Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players of all time, is on the verge of making his debut in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami. The team officially announced on Tuesday that Messi will likely take the field for the first time on July 21 during a home game.

The owner of Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, revealed to selected media outlets on Monday that his club has reached an agreement with Messi and they are currently working on finalizing the necessary paperwork and visa arrangements. The team confirmed these details, including the length of Messi’s contract, to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Messi is expected to sign a contract that will keep him at Inter Miami until the end of the 2025 season, with an option for 2026.

According to the team, Messi’s contract will be quite lucrative, with an annual salary ranging between $50 million and $60 million. However, he cannot formally sign the contract until July, as he is still under contract with Paris Saint-Germain until the end of June. Messi made his decision to join Miami public on June 7, and his first game with the team will likely be against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, taking place in Fort Lauderdale.

In addition to the excitement surrounding Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami has also revealed plans to expand DRV PNK Stadium by adding an additional 3,000 to 3,200 seats over the next four weeks. This expansion will increase the stadium’s capacity to approximately 22,000 seats.

Jorge Mas expressed his belief that Messi’s arrival will have a transformative impact on the sport in the United States, stating to the Miami Herald, “I think there will always be a before and after Messi when we talk about the sport in the United States. I have a very, very strong held belief that we can create in North America and the United States if not the greatest league, one of the top two leagues in the world. I cannot overemphasize the magnitude of this announcement.”

Furthermore, the team is reportedly in the final stages of securing a contract with Sergio Busquets, another former Barcelona teammate of Messi. Mas also revealed plans to begin construction on Miami Freedom Park, the team’s future permanent home near Miami International Airport, within the next two weeks. The goal is to have the venue open to the public by the summer or fall of 2025.

To ensure the safety and security of players and fans, Inter Miami is implementing enhanced security measures and arranging for players to be transported to the stadium by bus for games, as shared by Mas with the Miami Herald.

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