da luck： Lionel Messi has become “like Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps” for MLS, says Inter Miami’s chief business officer Xavier Asensi.
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Argentine icon moved to America in 2023Made stunning impact on & off the fieldAttracted new audience to game in USAWHAT HAPPENED?
The Argentine icon has attracted more attention to the domestic game in America following his stunning move to Florida in 2023. A mad scramble for tickets is sparked every time that he takes to the field, with A-list guests falling over themselves in a bid to catch a glimpse of the all-time great in action.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Messi is the biggest draw in MLS, with history being made on and off the field, and those pulling strings behind the scenes are determined to maximise a unique opportunity. Few figures in world sport boast the global appeal of Messi, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner forming part of an exclusive club.
WHAT ASENSI SAID ABOUT MESSI
Asensi has said in the of MLS enjoying the kind of boom that the NBA once did when a certain Chicago Bulls legend captured the imagination of a new audience: “The arenas were not full pre-Michael Jordan. That has changed completely. It’s like Tiger Woods in golf or Usain Bolt in track and field, Michael Phelps in swimming. He’s the greatest of all time in the biggest sport worldwide in terms of viewership. It’s an opportunity we have to seize.”
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, who will be lining up against Messi and Inter Miami on Sunday, agrees. He played in David Beckham’s MLS debut in 2007 and added on a new superstar taking the game to even greater heights in the United States: “The greatest player of all time is now in our league. And it’s pretty exciting. We’ve really entered the global market of the sport. It drives more attention to our league. People will watch and they’ll understand that the league has a higher level than maybe they perceived. It just continues to help the league grow. With the arrival of David and then the eyeballs that came on the league, the sport started to become a business. It started to transform and cross different avenues.”