Live updates: Messi unveiled in Miami (2024)

Let there officially be no doubt: Lionel Messi is an MLS player. The former PSG and Barcelona star was presented to fans of Inter Miami in a rain-soaked event on Sunday evening, alongside his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets.

"There have been so many things that have gotten us to this point," MLS commissioner Don Garber said on Season Pass' broadcast of the event. "This is just taking it to an entirely new level. He is the best player in the world making this a League of Choice and giving us the momentum to take us towards 2026."

Watch the unveiling below.

Lionel Messi has been unveiled, to the tune of "The World is Yours to Take," a tune that nobody would describe as timeless.

On the broadcast, MLS is attempting to overdub an English translation of Messi's comments — it isn't working well at all. It can't be understated how anti-climactic the whole experience has been, for those of us at home.

Inter Miami owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas welcomed Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi to the stage amind a downpour at DRV PNK Stadium.

"We are so happy that you are all here to celebrate this incredible moment, a moment that will be watched around the world, as a truly great player and amazing person joins our family," said Beckham. "So please forgive me for feeling a little bit emotional tonight, because it really is a dream come true. So welcome, Lionel Messi, to Inter Miami."

Mas, meanwhile, went biblical.

"This is a city that's built on dreams, hard work, sacrifice, and emblazoned on our jersey is a saying that says "freedom to dream." and that will always be this team's mantra," he said. "Today a new journey and a new chapter starts. There will always be a before and after Lionel Messi."

"Tonight, we're doing this Miami-style in the rain. This is holy water!"

MLS Season Pass' production of Messi's unveiling is in shambles. The entire broadcast has been rife with audio difficulties, which has truly taken away from the gravity of the moment. Much of this pretty clearly has to do with the weather — but it's truly a disappointment to not even be able to hear anybody's words clearly at the moment.

The vast majority of David Beckham's speech to the crowd was inaudible, coming back right as he mentioned Sergio Busquets, who is also getting introduced today.

The lights are off, there's flashing and loud music, the pitch is turning pink and all you can hear is the crowd chanting "Messi, Messi."

We just had fireworks. People screamed. The crowd are being asked to 'get loud' by the big screens. You'll have to switch on Apple to see it though as no journalists are allowed to take video of this bit. Which is a shame because it's all very shiny and fun.

"It was the personification of dreams coming true," Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said on the Apple broadcast. "It started off as a dream, and we dreamed not only of bringing an elite player, but the best player to ever put on boots, and that is Lionel Andres Messi. There will always be a before and after Lionel Messi, and tonight that adventure begins."

A huge cheer as Inter Miami owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas stride across the field to get ready for some on-field interviews. Beckham, looking immaculate as ever, didn't flinch at the weather. I guess he used to play in Manchester twice a week.

I'm impressed by the people who have now been waving the very large flags for about 45 minutes. How are their arms not tired?

The DJ is now surely mocking the crowd by playing "Feeling Hot Hot Hot" as the rain pours down.

People seem happy though. I can't think of many people in the world that fans would stand for hours in the rain to come and see. Taylor Swift maybe? And they won't even be able to see him do the thing he's famous for - playing soccer.

That has to wait until Friday against Cruz Azul, assuming he's fit and selected.

We have a piece coming later tonight from a roundtable MLS commissioner Don Garber had with reporters earlier Sunday ahead of the unveiling event. One interesting nugget in the story is what Garber said about Messi's partnership with Apple.

As noted in Adam Crafton's piece on Apple’s partnership with MLS, while Apple has diversified its revenue streams, in the second fiscal quarter of 2023, Apple reported that iPhone sales accounted for $51.33 billion of its overall $94.84 billion revenue, which underlines that Apple’s core business still depends on selling the products so many people use every day.

There are still regions, however, including large parts of South America, where Android systems dominate the market share. Messi could help to impact that by pulling his audience in to watch MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. As previously reported here, negotiations between Messi and Apple included revenue share for new international subscribers, according to multiple sources briefed on the talks.

When asked about Apple’s agreement with Messi, Garber alluded to just that sort of impact.

“Leo will be very involved in helping to grow the overall presence of Apple TV around the world,” Garber said. “Starting with the western hemisphere, which is really important. But thinking about, what does that mean in other places around the world?"

There's music playing, people dancing, some pretty big Messi flags and confirmation that the show will start at 8pm EST. One man on stage is wearing double denim and, I'm not going to lie, I quite like it.

Also, Messi has arrived.

Fans are packed into stairwells in the stadium to avoid the rain, thunder and lightning. Some are soaked to the bone, unable to find cover in time when the storms hit. Others found dry spots in the middle of the stairwells. Food carts on wheels went flying through the concourse during the early wind bursts and had to be corralled. Most fans here remain in good spirits, laughing at the bad luck of it.

As the winds settled two ambitious vendors set up their beer ($17), canned co*cktail ($15) and soda/water ($5.75) stand to serve the fans who huddled under the overhang in the concourse. Eager fans lined up for a beverage to get them through the storm.

It is carnage here. The storm has come in, food stalls are collapsing, trash lids are flying, light fittings are shaking. Everyone seeking shelter. Here’s hoping for the club, Messi, and the fans that the lightening and rain pass soon.

Messi might be interested to know that it is currently dry 93 degrees in Saudi Arabia.

Lionel Messi's first in-person introduction in Inter Miami's distinctive pink kit comes tonight, in a live event at the club's DRV PNK Stadium, along with that of his former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, whose signing was announced earlier on Sunday.

The event was previously dubbed "The Unveil" and is now being called "Bienvenido Messi" on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The event is expected to feature numerous musical performances and celebrity attendees...along with our own reporters. The entire event can be seen live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with Messi's introduction taking place when halftime is reached in the Gold Cup final between Mexico and Panama, which is being played simultaneously.

However, menacing weather hours before the event's 8:30 p.m. ET start time may delay Messi's Miami intro a little further.

But what's a couple minutes when you've been waiting for years?

Til then, here are some of our best stories from the Messi transfer:

• Inside the deal: How Messi came to MLS

• What last-place Miami must do to win a trophy in 2023

• Why "Muchachos" featured in Miami's Messi announcement

• What Lionel Messi has in common with baseball star Shohei Ohtani

• Can Lionel Messi live like a "normal person" in the United States?

• Messi, Apple and the $2.5 billion question: What's next?