The symbolism of David Beckham welcoming Lionel Messi on to Inter Miami’s pitch as a Major League Soccer player for the first time was unavoidable. Beckham was, after all, the catalyst for the growth of a league that now boasts arguably the greatest player of all time. Messi, who was presented to a crowd of 20,000 Inter Miami fans on Sunday, could now be the catalyst for something more.
“There will always be a before and after Lionel Messi,” Jorge Mas said in the South Florida rain, which the Inter Miami co-owner poetically called “holy water”. Even amid the downpour, which threatened to wash out the event, there was a sense that Messi’s unveiling marked the start of a new era for MLS. The 36-year-old is expected to make his Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul this Friday, although he may not start the match.
