Revolutionizing MLS, Messi honored by Time after outstanding journey at Inter Miami.
Lionel Messione of the best-known football players in the world and current world champion for the Argentine National Team, was elected Athlete of the Year by the magazineTime.
Messi’s journey at Inter Miami marks Messi as Athlete of the Year (Photo: Divulgao/Time)
Seen as the most relevant sportsman of 2023, Messi is the first non-American football player and athlete to receive the award. The star succeeds Aaron Judge, outfielder for the New York Yankees baseball team, who was honored by the magazine in 2022.
After more than two decades wearing theBarcelona and a short period with thePSGthe player debuted in a new season in the United States forInter Miami, where he scored 11 goals in the 14 matches he played, leading the team to win the Leagues Cup. Despite Lionel’s high level of performance, Inter ended up missing out on the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs.
On Messi’s day in 2023
Lionel Messi’s journey in 2023 has been somewhat unusual, with his arrival in Miami being one of the quietest moments of his career. The Argentinian’s presence in the city did not cause a big stir, as was expected. On the contrary, he found a peaceful environment to live with his family while wearing the number 10 shirt for Inter Miami, the team co-owned by David Beckham.
During his first few weeks in the city, Messi was seen doing ordinary activities, such as dining out, going to the beach and even shopping at a local supermarket, without facing crowds of fans. Apparently, football’s popularity is not as intense locally as other sports, such as basketball.
Despite this, the city is not ignoring the star’s presence, as you can see murals, works of art and some Inter Miami shirts with the number 10 throughout the city’s rias.
And throughout the year, Messi continued to positively impact American football, attracting the attention of the international media, includingApple TV+a film and series streaming service, which announced a documentary series focused on the signing, the athlete’s performance in MLS and the rebuilding of the team.
Another occasion that revolutionized MLS this year was the addition of 300,000 streaming subscribers by the technology giant, which signed a 10-year broadcast exclusivity agreement in June 2022, after Messi was hired.
The Argentine’s arrival at Inter Miami also directly impacted the partnership between Apple and adidas, the exclusive supplier of MLS sports equipment. Acting as a football star and ambassador, Messi, in addition to contributing to the growth of the streaming platform’s subscriber base, ensured an increase in sales of official shirts.
Managing to increase the team’s visibility and revolutionizing MLS partnerships and product sales, the player’s nomination as athlete of the year appears to be a fair decision, considering that, in addition to these achievements, he revitalized the public’s interest in the league and He continued to improve even after achieving the greatest achievements possible for a high-level player.
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