Lionel Messi set to make Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul on Friday in Leagues Cup 2023

The Argentine superstar was finally unveiled as Inter Miami player yesterday

This past Saturday, Inter Miami CF officially confirmed the acquisition of Lionel Messi. The Argentine great, whose contract runs through 2025, is scheduled to make his League Cup bow on July 21 once David Beckham's Inter Miami takes on Cruz Azul of Liga MX.

Following conquering championships in France and Spain, notably the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona, Messi will take the pitch in a legitimate club matchup in North America for the inaugural time.

"I'm very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and the United States," said Messi. "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."

"I decided to go to Miami", the ex-Barcelona player had said on June 4. It was a piece of news that shook the world, as the whole planet had expected him to re-sign for his first club and one which saw MLS become the focus of plenty of attention across the world of soccer."

Messi, who recently won the World Championship with Argentina in Qatar 2022, will become the 14th World Cup hero to make an appearance in the Major League Soccer (MLS) after Brazilian defender Branco joined the NY/NJ MetroStars in 1997.

Since then, Major League Soccer has seen the careers of players like Thierry Henry, Lothar Matthaus, Andrea Pirlo, and Kaka, among others.

Inter is a member of South 3, where they will compete against Atlanta United as well as the Mexican team. Messi may run across Thiago Almada, who also competed for Argentina in the World Cup victory over France on December 18, if he participates in the second game.

His initial match is probably going to be Inter Miami's return to league competition with Charlotte FC on Sunday, August 20.

Miami is currently in last place in the MLS's Eastern Conference and is having a terrible season. They have gone 11 games without a victory.

Therefore, Messi's arrival cannot come soon enough, and everyone will be looking to him to revive the cause of his new team.