Lionel Messi's presentation at Inter Miami: MLS club officially unveil Barcelona and Argentina legend

Rain delayed things, but it was quite the celebration in Fort Lauderdale

By Chuck Booth

Jul 17, 2023 • 1 min read

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami was unveiled to the world on Sunday night in a celebration at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. His former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets, was also unveiled in what was a rain-soaked night that saw the events delayed. David Beckham helped usher in Messi's arrival that he called bigger than his own arrival that helped mold Major League Soccer but we've yet to see what Messi's impact will be on the pitch.

Given the number 10 as expected, Messi was welcomed by many familiar faces in a video that featured United States women's national team star Alex Morgan, U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter, NFL legend Tom Brady, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, D.J. Khaled, Argentina tennis legend Juan Manuel Del Potro and more.

Busquets was presented with the No. 5 jersey.

Expected to debut on July 21 during the Leagues Cup against Cruz Azul, there will be more landmark moments to come for the Argentine icon. Here's a look at his introduction:

Braving the rain to get the unveiling done, it was still quite the show. Prior to things, CBS Sports had the chance to speak with former USMNT international and LA Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones about what Messi's arrival means to the league.

"I think people need to understand with Messi coming to the league what that means for the league or what Messi means. Everyone likes to say that MLS is a retirement league but Messi is a World Cup winner and an MVP so anyway that you want to look at it, that messaging from some of the people that want to disparage doesn't quite work so well," Jones said.

"This is fantastic for the league, someone that's at the top of his game that's just won the World Cup is coming here to be part of MLS because not only is it a great league to be a part of but it's showing the potential that's still there for this league and what's to be had moving forward."

Sunday is just the tip of the iceberg as Messi helps accelerate the growth of the league and push it to heights that we never thought it could reach. One of the best players to ever pick up a soccer ball will now ply their trade in America with expectations being multiplied like never before.

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Live updates

He's here and he's perfect

Here he comes

Messi is coming out of the tunnel to receive his number 10 to fireworks as a new era begins at DRV PNK stadium and within MLS as well. The league has never seen something like this as a new barrier will be broken daily.

Sergio Busquets will wear the number five

Coming up to receive his Inter Miami jersey, Busquets was greeted with cheers before greeting the fans.

Sergio Busquets is also unveiled

David Beckham speaks on how special what the club is building is and he's correct as it's genuinely like nothing that the league has ever seen in its history.

The rain can't stop the show

Entrances are beginning as rain still comes down at DRV PNK stadium. Quite lovely that it has rom-com vibes tonight as David Beckham helps unveil Lionel Messi.

Real recognize real

This is the biggest moment

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin speaks about how monumental a signing Messi is. Getting someone of Messi's stature while they can play and perform in top European leagues is a massive coupe for the league.

Here comes the lights show

It's an amazing display at DRV PNK stadium as the stage is being set for the big event.

Almost broadcast time

Scheduled to kick off at 8:30 it'll be quite the event.

Messi is far from the only star in the building

How Miami made room for Messi

With Major League Soccer having a limited amount of Designated Player spots, Rodolfo Pizzaro had to be moved on to make room.

Questions loomed about how space would be made for the Designated Players that Miami are adding and one who was sure to be moved is attacking midfielder Pizzaro. Never quite fitting into the team during his time in Florida, the club was able to come to a mutual termination of his contract. By doing that, it allows Miami the flexibility to add Messi to the roster while Pizzaro will also go to a better situation personally. Pizzaro will now head to AEK Athens in Greece to reunite with his former coach Matías Almeyda who coached Pizzaro at Chivas Guadalajara

Updates from the club

There's also a peek at an official Messi jersey

Jones on Messi's impact

As they say, the best is yet to come.

"We haven't even seen it yet. What we're seeing is still MLS and its regular works. The Messi effect will happen after. It's not going to happen until next year when you see the true vision of players saying yeah, I'm coming," Jones said to CBS Sports. "This turns everything on it's head where you're going to have another level. As it was David Beckham who started that first wave of players and international players who said, hey I'm going to start coming again, this is going to happen again on another level with Messi."

The goat is en route

Messi's unveiling is tonight but when could he debut?

July 19 - MLS All-Star Game: While Messi isn't officially on the roster for the All-Star game against Arsenal, he could make a brief appearance at Audi Field in Washington D.C. on July 19th. We've seen players appear in this game before having not played all that much for their club, and with this being a premier event for Major League Soccer, it makes sense to want Messi in attendance if possible.

July 21 - vs. Cruz Azul: After winning the World Cup with Argentina, Messi has essentially been playing soccer nonstop since July of 2022 when PSG played in the Trophee des Championes against Nantes. For protecting his legs, he'd need at least a month of rest and to be eased back into playing which is why it has been reported that his debut for the club would likely be their Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on July 21 at DRV PNK Stadium.

Mas confined that the goal is for Messi to play in this match while there will also be work done to increase capacity on the stadium to prepare for his arrival.

"We have already contracted to fill in the corners of the stadium that should increase capacity by approximately 3,000 to 3,200 seats. We are gearing up to do that work in the next four weeks," Mas told The Miami Herald. "Every game will be sold out. The demand for tickets has been 10 times what we can handle on a season ticket basis."

Not only does that allow Messi to debut at home while helping MLS promote a new competition against a well know Liga MX side but it also ensures that he gets appropriate rest before rolling into a summer of MLS.

August 20 - vs. Charlotte FC: After that match, there will be another break during which Messi can rest again before facing Charlotte FC at home on August 20 for his MLS league debut. By that match, it would be in standard preseason time for Messi and he'll be ready to help drive Miami to the playoffs with only 12 matches remaining in the regular season.

The weather delay is over!

Now it's time to start filling up DRV PNK stadium to get this show on the road!

Cobi Jones on Messi

I had the chance to speak with former USMNT international and LA Galaxy midfielder during MLS All-Star week events of what the arrival of Messi means. Someone who played in LA and also crossed paths with David Beckham during his time in the league, Jones knows a thing or two about stars coming stateside.

"I think people need to understand with Messi coming to the league what that means for the league or what Messi means. Everyone likes to say that MLS is a retirement league but Messi is a World Cup winner and an MVP so any way that you want to look at it, that messaging from some of the people that want to disparage doesn't quite work so well," Jones said speaking on Messi.

Fans have still yet to be allowed in

While the weather delay hasn't pushed back the unveiling as of yet, it will take a bit for fans to be allowed into the stadium so that festivities can get underway.

Beckhams in the building

Inter Miami co-owner and president David Beckham has officially arrived for the unveiling, and is joined by members of his family including wife Victoria and two of their children. It seems like they managed to avoid the inclement weather when they made it to DRV PNK Stadium.

Will Busquests join?

Inter Miami kicked off a busy Sunday by announcing the arrival of Sergio Busquets, Messi's former teammate at Barcelona. The club didn't immediately say if the midfielder would also be unveiled during today's event and didn't share a timeline on when Busquets would play his first match, but did say he would join his new team "in the coming days."

Stormy setting for Messi

DRV PNK Stadium is being hit by torrential rain and lightning as Miami preps to unveil Messi, which means fans aren't being allowed into the venue yet and are being asked to take shelter. Hopefully the weather clears up before the unveiling begins in around two hours' time.

How to watch

Date: Sunday, July 16 | Time: 8:35 p.m. ET
Location: DRV PNK Stadium -- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
TV: TUDN | Live stream: Apple TV, YouTube, Twitter

Messi mania is here!

Welcome in to the CBS Sports live blog of a massive, monumental moment on Sunday night -- the unveiling of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. Yes, the day is here. The World Cup-winning superstar's contract with PSG expired last month, and he was set to sign with any team, turning down a massive offer from Saudi Arabia to join MLS' Inter Miami in a wild, league-changing move. Just months after winning the World Cup with Argentina, getting that missing piece of silverware for his resume, he know plays what are likely his final years of soccer in the United States.