Messi mania kicks into high gear Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE - Excitement is building as soccer legend Lionel Messi is set to make his debut with Inter Miami CF on Friday night at DRV PNK Stadium.
Messi along with fellow Inter Miami newcomer Sergio Busquets will take to the pitch against Cruz Azul in the League's Cup. It's not known if they will start or how long they will play.
Leagues Cup is a new North American soccer tournament in which MLS and LIGA MX will pause their respective league seasons from July 21 to August 19 to determine the three clubs that will qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. All 47 first division clubs in Canada, Mexico, and the US will compete in the World Cup-style, official Concacaf tournament.
Messi signed a two and a half year contract with Inter Miami this past weekend, and the deal will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually. That will almost certainly work out to more than $1 million per match.
Messi made the decision in June to join Inter Miami and come to Major League Soccer. He considered a return to Barcelona, the club with whom he spent almost the entirety of his career, after spending the last two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain.
But Inter Miami and MLS found a way to land the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner in Messi, setting the stage for an unprecedented era for the club that has largely sputtered during its first four seasons.
Some Inter Miami players said they were a little star-struck when he showed up for practice.
"You know, you watch him on TV, and you know I say the same thing, how did he do that, but you know, that's why he's the G.O.A.T., that's why he's considered the greatest of all time, because he does things that people just can't explain," said Inter Miami CF defender Deandre Yedlin.
Inter Miami said Friday night's game is sold out, but there are a few face value tickets still available. There are plenty of tickets on the re-sale market starting at around $170 before fees.
