The ‘Messi in Miami’ BLOG That NO ONE ASKED FOR
He’s here.
The king has arrived.
The children, amused and star eyed, they reach for their phones, while their fathers weep behind them, as he makes his way through a Publix supermarket.
Lionel Messi is playing in Major League Soccer, which feels a little like your high school crush coming to sit at the lunchroom table with you. Only if your high school crush was paid $54 million dollars.
And whether you like the sport or hate it with a deep passion (like the bartender in Downtown Culver City who refuses to put the game on), the news of his arrival is something that you can't ignore. It’s headlined on every media site and continues to occupy the circles of small street conversation. Even the one’s that can’t differentiate a soccer ball from a baseball.
With this said, everyone should know why it means so much, but incase you still find yourself wondering, here are 3 noteworthy takeaways about what Messi’s new relationship means with Miami.
A Monumental Deal
Let's start with the basics. Messi will earn roughly 54 million dollars a year to play with Inter Miami. As if this is not enough, he will also recieve a signing bonus and equity in the franchise that is Inter Miami CF.
Many people have questioned the decision to come to Major League Soccer. There are many adequate leagues willing to fork over cash for the king. Unfortunately, Barcelona was not one of them, but I’ll save you the tears. Players and agents everywhere can't deny just how good the US market is, commercially. We not only have a growing soccer market, but a growing soccer market that knows how to capitalize on commerical partnerships. Messi's team recognizes this.
Messi joining the league does not just benefit everyone in Miami. It benefits Apple, it benefits Adidas, it benefits Budweiser. A revenue sharing agreement with an athlete between parties is something unusual, and yet it's happening. This is big, like Michael Jordan Nike big. Messi will see a cut of revenue from new subscribers on Apple's MLS season pass. The same applies to Adidas' increase in sales. It is a win - win - win - win.
and by the way, It's not just Messi.
While everyone is raving about Messi, his arrival is responsible for other newly acquired players that are a big f***ing deal.
To name a few..
Jordi Alba, the Spanish outside back that toys with defenders in tight spaces, has rejoined Messi in Miami. Sergio Busquets, another Spaniard, capable of finding teammates on a field quicker than Tom Brady, has also joined the band. For those wondering, Busquets finished the match against Cruz Azul last Friday with a 94 percent pass accuracy (30/32) from 34 touches. Gerardo (Tata) Martino, recently named head coach of Inter Miami, contains a resume that includes F.C. Barcelona and the Argentina National team.
So What does this mean for the future of MLS?
There is one narrative that hold true for the past decade, and that is the commonly held notion that Major League Soccer is a graveyard for retired soccer stars. It is. It’s probably pretty attractive for European legends to fly under the radar in the United states, skip out on the paparazi and meander through super markets incognito, knowing that many people don't know or care. Unless, of course you are Messi. Yet, what is more exciting is how it will change the futbol.
The style of the soccer in our league is changing! Watching Mesi and Busquetts come on, in the 54th minute against Cruz Azul, was like watching an old man with Parkinsons smoke a joint. The chaotic tempo of Miami's play slowed down and passes started to hit targets. Space opened up on the field, where no one would have guessed that space existed. A magic show before your eyes! A discombobulated Cruz Azul started to overthink defending, while calm passing combinations began to dominated the pace of the game. This is clearly the win. The futbol.
Major League Soccer, for a while, has depended on athletes. Soccer players yes, but to be fair, soccer players with a fraction of an understanding of the game (compared to some of Europe’s top talent). Now we witness true players that dictate the game with their heads, not their long legs. The tranformation has started in Los Angeles. You can make the argument that both LAFC and LA Galaxy look to expose opponents with build out play and short, calculated passing combinations. It's no where near the level of La Liga or Seria A, but it shows the signs of a league that is taking risks, and steps to progress with more modern approaches. You need risk in the sport. You can’t play careful. There’s no such thing. DAMNIT, YOU TAKE THE SECOND TEAM TO THE GOLD CUP!
The Messi deal is not just another player filling his pockets, although, it’s that too. It’s a deal that is another step forward for American soccer and for the youth that watch it, looking for inspiration on the climb, navigating the limbs of our system.
