Argentine star Lionel Messi on Tuesday arrived at Florida ahead of his move to US Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.
Messi was captured on camera by ESPN television exiting a private plane at a small executive airport close to the Inter Miami stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Early in the morning, supporters had started to assemble at the stadium in anticipation of his arrival.
Before being introduced to the crowd at a stadium event on Sunday, the World Cup winner is anticipated to sign a two and a half year contract, which is said to be worth $60 million annually.
Since Brazilian legend Pele signed with the New York Cosmos in 1975, Messi is the most well-known player to have ever moved to the MLS and the most well-known player to have visited the United States.
The Major League Soccer hopes that Messi would significantly raise the league’s visibility and increase subscribers to their streaming broadcast agreement with Apple TV. Prices for games where Messi will likely play have already skyrocketed.
His arrival will also increase the excitement surrounding the game in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, which the United States, together with Canada and Mexico, will host.
Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, a former teammate of his at Barcelona, is anticipated to join him there. Former Barcelona coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has assumed the position of head coach.
