Former PSG star Lionel Messi arrived in Florida on Tuesday to finalize his move to US Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.
Messi and members of his family were seen walking off a private jet at a small, elite airport near Inter Miami's stadium in Fort Lauderdale, according to Argentine television footage.
The World Cup winner will likely sign a two-and-a-half-year contract worth $60 million per year before being introduced to fans at a stadium function on Sunday.
Messi is the biggest name ever played in Major League Soccer and the most outstanding player to visit the United States since Brazilian legend Pele signed with the New York Cosmos in 1975.
MLS hopes Messi will raise the league's profile and increase subscriptions to their streaming broadcast partnership with Apple TV. Ticket costs for games Messi is expected to play have already skyrocketed.
Fans began congregating at the club's DRV PNK stadium early in the morning, anticipating his expected arrival.
Messi's presence will also boost the sport's momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup, held by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets will likely join him at the club, while ex-Argentina and Barcelona coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino recently took over as coach.
According to Miami owner Jorge Mas, Messi and Busquets might be among "three to five" new signings for Miami in the current transfer window. Messi is set to debut for his new club against Mexican team Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21.
Miami sits at the bottom of the MLS's Eastern Conference with five victories in 21 games and is rated 28th out of the league's 29 teams.
However, the club is in the semi-finals of the US Open Cup, where they will face league leaders FC Cincinnati. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has spent the previous two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona in 2021.
