Lionel Messi (Argentina), who led Argentina to victory at last year’s Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Qatar, has signed a new contract with Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer (MLS) through 2025.
“The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion has signed a contract through 2025,” the club announced on its website on Saturday.
Messi has spent the last two years playing for Paris Saint-Germain in French professional soccer, and his contract was set to expire in June.
His move to Miami was already thought to be a foregone conclusion in early June, when Messi said he was “moving to Miami,” and the club’s official announcement came today.
Terms of Messi’s contract were not disclosed, but Miami president Jorge Mas told Spanish media earlier this month that “Messi’s annual salary will be between $50 million and $60 million.”
That’s the equivalent of between 63.6 billion won and 76.3 billion won in South Korea.
“I am excited to continue my playing career in the United States and with Inter Miami,” Messi said in a statement to the club, adding, “This is a fantastic opportunity and I can’t wait to help my new team achieve its goals.”
The Miami club said that Messi “could be available to play as early as the League Cup tie against Cruz Azul (Mexico) on the 22nd.”
Spanish media outlet As recently reported that “ticket prices for the match, 카지노사이트킴 which is expected to be Messi’s debut, have soared to 10,000 dollars (about $12,000) for the most expensive seats.”
There were also reports in the U.S. that tickets for the game, which were around $40,000 in June, had risen to nearly $600,000.
“Messi’s arrival in the MLS is the most high-profile player signing since David Beckham (England) joined the LA Galaxy in 2007,” said AFP.
“I started my dream of building a new team in Miami 10 years ago,” said Beckham, who is now a co-owner of the club. “When I joined the LA Galaxy, I wanted to help grow soccer in the United States and make an impact on the next generation.”
“Today, my dream has finally come true,” Beckham said, “and I couldn’t be prouder to sign Messi.”
Born in 1987, Messi is one of the world’s best players who needs no introduction.
He has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and is the only player to have won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball twice.
After playing exclusively for FC Barcelona (Spain) since 2004, Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain in the 2021-2022 season. He has been capped by Argentina since 2005 and has scored 103 goals in 175 appearances for the national team.
In the 2022-2023 season, he made 41 official appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 21 goals.