In sport they say that no single player is bigger than the team they play for. While that may generally be true, there are always going to be exceptions. In basketball the talents of Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan eclipsed the Lakers and the Bulls. In the NFL Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have had the same effect.
When it comes to soccer there are also plenty of examples. Take when Diego Maradona joined a struggling Napoli. The whole city came out to welcome their adopted son.
In the US we have our own similar stories. First came English legend David Beckham when he turned his back on Europe and elected to join LA Galaxy. Then, eleven years later, the club that he part owns managed to lure the eight-times Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi on an initial 36 month contract worth an estimated $150 million.
Considering that other options for the player included moving to a potentially even more lucrative side in the Saudi Arabian league, this was quite a coup. It has also proved to be one that has had major effects not just for Inter Miami but for soccer in general in the US. The football betting markets were turned on their head overnight, with a bog-standard Inter Miami team suddenly being tipped for championships.
So let’s take a look at the effects that the Argentinian has had on the team, and the game in general.
A record-breaking run on the pitch
From the moment that he first pulled on the No. 10 Inter Miami shirt, the Messi effect was there for all to see. In his very first game for the club against Cruz Azul his stoppage time free kick clinched the victory.
Over his first six games he scored a total of nine goals on his way to helping the club win its first ever Leagues Cup against Nashville SC.
In the 2024 season he continued with his record-breaking ways managing five assists in a single game. Other highlights have included a hat-trick against the New England Revolution in the final game of the regular season. This led to a win and a season total of 74 points, a league record. He also became the club’s leading goal scorer of all time as well as being named MVP for MLS at the end of the season.
Ticket prices soar
Such has always been the clamour to see the superstar footballer in action that it’s had a big effect on ticket prices.
When he first arrived in Miami there were rumours that people were willing to pay up to $110,000 to see his first game. Admittedly this was a figure quoted on one of the many re-seller sites but even standard tickets went on sale at an average of $487,
Since then the prices have stabilised somewhat with fans expecting to pay around $185 a seat. This is still over five times more expensive than tickets were before Messi had arrived.
A similar rise has been seen in the price of season tickets for Inter Miami which are now around double the pre-Messi prices, if you’re lucky enough to get hold of one.
This has also had a knock-on effect for ticket prices across the board for MLS games, something that has benefited almost every team in the League.
A new breed of sponsor
The arrival of Messi seems also to have had a very beneficial effect on the sponsors willing to join forces with Inter Miami.
Those now linked to the club include Tudor who are the official timekeeper. In April 2024 a deal was struck with Lowe’s. This included offering fans the chance to meet up with players in selected stores as well as being able to earn reciprocal loyalty points.
Soon afterwards Visa also came on board, a brand with a truly global identity.
With other names ranging from Adidas to Royal Caribbean International this has also helped to raise the team into a whole higher sphere.
Going social
Another area in which the Messi-effect has been undeniable is in the explosion of Inter Miami’s social media following since he arrived. They now have around 7.3 million followers on TikTok alone, that’s more than any other major league team in any sport you could mention. On Instagram they now have 15.4 million Instagram followers, a number only beaten by NBA teams the Lakers, Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
Other ways in which he has had a huge impact on the club’s finances has been in the sale of replicas of Messi’s No.10 shirt.
So it all adds up to looking like a very good investment for both Inter Miami and the sport as a whole. And, with the World Cup heading for the US in 2026, there couldn’t be a better time for soccer to enjoy a Messi-powered boom.
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