Lionel Messi's new club Inter Miami: Team-mates, trophies, tickets, stadium & everything you need to know ahead of blockbuster MLS move

Inter Miami currently participate inMajor League Soccer in the United States. The league serves as the top flight for a combination of teams from the United States and Canada. There are 29 teams participating in the league divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences. Inter Miami are part of the Eastern Conference as the club is situated in Florida on the eastern coast of the USA.

The 'Herons' also participate in the U.S Open Cup, which is the national cup competition for the clubs from MLS and the second tier, the USL Championship.

Miami, as of June 8, 2023, are still in the competition having booked their place in the semi-final of the cup after a win against USL Championship side, Birmingham Legion.

In July, Messi's new club will also participate in the third edition of the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament that brings together teams from MLS and Liga MX, the top professional soccer league in Mexico. This inter-league competition is scheduled to take place from July 21 to August 19, 2023 and could well be the setting for the Argentine's highly-anticipated Miami debut.

Messi’s new club could also potentially qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup next season, if they win the US Open Cup. The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the continental competition between clubs in the CONCACAF region and, in MLS, the MLS Cup winners and the respective leaders of the two conferences from the previous season receive a direct berth alongside the winner of the U.S. Open Cup.

Inter Miami's most well-known player before the signing of Messi was his compatriot, Gonzalo Higuain. However, at the end of the 2022 season, the former Juventus and Chelsea forward decided to call time on his illustrious career.

While there have been rumours in the air about David Beckham's club also looking to target some of Messi's former team-mates, including Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Angel Di Maria, it remains to be seen who will actually join the Argentine on his Miami quest.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will, however, join forces with Josef Martinez, who holds the record as the most decorated single-season player in MLS history by winning the League MVP, All-Star Game MVP, Golden Boot, and MLS Cup Final MVP.

He will also join fellow Argentines Franco Negri and Nicolas Stefanelli, former Newcastle full-back DeAndre Yedlin and ex-Wolves man, Leonardo Campana.

Despite his father's departure as manager, Phil Neville's son Harvey Neville is also still on Miami's books.

Inter Miami squad in full

Although Inter Miami was formed as a club in 2018, they only started playing in 2020 and have failed to win a trophy in their short life so far. However, in 2022, the Herons did make an appearance in the MLS Playoffs, albeit losing in the first round against a dominant New York City FC.

As for the U.S. Open Cup, the South Florida club only reached the quarter-final once, back in 2022. However, they are currently in the semi-final of the 2023 US Open Cup, which could represent their first proper chance of silverware, with Messi leading the charge.

Inter Miami's brand colours since their inception have been pink and black. The colour theory has been followed by their home and away kits, with the home jersey pink in color with black accents that pop out through the contrast. Their away offering, meanwhile, follows the opposite combination, with black being the major colour with classy pink accents.

It's not yet been confirmed what number Messi will be given upon his arrival in Miami, although with the No.10 shirt vacant, it would be a huge surprise to see him take anything other than the iconic number he's worn for much of his professional career.

Inter Miami currently plays its home matches at DRV PNK Stadium, an 18,000-capacity venue situated in Fort Lauderdale, which also serves as the long-term home for their reserve team.

They do, however, have plans to construct a new and larger stadium at Miami Freedom Park, which will serve as their long-term home. The proposed development will feature a privately-funded stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000, making it the focal point of the project.

The club has overcome local government obstacles, and in April, the Miami City Commission approved a 99-year lease agreement to the owners of Inter Miami for the Miami Freedom Park endeavour.

According to CEO Jorge Mas, the project is anticipated to be completed in time for the 2025 season. Despite DRV PNK Stadium being their current home, Inter Miami is working towards establishing a more prominent and permanent venue at Miami Freedom Park for future seasons.

While David Beckham is the public face of Inter Miami as co-owner, he’s not the only member of the ownership group. Jorge Mas is the club’s CEO and managing owner, while his brother, Jose Mas, is a co-owner.

The Mas brothers are local businessmen who grew up in Miami. Jorge Mas is the chairman of MasTec and Jose Mas is the CEO. MasTec is a Miami-based construction and engineering company founded by their father.

Messi joining MLS has a direct link to Beckham’s ground-breaking decision to come to the LA Galaxy. As part of Beckham’s deal came a clause that he could activate to become the owner of an expansion franchise one day. That’s how he became co-owner of Miami, who have now made their own mega deal to sign Messi.

Inter Miami has had a whole host of Argentine players over the course of its short history. In fact, Argentina has been the most represented nation for the Herons after the United States of America.

Lionel Messi will be the 10th Argentine to represent the club, with a total of three other Argentina nationals already part of their squad, including Nicolas Stefanelli, Benja Cremaschi and Franco Negri.

The club has also had Gonzalo Higuain, a compatriot and close friend of Messi, on its roster before the former Napoli striker called it a day on his footballing career in 2022.

At the moment, prior to Lionel Messi's registration to the Inter Miami roster, the three Designated Players in the squad are Josef Martinez, Gregore and Leonardo Campana.

To make way for Messi, it is likely that Inter Miami will drop Gregore to a regular spot in the squad as he is the lowest-paid Designated Player of the three. Either way, Argentine legend Messi will definitely be the third Designated Player for the Herons for the rest of the season.

Ask most people who the Inter Miami head coach is and the overwhelming response is likely to be Phil Neville. However, following a series of disappointing results, Inter Miami made the decision to part ways with the former Manchester United player. He had been leading the team for two-and-a-half seasons before his exit, which came just days after an X-rated outburst in a press conference.

Taking over as interim coach is Javier Morales, a highly-respected 43-year-old Argentine former professional footballer. While Morales is well-regarded within the club, this marks his first experience taking charge of first-team matches. He began his playing career at Lanus in Argentina but gained recognition in North America during his time in MLS, particularly with Real Salt Lake. Morales achieved notable success, winning the 2009 MLS Cup and earning two All-Star selections.

It remains uncertain whether Morales will continue as head coach when Messi arrives. According toThe Athletic, Inter Miami has engaged in preliminary discussions with Tata Martino, who previously managed the Argentina national team from 2014 to 2016 and Barcelona from 2013 to 2014.

No, Inter Miami does not have its own women's team at the moment. There has been no publish discussions regarding the inauguration of a women's team for the Herons and, as things stand, it is unlikely that the club will have a women's team to join the NWSL any time soon.

Inter Miami have the nickname 'The Herons' after the White Heron birds that are found across the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region. The Herons are also visible in the club's crest and appear as their mascot as well.

Miami boasts a notable populace of South Americans. The city continues to attract people from diverse Latin American nations, with many South Americans living in the area.

Based on statistics obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau from 2019, the Miami metropolitan area has a foreign-born population of approximately 2.8 million individuals. While this includes residents from all corners of the globe, it is reasonable to assume that a number of inhabitants are from South America.

Miami's diverse culture and its geographic proximity to Latin America appeals to South American people, with opportunities for employment in domains such as commerce, finance, tourism and other industries.

To purchase tickets for Inter Miami games, you can visit Ticketmaster. The MLS regular season is set to continue until October 21, with the playoffs commencing just four days later.

Tickets can be hard to come by for Inter Miami's matches due to the arrival of Messi and the sudden skyrocketing of prices for all of the club's fixtures.

For those unable to attend the games in person but still wishing to witness the competitive action, especially with Messi's highly arrival, an option is to acquire an MLS Season Pass with Apple TV+. This provides an opportunity to enjoy the matches remotely.

The former Barcelona star reportedly spent between $7 million and $9m to buy an apartment in the luxury Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, back in 2021 and it's likely that he will take up residence there when he arrives at Inter Miami.

It remains to be seen, however, if the 35-year-old and his family will make that location their permanent home for the duration of Messi's stay in the States.

Miami is a massive tourist hub in the United States and the fact that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and his family will live in the city provides them the opportunity to explore some of the major tourist attractions. These include:

1. South Beach: The iconic neighbourhood is known for its stunning beach, vibrant nightlife, and Art Deco architecture. It offers a lively atmosphere with trendy restaurants, bars, and clubs.

2. Art Deco Historic District: Located in the heart of South Beach, the Art Deco Historic District is a must-visit for its beautifully preserved pastel-colored buildings. A stroll along Ocean Drive will allow Messi to experience the charm of this architectural gem.

3. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: Messi may choose to explore the opulent Vizcaya estate, a Mediterranean-style villa surrounded by lush gardens and breath-taking views of Biscayne Bay. The museum showcases European-inspired art and furnishings, offering a glimpse into Miami's rich history.

4. Wynwood Walls: The World Cup winner can immerse himself in Miami's vibrant art scene at Wynwood Walls. This open-air museum features larger-than-life street art murals created by renowned artists from around the world.

5. Everglades National Park: Just a short drive from Miami, Everglades National Park is a unique natural wonder. When he's not featuring on the pitch, Messi has the chance to explore the vast wetlands, spot alligators and other wildlife on an airboat tour, and learn about this fascinating ecosystem through various nature trails and educational exhibits.