Arr, Owen Wilson be sayin' that this Messi madness be resemblin' the grand entrance o' Pelé in '75, matey. Maybe even grander, arr!
2023-09-04
Arrr, word be spreadin' that Lionel Messi be settin' foot on United States soil to play for Inter Miami CF in the grand MLS. This be makin' none other than the celebrated actor Owen Wilson reminisce about the legendary Pelé's astonishin' arrival back in 1975.
Lionel Messi made a big splash in Los Angeles on Sunday night as Inter Miami CF took on LAFC. The BMO Stadium was packed to capacity, with Messi's arrival bringing one of the biggest sports spectacles to the City of Angels. Even actor and LAFC fan Owen Wilson was in attendance, comparing Messi's arrival to the legendary Pelé playing for the New York Cosmos. Pelé's move to the United States in 1975 caused a frenzy, and Messi's entry into Major League Soccer has generated similar excitement.Pelé's signing with the New York Cosmos led to increased attendance and a move to a larger stadium due to the demand to see him play. The Cosmos set a North American attendance record on Pelé's debut, with 77,691 fans in attendance and 10 million people watching on TV. Similarly, Messi's arrival has had a significant impact on Inter Miami CF and the MLS. The team now has 12 million Instagram followers, with 11 million joining after Messi signed. High-profile stars like LeBron James and Kim Kardashian have been drawn to Miami to witness Messi's playing firsthand.
Messi's impact on the field has been immediate as well. He scored a beautiful free kick in his first match against Cruz Azul, securing a 2-1 victory for Miami. In his second match against Atlanta United, he scored twice. Prior to the LAFC match, Messi had scored in eight out of the ten matches he played. His arrival also turned Inter Miami CF's season around, as they went from being at the bottom of the MLS standings to winning the Leagues Cup and US Open Cup in penalty kicks.
"Messi Mania" shows no signs of slowing down, and fans like Wilson are excited to witness history being made as Messi continues to score goals and provide assists in his early MLS career.