Messi will receive a special title.

Beckham called, and the World Cup champion answered.

Former football legend David Beckham spent five years and much effort and perseverance recruiting Lionel Messi before Inter Miami officially competed in the MLS (from 2020). Now, he is taking another step towards fulfilling his long-held dream: keeping the World Cup champion in Miami for as long as possible.

Messi and Beckham have had a profound influence on American soccer.

"Our idea is that Messi will stay at the club even after he retires. Messi's impact on the entire American soccer scene isn't just on the pitch, but also off the pitch," Beckham shared in interviews about the signing of Messi in July 2023.

To establish Inter Miami (in January 2018), former England player David Beckham utilized a clause he acquired when signing with LA Galaxy in 2007: the right to form a team in the MLS (United States). According to Sun Sport (UK), the 49-year-old former star was allowed to purchase a franchise from the MLS for approximately $25 million to establish Inter Miami with his partner, billionaire Jorge Mas. Inter Miami currently boasts a star-studded squad, including four Barcelona legends: Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

Messi and other Inter Miami stars

AFP

The franchise clause also applies to Messi after joining Inter Miami, but he will have the option to own a portion of the club without exercising a buyout option. "This is the wish of David Beckham and Inter Miami's billionaire co-owner, Jorge Mas, who has a net worth of over $1.3 billion. Convinced by Beckham and Jorge Mas's good intentions, Messi will activate the club's shareholding clause to become part of the team and take control, possibly related to professional football matters, as the star has repeatedly revealed," Sun Sport reported.

"The goose that lays golden eggs"

According to Forbes magazine (USA), Messi has a net worth of over $650 million. Since moving to the US, he and his wife Antonela, along with their three sons, have been enjoying a luxurious and happy life in South Florida, where they recently purchased a lavish mansion worth nearly $10 million.

Messi's salary at Inter Miami is between $40 and $50 million per year. In addition, he earns income from personal deals on television rights and jersey sales with Apple and Adidas. In return, in just half a season last year, Messi helped Inter Miami more than double its revenue to nearly $120 million. For the 2024 season, revenue is projected to skyrocket to over $200 million. These revenues are thanks to the Messi effect, which created a massive ticket frenzy, a surge in advertising, and Inter Miami's spectacular pre-season tour in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Japan.

The power duo

AFP

Messi's influence also helped double the number of subscriptions to the MLS streaming service on the Apple TV app, and home teams hosting Inter Miami also benefited greatly from increased ticket sales. The club also saw a significant increase in value, now being valued at over $1 billion.

With these successes, David Beckham and Jorge Mas want Messi to become part of the club with ownership rights, specifically to hold the position of co-president of the team long-term after his retirement. Messi currently has a contract with Inter Miami until December 2025 with an option to extend the following year. The star recently shared that he "will play until he feels he can no longer contribute or support his teammates, only then will he consider retirement."

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