Miami will have to wait for the Messi–Beckham duo

Although the purchase price is estimated at $200 million, Lionel Messi reportedly will not be buying a 35% stake in the American soccer club Inter Miami CF – at least for now.

If they never met wearing the same jersey on the pitch, will they at least meet in the VIP box as co-owners of the same club? Since the beginning of the week, foreign media have been speculating that two heavyweights of the global sports industry – namely Lionel Messi and David Beckham – might join forces in a business venture. Specifically, it involves the soccer team Inter Miami CF, which plays in the North American top division, Major League Soccer. Beckham is the majority owner of the Miami club, whose current squad is valued at $24.34 million.

Soccer, as the sport is known in the U.S., is growing increasingly popular across the Atlantic, and as a result, the overall value of soccer teams is also rising. Owning a “football toy” is becoming harder even in the United States.

On the other hand, for Beckham and Messi, such an asset will probably always be within reach, as both are among the richest athletes in history. According to the portal Sportico, Messi’s career earnings adjusted for inflation are estimated at $1.14 billion, placing him eighth on the all-time list. Beckham ranks 12th with estimated earnings of $1.05 billion.

So when Spanish sports journalist Alex Candal published a report on Monday claiming that seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi, wanted to purchase 35% of Inter Miami CF for $200 million, the sports world took notice. After all, any joint project between Messi and Beckham is bound to attract attention. (...)

In a broader context, Messi’s arrival in sunny Miami would not be far-fetched. As early as 2019, the phenomenal Argentine purchased luxury apartments in the Porsche Design Tower in downtown Miami for $5 million. More recently, he bought an entire floor in the luxurious Regalia condo near the famous Miami Beach for $7.3 million. A potential move to Major League Soccer to close out his career – or even a direct ownership stake in the club – thus appears far more realistic.

“The key is to avoid any conflict of interest when it comes to acquisitions or investments. That would only arise if Messi were to invest in Inter Miami and simultaneously play for another MLS team,” sports analyst Jozef Tokos told Economic Daily.

The iconic Argentine left-footer still has a contract with his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, for one more season. He would become a free agent in the summer of 2023, by which time he would already be 36 years old. “If Messi stays healthy, there will definitely be interest in him from higher-profile leagues, despite his age,” Tokos added.

A global superstar who would also serve as an ambassador for Major League Soccer is something that aligns with the league’s long-term growth strategy. After Messi’s departure from Barcelona, it was reported that New York City FC was also interested in him. But in the football “food chain,” the New Yorkers were no match for the top-tier clubs pursuing the Argentine diamond.

Ironically, the pioneer of what’s known in the U.S. as a “Marquee Signing” – the arrival of a superstar – was none other than David Beckham. Nicknamed “The Becks,” he joined Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer of 2007 and went on to win two league titles with the California club.

Messi, however, will not follow in his footsteps – at least not for now. But if he were to become a playing co-owner of the club, it would be a natural partnership. “Buying shares would also make sense if Messi is planning a future career in football management,” Tokos concluded regarding the potential connection between Messi and the Miami club.