Messi arrives in Florida as fans toast the 'GOAT'

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Lionel Messi landed in Florida on Tuesday ahead of putting the final touches to his move to Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami.

Argentine television footage showed Messi and members of his family walking off a private jet at a small, executive airport adjacent to Inter Miami's stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

The World Cup winner, considered among the greatest soccer players of all time, is set to put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal, reported to be worth $60 million a year, before being presented to fans at a stadium event on Sunday.

"We are happy with the decision we made. Prepared and eager to face the new challenge, the new change," Messi said in an interview with Argentine TV show Llave a la eternidad released on Tuesday.

"My mentality and my head are not going to change and I am going to try, wherever I have to be, to give my best for myself and my new club and continue to perform at the highest level," he added.

Messi is the biggest name to ever move to MLS and the greatest player to head to the United States since Brazilian great Pele signed for the New York Cosmos in 1975.

MLS hopes that Messi will massively increase the profile of the league and boost subscriptions to its streaming broadcast deal with Apple TV. Ticket prices for games likely to involve Messi have already skyrocketed.

Fans had begun to gather at the club's DRV PNK stadium early in the morning ahead of his expected arrival.

One of the supporters, Julio Iglesias, 42, said he founded the 'Messias 305' fan group when he learned the Argentine star was coming to Miami. He didn't previously watch MLS games but said he now won't miss any Miami matches.

"For us, Messi coming means everything, wherever he goes there is always incredible happiness," he said, while standing by a banner declaring 'We are waiting for you Messias'.

World Cup fever

Messi's arrival will also add to the momentum around soccer ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States along with Canada and Mexico.

He is expected to be joined at the club by former Barcelona teammate and ex-Spain captain Sergio Busquets, while ex-Argentina and Barcelona coach Gerardo "Tata "Martino recently took over as coach.

Miami owner Jorge Mas has suggested Messi and Busquets could be part of "three to five" new signings for the South Florida club in the current transfer window.

Another former Barca player, Spanish fullback Jordi Alba, has also been strongly linked with a move to the team, which is co-owned by former England and Manchester United star David Beckham.

Messi is expected to make his debut for his new club in the July 21 Leagues Cup match against Mexican club Cruz Azul.

Miami is currently bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference with just five wins from 21 games and is ranked 28th out of the 29 teams in the league.

But the club is in the semifinals of the US Open Cup, where it has been drawn against league leader FC Cincinnati.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has spent the last two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, after moving from Barcelona in 2021, where he spent the majority of his career.

During his time with Barca, Messi won 10 Spanish league titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four Champions League winners' medals.

He scored twice for Argentina in the World Cup final which the country won on penalties in Doha in December, after the game ended 3-3 after extra time and raised the trophy as captain.

Messi also won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2008 and the Copa America in 2021.

AFP