SUMMARY
- Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023 and signed a lucrative deal.
- Lionel Messi's Inter Miami contract includes a revenue sharing arrangement clause with Apple.
Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami back in July last year was nothing less than sensational. Despite a highly lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia and a rumored move back to FC Barcelona, Messi decided to leave Europe for good and play in the MLS. However, some reports have emerged recently that have revealed some of the intricate details behind Messi’s Inter Miami contract.
When Lionel Messi rejected Al-Hilal’s billion-dollar contract and settled for Inter Miami’s estimated $50-$60 million offer, the soccer fans were taken aback. However, further reports disclosed that Messi’s Inter Miami contract included revenue-sharing arrangements with brands like Adidas and Apple. Moreover, with Apple signing a 10-year deal with MLS worth $2.5 billion, Messi’s contract started to make more sense.
Most recently, former Dutch soccer star Demy de Zeeuw, who’s also the owner of the popular @433 page, opened up about Messi’s Inter Miami contract. In an interview, de Zeeuw revealed how Apple expertly used Messi’s popularity to influence youth in the United States and skyrocket their viewership. He revealed that Apple decided to collaborate with @433 shortly after they signed the deal with MLS.
‼️Owner of 433 just exposed Messi PR 😭
— fan (@NoodleHairCR7) March 13, 2024
He continued, “When they signed Messi, they said, ‘Post all the clips, post everything about Messi.‘” De Zeeuw further stated that Apple’s decision helped their views go through the roof. Lastly, the former Ajax star also praised Apple for its ingenious idea and disclosed that, unlike other companies, @433 didn’t pay a single penny to Apple.
Lionel Messi may need to postpone his retirement plan to save Apple’s blushes
While signing a deal with MLS shortly before Lionel Messi’s arrival may have been a masterstroke by Apple, the American company’s expectations haven’t been met yet. According to reports, MLS has to meet the target for the number of subscriptions set by Apple. The MLS will earn 50 cents for every $1 MLS Season Pass earned if the league achieves the target number that remains unknown for now.
MLS commissioner Don Garber, Apple VP Eddy Cue speaking now at soccerex conference. Cue: “We had more than a million viewers for biggest games (on MLS Season Pass), nobody expected that.” @HeraldSports @Apple @MLS #MLS #InterMiamiCF #Apple pic.twitter.com/DpOW3BMQLH
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) November 14, 2023
Last year, MLS commissioner Don Garber remained confident that the league would be able to meet Apple’s targets. However, with Messi’s Inter Miami contract running out at the end of 2025, there is a possibility of MLS not reaching the target number that sets off the revenue-sharing agreement. With Messi’s presence in the MLS being a crucial factor, Inter Miami may have to convince the Argentine ace to play for the Herons beyond 2025.
Lionel Messi surpasses LeBron James as the most marketable athlete
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has achieved yet another milestone after being announced as the most marketable athlete by SportsPro. Since he arrived in the United States, Messi’s popularity has experienced a manifold increase. The 2022 World Cup winner also made his Super Bowl debut this year after featuring in a commercial for Michelob Ultra.
🇺🇸 Lionel Messi has surpassed LeBron James as the most marketable athlete in the world. @SportsPro @LegionHoops pic.twitter.com/b87CN4QsBr
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) March 13, 2024
In the list published by SportsPro, Messi edged LA Lakers star LeBron James to grab the top spot. Speaking about the former FC Barcelona star, SportsPro editorial director Michael Long described Messi’s arrival in the United States as “a match made in marketing heaven.” Besides Messi, soccer stars like USWNT star Alex Morgan, Kylian Mbappe, and Megan Rapinoe also feature on the list. Cristiano Ronaldo, surprisingly, is ranked 27th on the list.