Following the news that Lionel Messi was going to sign with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, bettors wasted no time getting money down on the all-time great's new team.
Inter Miami had +15000 odds to win the MLS Cup prior to the reported signing. The club is in last place in the Eastern Conference and is six points out of a playoff position.
Nonetheless, 90.2% of the betting tickets and 94.8% of the money that came into the MLS futures market following the Messi news was on Inter Miami at BetMGM.
The club's odds moved all the way down to +1800 with the star now on the roster and the massive influx of action coming in.
While it's unclear when exactly Messi will debut for the club, reports indicate that he will try to participate in the current season.
Lionel Messi will clarify the reasons and details of his decision to join Inter Miami in the next hours. 🇦🇷🇺🇸 #MLS
Deal will be valid with immediate effect as Jorge Messi is planning to travel to Miami later tonight. pic.twitter.com/eFxgfXzfqa
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 7, 2023
It will be interesting to see how the club performs if Messi is able to get going in a prompt manner. World-class players in their 30s have come to the MLS before — most notably David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney — but Messi would be unlike any of those listed due to his sheer pedigree.
He produced 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1 for PSG this past season, in addition to four goals in seven Champions League appearances.
