lionel Messi Grocery Shopping at Publix
Lionel Messi is one of the biggest and most recognizable stars in any field in the world. He has 478 million followers on Instagram. For some context, he has the second most followers of any Instagram account in the world (Cristiano Ronaldo has the most with 596 million followers). As of this week he is in Miami getting ready to close out his career with Inter Miami of the MLS. And he's jumping head first into the Florida lifestyle as Lionel Messi spotted grocery shopping at Publix.
Messi hasn't been able to go into a store anywhere in the world for the last 20 years almost. He get's accosted every time he is out in the public. This is a video of Messi trying to get back to his house in Argentina.
Big Deal
This has got to be a surreal moment for Messi. I can't really explain how big of a deal Lionel Messi is basically every part of the world. He's one of the most recognizable people in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia... hell, I bet he's the most recognizable person in Antarctica.
My Advice for Messi to Become a Floridian
Messi is a cultured individual. He has played his entire professional and armature career in Barcelona, Paris, and now Miami. But there is a special sort of culture we have established here in Florida. So here is my advice to become a Floridan. It starts with the chicken tender sub from Publix. I go with the tenders tossed in buffalo sauce with a white cheese (provolone or white American) with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. He did go full "American" by getting the family size breakfast cereals. It's tough to see what else is in the bag. But it looks like Lionel Messi is going all in on the Florida lifestyle, and the South Florida public largely doesn't know who it is. It's got to be nice for his to be able to go grocery shopping in relatively obscurity.
What Messi is used to
This video is from March in his home country of Argentina. As you can see the walls of the restaurant look like their about to be taken down by fans just trying to get a glimpse of the GOAT.
What it looked like when Messi landed
As you can see the fan fair was not what he is used to. As a soccer fan in the US I would have liked the soccer fans state side would put out a better showing than this. But again, it's got to be nice for Messi to live in relative obscurity.
Work to do
Messi has had a ton of success in his career winning league titles, Champions League titles, and a World Cup. Currently Inter Miami is dead last in the Eastern Conference. There is work to be done for Messi and crew if Inter is going to get into the playoff race.
