Lionel Messi is one of the greatest football players in history and has recently joined Inter Miami in the American professional league.
According to several reports, Messi is expected to make his debut for Inter Miami on July 21st, when the team faces Cruz Azul in the Club's Cup. This will be a unique opportunity to witness one of the game's legends playing in the United States.
Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup with the Argentine national team, announced on June 7th that he would be joining David Beckham's club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain following two seasons.
Messi said, "I made the decision that I was going to go to Miami. It wasn't closed 100%. There are still some things missing, but we decided to continue on this path. If Barcelona wasn't working, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight, and think more about my family."
Inter Miami is a relatively new team in the American professional league, founded in 2018 and began playing in 2020. The team is owned by David Beckham, a former football star and friend of Messi.
Inter Miami plays at DRV PNK Stadium, an 18,000-seat stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Currently, Inter Miami is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, far from qualifying for the final match.
Enthusiastic fans are willing to pay a premium for tickets to Messi's first game with Inter Miami.
According to TicketSmarter, the ticket price for his potential first match in the Club's Cup Inter Miami CF vs. Cruz Azul has increased to $6175.00 f ,Soccer tickets to this exciting matchup currently have an average price point of $3100.00.
Jeff Goodman, CEO of TicketSmarter, says, "Football fans are extremely passionate. This is a huge acquisition for Inter Miami and the entire American professional league. It elevates the league and international interest in the American professional league around the world."
If you're interested in watching Messi play in the United States, there are many places you can visit. Here is the schedule of Inter Miami's remaining matches in the 2023 season:
Inter Miami 2023 schedule with Lionel Messi
| Date | Match | Location |
|---|---|---|
| June 10 | New England Revolution vs Inter Miami | Foxborough, Massachusetts (Gillette Stadium) |
| June 24 | Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami | Chester, Pennsylvania (Subaru Park) |
| July 1 | Inter Miami vs Austin FC | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| July 4 | Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| July 8 | DC United vs Inter Miami | Washington, DC (Audi Field) |
| July 15 | Saint Louis City SC vs Inter Miami | Saint Louis, Missouri (City Park) |
| July 21* | Club's Cup: Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| July 25* | Club's Cup: Inter Miami vs Atlanta United | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| Date | Match | Location |
|---|---|---|
| August 20 | Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| August 26 | New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami | Harrison, New Jersey (Red Bull Arena) |
| August 30 | Inter Miami vs Nashville SC | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| September 3 | Los Angeles FC vs Inter Miami | Los Angeles, California (Banc of California Stadium) |
| September 10 | Inter Miami vs Toronto FC | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| September 17 | Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| September 24 | Houston Dynamo vs Inter Miami | Houston, Texas (BBVA Stadium) |
| October 1 | Inter Miami vs Chicago Fire | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| October 8 | Montreal Impact vs Inter Miami | Montreal, Canada (Saputo Stadium) |
| October 15 | Inter Miami vs Sporting Kansas City | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |
| October 22 | Colorado Rapids vs Inter Miami | Denver, Colorado (DICK'S Sporting Goods Park) |
| October 29 | Inter Miami vs San Jose Earthquakes | Fort Lauderdale, Florida (DRV PNK Stadium) |