Simon Mohsin-
Lionel Messi is set to join Inter Miami, as his two-year deal at PSG expires on June 30. Set to be a huge boost for the “US Soccer” Messi is joining the US Major League. Messi had previously stated his desire to play in the MLS, and Miami would make sense as a good fit for the to-be 36-year-old this month, as he owns a house in the area and holidays there regularly. This is not repeating itself, as many would say; rather, history unfolding in the same trajectory. At the age of 36, Messi will provide the US-based Major League incredible attention and promotion, with unprecedented coverage. It will once again put the MLS on football’s world map; a trend the Great Pele had begun and David Beckham had exemplified until recently, with several other football stars following suit in between. Messi moving to MLS will only epitomize the trend, most likely taking the trend to unsurpassable heights.
The move has somewhat more practical dimensions for Messi not only in regards to logistics and living convenience, as mentioned before, but also in regards to the culmination of his football (maybe now Soccer for him too!) career.
Messi wants to captain the Albiceleste in defending the Copa and the World Cup in 2024 and 2026 respectively. Interestingly, the US is the predominant joint host of both tournaments. Just imagine the promotional leverage for the US, while the public and moral support for Messi, ergo the Albiceleste on both occasions. Moreover, Argentina Football Association is building training facilities in Miami as part of a wider global expansion strategy. Under this strategy, they will feature youth academies in several other US states and also have commercial footprints in China and the Middle East. Thus, Messi moving to Miami is an overall positive for Messi and Argentina. Simultaneously it is greatly complementing international football too. The GOAT’s move to MLS is not only a boost for US Soccer, as the North Americans prefer to call it, but a great feat for overall international football. It will give indefinable attention to football, as the US, Canada, and Mexico build up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be a larger tournament with more teams than ever before.
Let’s talk about the impact Messi will have on US Soccer a bit more. We all know the impact David Beckham had on the US sports arena. He had a transformative influence on the love for football in the US. Messi will be expected to take that to another level, with influence and star power that would rival Pele’s New York Cosmos turn in the 1970s. To Americans who could not distinguish Johan Cruyff from Johannes Brahms, Pele was an undisputed superstar. His star power, persona, curvatures in gossip columns, stints in showbiz, movies, and music videos – all of it – is clear evidence of how much he appealed to the Americans, who still a completely different game under the name of Football. Pele’s appeal burgeoned true football’s popularity in the US; his legacy was undoubtedly a catalyst behind the 1994 World Cup being hosted by the US. Pele’s star appeal allows the resurrection of pro football through Major League Soccer two years after the World Cup, culminating in the astonishing boom of true football that now makes fans of the sports watch, follow, and enjoy leagues from all over the globe. To quote a 2021 documentary on Pele’s influence in the US – “Girls wanted Pele as their boyfriend, boys wanted Pelé as their brother, parents wanted Pelé as their son, and everyone wanted Pelé as their neighbor,” Brazilian journalist Paulo Cesar Vasconcellos said adding that, “He was totally captivating. His natural charisma gave him star quality.” He was dubbed simply as “the king” of soccer for his unparalleled prowess on the field.
Messi is dubbed the GOAT, among many other well-deserved titles, and would not have any less influence on the US than Pele, if not more. Albeit, it is unlikely to see the scandal, gossip, and promiscuity that Pele had rendered during his time in the US. Also, the showbiz association as that of Pele for Messi may not be on the cards for now. However, he is uninitiated to that part of stardom; he has danced and shown some leg moves in music videos earlier. The allure of US media may not remain untouched by him. The pre-eminence that the Argentina national team now has for Messi is key, having finally ended his quest for a major international honor at the 2021 Copa America before conquering the final frontier at last year’s World Cup. All of it will play an unfathomable and cataclysmic influence on the US psyche.
On the same note, I would like to mention one other issue that was highly discussed in the media about Messi’s move to Miami. The issue of – MONEY. The size of the signing amount has captivated a large part of public attention. The other day, I off-handedly spoke to a male cabin crew from Egypt as he and I both were watching the news of Messi’s transfer on the screen in a hotel lobby. He mentioned how much money these guys need, in not a sarcastic but a curious way. The comment made me more curious too, not about the amount but the question itself. My findings make me believe that stars like Messi are deserving of the wealth they accumulate during their career. I will explain why.
Professional sport has become synonymous with wealth, fame, and a luxurious lifestyle. But in many cases, the period in which an athlete earns an ultra-high income is often short-lived.
According to a UK-based wealth management organization, without coherent planning, a player’s fortune can slip away very easily. An estimated 40% of professional footballers go bankrupt within five years of retirement. Many struggle financially in later life, according to Xpro, an organization that helps professional footballers adapt to life after their playing career. The average career lasts just eight years. Players may retire in their thirties or even earlier. At this point, they are likely to be supporting a young family and an expensive lifestyle, with 50 or more years of life ahead. Only a handful of players experience 20-season longevity in their careers. An athlete’s income, and club support system stops when the final whistle is blown on an athlete’s career. Given the general lavish lifestyles of the world they live in, many have spent much of their money. Research suggests one in three will be divorced within 12 months of retirement. Physical and mental health problems are also common, with many players likening the loss of their career to a bereavement. FIFPro, the organization supporting worldwide professional players, estimates that 35% of former players face problems with depression and anxiety. Many players don’t think about retirement until the day it happens and, while these issues will not be addressed by wealth planning alone, the peace of mind of having financial stability into retirement is likely to alleviate other concerns.
Given my aforementioned findings, it is natural for high rollers like Messi and others to attain as much as they can while they can. When they hang their boots, they can pursue other fringe careers pertinent to sports – coaching, commentating. Great players are rarely good coaches, and not all of them have the articulation and eloquence to comment while sitting in a studio.
But people like Messi and others will have one thing if nothing else. The love for football and the need to stay relevant in the sporting arena. With the capital they would have after retiring, it is more likely to be spent on ventures that forward the sporting cause, and facilitate more facilities and opportunities for upcoming and young players, while expanding the sports globally. Similar to what Beckham has done. Beckham owns the Inter Miami franchise, and Messi is joining it. I eagerly await to see what happens next.
Simon Mohsin is a political and international affairs analyst; a former professional athlete, who continues to dabble in sports commentary and analysis.
