Lionel Messi has finally been unveiled to the fans as Inter Miami’s latest big-name signing at the DRV PNK Stadium, the temporary home of the club.
The DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and PayPal Park in California, home of the San Jose Earthquakes, are tied for the smallest MLS stadium with an 18,000-capacity each.
Hence, for the sake of the event, a temporary grandstand was constructed to accommodate more people inside the stadium.
Due to that, 20 thousand spectators were able to fill the stadium on Sunday night to see the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner receive the number 10 jersey as an Inter Miami player.
Messi entered the field via a wide runway and was hailed as “America’s number 10, the world’s best number 10”.
Messi, 36, gave a brief address in Spanish to thank his supporters and to convey his “same desire” as always message to the club.
He said, “I really want to start training, to compete. I have the same desire that I always had to compete, to want to win, to help the club continue to grow.
“I am very happy to have chosen to come to play in this city with my family, to choose this project and I do not doubt that we are going to enjoy it a lot.
“We are going to have a good time and very good things are going to happen.”
Argentina’s World Cup-winning forward has agreed to play with the Major League Soccer (MLS) side till the end of 2025.
Sergio Busquets, a defensive midfielder who has also committed to Miami until 2025 and with whom Messi formerly played at Barcelona, was also unveiled alongside the Argentina international.
Messi should be available for Miami’s League Cup debut on July 21 against Liga MX’s Cruz Azul.
