Lionel Messi Expected To Make Inter Miami Debut On July 21

Lionel Messi is expected to make his Inter Miami debut next month on July 21 according to the club’s owner Jorge Mas. 

Messi had offers from all over the globe including Saudi Arabia and former club Barcelona, but chose to settle down in Florida for the final couple of seasons of his career.

Lionel Messi Debut: When Will Argentinian Play His First Game?

Inter Miami’s owner has opened up on the upcoming Lionel Messi debut, with the Argentinian will play his first game on July 21 in a home match against Mexican club Cruz Azul, the team’s owner told reporters, in what will be one of the most highly anticipated football events ever played on American soil.

Inter Miami are targeting a Messi debut on July 21 in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul, according to club owner Jorge Mas 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/zNoDlYt6u1

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 20, 2023

Messi’s arrival in the MLS has done wonders for the league and Inter Miami as a club. The Argentine has even attracted former teammates to the league and some could even link up with him in Florida.

Head coach Javier Morales wants to bring Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets to the club alongside a potential three more later this summer.

Messi may prove a transformative figure for football over the pond, similarly to Pele in the 1970s, with the sport now emerging as the second-most popular sport in the USA for participation at a pivotal moment in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

There’s more to the move than on the field,  and with Apple and MLS signing a 10-year, $2.5bn deal earlier this yea, they see Messi as a key player to expand interest in the league.