Inter Miami are swiftly experiencing the benefits of their incredible signing of Lionel Messi, as their Instagram followers multiplied fourfold in just a few hours.
A Landmark Agreement for Inter Miami
On Wednesday, Inter Miami, the MLS team, announced a groundbreaking deal with the illustrious seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi. Messi is set to join their roster from the beginning of July, leaving his position as a free agent. Previously, he had chosen not to renew his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, thus transitioning to the United States for his next career chapter. Despite receiving interest from Barcelona and several Middle Eastern entities, Messi decided to pursue his aspirations in America.
Inter Miami, co-owned by Manchester United and England legend David Beckham, has consequently gained significant attention. Their Instagram followers skyrocketed from nearly 900,000 on Wednesday morning to over 4.5 million within less than a day.
Lionel Messi’s Previous Impact at PSG
Reflecting on Messi’s past influence, his transition to the Ligue 1 club, Paris Saint-Germain, in 2021 made a similar mark. In the span of a week, the French club acquired 5.6 million followers on social media. Subsequently, their follower count surged to an additional 15 million, making them the most-followed French institution on Instagram. Furthermore, it’s estimated that Messi’s arrival at Parc des Princes yielded about €700m (£602m/$750m) in revenue within his first year there.
Projected Commercial Opportunities for Inter Miami
Given Lionel Messi’s track record, Inter Miami is optimistic about receiving comparable enhancements from commercial partnerships and merchandise sales. Messi’s contract in the United States is structured to include a share of a broadcast agreement with Apple. In addition, adidas, one of the oldest sponsors of MLS and a brand that counts Lionel Messi among its talents, is reportedly participating in funding this remarkable deal.