The King of Football Effect! Messi Has Boosted Inter Miami's Revenue by 4 Times, Transforming the Team from Bottom Dwellers to Champions

The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has essentially ended; some say it concluded after the 2022 World Cup, others believe it ended even earlier, and some fans argue there was never a true rivalry—only Messi’s ascent to football royalty.

Forbes recently wrote about Messi’s impact on Inter Miami! Thanks to Messi, Inter Miami’s valuation has soared to $1.35 billion, currently ranking first in MLS.

After moving from Paris to MLS in the 2023 summer transfer window, joining the bottom-ranked Inter Miami, the football king Messi began transforming the team. From the lowest-ranked club in MLS, they became winners of both the Leagues Cup and the MLS Cup. The club’s revenue nearly quadrupled, rising from $56 million in 2022 to $200 million last season. With Messi extending his contract with Inter Miami until 2028, media and fans alike are optimistic about the club’s future, as Messi’s presence guarantees strong performance and high attendance.

In contrast, Ronaldo is now in his fourth season with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. From being the Saudi Pro League leader to still having no titles, the football market there is quite bleak. When discussing the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry, looking at their paths after leaving the top five European leagues—Messi at Inter Miami in MLS and Ronaldo at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia—clearly shows there is no real rivalry anymore, only Messi’s journey to football supremacy.