Lionel Messi wins MLS Goal of the Matchday award for his strike in Inter Miami's draw against Charlotte FC
Lionel Messi’s second-half equalizer for Inter Maimi against Charlotte FC has won the MLS Goal of the Matchday award. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored yet another stunner when the Herons faced Dean Smith’s men on Sunday, September 29.
Inter Miami welcomed Charlotte to the Chase Stadium in the MLS on Sunday as they hoped to extend their lead at the top of the league table. However, they ended up securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw as the visitors kept them at bay for a significant portion of the clash.
After an eventful first half that saw both sides exchange blows without breaking the deadlock, Charlotte took the lead in the 57th minute as Brandt Bronico’s effort was redirected by Karol Swiderski into the net. It looked as though Dean Smith’s men were going to secure consecutive victories for the first time since June, but Lionel Messi rose to the occasion 10 minutes later to cancel out Charlotte’s opener.
In the 67th minute, passes from an Inter Miami corner kick got to Lionel Messi. The Argentine then slightly nudged the ball forward to curl home a beauty into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. This was Messi's 15th goal of the season and his third in four matches after missing two months due to an ankle injury.
The other nominees for the award included Cedric Teuchert, Cucho Hernandez, and Stephen Afrifa. They finished in second, third, and fourth place, respectively.
Lionel Messi drives Inter Miami to unprecedented revenue growth and global recognition
Inter Miami have reportedly broken new ground in marketing, sponsorship, and revenue in 2024. After Lionel Messi joined the club in 2023, it was expected that the club’s visibility and followership would skyrocket.
According to ESPN, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Jersey is the top-selling jersey in Major League Soccer (MLS). Apart from that, the Herons talisman's jersey is the best-selling sports jersey in the Adidas sports portfolio.
MLS kit sales have experienced a remarkable increase of 41%. Inter Miami have secured 11 sponsorship agreements that would be highly sought after by any sports organization globally, including partnerships with prestigious brands such as Audi, JPMorgan Chase, Duracell, Lowe’s, Visa, and LaCroix. Notably, the club’s kit sponsors, Fracht and Royal Caribbean, represent the highest-paid sponsorships in MLS history.
The club told ESPN that for the 2024 season, season ticket renewals were at 90%, the highest in the history of the MLS.
The season before the former Barcelona man arrived at the club, they generated $50-$60 million in 2022, which increased to a whopping $120-$130 million in 2023. In 2024, they are expected to generate over $200 million in revenue.
They also earned significant sums by playing in countries like Saudi Arabia, Japan, El Salvador, and Hong Kong in early 2024, as the governments of El Salvador and Hong Kong reportedly paid them an undisclosed amount to play against their national teams.