00:00All right, meanwhile, what could be major news for Major League Soccer?
00:03ESPN says Lionel Messi and Inter-Miami are now finalizing a new multi-year contract.
00:08This would keep the superstar in South Beach for the foreseeable future.
00:12Despite interest from other international clubs,
00:14Inter-Miami's owners said the club would do anything in their power
00:17to get Messi to stay and even retire with the team.
00:20Yeah, since Messi took his talents to South Beach back in July of 2023,
00:25that contract is expected to expire at the end of this season.
00:28Does pay him an annual salary of about $20.5 million.
00:33And the total value of that, that $130 million to $150 million,
00:36honestly does not even speak value as to how much he's helped in the investment
00:39towards Major League Soccer, Inter-Miami.
00:42In general, the global presence, the revenue increase,
00:45Apple TV having dedicated Messi-specific channels and components,
00:50different newsletters, and so many things that Major League Soccer,
00:53Inter-Miami as a club, as well as Messi, have been able to benefit off of.
00:56Jersey sales, ticket sales.
00:57Totally.
00:57So I do think it makes sense, especially with the World Cup coming up.
01:00Messi's made it clear he intends to play in the World Cup next summer,
01:03so this deal, that multi-year contract,
01:05could run through to ensure he's playing with Inter-Miami
01:07while he's preparing for the World Cup and after.
01:10And I don't want to be dramatic, but like MLS losing somebody like Messi
01:13at this period to all the things you just said
01:15could have been really cataclysmic for the league if that ended up happening.
01:19It could have been.
01:19And so within the next couple of weeks,
01:21we should get an official deal coming into fruition.
01:24But for the club, for all he's accomplished for the league,
01:26yes, you have to lock in Messi.
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