Lionel Messi is moving to the MLS, having confirmed he’s leaving Paris Saint-Germain for David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
The 35-year-old, who won the World Cup with his beloved Argentina last year, reportedly rejected a gigantic $2.5bn move to Saudi Arabia and a transfer back to his former club Barcelona.
The forward opted to head to the US instead of Saudi Arabia, amid reports claiming he and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo could not see themselves living in the Middle East.
Messi broke the news of his switch only this week, but the Argentinian has already owned an apartment in Miami for a number of years.
According to Spanish outlet Cadena Ser, the World Cup winner bought a Miami apartment in the Porsche Design Tower all the way back in 2019.
Lionel Messi’s building overlooks Sunny Isle Beach and the city of Miami, as well as the beach
Miami’s new power couple? Antonela Roccuzzo and Messi already have a $9m condo
Messi’s wife Roccuzzo, alongside two of his sons, Thiago and Mateo, on a vacation in Miami
Messi decided to leave PSG and join Inter Miami after two seasons in France
The Porsche Design Tower, which was built in 2017, is the perfect place for the family to settle down in America, as the forward wants his three children to go to high school in the States before going to university.
The 60-floor tower is situated between Bal Harbour and Aventura and is located 25 minutes away from the Inter Miami stadium.
It offers residents stunning views of the surrounding area, including Miami Beach, which is located just seconds away from the tower.
The building boasts several lifts designed exclusively for residents’ cars, allowing owners to park their vehicles in their exclusive suite.
A general view during the Grand Opening of the Porsche Design Tower, Messi’s new home
A view of the car-lifts during the Grand Opening Event of the Porsche Design Tower Miami
The luxurious apartment has its own private restaurant, an outdoor lounge that faces the sea
As well as car lifts, the apartment has its own private restaurant, an outdoor lounge that faces the sea.
Messi’s jaw-dropping new home also features a cinema, golf and racing simulators, which offers perfect downtime opportunities for his family.
Miami has traditionally proven to be a safe hub for real estate investors, many of whom come from overseas.
Specifically, the city is home to one of America’s largest Latino populations and according to the National Association of Realtors, more than half of Miami’s foreign real estate buyers come from Latin America.
Meanwhile, Messi also wants to maximize his current endorsement deals with Adidas and Apple, both of which have relationships with MLS and stand to gain more exposure with the 35-year-old playing in the US.
Messi with his family – Antonella Roccuzzo, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro – at the World Cup
Messi, David Beckham and Marco Verratti pose after a Paris Saint-Germain practice in April
Messi has already taken his sons to Miami on vacation, and now owns a $9m Miami condo
His arrival represents a major opportunity for MLS, which has a $250m-a-year streaming deal with Apple TV and has the opportunity to earn more from the tech giant by reaching an un-reported minimum number of subscriptions.
By adding Messi to the fold, MLS apparently sees that as an attainable goal, and that likely motivated the decision to bring him to Miami.
Messi previously said he doesn’t expect to play in another World Cup at age 39 in 2026, but if he were to suit up for Argentina, the fact that the tournament is being held in North America is certainly a plus.
Messi wouldn’t need to uproot his family for a month overseas and could instead further capitalize on his existing US sponsorship deals.
