Lionel Messi's Inter Miami was No. 1 football franchise in the 2024 top global trending searches from Google
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami was Google's most-searched football team this year. The Florida-based club are the third-most searched sports team in 2024, behind New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, highlighting the Argentinean maestro's influence.
Messi joined the Herons in the summer of 2023 following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The player had spent two seasons at the Parc des Princes, winning the Ligue 1 on both occasions.
Despite interest from Saudi Arabia that summer, Lionel Messi opted to cross the Atlantic and arrived at the Chase Stadium. The Argentine ace helped Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup last year, the first trophy in their history.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner helped the Herons finish at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference League this year. Inter Miami lifted the Supporters' Shield, and secured passage into the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Unfortunately, they couldn't progress beyond the first round of the playoffs, getting knocked out by Atlanta United.
Messi was indispensable for the Herons this year despite missing several games due to injuries and international commitment. Lionel Messi finished the campaign with 21 goals and 11 assists from 22 games across competitions. He was recently awarded the MLS MVP for 2024.
When does Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami expire?
Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami will expire in December 2025 and he hasn't signed a new deal yet. The Argentine superstar has changed the club's fortunes on and off the pitch since arriving at the Chase Stadium in 2023.
The Herons have apparently doubled their revenue since welcoming Messi to Florida. The diminutive magician's arrival has also made MLS a global league, with fans across the world now following the league with interest.
The effects are evident from the Google trending results from this year. Apart from Inter Miami, the only other football teams to be among the top 10 searched football teams are Bayer Leverkusen and the Argentina national football team.
Messi's influence is clear and unmatched and the Herons will likely seek to keep him at the club for as long as possible. Recent reports have suggested that Inter Miami are likely to sit with the player during the off-season to discuss a new deal.