Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are eyeing off a cup tie vs. Cruz Azul as his debut game for the MLS club according to owner Jorge Mas.
The imminently watershed moment could come in the Leagues Cup match against the Mexico City-based club on June 21 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Messi has already shown he still has magic in his boots, scoring the fastest goal of his career – a beautiful one, at that – vs. Australia in last week’s friendly.
He played the full 90 minutes and speaking after the game, outlined his plans for a vacation after international duty before then heading to start a new life in the United States.
The cheapest ticket for the Cruz Azul match, at the time of writing was $1,387 via SeatGeek.
Despite comparisons to David Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy in 2007, Messi’s deal with Inter Miami will not be subsidized by MLS.
‘No rules are being changed to incorporate Messi on to Inter Miami’s roster,’ he told local reporters.
While that may not be the case, Mas does feel some sense of responsibility — individually and collectively — to capitalize on the presence of perhaps soccer’s greatest-ever player.
‘I think there will always be a “before and after Messi” when we talk about the sport in the United States,’ he said.
‘I cannot overemphasize the magnitude of this announcement. Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States… Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win cups and make a difference.
‘I think it’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in the league, the other owners, to seize the moment.’
On the pitch, Messi is set to be joined by at least one former Barcelona teammate in Sergio Busquets.
It comes despite interest from Saudi Arabia, who have been able to lure the likes of Karim Benzema — with Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante also likely to make a switch to Al-Ittihad.
Talks with Inter Miami have entered the final stretch and the signing could be made official this week, according to Catalan radio station RAC1.
