Inter Miami CF are planning for Lionel Messi to make his debut on July 21 in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul, owner Jorge Mas told reporters Monday.
Messi, 35, said earlier this month he intends to sign for Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, although a deal remains to be finalised
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37883378/inter-miami-target-july-21-lionel-messi-debut-report
He will not be in his prime but this is a big deal. No US sport star is even close to Messi in terms of popularity.
Just as reference
Messi
Facebook likes: 114 million
Instagram followers: 456 million
LeBron James
Facebook likes: 22.5 million
Twitter followers: 31.2 million
Instagram followers: 150 million
Ticket prices are going crazy.
For those interested in taking part in such a huge moment for both the team and MLS, tickets for the game start at nearly $1,100.
On SeatGeek, general admission tickets start at $1,065 as of Tuesday. Ticketmaster’s prices start at more than $1,300, while StubHub’s start at nearly $1,400 after fees. According to SeatGeek, Inter Miami tickets typically go for as low as $59 with an average price of $120.
https://www.mediaite.com/sports/ticket-prices-for-lionel-messis-u-s-debut-are-just-utterly-bonkers/