LIONEL MESSI JOINS INTER MIAMI, CLUB CONFIRMS.

The 36-year-old striker had reportedly been offered €400m (£344m) a year to join Saudi club Al Hilal and was also linked with a move back to his former club Barcelona but he refused both clubs to join Inter Miami.

The World Cup winner said in a statement from the club: "I'm very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States.

"This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I'm very eager to start helping here in my new home."

Beckham said he was overjoyed at Messi's arrival and described him as a "good friend [and] an amazing person".

He said: "Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city.

"Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.

"Today that dream came true."

The England and Manchester United legend added: "I couldn't be prouder that a player of Leo's calibre is joining our club."

The 36-year-old forward's contract expired with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of June.

Inter Miami CF Managing Owner Jorge Mas said: "I am honoured to welcome Leo Messi and his family to their new home."

Earlier in the year, Phil Neville was sacked as manager of Inter Miami, who are co-owned by his former Manchester United and England teammate Beckham.

The Florida side are currently bottom of the 15-team Eastern Conference, with just five wins from 16 matches.

Messi will first be available for selection for Inter Miami on 21 July when they take on Mexican side Cruz Azul in the opening match of the Leagues Cup.

The Leagues Cup is a new tournament in which the MLS and LIGA MX, the Mexican top division, will pause their respective league seasons from 21 July 21 to 19 August to determine the three clubs that will qualify for the 2024 CONCAF Champions Cup.

With pen now being put to paper on Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami, the next step is unveiling him to Inter Miami fans and the world. Anticipation has already been building with murals popping up all around the city and Messi being spotted doing things such as shopping at Publix and going out to dinner with his family.

The team's form is improving and Tata Martino has also been announced to lead the team but Messi will now be unveiled to his home fans on Sunday in the big moment of the summer. 

In an event that will be broadcast during halftime of the Gold Cup final, there will be musical guests, a fireworks show and so much more. It's unknown if there will be more players unveiled alongside Messi but that could change during the day with Miami continuing to make moves.

Messi’s unveiling at DRV PNK Stadium will see the gates open at 6 p.m. as there will be performances from Camilo and Ozuna. Other musical guests including Bad Bunny and Shakira have also been rumored to be in attendance as Miami will want to make this a memorable event for good reason due to Messi being the biggest name to ever set foot in MLS. After the celebration is where things will switch to TV for the main event of programming.