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    I was told I wasn’t good enough to play non-league football, now I’m team-mates with Lionel Messi

    LIONEL Messi’s Miami debut was the stuff of fantasy.A match-winning free-kick, with the last significant touch of the game, arcing over the wall, allowing him to hare off to find his children to share the celebrations.
    Lionel Messi scored a dramatic late winner on his Inter Miami debutCredit: AP
    Former non-league footballer Robert Taylor celebrates with MessiCredit: Reuters
    Taylor gave Inter Miami the lead on Messi’s debutCredit: Getty
    But while the start of the Messi US era will have put a golden glow around the MLS, arguably the real fairytale was in Inter Miami’s other scorer.
    Robert Taylor and his first half goal were understandably forgotten by most when Messi, as he has done so often, stole the global headlines.
    Messi’s image was all over the stands inside the DRV PNK Stadium and it was genuinely loud, despite only 21,000 filling it with a blaze of passion and cavalcade of colour.
    And his new team-mates know his arrival is transformational.
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    Taylor was struggling to pinch himself as he came to terms with his new team-mates – Messi, Sergio Busquets and, soon, Jordi Alba.
    The Finnish son of an English pro, Taylor cut his youth teeth at Nottingham Forest and Lincoln.
    But it never worked out, even when he dropped down to the fringes of the game, with Boston TOWN – not United – and Lincoln Moorlands Railway in the United Counties League.
    Taylor said: “If anyone had told me a few years ago that, sitting on the bench for Lincoln Moorlands Railway, that I’m going to play with Busquets and Messi I would have laughed in their face.
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    “I was sitting on the bench, I wasn’t able to get any minutes, the coach told me I wasn’t strong enough, basically not good enough.
    “That tested me. I was calling my parents back home in Finland and telling them that I wanted to look for something else, other options.”
    A decade later, by way of clubs in Finland and Norway, he has 29 caps for his country and is sharing a dressing room with the greatest of all time.
    Taylor added: “They are inspirational players, unbelievable.
    “Messi just makes the right decisions all of the time.
    “It was a special occasion to be part of – a sold out stadium, Messi and Busquets making debuts.
    “To witness that free kick and the quality he brings to the team, it’s unbelievable. 
    “The emotions were still running strong and there was a lot of adrenalin for everyone.
    “But eventually we’ll have to get used to it and not get too emotional around it, just focus on the game.”
    Taylor’s dad played for top-flight Finnish side KuPS in the 1990s.
    Son Robert represented Forest, Lincoln and Barnet at youth level, but had to move abroad in order to get his chance.
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    He penned a two-year deal with Inter Miami in February 2022 after joining from Norwegian side Brann.
    The left winger has gone on to make 60 appearances for the MLS side to date, scoring five times and laying on nine assists.

    Taylor joined Inter Miami from Brann in February 2022Credit: AP More

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    Inside David Beckham’s amazing US life…from A-list pals to convincing Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami

    WHEN Lionel Messi lined up for David Beckham’s Inter Miami football team, it was the biggest coup in the history of the sport.In a remarkable piece of wheeler dealing, the former England captain persuaded the world’s greatest player to sign for a team at the bottom of their United States league.
    David Beckham persuaded the world’s greatest player to sign for a team at the bottom of their United States leagueCredit: Getty
    Beckham with new Inter Miami signing Lionel MessiCredit: instagram
    David, Victoria and Harper with the Kardashians at Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami debutCredit: Instagram
    Not only that, 36-year-old Messi, who captained Argentina to victory in last summer’s World Cup, turned down a reported billion-pound offer from Saudi Arabia’s top team.
    Business-savvy Becks has cleverly harnessed the power of his celebrity pals to entice Messi with the kind of glamour that can’t be matched in the Middle East.
    A-listers such as reality TV queen Kim Kardashian, basketball superstar Lebron James and tennis legend Serena Williams were there to watch the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Inter Miami debut on Friday night.
    When Beckham announced the creation of the Florida football side five years ago, music mogul Jay-Z, superstar singer J-Lo, A-list actor Will Smith and Olympic athlete Usain Bolt were by his side.
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    The 48-year-old appeared to be close to tears after Messi scored an injury time winner in a cup match at the club’s temporary home ground.
    That is understandable, given the setbacks he has endured in setting up a football team from scratch.
    A promised state-of-the-art stadium is yet to be built following legal challenges, residents’ protests and the discovery of arsenic in the soil.
    ‘It’s a dream’
    David’s wife Victoria, 49, has been his rock throughout, uprooting the family to spend a lot of the year in Miami.
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    A source close to the family told us: “Signing Messi has put the team on the global map.
    “It’s not just players backing the team, however. David and Victoria’s famous friends have all put weight behind it. Kim Kardashian’s son Saint is a huge football fan and Messi is his idol.
    “The same can be said of the Beckhams’ pals like singer Marc Anthony, American football star Tom Brady and Lebron James, who can often be seen at games.
    “It’s not just a club, it’s being seen as more of a brand which is hugely commercially viable.”
    They added: “From the beginning of the venture over five years ago Victoria said she would support David at every step and that couldn’t be more true.
    “Miami is fast becoming a second home for the family and they loved the relaxed pace of life there.”
    Two years ago the Beckhams bought a £18.5million Miami penthouse in a 707ft tower designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, boasting a helipad and views of the Atlantic ocean.
    The couple’s four children now have close ties to the area, too.
    Eldest son Brooklyn, 24, married actress Nicola Peltz, 28, at the home of her billionaire father just down the road in Palm Beach, while footballer Romeo, 20, was on the books of Inter Miami’s reserve team.
    Daughter Harper, 12, spends most of her summer holidays in Miami and musician Cruz, 18, has enjoyed hanging out on the £5million family yacht on the city’s sun-soaked waters. 
    Becks is often seen out on the town himself with celebrity pals, including Tom Brady. 
    Another close pal is nightlife impresario David Grutman, known as the “King of Miami” due to his restaurant and nightclub empire.
    David was best man when Marc Anthony, ex-husband of Jennifer Lopez, wed model Nadia Ferreira at Miami’s Pérez Art Museum in January.
    Goldenballs created a huge buzz when he appeared at the Miami Grand Prix last year, while Victoria has been spotted out locally with her pal, Desperate Housewives’ actress Eva Longoria.
    The Beckhams have eaten at hotspots including Makoto, where the Kardashians have been seen, and Zuma Miami, a favourite of rap star Drake and Will Smith.
    But David also enjoys more humble food and regularly stops by Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop, a Cuban eatery where the most expensive dishes are £9.
    Leidys Pla, whose family own the restaurant, told us: “He — has a little coffee — he likes Costa Rican coffee and loves the pork or a Cubano sandwich.
    He’s always very nice and takes pictures with anyone who wants them.Leidys Pla
    “He’s always very nice and takes pictures with anyone who wants them.”
    Her mother Lucia Pla added with a smile: “David Beckham is my friend.”
    But even Becks’ A-list pals have been overshadowed by the arrival of Messi, who is being treated like a deity in the majority Latino city.
    Everyone wanted to be at the game to see the South American maestro, with touts charging as much as £85,000 for tickets.
    Murals celebrating the Argentinian striker have sprung up in countless places, while enterprising businesses are offering Messi-themed sandwiches and even a Messi beer.
    Inter fan Maximiliano Infantino, 46, told The Sun: “It’s a dream to have Messi here. Beckham can really make things happen.
    “Miami doesn’t know what’s going to hit it.
    “You look at the bus stops and all you see are pictures of Messi. It’s going to change everything.” 
    One mural covers an entire side of a seven-floor building and shows two images of Messi painted by a local graffiti artist and touched up by Beckham, who stopped by to paint Messi’s teeth.
    Axel Montano, 30, who was selling T-shirts by the mural, said: “I want to thank David Beckham for bringing Lionel Messi to this city.
    ‘Cocktail for success’
    “They are equals and they understand each other.”
    Convincing the sublime soccer superstar to join the club clearly meant a huge deal to Beckham.
    The ex-England captain, who co-owns the club with Miami businessman Jorge Mas, said: “The moment that Leo went on TV and announced that he was coming to Miami, that was an emotional moment.” 
    He has been pursuing Messi for at least two years. 
    The former Barcelona star is rumoured to be on a basic annual wage of £15million, plus £30million in bonuses, and is also due to get a stake in the team when his contract ends in 2025.
    Messi arrived on a free transfer from Paris St Germain and his earnings will be partly funded by a streaming deal with Apple Plus.
    For us it’s a dream to have Messi here. Beckham can really make things happen.Maximiliano Infantino
    Landing his signature has impressed fellow bosses in the game, including The Apprentice star and West Ham vice-chairman Baroness Karren Brady.
    She told The Sun: “With his boots on, Becks proved that unique technical ability and a tireless work ethic — aided by no shortage of charm and a sharp understanding of his own marketability — was a surefire cocktail for success.
    “In the boardroom he is proving just the same as a football club owner.”
    Anyone who dismissed Beckhams as a footballer-turned-underwear model couldn’t be more wrong.
    He earned £657,000 per week last year, with most of the money coming from his brand, which is licensed to Adidas, Electronic Arts video games, Haig Club whisky, Maserati cars and Tudor watches.
    Those sums could be overshadowed by Inter Miami in the future.
    The club is Beckham’s personal project, after he cut a canny deal when he signed to play football for LA Galaxy 16 years ago.
    With his boots on, Becks proved that unique technical ability and a tireless work ethic — aided by no shortage of charm and a sharp understanding of his own marketability — was a surefire cocktail for success.Karren Brady
    As part of the agreement, Major League Soccer promised Beckham could set up his own football team in the US for less than a quarter of the normal fee demanded by the competition.
    But he has had to overcome objections from locals to various plans for a permanent stadium in the Florida city.
    At the moment, the team plays 30 miles away in Fort Lauderdale’s 21,000-capacity DRV PNK Stadium, which used to be the home of another football team.
    The first Inter Miami home match in 2020 had to be postponed due to Covid restrictions — and Beckham has gone through four managers in four years.
    He displayed a ruthless streak by sacking old England and Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville last month, with the club currently languishing bottom at 15th in the Eastern Conference league. 
    The success of the Apple TV football comedy Ted Lasso and the Disney Plus Welcome To Wrexham documentary — about Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking over other Welsh non-league side — proves there is an appetite for the sport in the US.
    That interest will only increase when the United States, Mexico and Canada co-host the World Cup in three years.

    Baroness Brady adds: “We can all look on with pride as we see one of our greatest national treasures now helping to inspire another generation by sprinkling more stardust in the US.
    “It can only be positive for the future welfare of our beautiful game as the love of it continues to spread across the world.”
    Messi captained Argentina to victory in last summer’s World CupCredit: Reuters
    Beckham goes grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s in MiamiCredit: BackGrid
    Posh and Becks with Marc Anthony and Serena Williams
    The Man United legend with Tom Brady and their respective daughtersCredit: Instagram / @davidbeckham
    Becks with LeBron James at Messi’s Inter Miami debutCredit: Instagram
    David with Leidys Pla at Cuban eatery Enriqueta’s Sandwich ShopCredit: Instagram
    Miami goes mad for Messi with murals appearing on walls
    Another mural of the Argentinian World Cup winner
    Beckham’s luxury liner named Seven after his shirt numberCredit: Mega
    Beckham’s Miami apartment buiding was designed by star architect Zaha Hadid
    Inside the posh pad with stunning viewsCredit: Mega More

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    Messi Was Already a Hit in Miami. Then He Stepped Onto the Field.

    The impact of the soccer star, who scored a game-winning goal in his debut on Friday, has already been felt in the city known as the unofficial capital of Latin America.Since Lionel Messi announced in early June that he intended to make a stunning jump to Major League Soccer for the twilight of his career, he has flipped the world of his new team, Inter Miami, upside down and shined an enormous spotlight on South Florida. Considered perhaps the greatest soccer player of all time, Messi brought an unprecedented amount of attention to a team that was in only its fourth season and mired in last place.And when Messi was fouled near the top of the penalty box in the third minute of added time in his highly anticipated debut on Friday, he had a chance to prove once again why he was worth all of this hoopla, money and adulation. As he lined up for the free kick in the waning seconds of the game, the crowd of 20,512 at DRV PNK Stadium wondered if he could author another unforgettable moment in an already storied career.The answer: of course. With his golden left foot, Messi drilled a shot into the top left corner of the net, providing the winning difference in a 2-1 victory over Mexican team Cruz Azul that seemed surreal but also quite fitting.“A tremendous joy to get our first victory after how we’ve been doing in the league,” Messi said in Spanish in a postgame television interview.Teammate Kamal Miller said it best when he noted that it was “crazy how that the whole crowd expected the ball to go right there, and he put it right there.” He added later, “We all had that feeling that if anyone could pull off something of that magnitude, that’s the right man.”Fans stood outside DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday to celebrate Messi’s arrival.Saul Martinez for The New York TimesThis is the power of Messi. Before he agreed to come here, Inter Miami was perhaps best known for a cheating scandal in 2021. And this season, Miami had not won since May 23, a span of 11 games. But Messi, 36, has already made an instant impact on and off the field.Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in December and has claimed seven Ballons d’Or as the world’s best men’s soccer player, isn’t just an iconic athlete who has reached almost mythical proportions. He already has and likely will continue to have a substantial cultural influence on a city — and region — known as the unofficial capital of Latin America. Restaurants have changed their menus to include Messi-themed dishes. Murals and signs of Messi have popped up everywhere. Argentine culture is spreading through him.“The magnitude of this announcement — no matter how much I’ve prepared, envisioned, dreamed — is mind-blowing,” said Jorge Mas, the Cuban American billionaire and South Florida native who is the managing owner of Inter Miami. “You’d have to live in a cave to not know that Leo Messi is an Inter Miami player, no matter where in the world.”Look no further than the demand for tickets.A mural of Messi outside the Argentine restaurant Fiorito in Miami.Saul Martinez for The New York TimesGranted, Inter Miami plays in a stadium about 30 miles north of downtown Miami that has a listed capacity of 19,000 and is a placeholder until a proposed larger venue next to Miami International Airport is expected to be completed in two years.But the prices for many tickets to Messi’s first Inter Miami game jumped over $300 from roughly $40. As he acclimated to a new team, Messi didn’t start the game — part of a new monthlong tournament between M.L.S. and Liga MX called Leagues Cup — but it was a sellout anyway. From the beginning of the game, long before he stepped onto the field as a substitute in the 54th minute, fans had been chanting his name.The average ticket price on the secondary market for Inter Miami’s remaining home games skyrocketed to $850 from $152, with road games seeing an even bigger jump, according to Ticket IQ.While some fans have gotten their hands on a Messi Inter Miami jersey, the items are hard to come by online. A note on Inter Miami and M.L.S. official stores, which are run by the sports apparel retailer Fanatics, said that Adidas, the league’s official jersey supplier, would be “delivering this product in mid October.” The M.L.S. regular season ends around then. (Adidas did not respond to a request for comment.)According to Fanatics, since Messi’s new jersey launched on Monday, Inter Miami has been its top-selling team across all sports. The company said on Thursday that it had sold more Inter Miami merchandise since Monday than in the previous seven and a half months of 2023.“This is going to give a level of global exposure for us that we never could have achieved without a player like Messi,” M.L.S. Commissioner Don Garber said. “Whether that’s in South America or in Argentina, or in Europe because he had legendary careers in Barcelona and in France. The goal is try to capture as much of the interest in Messi as we can.”Before Messi’s announcement, Inter Miami’s Instagram account had one million followers. The count had ballooned to nearly 11 million as of Friday, surpassing Inter Milan, the storied soccer club in Italy, and all professional sports teams in the United States save for three N.B.A. teams.Some businesses across South Florida now feature homages to Messi.Saul Martinez for The New York Times“The city has got a bit of a buzz to it now,” Inter Miami defender DeAndre Yedlin said to nearly 40 reporters gathered before a Thursday morning practice, a crowd much larger than usual. “People are really excited, which is nice to see.”For Messi’s presentation event on Sunday — which was broadcast globally in English and Spanish on Apple TV, M.L.S.’s first-year streaming partner — nearly 500 media members were credentialed, according to Inter Miami. And nearly 200 were approved for Messi’s first practice, with a news helicopter circling above since early that morning. Even though reporters were given access to only 15 minutes of the training session, which is common in the sport, television and radio reporters from Argentina broadcast live from their spots on the other side of the field, and then later from the parking lot.“That’s a gift that Leo has given the sport,” said David Beckham, the former soccer star and an Inter Miami owner. “It’s about legacy for him. He’s at the stage of his career where he’s done everything that any soccer player can do in the sport.”Even beyond the field, Messi is among the most famous humans on Earth. At the World Cup in Qatar, it was common to see not only Argentina fans wearing his jersey and singing the national team chants, but also people from Bangladesh or the Philippines. A 30-foot-tall cutout of Messi stands, for example, in the southern Indian state of Kerala.Building on its popularity in Asia, Argentina’s national soccer federation had already begun its plans to grow in the U.S. market a year and a half ago. Leandro Petersen, the A.F.A.’s chief commercial and marketing officer, said the federation has 30-year deals in place in South Florida either to build new facilities (North Bay Village) or to renovate existing ones (Hialeah) to use as training centers for its national team ahead of the 2024 Copa América tournament and the 2026 World Cup.Demand for Inter Miami gear and tickets have skyrocketed. Argentine culture is spreading through him in Miami.Saul Martinez for The New York TimesBut now that Messi is around, Petersen said the federation is benefiting from the boost and seeing its timelines accelerate. Before, he said, it was more difficult to compete with the established American sports leagues, such as the N.F.L. or N.B.A.“What’s happening now is that different companies that didn’t invest in soccer because it’s not the most popular sport in the United States, they’re now starting to include in their budget a part to invest in soccer,” Petersen said in Spanish. Emi Danieluk, the brand ambassador for a local chain of Argentine steakhouses called Baires Grill, which has frequently hosted Messi, his family and his Argentine teammates, said Messi’s arrival had already given more visibility to Argentine culture, products and food. He sees more potential ripple effects of Messi’s presence.“We have today an example of what Messi is generating in Florida, but I can assure you when he starts to travel for Inter Miami to other stadiums that have more capacity, like Atlanta United and 80,000 people, the impact he is going to have in every state is really significant,” Danieluk said. “I don’t think people realize that right now.”Messi walked triumphantly off the field after his first Inter Miami game.Chandan Khanna/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesThose in attendance at Friday’s game saw Messi’s substantial impact. After he and Sergio Busquets, a fellow newcomer and former teammate of Messi’s in Barcelona, entered the game, they began exposing Cruz Azul’s defense. In stoppage time, Messi drew a foul and worked his magic. He sent the crowd into a frenzy, celebrated with teammates and raced over to hug his family.“We want to start like that, giving the victory to these people and to thank all the people here,” Messi said afterward, adding later, “I hope that we continue like this and they keep accompanying us all year.” More

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    Luton in transfer race for £10m Venezuelan striker Josef Martinez but move faces being scuppered – by Lionel Messi

    LIONEL MESSI has hit Luton’s hopes of signing Venezuelan striker Josef Martinez.The Hatters are trying for Inter Miami hitman Martinez but fell short of the £10million valuation —  so need the South American to push to leave.
    Luton want to sign MartinezCredit: Getty
    However, the move could be scuppered by MessiCredit: Reuters
    But Martinez, 30, has hit it off with Messi since the Argentine arrived in the MLS last week.
    The pair have been close in training and Martinez even jokingly called him his “new best friend”.
    Luton’s other hope is that David Beckham’s Inter also sign former Liverpool star Luis Suarez — which could edge Martinez closer to an exit.
    Messi agreed to join Inter Miami on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last month.
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    He was officially unveiled as an Inter player earlier this week after arriving in the US to an overwhelming reception.
    The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner made his debut on Friday evening and announced himself to fans by scoring an outstanding free kick.
    Inter Miami won the match 2-1 thanks to Messi’s late contribution, which left Beckham and his family stunned.
    The Herons also completed the signing of former Barcelona star Sergio Busquets this week, who joined Messi in making his debut on Friday.
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    The Spaniard became the third ex-Barcelona star to join the club this summer.
    Jordi Alba made the switch earlier this week to become the fourth.
    And Spain legend Andres Iniesta is expected to join his former teammates at the DRV PNK Stadium before the summer concludes. More

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    Fans joke ‘that’s the pressure of playing with the GOAT’ after Inter Miami star’s unfortunate incident on Messi debut

    FANS saw the funny side after an Inter Miami star threw up on the pitch during Lionel Messi’s debut.The superstar came off the bench and scored a last-gasp free-kick to secure a 2-1 win over Cruz Azul.
    Robbie Robinson threw up on the pitch against Cruz AzulCredit: Twitter
    Fans joked he could not handle the pressure of playing with Lionel MessiCredit: Twitter
    Messi scored a last-gasp free-kick to win the matchCredit: Reuters
    The strike reduced Miami owner David Beckham to tears, and he was not the only one feeling the presence of greatness.
    Fans joked Miami forward Robbie Robinson was feeling the effect of playing with Messi after he THREW UP mid-game.
    Robinson appeared to be fine as he tracked back to help his defence but suddenly began projectile vomiting on to the pitch.
    Supporters were shocked by the incident and some could not help but have a bit of fun.
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    One said: “The pressure of playing with the Goat.”
    Another added: “Messi effect.”
    A third wrote: “I understand him… I would be the same if I had to play with Messi.”
    And another commented: “Man couldn’t handle the Messi experience.”
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    One supporter even joked Robinson was inspired by Messi as the Argentine once threw up in the World Cup final.
    Messi’s debut attracted A-list celebrities to the DRV PNK Stadium including Lebron James, Serena Williams and Kim Kardashian. More

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    Lionel Messi Ventures Into Charted Territory

    The Argentine star’s signing is seen as a way to push soccer into the American mainstream. But it’s already there.Tempting Lionel Messi to the United States could not solely be a matter of money. The money had to be right, of course. It had to be competitive. It was, Jorge Mas knew, perfectly possible that his attempt to persuade Messi, the greatest player of his generation, to sign for Inter Miami would fail because of money. But it would not succeed because of it. Not exclusively, anyway.Nor, really, could Mas rely entirely on the other selling point he had identified as a possible advantage. Miami would appeal to Messi’s family, that was true. He and his wife, Antonella, already owned property there. His sons liked it. There was a strong, proud Argentine community in South Florida that could provide him with the maté and the facturas and the asado he required.And while Miami could not offer Messi complete anonymity — he would still be mobbed when he went to the grocery store — it could offer him a version of normalcy in which it was theoretically possible for him to go to the grocery store in the first place. That, Mas was sure, would be appealing, but it could not be the whole appeal.Instead, over the yearslong span of his courtship of Messi — Mas has said that he first hatched the idea in 2019, and has spent no little time since manifesting it into being — he chose to emphasize something else.This, he repeatedly told Jorge Messi, the player’s father, agent and maven, was his son’s chance to leave a unique legacy. “When, in the history of a sport is there the possibility of changing the sport of a country?” Mas asked Jorge Messi. His son, Mas said, had the “opportunity and ability to change soccer in the United States, in the largest commercial market in the world.”This week, Mas at last had the moment that vindicated not only all of his labor, but the nature of his pitch. In the pouring rain at the DRV-PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, he could finally present Messi not just as an Inter Miami player, but as what he called “America’s No. 10.”True, there is work to be done. Soccer stadiums are called things like the Parc des Princes and San Paolo. It is wholly unacceptable that Messi might retire at something called the “DRV-PNK Stadium,” particularly considering that it is in Fort Lauderdale.But still, Mas sensed that he was standing on the cusp of something epochal. For soccer in the United States, he said, there would always be “a before and an after Messi.”Lionel Messi with the team that brought him to America: Jorge Mas, Jose Mas and David Beckham.Rebecca Blackwell/Associated PressThis is, of course, a leitmotif in the story of soccer in the United States. It is a sport in constant search of its moment of ignition. At some point, the theory runs, the world’s game will assume its natural position at the top of the American sporting pyramid. Mas, doubtless, is sincere in his belief that the arrival of Messi will — at the very least — accelerate that process.It goes without saying, too, that soccer in the U.S. still has plenty of room for growth. Some of those areas are tangible, or at least demonstrable: Attendances — not helped by the fact that some teams in Major League Soccer do not play in soccer-specific arenas — and audience figures and sponsorship revenues can all increase substantially.Mexico would doubtless claim to be home to the highest-caliber domestic league in North America. M.L.S. certainly has some way to go before it can consider itself a peer of Ligue 1 in France, say, let alone the Premier League.And some of categories for growth are more intangible. Soccer does not yet have the grip on the American psyche that the N.F.L. can muster, for example. It is not as central to the culture as the N.B.A. It does not command the same sort of affection as baseball. It still feels, in many ways, far younger and far newer than it really ought to feel, especially this deep into its ascendant phase.For all that it is agreed that soccer in the United States needs to grow, though, at some point it is probably worth pausing and reflecting on what the actual target might be.Soccer, like all European cultural artifacts, has long been obsessed with cracking America, the place that has come to be seen as its final frontier. And plenty of people in the U.S. have spent vast swaths of their time working out how to make soccer happen. Nobody, though, has quite defined what success might look like.Messi needed no introduction in Miami.Chandan Khanna/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesThe landscape into which Messi descended this week, for example, is vastly different from the one David Beckham — his forerunner turned employer — encountered when he arrived in Los Angeles in 2007. At that stage, M.L.S. consisted of only 13 teams. Toronto F.C. marked the league’s first, ginger outreach into Canada. It was still not uncommon to hear discussion of whether the entire business would survive.Messi, on the other hand, finds himself entering a competition that now sprawls across much of a continent, from Vancouver to New York, Montreal to Miami. M.L.S. now has 29 teams, with a 30th, based in San Diego, set to be drafted into the league in 2025. It has an innovative, potentially lucrative streaming deal with Apple TV+ that served as a core part of the league’s pitch to Messi. The question is not whether M.L.S. will pull through. It is whether it has been a little too eager to acquiesce to all of those teams and all of those cities lobbying for expansion.Far more significant, though, is the game’s imprint on the United States as a whole. Soccer is now the second-largest participation sport in the United States, behind only basketball. One Gallup poll found that more people regard it as their “favorite” sport, whatever that means, than would say the same about ice hockey. Last year, the FIFA video game outsold Mario Kart and at least one edition of Call of Duty.Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera and LeBron James all own portions of teams, either at home or abroad. Soccer is referenced on Modern Family and (the dearly departed) “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” It is hard to find a picture of Drake not wearing some team’s jersey. Kim Kardashian single-handedly taught millions of Americans about the greatness of Vincent Candela and Aldair when she was pictured wearing a vintage Roma jersey. That is not an afterthought: It is what cultural cut-through looks like.All five of Europe’s major leagues have television deals in the United States. NBC has, in no small part, used its multiyear Premier League offering as a backbone for its Peacock streaming service. Fox, ABC, ESPN, Paramount, CBS, Univision and Discovery all broadcast soccer.Messi made his Inter Miami debut on Friday night.Rebecca Blackwell/Associated PressRobert Lipsyte, once a titan of these pages, might have bemoaned last week that European soccer does not have the same “emotional” impact to someone in Brooklyn as the fate of the Nets or the Mets might, but the evidence would suggest there are plenty of people who might disagree with him.By many measure, in other words, soccer has made it in America. It has the toehold in the United States that it has always craved. To borrow from the wrestling parlance of last week’s newsletter, the sport has got over, and spectacularly.That the sport does not perceive it that way — that it still feels as if this is a land to be conquered — might be to do with sheer, naked greed. Or it might be to do with just how accustomed it is to a monopoly position. Across most of the world, soccer is inarguably the national game, the sport of choice, by such a distance that everything else pales in comparison.In those countries where it encounters resistance, then — in the United States and Australia, with their established quadrumvirates of major sports, in particular, as well as India and Pakistan, where cricket remains king — anything less than total obliteration of any opposition is treated as failure. Soccer confuses popularity with primacy.That approach, though, is infused with futility. The Women’s World Cup this summer will, ideally, make more Australians like soccer. It will not make anyone turn away from Australian Rules Football to do so. Messi’s presence in the U.S. will expand the sport’s cultural reach. It is unlikely to affect viewership for the Super Bowl.It is not a zero sum game. You do not only have to like one sport. Soccer can get bigger in the United States, of course. Messi’s glamour, his star power, the brilliant white heat of his talent will help pull in new viewers and, slowly, turn them into fans. There are always more hearts and minds to win, more eyeballs to retain.Much of the work, though, has already been done. The change has already happened. Soccer has made it in the United States. As Mas might put it, we left the before behind long ago. We are already in the after, and have been for some time.Cruel BlowSam Kerr’s Instagram post, published only a couple of hours before Australia’s opening game at the World Cup on Thursday, was written in what can be recognized as the striker’s straightforward, matter-of-fact style. She had picked up a calf injury. She would loved to have been available for the match with Ireland. That would not be possible.The aim, surely, was to project an air that this was — to use the technical term — no biggie. Kerr did not want to be a distraction from a game her country has been anticipating for years. Still, her absence will have sent a shiver of anxiety through those fans heading to Stadium Australia. This was supposed to be Kerr’s tournament, after all, her chance to stage a “Cathy Freeman moment” of her very own.Of substantially greater concern, though, was the statement published not long afterward by Australia’s medical staff, the one that said Kerr would miss the first two games of the tournament. That would be just about tolerable: Tony Gustavsson’s team should be good enough to see off Nigeria, just as it had Ireland.Sam Kerr will miss at least the first two games at the World Cup.Carl Recine/ReutersThe really bad news was in the fine print. The extent of Kerr’s injury will be assessed only after Thursday’s meeting with Nigeria in Brisbane. There is no guarantee, in other words, that Kerr will be fit in time to play in the group stage at all. It is not an exaggeration to say she will struggle to be in peak condition much before the tournament’s final rounds. And that is far from a worst-case scenario.That is, of course, devastating not only for Kerr, but for Australia as a whole. In the buildup to the tournament, she has been more than willing to absorb expectation, to shoulder the burden of hope. It is to her credit that it does not seem to faze her in the slightest.And yet that role carries with it a cost: It is not just the country that has a tendency to look to Kerr for inspiration, but the team itself. Australia with Kerr is a potential world champion; Australia’s case without her is not nearly so convincing. Its fans know that, and so do its players. They, more than anyone else, will be hoping that the tone of her message was meaningful, that the injury really is no biggie.Psychological EdgeAs the World Cup has drawn closer, that part of The New York Times’ sports department that is based in Europe — all three of us — has been cleft into factions.One is very much of the view that the United States will, ultimately, lift a third World Cup in a row over the course of the next month. One believes that is hopelessly optimistic, and has taken to making dread prophesies of round-of-16 exits at the hands of Sweden. (Tariq has claimed, again and again, that “predictions are the preserve of the hubristic and the small-minded.”)These groups do not align along national grounds. I have no vested interest in the U.S.’s success: As demonstrated by my outright refusal to use the word “cleats,” I am not American. It is clear that this iteration of the national team is not as strong as those that emerged victorious in 2015 and 2019.Alex Morgan, standard bearer (in person) and statue (in New York).Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesIt is, instead, effectively two teams slightly clumsily stitched together: one from yesterday, taking part in what is in some senses a valedictory tour, and one for tomorrow, fizzing with energy and rich with promise. Teams that win tournaments exist in a Goldilocks zone, neither too young or too old. The Americans are both.And yet — with the U.S., there is always an “and yet” — the U.S. retains a psychological edge over almost every opponent it faces. Particularly during World Cups, it has an aura, the sort that can only be acquired over a generation, or more.Teams do not have to beat the U.S. as it is; they have to beat the U.S. as they perceive them to be. They have to overcome their own admiration of the jersey, as much as the players that now fill them. That is a powerful advantage for the U.S. Whether it will be enough, of course, neither faction knows, not really.CorrespondenceIt has been an educational week in the inbox. Michael Markman reminded me of something I did know, once, a long time ago: “The grammarian term for a base word that functions as either a noun or a verb is a gerund,” he wrote. (I had always assumed it was a participle that served as a noun, but I am willing to be corrected.)Someone only identifying as Red, meanwhile, informed me of something that I did not know at all. (And, I think, had no real reason to know.) What has come to be termed “generational wealth” lasts only for three generations, they wrote, in reference to Jordan Henderson’s looming move to Saudi Arabia. “That is the average of new wealth for the past 200 years.” I mean, whichever way you look at it, three generations is quite a long time. Maybe not a monument more everlasting than bronze, but definitely not bad.There were two subjects that dominated, though. One was your sincere, and sincerely appreciated, concern for the fate of this newsletter, and the mutually educational space it has fostered in the last few years. I won’t reproduce them out of deep-seated bashfulness, but suffice to say they were received with immense gratitude.And the other was the validity of parallels between soccer and professional wrestling (a vague existential uncertainty generates quite an exciting, devil-may-care freedom, I have found.) “Is the prime example of this not the transfer market?” asked Todd Reid, knowing the answer to his question was, “Well, yes.”“It consumes as much, if not more, energy and coverage than matches themselves,” he wrote. “And add in the Saudi Arabia story line, and it’s a morality play set on the global stage, discussed and debated whether or not anyone ever actually watches a Saudi League match or not.”There was a welcome reminder from Richard Duran on generalizations, too. “Not everyone reads the constant chatter about transfers, wages, Saudi involvement. I choose to enjoy soccer while the clock is running and it is still a beautiful game.” This is an admirable approach, and a legitimate correction. To some extent, though, how the industry that surrounds soccer presents the sport is as significant as how people choose to consume it.And finally, Mark Harris has arrived, asking for a little bit of self-reflection. “How ironic that you don’t perceive that you are one of the prime instruments in pushing the behind the scenes stories over the actual sport,” he wrote. “Read the last year or so of your articles and tell me if I’m right.”This is a charge I probably cannot deny, admittedly, but I’m going to take it as a compliment. Nobody has ever called me a prime instrument before. Not even when they’re really angry with me.That’s all for this week, and for a little while: Remember, this newsletter will graciously cede the limelight to our daily World Cup briefing for the next few weeks. You should subscribe. We know, after all, that you like soccer and you like receiving newsletters. It’s basically a product designed with you in mind. I’ll be writing it sometimes. But you should subscribe anyway. More

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    MLS vs Saudi Pro League – the ultimate mercenaries’ guide as Cristiano Ronaldo insists Lionel Messi made wrong transfer

    IT’S been 20 glorious years and the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate is still raging on.Loyal fans bordering on obsessive dominate social media backing up their idol – or, more often, tearing down the other.
    Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami this summer despite a host of superstars heading to Saudi ArabiaCredit: instagram @ intermiamicf
    Cristiano Ronaldo kickstarted a string of stars heading to the Saudi Pro LeagueCredit: AFP
    For years, the pair locked horns in LaLiga, fiercely contesting El Clasico as Barcelona and Real Madrid’s rivalry was amped up yet another notch.
    In recent years, the pair have moved on… Messi to PSG and Ronaldo to Juventus and Manchester United.
    Now the famous frenemies have turned their backs on Europe altogether.
    First, Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and endured a mixed bag after his Man Utd contract was torn up following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
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    But Ronaldo, 38, clearly started a trend as Saudi clubs became increasingly confident the marquee signing would lead to an influx of big-name arrivals.
    And they were right… N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Steven Gerrard are just three world-famous mega-stars to head to the Middle Eastern league.
    But Messi, 36, took another path… rather than open yet another chapter in his rivalry with Ronaldo, the Argentine joined David Beckham’s MLS franchise, Inter Miami.
    It took just ONE DAY for Ronaldo to stick the oar in, as he bizarrely took aim at his two-decades-long rival.
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    BETTING SPECIAL – BEST NO DEPOSIT CASINO OFFERS
    Ronaldo insisted: “The Saudi league is better than the MLS.
    “I opened the way to the Saudi league and now all the players are coming here.
    “I’m sure I won’t play in Europe again. I want to play in Saudi Arabia.”
    Messi, in turn, has remained tight-lipped – as he so often has during his career, allowing his football to do the talking.
    But how do the two leagues compare? Is the Saudi Pro League better than the MLS, as Ronnie claims?
    SunSport takes a look at life in both league… on and off the pitch.
    MONEY
    Let’s be honest, football is becoming less of a sport and more of a business.
    An influx of super-rich owners has changed the game in the last few decades. And now, money is king.
    Ronaldo was offered a staggering, unprecedented £175million a year to move to Al-Nassr.
    That equates to a simply ludicrous £3.4m a week.
    Messi, opting for the MLS, is on a slightly more modest £45m a year – or just shy of £1m per week.
    The big issue with the US league is the wage cap. Each club can only spend £5.2m per season on the whole TEAM.
    So Messi is believed to have had his wages topped with with incentives and sponsorships from the likes of Apple and adidas.
    The average MLS salary is just shy of £300,000 per year – or around £6,000 per week.
    Meanwhile, in the Saudi Pro League the mean salary – prior to the influx of superstars – was around £20,000 per year, just £375 per week.
    N’Golo Kante quit Chelsea to join Al-Ittihad alongside ex-Real ace Karim BenzemaCredit: Instagram
    Lionel Messi aside, Lorenzo Insigne is arguably the MLS’ top talentCredit: Alamy
    PLAYERS & MANAGERS
    Prior to Messi’s arrival, the MLS had already welcomed some big-name footballers.
    David Beckham was the first mega-star, while the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney and Gareth Bale have followed in recent years.
    Carlos Valderrama, David Villa, Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, Sebastian Giovinco and Landon Donovan have also played huge roles in promoting the US league.
    Currently the biggest names, Messi aside, are arguably Lorenzo Insigne and Xherdan Shaqiri – with Leo’s ex-Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets also heading to Miami.
    The Saudi Pro League – while making huge moves in 2023 – have historically not had quite such big names join.
    We’ve already mentioned Ronaldo, Kante and Benzema, but the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and Marcelo Brozovic have all moved this year.
    Prior to that though, there was some solid if unspectacular names to grace the Middle Eastern League.
    Those included Ever Banega, Vincent Aboubakar, Brad Jones, Paulinho, Bafetimbi Gomis, Marko Marin, Christian Atsu, Georgios Samaras, Wilfried Bony and Odion Ighalo.
    On the managerial front, the Saudi Pro League has recently welcomed ex-Premier League chiefs Steven Gerrard and Slaven Bilic, with Nuno Espirito Santo joining last year.
    As for the biggest managerial name in the MLS? Tata Martino… the man who managed Messi at Barcelona and Argentina, with the pair now reunited in Florida.
    Cristiano Ronaldo has a number of endorsement deals to keep on top of, including his own CR7 underwear rangeCredit: The Mega Agency
    Lionel Messi will be hoping to expand his endorsement empire even further in the USACredit: Rex
    BRAND
    Of course, Messi and Ronaldo are not just footballers.
    Like Michael Jordan or David Beckham, they are a brand.
    And you’d have to say USA probably edges Saudi Arabia on that front.
    Messi is already the face of some of the biggest companies in the world, including Pepsi, adidas, Lay’s, Jacob & Co and Gatorade to name a few.
    The majority of those companies are either US or European based.
    And the same goes for Ronaldo’s biggest endorsement deals – most-notably Nike and his own range of underwear, CR7.
    While still a huge name in Saudi Arabia you could argue his global, ambassadorial appeal is more limited.
    However, Ronaldo WILL be exposed to a wider audience.
    Prior to the Portugal legend’s arrival at Al-Nassr, Saudi Pro League matches had an average viewership of 800,000 per game.
    That figure skyrocketed to 12million per game after his move to the Middle East.
    The MLS, dwarfed by American favourites the NBA, NFL, MLS and NHL has an average reach of 343,000 viewers per game.
    That is expected to rise rapidly after Messi makes his debut – but 12m would be a huge ask.
    Miami is a hotbed for the world’s A-list, with some huge stars spotted at this year’s F1 Grand PrixCredit: AFP
    Tommy Fury fought Jake Paul in Diriyah, Riyadh in February 2023Credit: Getty
    LIFESTYLE
    Let’s be honest, Miami isn’t exactly known for being a tame place.
    The US city is one of the party capitals of the globe.
    From nightclubs and beaches to the relatively new Formula One race which hits the marina each year, it’s a lively, bustling place to visit.
    Messi had already invested in a number of apartments overlooking the ocean before he’d even moved to the States.
    Ever the savvy businessman, the Argentine knew it was a place he could make some cash.
    Of course, that’s just Miami… there are 30 teams in the MLS with two based in Los Angeles, two in New York, one apiece in Chicago, Boston, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington DC to name a few.
    There’s even a chance to enjoy what Canada has to offer, with teams in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
    Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has a somewhat different vibe – with alcohol prohibited in the dry nation, although there may be a workaround for Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq squad.
    Ronaldo is based in Riyadh, which has hosted a number of big boxing fights in recent years – and is even set to welcome Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou following Tommy Fury’s fight with Jake Paul.
    It’s becoming more and more open to the world of tourism thanks to its love of sport and the influx of famous footballers certainly won’t hurt that.
    MLS teams have plenty of competitions to get involved with aside from the leagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Both Saudi and MLS teams have the chance to play in the Club World Cup – with Real Madrid winning the last edition after beating Al-Hilal in the finalCredit: Getty
    COMPETITION
    But what about the football?
    The MLS has 30 teams split across an Eastern and Western Conference, culminating in a knockout-style playoffs campaign for the top eight teams in each.
    However, whatever happens, you cannot get relegated – which is good for Messi with Inter Miami currently bottom of the East.
    Aside from the league, there’s also the US Cup – akin to the FA Cup in England – and the Leagues Cup, comprised of teams from the MLS and Mexico’s top-flight.
    There’s also the CONCACAF Champions Cup – the equivalent to Uefa’s Champions League – consisting of teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
    The winner of that qualifies for the Club World Cup, featuring the best teams on the planet, including the Uefa Champions League winners.
    Finally there’s the one-off clash between the MLS winners and LigaMX division for the Campeones Cup.
    Saudi Pro League teams also have the chance to qualify for the Club World Cup, should they win the AFC Champions League – featuring the top teams in Asia.
    In fact, they will host the tournament this coming winter.
    There’s also the Arab Club Champions Cup, comprising of the top teams in the Arab world.
    Clubs also have the King Cup – which has had many format changes since its 1957 inception – but is essentially their club knockout tournament.
    There’s also the ‘Community Shield’ clash between the winners of the Pro League and the King Cup, called the Saudi Super Cup.
    Atlanta United’s impressive Mercedes-Benz Stadium is one of the best in the MLSCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    The King Abdullah Sports City stadium is the biggest and best in Saudi ArabiaCredit: EPA
    STADIUMS
    So we’ve heard of groups of mates heading to Spain or Italy for a long weekend of watching football at the Nou Camp or San Siro.
    But what about a trip to the US or Middle East for a match?
    There are a host of major stadiums in America… even high school American Football teams boast whopping grounds.
    While the MLS might not feature the US’ largest arenas, there are plenty of big’uns.
    Atlanta United’s 71,000-seater opened in 2017 to a great reception from fans, while Charlotte FC can welcome close to 75,000 supporters in their ground.
    But in general, the average stadium capacity for Messi, will be between 18,000 and 30,000, with Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium hosting 21,000.
    For Ronaldo, his Al-Nassr side play at the 25,000-seater Al-Awwal Park.
    The biggest arena in the league is based in Jeddah – with the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, home to AI-Ittihad and AI-Ahli and nicknamed “The Jewel”, hosting over 62,000.
    Al-Hilal’s 56,000-seater King Fahd International Stadium is the second biggest, with no other reaching 40,000-plus.
    However, the stadiums in general hover around the 10,000 to 20,000-mark in the Middle Eastern nation.
    Lionel Messi has been joined by ex-Barcelona pal Sergio Busquets at Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo is convinced the Saudi Pro League is better than the MLS – but what do the stats boffins say?Credit: Getty
    VERDICT
    Well, there are certainly plenty of factors to consider, as we’ve taken a good, long look at above.
    But for those who love stats, numbers and concrete winners and losers, we do have a victor.
    Sorry to say, Cristiano, but your old mate Leo comes up trumps here.
    Read More on The Sun
    According to a January study by sports intelligence agency Twenty First Group, the MLS is ranked as the 29th best division in world football.
    The Saudi Pro League was down in 59th… More

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    Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami teammates: Who plays for David Beckham’s MLS club?

    LIONEL MESSI has joined Inter Miami FC following the end of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.The US club, part owned by David Beckham, confirmed they had landed the football legend in a video posted to Twitter in June 2023.
    Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has joined US club Inter MiamiCredit: Arturo Jimenez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
    When does Lionel Messi debut for Inter Miami?
    Messi’s Inter Miami debut is scheduled for Friday, July 21, during the opening match of the Leagues Cup.
    Ahead of the Major League Soccer (MLS) match it was reported that some fans had paid more than $1,200 (£933) for a ticket.
    The player is getting $60million (£47m) a year to play for Inter Miami after rejecting an even more lucrative offer to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
    Who plays for Inter Miami?
    Leonardo Campana
    Campana is the son of former tennis player Pedro Campana, who represented Ecuador in the 1966 Olympics.
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    He signed for the Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, before being loaned to Famalicão and Swiss Super League side Grasshopper.
    Campana joined Inter Miami on loan in January 2022 and then signed permanently with the team in 2023.
    Josef Martinez
    Martinez, from Venezuela, began his career in Caracas FC.
    He was then sold to Italian club Torino in 2014.
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    Martinez joined Inter Miami in January 2023 from Atlanta United, replacing the retired Gonzalo Higuain.
    As of 2023, Martinez is the 10th all-time MLS goalscorer.
    Nicolas Stefanelli
    Stefanelli grew up in Argentina but also holds an Italian passport.
    He has played in Cyprus, Chile and Sweden since beginning his career in his homeland.
    Stefanelli joined Inter Miami in January 2023.
    Shanyder Borgelin
    Striker Borgelin is from Haiti and was born in Florida.
    He made his debut for Inter Miami in February 2023 and scored his first MLS goal against Montreal.
    Robbie Robinson
    Robinson, who played college football at Clemson University in South Carolina, was named as the top pick in the 2020 MLS draft.
    He then made his debut for the team in March 2020.
    Dixon Arroyo
    Arroyo joined Inter Miami in 2023 as a replacement for the injured Brazilian player Gregore.
    He represents Ecuador internationally.
    Benjamin Cremaschi
    Cremaschi is the son of international rugby union player Pablo Cremaschi, who played for Argentina.
    He made his debut with Inter Miami in February 2023.
    David Ruiz
    Ruiz became a member of Inter Miami’s senior squad in April 2023.
    He represented Honduras in the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, but is also eligible to play for the US.
    Robert Taylor
    Taylor is the son of Paul Taylor, a footballer who played in Finland in the 1990s.
    Robert was a player for Nottingham Forest and Lincoln City when he was younger.
    In 2020 he penned a three-year deal with Norwegian team Brann, but moved to Inter Miami in February 2022.
    Lawson Sunderland
    Sunderland made his debut for Inter Miami in 2023 after joining the club in 2022.
    His brother, Beckham Sunderland, is also a footballer and his father, Larry Sunderland, is the director of player development at FC Cincinnati.
    Edison Azcona
    In 2021, Dominican player Azcona made his MLS debut.
    The match, against Nashville SC, marked the first time anInter Miami homegrown player had appeared in an MLS match.
    Azcona was loaned to El Paso Locomotive in 2022.
    Victor Ulloa
    Ulloa is a defensive midfielder for Inter Miami.
    The sportsman, who is eligible to play for Mexico and the United States, has also played for Dallas and Cincinnati in the past.
    Drake Callender
    Goalkeeper Callender joined Inter Miami in 2020.
    He is from Sacramento, California.
    Sergii Kryvtsov
    Ukrainian centre-back Kryvtsov joined Inter Miami in January 2023.
    He previously played for Shakhtar Donetsk in his homeland, before fleeing Ukraine due to the war.
    DeAndre Yedlin
    Seattle-born Yedlin has played for several Premier League teams in the UK, including Newcastle, Tottenham and Sunderland.
    He briefly joined the Turkish side Galatasaray in 2021 before moving back to the US and joining Inter Miami in February 2022.
    Christopher McVey
    Before joining Inter Miami in 2022, McVey had spent his career with Elfsborg in his homeland of Sweden.
    The player, who is a right back, joined the youth side when he was just 12 and later played for the A-team.
    He signed with Inter Miami in January 2022.
    Kamal Miller
    Miller joined Inter Miami in April 2023 – shortly before Messi’s signing was announced.
    He had previously played for two other MLS teams – Montreal and Orlando City.
    Harvey Neville
    Neville is the son of football manager and former player Phil Neville.
    He began his career in the youth squads of Manchester United and Valencia and has also has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-19 level.
    He qualifies to play for Republic of Ireland through his maternal grandmother.
    Ian Fray
    Fray plays as a defender for Inter Miami.
    He joined the club in February 2021 but suffered a torn ACL just one month later.
    Fray’s sister, Marlee Fray, is also a footballer and represents Jamaica internationally.
    Noah Allen
    Allen is a US Under-20s international from Florida.
    He made his Inter Miami CF debut in February 2022 and signed a homegrown player contract a month later.
    Ryan Sailor
    Defender Sailor signed with Inter Miami in February 2022 and made his debut in May of that year.
    He used to play college football for the University of Washington Huskies and was selected 9th overall in the 2022 MLS super draft.
    Israel Boatwright
    Right-back Boatwright is from the Dominican Republic.
    He made his debut for Inter Miami CF II in 2022 and has represented the Dominican Republic at both youth and senior levels.
    What has David Beckham said about Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami?
    Inter Miami co-owner Beckham described Messi’s arrival at the team as a “dream come true”.
    “Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for the next stage in your career,” he said at the time of the player’s signing.
    Beckham said in a later statement: “Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamed of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city.
    “Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.
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    “Today, that dream came true. I couldn’t be prouder that a player of Leo’s caliber is joining our club, but I am also delighted to welcome a good friend, an amazing person, and his beautiful family to join our Inter Miami community.”
    He added: “The next phase of our adventure starts here, and I can’t wait to see Leo take to the pitch.” More