Lionel Messi recently announced his transfer to David Beckham-led Inter Miami and it has had the entire world on the edge of their seats. It is not every day that we witness a global superstar agree to play in a league that is out of the top 5 European leagues. The last time this happened was when Cristiano Ronaldo agreed to sign for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
It would be safe to claim that Ronaldo’s time in the Middle East has been quite influential until now. The former Real Madrid striker has been banging goals with ease, but he has also been pivotal to attract new talents to the league. His former Los Blancos teammate will now play for Al-Ittihad, a club that is based in Jeddah.
Similarly, Messi’s transfer could shed more light on the MLS as well. Although the league has provided a few top talents, there haven’t been many to make it in Europe, where the sport is believed to be the toughest. Regardless, the arrival of a superstar like Messi could definitely elevate the popularity of the club, league, and even the city.
Miami Heat fans repping Lionel Messi at the NBA Finals 🐐 pic.twitter.com/hGrKYy9v66
— GOAL (@goal) June 8, 2023
Speaking of the city, Miami has been a place where sports fans enjoy their time. Miami Heat, the most popular sports team on the block, has been witnessing Messi’s influence in the past few days as well. During Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Finals, a fan even donned Messi’s Argentina shirt. This was just hours after the transfer was announced.
Erik Spoelstra admits watching Lionel Messi play remains a question
During the 2023 NBA Finals, reporters asked Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra about Messi’s transfer to Miami. He said, “It’s exciting, my two sons, they’re just getting into soccer, so— football. Hopefully I can get a ticket and take them to some games.”
Miami Heat coach, Erik Spoelstra when he was asked about Lionel Messi’s move:
“Hopefully I can get a ticket.”
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 9, 2023
Spoelstra’s Miami Heat are currently 3-1 down to the Denver Nuggets. The Colorado-based team has been on the front foot most of the series, but the Heat remain confident in themselves. It looks like the head coach has taken a moment to address how great Messi’s transfer to Inter Miami is. He admits that tickets may be in high demand, which isn’t all that surprising considering the caliber of Lionel Messi.
Spoelstra’s aim for the time being will be to pull off a sensational comeback. The only team to have come back from a 3-1 deficit was the Cleveland Cavaliers, with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. They were up against one of the greatest teams of all time, the Golden State Warriors. With that said, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would be hoping to get an edge in Game 5, which will be the series decider.