Inter Miami supporters will welcome their new hero on Sunday, July 16 as Lionel Messi is officially presented in an event taking place at the club’s DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The Major League Soccer team officially announced the signing of the World Cup champion one day before, as he gets set to spend the next three seasons in Miami through the end of the 2025 campaign. Messi had indicated back on June 7 his intention of playing for the club, but the contract was only finalized over a month later.
New teammate Sergio Busquets is also expected to be presented on Sunday, and there have been reports that Bad Bunny, Shakira, and Maluma could make an appearance. The entertainment promised by the club will include performances by Camilo, Ozuna, and Argentine artists Paulo Londra and Tiago PZK.
Following his presentation, Messi will begin preparing for his debut on Friday, July 21 against Mexican side Cruz Azul in 2023 Leagues Cup action.
The Sporting News is following the Messi unveiling live, and providing real-time updates, commentary, video and photos from the event as it unfolds.
Messi presentation live updates, highlights and commentary
9:23 p.m. ET: The Apple TV broadcast has ended, but the show continues at DRV PNK Stadium.
9:05 p.m. ET: Both the Messi family and the Beckhams have joined the stage under the drizzle.
8:56 p.m. ET: With a hyped introduction from Jorge Mas, Messi is presented.
Bienvenido a nuestra familia💗🖤 pic.twitter.com/k7VOSGo1lv
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 17, 2023
INTER MIAMI OFFICIALLY INTRODUCE LIONEL MESSI 🐐 pic.twitter.com/DOWUimzg8i
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 17, 2023
8:52 p.m. ET: Sergio Busquets is the first player to be presented.
Welcome to @InterMiamiCF, Sergio. 👋🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/zGAdE0KcA4
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 17, 2023
Busquets is here! #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/ASIHvfeeTZ
— Alex Windley (@aaw_1998) July 17, 2023
8:40 p.m. ET: Check out the scenes inside of DRV PNK Stadium:
It is 🔥🔥🔥 in DRV PNK Stadium! The fans are going crazy! Messi is here!! @TheHeronOutlet #Messi #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/G7a7MbLIa5
— Ian Hest (@IanHest) July 17, 2023
#Messi, coming very very soon pic.twitter.com/wpYcWLKFMU
— Messi and Co. (@MessiandCo) July 17, 2023
8:35 p.m. ET: Despite the rain, the presentation has started free on Apple TV. Look for MLS Season Pass on your phone, tablet, or browser.
8:29 p.m. ET: Inter Miami owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas on the pitch greeting the supporters’ section.
David Beckham and Jorge Más head over to welcome La Familia (in the rain). #Messi #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/q2Cv0sZhPU
— Ian Hest (@IanHest) July 17, 2023
8:18 p.m. ET: Check out how the weather has turned around in time for the presentation.
Even the sky is celebrating #Messi’s unveiling now… #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/PoBGYF1pQv
— Ian Hest (@IanHest) July 17, 2023
Despite the rain, the sky looks equally excited to see Messi – now donned in a slight pink right after the rain delay.
Seem fitting for a night as historical as this. #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/CWSJZsasUi
— Alex Windley (@aaw_1998) July 17, 2023
7:58 p.m. ET: Here’s proof that Sergio Busquets is also going to be unveiled tonight.
Llegó Busquets 5️⃣👚 pic.twitter.com/h6jhk99O2m
— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) July 16, 2023
7:52 p.m. ET: Officially, the show is set to start at 8 p.m. ET.
7:47 p.m. ET: It’s a Lionel Messi sighting. The man of the moment has arrived.
La llegada de Leo Messi al estadio! pic.twitter.com/mHFU0G1NrV
— Patrick Meehan Nader (@TsunamiPix) July 16, 2023
Messi and his family arriving for his Inter Miami presentation 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7raM7WaczP
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 16, 2023
7:40 p.m. ET: It looks like the fans are going to be part of the show in more ways than one. Check out the elaborate instructions for the light show portion:
👀 Supporters light show 🔜#InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/V4kDVkIgif
— Alex Windley (@aaw_1998) July 16, 2023
7:30 p.m. ET: Multiple reports say that fans are being let into the stadium. Looks like there might be a show after all.
La tormenta pasó y las tribunas del Estadio del @InterMiamiCF ya lucen pobladas de aficionados, la mayoría mojados, que quieren ver la presentación de #LeoMessi#MLS #GOAT𓃵 pic.twitter.com/YfRSbEITHi
— CANCHA (@reformacancha) July 16, 2023
7:22 p.m. ET: It was raining so hard that the stadium tunnels were flooded.
😳⛈️ El túnel del estadio del Inter Miami, AHORA MISMO. pic.twitter.com/iv4S2DZ07V
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) July 16, 2023
7:04 p.m. ET: This was the scene at one of the gates where fans busted through to seek shelter from the storm.
Wow.
Fans got past what looked to be an unmanned gate during the lightning storm at Drv Pnk Stadium.
Tonight is showing the real challenges that can exist at the temporary venue, especially when there is a high demand.
🎥: @MagicCitySoccer pic.twitter.com/YojcCSrP76
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) July 16, 2023
6:37 p.m. ET: Update: There is no update. So why not pass the time with some “Muchachooooos”:
SUENA MUCHACHOS EN MIAMI. 🇦🇷🤯pic.twitter.com/CWIv0CY8JL
— TR SPORTS ®️ (@trsports_) July 16, 2023
The storm in Miami, Messi’s presentation has been delayed and it will take place when the rain stops 🌧️
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 16, 2023
6:07 p.m. ET: Fans will have to brave the elements to get a glimpse at their new hero. That wind and rain is crazy.
It’s raining raining here at DRV PNK Stadium pic.twitter.com/MbvqjnRwS3
— Mike Cugno (@MikeCugnoCBS4) July 16, 2023
6:02 p.m. ET: The Beckhams are in the house.
David y Victoria Beckham ya están al interior de DRV PNK Stadium.
Este evento es la culminación de muchos años de trabajo para la dirigencia de @InterMiamiCF.#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/EQG1rrbKx7
— José Armando (@Jarm21) July 16, 2023
5:53 p.m. ET: Imagine being on this long a line with the weather that’s apparently hitting DRV PNK Stadium.
Entrance into DRV PNK Stadium is insane!
Packed as full as it can get, especially as people attempt to beat the rain and lightning to get into the stadium.#InterMiamiCF#Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/yUXqlZv6Z3— IMCF Traveller (@IMCFTraveller) July 16, 2023
5:47 p.m. ET: We’re getting everything tonight, including a weather delay. We’ll see how long this pushes things. Fans were reportedly told to seek shelter.
Leo Messi: Welcome to Miami! Storm ⛈️ Lightning/weather delay at DRV PNK Stadium half hr before his “Unveil” festivities to begin. @HeraldSports @MiamiHerald @InterMiamiCF #InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/kpevfQfGi9
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) July 16, 2023
5:36 p.m. ET: It’s still early and fans are already flying through tables in the parking lot to the tune of “Muchachoooos!”
Fan shenanigans! 😭😭😭#InterMiamiCF https://t.co/q2F2LGyjvu pic.twitter.com/m0xRs2iXYA
— Alex Windley (@aaw_1998) July 16, 2023
5:33 p.m. ET: And just in time for today’s presentation, the club makes the Sergio Busquets signing official, after hinting at it a few weeks ago. No doubt he’ll be there tonight.
Bienvenido BUSÍ 5️⃣ pic.twitter.com/ikp762vhTE
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 16, 2023
5:26 p.m. ET: It’s going to cost you a little extra than the original $30 sales price to get into the stadium tonight. Season ticket holders got in free.
$163: cheapest ticket currently on @TickPick website to see Inter Miami welcome Lionel Messi tonight.
— Mark J. Burns (@markjburns88) July 16, 2023
5:09 p.m. ET: Wait, what? Messi jerseys going for $200! Fans might need more than that for a game ticket.
$200!!! pic.twitter.com/6kWLew9I5c
— Bob Williams (@WilliamsBob75) July 16, 2023
5:06 p.m. ET: Of course someone would show up with an actual goat for the GOAT’s presentation.
Alguien llevó una 🐐 (GOAT) a la presentación de Lionel #Messi𓃵 en Miami 😅 pic.twitter.com/aNRJ67mGtl
— Veronica Brunati (@verobrunati) July 16, 2023
A fan arrived with a GOAT 🐐 for Messi ‘s unveiling at InterMiami ‘s 🏟️. pic.twitter.com/ykq3fDnMNf
— Semper (@SemperFiMessi) July 16, 2023
5:03 p.m. ET: What DRV PNK Stadium looks like an hour before the start of the near 4-hour show. Apparently parking could be a challenge with long lines reported. One fan said they were in lin
DRV PNK Stadium getting ready for “The Unveil” As usual, among first in press box with @kaufsports #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/mBn4chTJ9w
— Susan Miller Degnan (@smillerdegnan) July 16, 2023
Madness 🤯 #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/OUElW6onxg
— Anibal (@latinheat) July 16, 2023
5:00 p.m. ET: In case you’re wondering, this presentation event sold out within an hour. Season ticket holders got free tickets and the rest of the tickets were put on sale on Friday, July 14. But they didn’t last long.
After making #Messi ‘The Unveil’ tickets available for free to #InterMiamiCF season ticket holders, the remaining La PresentaSíon tickets were made available to the general public this morning. At $30 each, they sold out within one hourhttps://t.co/L6327Y1IAt
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) July 14, 2023
What time is Lionel Messi’s presentation at Inter Miami?
Originally labeled by Inter Miami as ‘The Unveil’ and later as ‘La PresentaSIon’ (with an emphasis on the ‘Si’ which translates to ‘Yes’ in English) is taking place on Sunday, July 16.
The in-stadium show will kick off at 6 p.m. ET, while the key portion featuring Lionel Messi will start at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Messi’s presentation will be taking place at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale at 8:30 p.m. local time. Here is how that translates to major regions around the world:
| Region | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Sat, July 16 | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Sat, July 16 | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| UK | Sun, July 17 | 1:30 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sun, July 17 | 10:30 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sun, July 17 | 6 a.m. IST |
| Singapore | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. SGT |
| Hong Kong | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. HKT |
| Malaysia | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. MYT |
| New Zealand | Sun, July 17 | 12:30 p.m. NZST |
MORE: Beginner’s guide to Lionel Messi’s new club Inter Miami
How to watch Lionel Messi’s presentation at Inter Miami
‘The Unveil’ will be available for fans around the world to watch for FREE in English and Spanish on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The club will also be live streaming a portion of the event on the Inter Miami CF official Twitter, YouTube and Twitch channels. This could presumably be the part taking place between 6 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET, before the Apple TV exclusive window starts.
Kaylyn Kyle will host Apple TV’s English-language commentary team that includes Taylor Twellman, Sacha Kljestan, and Stefano Fusaro.
The Apple TV Spanish-language team will include Messi’s former teammate and MLS legend Diego Valeri, Eduardo Biscayart, Antonella Gonzalez, and Andres Agulla.
MORE: Watch MLS Season Pass on Apple TV at 50% off the full-season price
The Athletic previously reported that MLS have been in talks with CONCACAF, and broadcasters Fox and Univision, to have Messi’s presentation aired during halftime of the Gold Cup final between Mexico and Panama which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.
Expect to see plenty of Messi on Apple TV with the player reportedly set to earn a percentage of new MLS Season Pass subscriptions as part of his Miami contract.
Tickets to Lionel Messi presentation
Inter Miami invited their season ticket holders to sign up for free tickets to attend the Messi presentation by Wednesday, July 12.
The rest of the tickets went on sale two days later at $30 and were reportedly sold out within an hour.
The official club site lists DRV PNK Stadium’s capacity at 19,100 though the club has added a grandstand to one of the stadium ends.
The new Southeast bleachers are up in the corner of DRV PNK Stadium, making more room for Messi fans. Those seats at $200 for his debut game July 21 and $145 for July 25 game through team Ticketmaster site.@MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @InterMiamiCF #InterMiamiCF #MLS #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/xgLgFyOePe
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) July 12, 2023
MORE: All the trophies that Lionel Messi can win with Inter Miami
DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale is a temporary home for Inter Miami as they build a new 25,000-seat, privately funded downtown home called Miami Freedom Park.
The expected inauguration date for the new stadium in the vicinity of Miami International Airport is some time during the 2025 season, which is projected to be Messi’s last with the club unless he exercises a one-year option to extend his deal through the end of 2026.
When Miami Freedom Park is opened, DRV PNK Stadium would continue to be the home of the club’s MLS Next Pro team, as well as select Inter Miami matches.
