New signing Lionel Messi has been formally introduced to cheering crowds at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium.
A sold-out crowd of about 20,000 waited by way of downpours and lightning to see the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner given a quantity 10 shirt.
In a quick deal with in Spanish, Messi, 36, thanked supporters and mentioned he had the “similar want” he at all times has.
The World Cup-winning Argentina ahead joins the Main League Soccer (MLS) membership on a deal till the top of 2025.
He will likely be reunited with defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets – with whom he performed at Barcelona – who has additionally signed for Miami till 2025.
Busquets, too, was formally unveiled throughout Sunday evening’s occasion.
Messi entered the pitch by way of an enormous catwalk and was launched as “America’s quantity 10, the world’s finest quantity 10”.
Seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner Tom Brady and four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry additionally welcomed him to the US in video messages.
“I actually need to begin coaching, to compete,” Messi mentioned. “I’ve the identical want that I at all times needed to compete, to need to win, to assist the membership proceed to develop.
“I’m very pleased to have chosen to come back to play on this metropolis with my household, to decide on this undertaking and I’ve little doubt that we’re going to take pleasure in it rather a lot.
“We’re going to have time and superb issues are going to occur.”
Don Garber, commissioner of Main League Soccer, mentioned somebody of Messi’s standing selecting to play within the league was a “transformational second”, and he hoped the signing would “shout to the world that it is a soccer nation”.
Garber added: “It has been so a few years of creating this league into changing into a participant on the worldwide stage, so it is a very momentous evening for us.”
The DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale is Inter Miami’s momentary stadium and has a capability of 18,000, making it the joint-smallest in MLS together with San Jose Earthquakes’ PayPal Park in California.
A short lived grandstand has been erected to permit extra followers into the bottom.
Messi left French champions Paris St-Germain on the finish of the 2022-23 season after scoring 32 objectives in 75 video games throughout a two-year spell.
He turned down profitable gives from different international locations to play within the US – and that is the primary time he’ll play for a non-European membership.
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham hailed Messi’s signing as a “dream come true”.
“Leo, we’re so proud that you’ve got chosen our membership for the subsequent stage in your profession,” he mentioned.
Inter Miami’s main proprietor, American billionaire Jorge Mas, known as Messi “the very best participant ever to don boots”.
Messi is predicted to be obtainable to play for Miami towards LIGA MX aspect Cruz Azul on 21 July of their opening match of the Leagues Cup.
He reunites together with his former Barca and Argentina boss Gerardo Martino after the 60-year-old was appointed supervisor in June following the sacking of Phil Neville.
‘Numerous naysayers and doubters, however Miami was in a position to make it occur’
The arrival of Messi within the US has been met with feverish anticipation by the followers of Inter Miami, who solely began taking part in within the Jap Convention of the MLS in 2020.
“It is a dream come true for anyone to have the very best participant on the earth at their dwelling crew,” mentioned one supporter. “I am dreaming proper now.”
One other fan mentioned that whereas she did know and care concerning the membership, it was Argentina legend Messi who was the primary attraction.
“[Messi] is every little thing,” she mentioned. “The emotion that he precipitated us when he gained the World Cup is indescribable. This implies every little thing to us.”
The possession have been additionally praised by followers for his or her dedication to bringing an enormous signing to the south Florida aspect.
“They’ve been making guarantees and maintaining guarantees,” mentioned a fan. “They promised world-class soccer they usually have been in a position to present it. They’ve been in a position to ship.
“We’re grateful that Messi has been in a position to decide on Miami. Numerous naysayers and quite a lot of doubters, however Miami was in a position to make it occur.”
In June, reviews mentioned Messi was supplied a deal by Saudi Arabian membership Al-Hilal price $1.5bn over three years.
With him opting to affix Inter Miami as an alternative, one fan felt Messi’s signing may take soccer in America “to the subsequent stage”.
He mentioned: “Very similar to when Pele joined the New York Cosmos [in 1975], similar factor. Deliver him up.”
