Which MLS club did Lionel Messi join in 2023?

Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, Messi chose the Major League Soccer club over other reported options, including a possible return to Barcelona and an offer from Saudi Arabia.

Messi signed his Designated Player contract with Inter Miami on July 15, 2023, and was formally unveiled two days later at a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His arrival transformed the club’s profile internationally and reunited him with former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Messi made his Inter Miami debut on July 21 against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, scoring a stoppage-time free kick to win 2–1. He then helped Miami win the club’s first trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup. A common mix-up is confusing Inter Miami with Barcelona, where Messi spent most of his career, or with another MLS club such as LA Galaxy.