Lionel Messi is coming to America. Fabrizio Romano, the Italian soccer journalist who has come to dominate the so-called "transfer season" where the greatest footballers change teams, tweeted on Wednesday that "the decision has been made" and Messi himself will announce his move to the MLS franchise Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham, in the coming hours. It included a picture of Messi in a club polo shirt, wearing Miami's characteristic shade of pink. "Messi will play in MLS next season. No more chances for Barcelona despite trying to make it happen." Within the day, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas would tweet his own confirmation.
Messi was one of the most decorated players in European football at the club level and surely in the pantheon of all-time greats with Brazil's legendary Pelé; the chain-smoking, antiestablishmentarian Dutchman Johann Cruyff; his countryman Diego Maradona; and his contemporary and great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Many consider Messi the "GOAT," or greatest of all time, a status sealed months ago when he added the one trophy missing from his cabinet: World Cup champion, with Argentina. Now, as Pelé himself did in the disco era with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, Messi looks likely to spend his sunset years in the United States.
