Lionel Messi has arrived in Miami. How much will it cost to see him play this summer?

Samantha Neely, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·5 min read
14
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

If you hear the constant sound of loud cheering and rumbling in the direction of South Florida, it's probably from excited Lionel Messi fans shaking the entire state.

The international soccer star landed in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday in preparation for Sunday's unveiling ceremony hosted by his new Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami CF.

The 36-year-old announced this summer that he would move to the United States from France, saying he did not want to extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain following two years with the club. While he has yet to be officially presented as part of David Beckham's Miami team, sources, sports experts and eagle-eyed fans all agree the move is basically set in stone.

"I made the decision that I'm going to go to Miami," Messi said in June. "I still haven't closed it 100%. I'm missing some things, but we decided to continue on the path. If the Barcelona thing didn't work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight, and think more of my family."

The move to Miami marks the first time in his professional club career that he will be playing for a team outside Europe. Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas has said Messi will make from $50 million to $60 million per year.

What to know about Messi's move: Lionel Messi joins Inter Miami: Full schedule, MLS tickets to see Messi play in US

Hoping to witness part of soccer history by potentially catching Messi at one of the Inter Miami games? Here's when he's anticipated to play this season and how to get tickets:

What is 'The Unveil' event Sunday?

Inter Miami has officially announced "The Unveil," scheduled for 6 p.m. at the DRV PINK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. While the announcement does not name Messi, it says the event will offer “exciting entertainment, speeches on the pitch, and more."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Inter Miami CF (@intermiamicf)

Since the event coincides with the kickoff time of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, many believe Messi's presentation as a new Inter Miami player could be broadcasted at half-time. The Athletic reported that Major League Soccer is in discussions with CONCACAF, Fox and Univision to air a portion of the presentation, according to multiple sources.

Inter Miami season ticket holders will receive free admission. A limited amount of $30 tickets will be released to the general public.

When is Lionel Messi's debut game?

Miami is said to be targeting its July 21 Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul for Messi to make his playing debut. This game will be at the DRV PNK Stadium, Inter Miami's temporary home until it establishes a home stadium in Miami.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JUNE 07: The DRV PNK stadium where the professional soccer team Inter Miami plays games on June 07, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Reports indicate the team has signed Argentine legend Lionel Messi as a free agent.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JUNE 07: The DRV PNK stadium where the professional soccer team Inter Miami plays games on June 07, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Reports indicate the team has signed Argentine legend Lionel Messi as a free agent.

How much are the tickets?

The prices of the tickets have made almost as much noise as the actual games, with fans voicing their frustration over the raised cost. Tickets to his potential debut game range from $750 to $3,000, depending on the purchase site.

By comparison, outlet Fortune said the tickets for the club's July 5 game stayed around the usual $29 per ticket.

Many were comparing the markup to musician Taylor Swift's chaotic presale, with her Eras tour tickets reaching in the thousands for nosebleed seats. It's also worth noting that Messi tickets are going for more than the tickets to the World Cup final his team won in 2022, priced at $1,607 according to Statista.

Taylor's Ticketmaster terror: Taylor Swift Ticketmaster debacle ramps up federal concerns, fans about tour tickets

Beyond Messi's arrival, there is another factor as to why tickets could be so expensive — the stadium holds only 18,000 people. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens holds 65,326.

How do I get tickets?

Tickets for matches are available on the Inter Miami website. The link on their page, intermiamicf.com, takes you to the official Ticketmaster site.

Resale sites also have begun selling tickets, with fans finding them at StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats and TicketSmarter for varying prices.

What games could Messi be playing in?

There are many places across the U.S. to potentially see Messi play. Here is the schedule for Inter Miami's remaining games in the 2023 season:

  • July 15: St. Louis City SC vs. Inter Miami — St. Louis (Citypark) TICKETS

  • July 21: *Leagues Cup: Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • July 25: *Leagues Cup: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • Aug. 20: Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • Aug. 26: New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami — Harrison, N.J. (Red Bull Arena) TICKETS

  • Aug. 30: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • Sept. 3: Los Angeles FC vs. Inter Miami — Los Angeles (BMO Stadium) TICKETS

  • Sept. 9: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • Sept. 16: Atlanta United FC vs. Inter Miami — Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) TICKETS

  • Sept. 20: Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • Sept. 24: Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami — Orlando (Exploria Stadium) TICKETS

  • Sept. 30: Inter Miami vs. New York City FC — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • Oct. 4: Chicago Fire FC vs. Inter Miami — Chicago (Soldier Field) TICKETS

  • Oct. 7: Inter Miami vs. FC Cincinnati — Fort Lauderdale (DRV PNK Stadium) TICKETS

  • Oct. 21: Charlotte FC vs. Inter Miami — Charlotte, N.C. (Bank of America Stadium) TICKETS

*The Leagues Cup runs from July 21 to Aug. 19. Each team will play a minimum of two games in the group stage, similar to the World Cup format, with the possibility of more games if the team advances to the knockout rounds.

What has been the reaction to Messi's move to Miami?

Prior to June, Inter Miami was a struggling team, despite Beckham's huge name as an owner. It had no star players attached to it; it wasn't doing too well in games; and it had no home stadium.

Following the Messi announcement, energy and excitement returned as Inter Miami’s followers on Instagram quintupled and ticket prices skyrocketed. Murals and signs have been posted throughout South Florida celebrating his arrival.

A mural of Lionel Messi by artist Maxi Bagnasco is seen in the Miami neighborhood of Wynwood as Messi is set to be presented as an Inter Miami CF player.
A mural of Lionel Messi by artist Maxi Bagnasco is seen in the Miami neighborhood of Wynwood as Messi is set to be presented as an Inter Miami CF player.

Messi himself told reporters in Argentina that he was happy with the decision to move to the United States, adding that he was "prepared and eager to face the new challenge.

"My mentality and my head are not going to change and I am going to try, wherever I have to be, give my best for myself and my new club, continue to perform at the highest level," Messi told the Argentina TV show, "Llave a la eternidad."

Contributing reporting: Cydney Henderson, USA-Today Network

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lionel Messi arrives in Miami, anticipated debut to soccer club Sunday