Lionel Messi has chosen his next, and possibly final, club in his wildly successful football career with the news that he will join Inter Miami of MLS.
Messi is expected to confirm the news later on Wednesday. Messi’s decision to cross the Atlantic is somewhat of a surprise. Many believed he would follow in the footsteps of his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo and sign a lucrative deal with a club in Saudi Arabia.
Others thought he would rejoin Barcelona, the club where he emerged as one of the greatest players of all time. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion But Messi has decided to head to Miami, a city where he already owns property.
Inter Miami are part-owned by David Beckham, one of the few footballers who can rival Messi for global fame. The move also represents a publicity coup for MLS as it continues its push to become a major player in US sports.