Lionel Messi arrival at Inter Miami has sparked immense curiosity among football fans worldwide. Ever since the Major League Soccer (MLS) club initiated the process of signing the Argentine legend and FIFA World Cup 2022 winner, his first match has become the talk of the town.
Also Read: How Lionel Messi changed the fate of MLS after signing with Inter Miami?
After bidding farewell to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner touched down in Florida on Tuesday. The process of completing his move to Inter Miami is currently underway, and fans are eagerly awaiting his debut.
On Sunday, July 16, during the half-time break of the Gold Cup final, the long-anticipated unveiling of the 36-year-old former Barcelona player as a member of Inter Miami is set to take place. The MLS is in talks with CONCACAF, Fox, and Univision to broadcast a portion of this presentation, as reported by The Athletic.
Inter Miami has officially announced an event called ‘The Unveil,’ scheduled to occur at 8 PM ET on Sunday (1 AM BST on Monday) at the DRV Pink Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Interestingly, this coincides with the kick-off time of the Gold Cup final, adding an extra layer of excitement.
Lionel Messi’s debut for Inter Miami, eagerly anticipated by fans, will take place on July 21 in a Leagues Cup match against the Mexican team Cruz Azul. Inter Miami will host this highly anticipated game at the DRV PNK Stadium, which currently serves as their temporary home until they establish a permanent stadium in Miami.
The excitement continues to build as Inter Miami recently confirmed the hiring of Gerardo “Tata” Martino as a coach, paving the way for him to reunite with Lionel Messi next month. Martino previously coached Messi during their time together at Barcelona and Argentina’s national team. Messi’s contract is set to be signed in time for his planned debut match on July 21.
The announcement of Martino’s hiring had been widely reported prior to the team’s official statement. He led Atlanta United to an MLS championship in 2018, earning the league’s Coach of the Year award that season.
Martino steps in to replace Phil Neville, who was relieved of his duties four weeks ago. With a record of 5-13-0 in MLS play this season, Inter Miami currently holds the worst record among the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.
