There was an air of inevitability about the way that Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer to have ever lived, struck a stunning stoppage time winner into the top corner for his new employers on his debut two years ago. The only surprise, really, was who it was he was playing for.

Eyebrows were raised in 2023 when Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise co-owned by David Beckham and founded only in 2018, secured the signing of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, fresh off the back of his World Cup-winning exploits with Argentina in Qatar. But success and silverware soon followed for the fledging franchise, along with a $1 billion valuation fuelled by record-breaking sponsorship deals, soaring ticket sales and a surge in subscriptions to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass courte

See Full Page