Rocket Man Lionel Messi Ready To Fire MLS Lift-off

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi's impending move to Inter Miami is set to be the biggest deal in the history of Major League Soccer and turbo-charges the league's aim to enter the American mainstream. Not since Brazilian legend Pele signed for New York Cosmos in 1975, has one of the all-time greats of the game played in the United States and his arrival is sure to set off an unprecedented level of hype. It is hoped Messi, who won the World Cup with his country in December, will give a massive boost to the popularity of the league and the sport in the run up to the 2026 World Cup which the US is hosing along with Mexico and Canada.

While Pele's years in the old North American Soccer League (NASL) were only seen by fans at the stadium and on the occasional live broadcast, Messi's matches in the pink shirt of Inter Miami will be available worldwide.

MLS's 10-year deal with Apple TV, worth a reported $2.5 billion, will allow fans in 107 countries to watch Messi in action via a subscription.

"Pele changed the sport in North America by introducing people to what soccer is," former US international Taylor Twellman, now lead MLS analyst for Apple TV, told AFP.

"Messi will be all that and then some because MLS has the infrastructure and the World Cup to take this rocket ship to the moon," he said.

MLS and Apple will be hoping that the 35-year-old, seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's arrival will generate the kind of revenue that has so far eluded the 27-year-old league.

While MLS has grown to 29 clubs, with investors paying around $500 million for the next new team in San Diego, MLS remains far away from the levels of interest enjoyed by the NFL and NBA.

Apple TV along with MLS sponsors Adidas are reported to have played a key role