Gerardo Martino is back in Major League Soccer — and this time, he’ll be coaching Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami on Wednesday announced Martino‘s as their new head coach, confirming rumors that had been swirling for weeks as to Phil Neville‘s replacement. Martino will return to MLS after a five-year absence, during which he managed the Mexico national team and won a CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Martino and Messi working together for the third time
Martino‘s return to Major League Soccer nearly coincides with Messi‘s debut in North American soccer — which is still poised to be the Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on July 21.
Martino and Messi worked together at FC Barcelona during the 2013/14 season, which saw the Blaugrana lose LaLiga to Atltico Madrid on the season’s final day. Bara were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarterfinal stage by the same opponent and lost the Copa del Rey final to archrivals Real Madrid.
Martino also coached Messi for two years with the Argentina national team, guiding the side to Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016.
Tata seeking more MLS success
Martino led Atlanta United as its first-ever coach and guided the expansion franchise to the MLS Cup in 2018 — after which he stepped down to take the Mexico job, in which he remained through the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Martino has won 54 percent of the MLS games he’s coached, which could give comfort to Inter Miami fans tired of seeing their team languish at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
While contracted to El Tri, Tata won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2019, and Mexico returned to the final in 2021 — only to lose to the United States.
Inter Miami are aiming to become the most popular and most successful team in MLS, with the additions of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Tata Martino.
However, they are currently facing a challenging situation, as they have become a subject of mockery in the league due to their seven-game losing streak.
Messi speaks Chinese during tour with Argentina
Their most recent loss came at the hands of the Philadelphia Union, who grabbed a 4-1 win on Saturday.
In the match held at Subaru Park in Philadelphia, Jakob Glesnes, Julian Carranza and Leon Flach scored one each, with Inter Miami midfielder David Ruiz netting an own goal.
David Beckham‘s team currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, having earned just 15 points from 18 games in the 2023 season.
When will Messi debut for Inter Miami?
Messi is currently in Rosario, Argentina, where he celebrated his birthday this weekend.
The official presentation of all the new Inter Miami signings is still a few weeks away, and Messi‘s first match will take place in July when Inter Miami face Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.
Following Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez‘s unfortunate injury, major concerns arose. However, those worries have now been put aside for now, at least after a successful surgery, paving the way for his recovery.
On Friday, June 23, it was reported that Chicharito underwent a successful operation on his right knee, addressing the physical issue he experienced while playing for Los Angeles Galaxy during the 2023 MLS season.
LA Galaxy star “Chicharito” Hernandez tears ligament in right kneeLapresse
Hernandez underwent surgery to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee, yielding positive results.
His attention will now shift towards returning for the upcoming season, either in the United States or, perhaps, in a much-anticipated return to Liga MX.
What happened to Chicharito at LA Galaxy?
Hernandez sustained his injury during the quarter-final match of the 2023 US Open Cup between the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, where his team were eliminated after a 3-2 defeat.
Alongside the disappointment following the loss, Galaxy fans were concerned about the health status of the Mexican star.
In the 27th minute, Chicharito received a pass in midfield with his left foot and, without any opponent nearby, stumbled on his own and fell to the ground.
Immediately, he raised his right arm to ask for assistance, while clutching his left leg, indicating the pain in his knee.
Chicharito set off alarms as the medical team hurried onto the field, eventually carrying him off on a stretcher.
The Mexican player did not return to play and was replaced by Serbian player Dejan Joveljic.
When and where will Chicharito Hernandez be back?
After the severity of the Mexican striker’s knee injury was revealed, it was estimated that he would miss the remainder of the 2023 MLS campaign, as he focuses on recovering from the injury.
Chicharito and the LA Galaxy have had a challenging season, currently sitting bottom in the Western Conference table.
Once he recovers from injury, it is expected that Javier Hernandez will make the decision to return to Mexico and feature in Liga MX, a move that has been postponed longer than expected.
Sporting Kansas City and LAFC faced each other in the most attractive duel of the day in Major League Soccer while fans were very curious to see which Mexican player was best, Both are going through a great moment and it showed as they both scored for their teams, although the victory went to the Californian team with a goal by the former Arsenal player.
Carlos Vela and Alan Pulido both scored for LAFC and Sporting KC
The scoreboard opened in the 17th minute when Alan Pulido took a penalty shot making it effective, so all that the home team needed to do was keep and defend the lead, although it was not all that simple. Pulido had his 5th goal of the season and with his great performance, the rumors of his return to Chivas are getting hotter than ever.
Carlos Vela joined Erick Dueas, who started the match and scored the winning goal for LAFC in the 90th minute in what was a well-deserved victory to break the streak of six consecutive matches without a win in official competitions, including the Concachampions, where they lost to Leon.
LAFC is now at the top of the MLS Western Conference
Roger Espinoza scored the equalizer for Sporting KC, but after the VAR review, it was disallowed because of an offside position, as was the case with Carlos Vela, who seemed to have scored his second goal of the match but was eventually denied.
With this victory, LAFC caught up with St. Louis, the youngest MLS franchise, at the top of the Western Conference, while Sporting KC failed to win and now must prepare for their next match against the other Los Angeles team, the LA Galaxy which has Chicharito injured and out for the rest of 2023.
Lionel Messi‘s arrival at Inter Miami and the MLS is set to elevate the league to new heights, adding a dimension that was previously lacking. His presence signifies a milestone for football in the United States, indicating that there are no limits to its growth.
The impact of Messi‘s signing can be seen in the ticket prices, which have become a subject of comparison with the cost of attending a Taylor Swift concert. A report by ‘Fortune’ magazine highlights the surprising data regarding ticket prices.
While the official announcement of his signing is yet to come, fans eagerly await the unveiling, closely monitoring the team’s match schedule to determine when the Argentine superstar will make his debut.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the date, ticket prices for Inter Miami games have already skyrocketed, reaching exorbitant amounts. On resale platform SeatGeek Inc., tickets are being sold for nearly $2,600, a figure comparable to attending Swift‘s Eras Tour, which costs around $2,625.
July 21 is a target date for Messi‘s potential debut, with Inter Miami facing Mexican club Cruz Azul in a match for the 2023 Leagues Cup. The cheapest ticket for this game is priced at over $950, while a July 4 match between Inter Miami and Columbus Crew can be attended for as low as $29.
The significant disparity in ticket prices clearly demonstrates the impact of Messi‘s signing. MLS and Inter Miami are delighted with the hype generated by his arrival, and fans are determined to witness Messi‘s brilliance firsthand, willing to do whatever it takes to see him play.
The news of the year in world and U.S. soccer was the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. This signing put the MLS team’s name in the headlines of every media outlet. Even though North American soccer was already being talked about, its diffusion exploded.
The fact that Messi is going to play for Miami has generated several comments, many already see Inter as the team to beat, even when they are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference.
One of the first promoters of soccer in the United States in the modern era, Alexis Lalas, assured that with the Argentinean in MLS, soccer in his country could grow like never before.
Inter Miami focusing on matches instead of Messi: “There’s nobody here as of yet”LAPRESSE
Inter Miami could be MLS Death Star
Lalas made a filmic comparison with what Inter Miami could achieve in MLS, the former defender commented that Floida’s team could be the Death Star of the league. It should be remembered that the Death Star is a weapon that came out in the Star Wars movie that destroys everything.
“We’re already seeing incredible names now being linked to coming to Inter Miami,” Lalas said. “It’s almost as if they’re in the process of potentially creating this MLS super club Death Star, and the hate-watching is going to be absolutely epic!” he told TMZ.
“I know if I was on another team — a less sexy team, for example — and Miami was doing all of this,” he said, “and one of the greatest to ever play is there, I would want to kick his ass.”
“This is a wonderful day for soccer; this is a wonderful time for MLS — and America in general,” Lalas said, “because this is a pretty cool thing to see.”
Carles Gil scored on an early penalty kick and added two assists as the New England Revolution breezed to a 3-1 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday night.
Gil’s sixth goal of the season came on a PK in the 27th minute and he picked up his sixth assist on Matt Polster’s netter – his first – in the 34th minute for a 2-0 lead at halftime.
The Revolution (8-3-6) pushed their advantage to 3-0 when Bobby Wood used a pass from Gil in the 51st minute to score for a sixth time this season.
Inter Miami (5-12-0) avoided the shutout when Josef Martnez scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute. It was Martnez’s fourth goal of the season and his eighth in 11 career matches against New England. No other player has scored more than five goals against the Revs since Martnez joined the league in 2017.
Djordje Petrovic totaled four saves for the Revolution. Drake Callender saved two shots for Inter Miami.
Inter Miami has lost six in a row and it can only hope the signing of superstar Lionel Messi will change the club’s fortunes. Messi, who turned down more than a billion dollars to play in Saudi Arabia, is expected to join Inter Miami in July after the 35-year-old’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30.
New England is 5-0-3 at home this season. The Revolution set the club record with a nine-match unbeaten run in 2005, equaling it in 2015.
New England will host Orlando City on Saturday. Inter Miami is idle.
David Beckham‘s arrival in MLS generated immense anticipation. Now, the former England international has played a crucial role in bringing Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, and together they aspire to revolutionize football in the United States permanently.
The history of football in the US is defined by renowned global icons of the sport who once packed their bags in search of their own version of the ‘American dream.’ Pele in the 1970s with the New York Cosmos, Beckham at the turn of the 21st century with LA Galaxy, and now Messi at Inter Miami, paving the way to the 2026 World Cup.
Football in the US has struggled to carve out its niche and captivate the public, overshadowed by national sports such as American football, basketball, and baseball. However, Messi‘s decision to join MLS could potentially change that situation entirely, and his arrival in the US cannot be fully comprehended without considering Beckham‘s precedent.
Beckham, another star in Los Angeles
The Englishman decided to join the LA Galaxy in 2007. He arrived in the city amidst tremendous anticipation, joining a league with just over a decade of existence where only 13 teams featured.
Beckham‘s presence was a significant leap forward for the league, attracting media attention and driving merchandise sales. It also compelled MLS to be financially innovative in order to attract the world’s best players.
With Beckham, MLS introduced the concept of the “designated player,” allowing clubs to bypass salary caps for certain high-profile signings.
The Los Angeles team holds fond memories of Beckham, who won two MLS Cups with the Galaxy and now has a statue honoring him at the entrance of Dignity Health Sports Park Stadium.
Additionally, a crucial aspect of the remarkable deal for the Englishman was MLS guaranteeing him an option to acquire an expansion team in the league for $25 million. This opportunity materialized in 2020 as Inter Miami, which according to Forbes magazine, is now valued at $600 million.
Messi’s arrival
For years, Beckham and his partners in Inter Miami’s ownership have been pursuing the signing of the Argentine star. This time, they succeeded in outbidding a substantial offer from Saudi Arabia and a nostalgic but challenging return to Barcelona.
Similar to Beckham‘s signing by the Galaxy, MLS has employed innovation and unconventional methods to secure Messi. According to The Athletic, the league and Apple have come together to offer Messi a portion of the profits generated by new subscribers to the MLS Season Pass streaming service on Apple TV+.
In 2022, Apple and MLS signed a 10-year deal granting Apple TV+ the rights to broadcast all league matches on a global scale. The price paid by Apple? A minimum of $250 million per season, a small sum for the technology giant that generated a profit of $54.158 million in just the past half-year between October and March.
Additionally, Adidas, Messi’s long-time partner since his youth and the official supplier of uniforms for all 29 MLS teams, has proposed sharing a portion of the profits from merchandising sales resulting from Messi’s arrival in MLS. There is also the possibility of offering Messi a similar ownership option as Beckham, allowing him to become a team owner in the future.
Lionel Messi’s time at Paris Saint-Germain is over after manager Christophe Galtier confirmed the Argentine’s departure.
Messi embarked on an unauthorised two-day trip to Saudi Arabia recently, which accelerated his departure from the Parc des Princes.
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Messi’s time in Paris won’t be remembered fondlyCredit: Getty
The 35-year-old’s contract expires this month and he will be moving on to seek new pastures.
Speaking ahead of Messi’s final game, Galtier said: “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football.
“This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”
The PSG fans turned on Messi, while his trip to Saudi Arabia infuriated Nasser Al-Khelaifi and the rest of the board.
L’Equipe journalist Erik Bielderman told talkSPORT that PSG felt ‘betrayed’ by Messi, so it’s no surprise he is now leaving.
But who could come in for the football icon, and more importantly, who can afford his wages?
How much does Messi earn at PSG?
PSG have one of the highest wage bills in world football, with Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe all earning staggering money.
The Argentine took home £32.75million from his first season in Paris.
That works out at an eye-watering £629,807 per week.
Therefore, any club planning to sign the Argentine will likely have to match his old contract.
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Messi is one of the richest players in the worldCredit: AFP
Where could Messi end up?
Barcelona
A remarkable return to Barcelona is a possibility for Messi.
The Spanish giants are well aware their greatest-ever player wants to return to the Camp Nou and are prepared to pull out all the stops to bring him in.
Reports suggest Messi favours a move back to Spain for at least one more year before moving on and playing somewhere else to end his career.
Barcelona are desperate to recruit Messi and reunite him with Xavi but want the Argentine to take a significant pay cut from his final deal in Spain that would see him earn £22million a year.
However, the club are exploring all possibilities in an attempt to get Messi back, and now his PSG exit is confirmed, that is definitely one to watch.
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Messi’s exit from Barca was emotional but a return is possibleCredit: Getty
Saudi Arabia
Given Messi is already an ambassador for Saudi tourism, the forward could move to the Middle East.
Cristiano Ronaldo already plays in Saudi for Al-Nassr, so the chance to have Messi and Ronaldo in the same league again is something that Saudi Arabia wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Despite ageing, Ronaldo and Messi are still the two best footballers around and having both in the same league would draw a lot of attention to Saudi Arabia and help their 2030 World Cup bid.
And from Messi’s point of view, he would earn an enormous amount of money.
Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid player, earning £177million per year, but that would be dwarfed should Messi move to Saudi Arabia.
Reports in France suggest Al-Hilal are prepared to pay Messi £500million a year!
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Messi is already an ambassador for Saudi tourism
America
Messi has long been linked with a move to the US, especially David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
The Argentine and his father, Jorge, have met with MLS clubs in the past, with those based in the US adamant that Messi could prove to be a transformative signing for the division.
The Independent report that Messi would be offered an enormous salary plus an equity stake in Inter Miami.
This means he would not only play for the club, but he would be co-owner as well, although it’s unclear what he would take.
However, a move to the US isn’t one of Messi’s priority options, with his heart set on Barcelona.
But Beckham will certainly do everything he can to convince Messi to choose the MLS and a new deal has been mooted.
Reports in Spain suggest Inter Miami are ready to sign Messi and then loan him to Barcelona for 18 months.
This would allow the Argentine to complete his Nou Camp return, while Beckham and co would get Messi in the MLS after.
Messi has always been touted with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester City having made attempts to sign him in the past.
Given his relationship with Pep Guardiola, it’s no surprise the Citizens have wanted Messi, but it seems incredibly unlikely that he would end up in the top-flight.
Even City would find it hard to afford his wages, while the other super-rich team in the league, Newcastle, don’t plan to break their wage structure.
Messi has most likely missed his chance to play in England, meaning there aren’t that many clubs around that can afford him.
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