Inter Miami: A closer look at Messi’s new club

The football world was appalled when superstar Lionel Messi dropped his notion of joining an American football club at the expense of several multi-million dollar offers from major clubs such as Al Hilal and Barcelona, which could have been a possible return. Despite the lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League giant, Messi took a considerable risk joining Inter Miami. 

So, what compelled him to join the Herons? We will examine that in the following few paragraphs. 

A touch of Beckham magic

We all know that the 2010s football landscape was dominated by Lionel Messi and his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, David Beckham and his cohorts have been dominating European football before them. 

David Beckham is a former football superstar who played for the English Premier League club Manchester United and the England national football team. He is also a fashion model married to pop star and socialite Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice. 

He is the co-owner of Inter Miami, having played for Major League Soccer himself before retiring. One cannot overlook the influence of David Beckham, a football legend, in this decision. His involvement with Inter Miami adds a unique dimension to Messi’s choice.

They have been through a lot

One of Inter Miami’s characteristics is its sheer resilience. Despite the massive publicity that Beckham’s involvement with the club brings, the club has still struggled to provide significant results over the three seasons of the MLS that it participated in. 

In the current season, Inter Miami was placed in the bottom spot of the Eastern Conference, earning only a disheartening 15 points in their 16 appearances so far. However, we can also consider their performance last season, when they managed to land sixth place in the conference. 

Inspired by Inter Milan

We all know that when seeing the word “Inter,” the first thing that comes to mind is the Italian Serie A club, Inter Milan. The club was super successful internationally, and it has amassed 19 league titles under its name. 

When Inter Miami emerged in the MLS, a legal issue arose between the two clubs concerning the trademark rights of the “Inter” name. The official name of Inter Miami is Club Internacional de Futbol Miami, while Inter Milan is Football Club Internazionale Milano. Both clubs claimed the controversial name. 

Pink is power

Advantage at halftime! 👊 Leading the scoreboard as we take a breather 💗🖤 pic.twitter.com/2rP160LJbT

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 20, 2024

One of Inter Miami’s distinct characteristics is its official MLS color, which is pink. Ever since the club was established, Inter Miami has chosen pink as its main color. You can see the color in all of their kits for the latest seasons. 

While it is rare for clubs to choose pink as a kit color, Inter Miami has a good explanation for why they do so. The club’s website indicates pink represents “the vibrant soul of South Florida.”

According to Mike Ridley, Inter Miami’s marketing senior vice president, “While it is an unusual color to pick, when you turn on the television, you will immediately know that it is Inter Miami.”

Additionally, aside from the team colors, the logo can also be taken into account. While pink is associated with flamingos, abundant in Florida, the club’s official seal features a white heron, a common animal in other parts of the planet.

Higuain was there

 

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Aside from Messi, there is another Argentinian who has donned Inter Miami’s pink shirt: Gonzalo Higuain, the former striker of Real Madrid and Juventus. This is one of the reasons why Messi was urged to join the team.

Higuain represented Inter Miami in the 2020 edition of the Major League Soccer. However, he retired in 2022, amassing 29 career goals during his spell at the club. While he was at the club, he never made a huge buzz like Messi when he transferred to the American soccer club. 

Messi’s future in the Inter Miami club

Messi has had an illustrious career in European football, and when he announced his intention to enter the professional football scene in the United States, his long-time European fans were deeply disappointed. However, considering that the European leagues are heavily saturated with fresh and younger talents, it makes perfect sense for him to end his playing career in a lesser-known league. 

Now that Messi is in the American soccer league and Ronaldo is in the Saudi Arabian league, it shows that the era of Europe’s reign as the world’s football Mecca is over. The emergence of leagues from Asia and Africa clearly indicates that the football landscape is ever-changing.