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SOCCER REACTS — When arguably the most talented soccer player on the planet decides to move to the eighth-most-watched league in the world, it's going to create some ripples.
Such was the case when Lionel Messi announced his surprising decision on Wednesday to join MLS club Inter Miami. The reactions were both immediate and seismic.
Every Miami match for the rest of the year was sold out within 24 hours, the team's Instagram account gained over four million followers, and everybody had something to say about the football "GOAT" making his way to American soil.
"He's one of the greatest players to play that beautiful game," Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler said after Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. "I'm so excited for the city of Miami to be able to have a player of that caliber here."
The Miami Dolphins put out a video welcoming Messi with their players testing their soccer skills: juggling and passing the ball with the caption, "Just MESSIng around."
Just MESSIng around ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/wpwxWqOwFn
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) June 8, 2023
Even Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni reacted to a question about possibly facing Miami in the U.S. Open Cup final after advancing to the semifinals on Wednesday.
"The players would love to play against Messi," Mastroeni said. "As the coach, all I'm thinking right now is that we have two more matches to raise a trophy."
Messi is already bringing millions more eyeballs to MLS, and the reactions during the first 24 hours are just a taste of what is to come in American soccer.