Lionel Messi’s Grand Introduction to Inter Miami and Major League Soccer

The stage is prepared, ready to showcase Lionel Messi’s arrival and his encounter with enthusiastic Inter Miami supporters.

An extraordinary event labeled “The Unveil” — or “La PresentaSíon” as referred to by the club — will take place on Sunday night at Fort Lauderdale’s stadium. This follows Messi’s official signing with Major League Soccer and Inter Miami for the extended period until 2025, solidified just a day prior.

This marks the beginning of a bustling week filled with events for Messi at his new club. A press conference is scheduled for Monday, his inaugural official training session is set for Tuesday, and if all proceeds according to plan, he will compete in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on Friday.

Joining a club currently at the bottom of the MLS standings and plagued by an 11-match winless streak, Messi, the World Cup champion for Argentina and seven-time Ballon d’Or recipient, will face a significant challenge. Inter Miami initiated the season with two victories but has since experienced a 3-14-3 slump.

Earlier, the club had disclosed that Messi’s contract will span 2 and a half seasons, with an annual salary ranging between $50 million and $60 million. In terms of cash alone, the total contract value amounts to a substantial sum of $125 million to $150 million.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expressed his enthusiasm last month upon hearing the news of Messi’s arrival in MLS and Inter Miami, stating, “That’s awesome. Got another superstar. Big, big names out here in Miami. It’s good for the culture out here.”

South Florida has previously seen grand welcomes for prominent athletes. In 2004, Shaquille O’Neal arrived at the Miami Heat’s arena in an 18-wheeler, thrilling the crowd by spraying water from a super soaker. In 2010, LeBron James and Chris Bosh were celebrated upon joining the Heat, with over 14,000 tickets claimed in a mere two hours. James famously proclaimed his pursuit of “not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven” championships.

Yet, amid the buzz and excitement, the remainder of James’ quote from that moment is often overlooked: “I’m about business and we believe we can win multiple championships if we take care of business and do it the right way,” he remarked.

That Heat team went on to secure two championships. Inter Miami now looks to Messi to spearhead a remarkable turnaround, merely to contend for a playoff spot this season.

If there’s one individual capable of achieving it, it’s Messi.

“He is the greatest soccer player to ever grace a pitch,” praised Heat guard Josh Richardson.

More AP soccer: For the latest soccer news, visit https://bigbignews.net/soccer and follow https://twitter.com/AP_Sports on Twitter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, turnaround

More about Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, turnaround

• Lionel Messi Official Website
• Inter Miami Official Website
• Major League Soccer Official Website
• Leagues Cup Official Website
• Miami Dolphins Official Website
• AP Soccer News
• AP Sports Twitter