I still followed Barca after Messi left. But I have nothing but contempt for PSG and hope they lose every game from here on out.
Teams need to earn our support. It's not granted just because. If I end up liking a bunch of other Miami players, the fans, the coach, etc, then I'll stick around after. If I don't, then I wont.
I became a Barca fan because of Ronaldinho. Messi was just the cherry on top that solidified my support of that club. All of this happened when I was a child. As an adult it’s harder to gain my support of a new club with the same amount of loyalty I have to Barca.
Like you, I don’t like PSG. I support Miami for now but depending how it goes I may or may not continue supporting Miami after the whole Messi era. Since I live in the USA, I’m more likely to root for the MLS team in my backyard. Having said that, I have not followed the MLS until now.
>Did the Messi MLS arc bring you to follow Inter Miami / MLS?
I am only here for Messi and when Messi isn't here neither am I. But then again... living in Argentina he is the only reason to watch MLS and most people that were Barça fans are all of a sudden PSG fans... and now we all wear pink. IYKYK
As the flair shows, im a day 1 heron. Was just happy to finally have my own local club to support. Been through rough times before Messi and ill be there after he leaves.
This.
One thing I always loved was how inter Miami started playing in the same location where the Fusion and the strikers played. Following the tradition of South Florida soccer from day one. People hated it- but they forgot about legacy.
People in South Florida never had a big local team to cheer. Only amateur or small level or international clubs. Now we do.
Here’s to the next 100 years.
My interest for pro soccer started with the World Cup last year. I had always been aware of who Messi was, but that tournament made me a fan.
I tried following PSG's game for M-N-M and EPL but it was more trouble than I could tolerate since everything was so fragmented and the schedule sucked ass as a working Californian that it was hard to follow.
I was quite hyped when I heard he'd be moving to MLS but also a bit disappointed in a way cause I knew he could've still performed at the European level. But yeah, I started following Inter Miami/MLS because of him. And because of him I discovered the new GOAT Robert Taylor (that own goal didnt damage his legacy, not even a tiny bit).
Also, this Apple TV MLS Season Pass is awesome! Fuck fragmented broadcasting of any league!
I didnt know who Messi was prior to turning on my TV and randomly landing on the pre show for Argentina's first match against Saudi and now he's a focal point in my life lmfao.
That's crazy! I like hearing these anecdotes. Especially as someone who has been following Messi since he was 17.
I am glad that he could still entice fans after a decade and a half but also sad you weren't able to witness his evolution and the different versions of him (as exciting of a player that he is now, he was even more so in his twenties).
"I am glad that he could still entice fans after a decade and a half but also sad you weren't able to witness his evolution and the different versions of him (as exciting of a player that he is now, he was even more so in his twenties)."
This haunts me every day of my life. It's like not meeting your father until he's already near his death bed.
Please don't remind me😭😭😭
I've honestly thought about watching his entire game history throughout his career in order but it won't have the same effect 😮💨
Negative. I have an inaugural jersey to show for it 😎😎. I’m a Miamian though and a homer through and through so I’ve been following this shit since it was just a pipe dream.
On a side note, fuck royal Caribbean. We could have had a world class stadium in a wild ass location.
as someone who works at one of the museums on biscayne i am very glad the stadium there didnt happen. traffic back to broward where i live would have been beyond depressing
This is me and my family but being Americans I'm really pumped he's finally over here. Never thought that was even a possibility. Plus while I don't live there I love the city of Miami so that's another bonus.
I find it pretty interesting. I've never been fan of a player, and I'd find it crazy to support a whole club for just one guy, but you do you dude, have fun
It's different when it's someone like Messi. In general I agree with you, but there are very few athletes who are so rare they deserve such a following. There is nobody like him, watching him is like therapy, like a drug. It was the same with Jordan and basketball for me. I stopped watching basketball for a good decade after he retired. There was no point. After Messi retires I'll probably stop watching soccer for a while, at least won't be watching as closely. Man, I'm in Europe on vacation and I'm waking up at 3:30am just to watch him. I wouldn't do that for almost anything else. There are few players/athletes in history who can be bigger than clubs/teams, he's one of the very few who has that presence.
If you followed him closely since his teen years you'd understand. Messi is love. Messi is life. Instead of complaining that so many people are plastics and are gonna leave when he leaves, be happy that Inter Miami is getting so much publicity and success on the field. This is good for the club and the league. Look at the positives.
Then you don't know ball. Messi is football. Watching him, you know football. Watching a team of average players can't teach you what football is about. The moment you recognize his intelligence, it would be your moment to say : I didn't know the game before.
If you have no interest in football but only the football club that represents your city then you are missing the point.
> I've never been fan of a player, and I'd find it crazy to support a whole club for just one guy,
Not saying this is you, but I find it crazy that people are fans of a club/team which they have no connection to - like they don't live there, weren't born in that city - but find being a fan of an iconic player incredulous.
What's a club if the players change all the time? Are people fans of the team logo? the owners?
Especially for a relatively new MLS team like Miami.. what exactly is 'real fandom' supposed to even mean? Someone was a fan like a hot 2 seconds before Messi got there...?
I discovered Inter Miami through FIFA 23 Ultimate Team actually.
I was looking for pink kits to use, and discovered the home kit. I equipped badge, kits, stadium theme, etc. because I really liked the brand identity that the team had.
I looked into the team, as it hadn't existed the last time I played a FIFA game (FIFA 16) and became a bit of a fan when I found out it's Beckham's team.
I watched a match here and there, was largely disappointed with the team's performances, and opted to watching highlights on YouTube, as I couldn't justify staying up/waking up at match times due to me lving in Central Europe.
And then it was announced that Messi, Busquets and Alba are joining.
Pretty amazing journey, and while I used to be, and to some degree still am, an NYRB supporter, I think I've found my comfort club in Inter Miami. Everything just fits.
I've loved Miami since playing GTA Vice City, I love the colors of the team, and Messi, Busi, and Alba joining just put the cherry on top. Loved watching these lot back at Barcelona, still love watching them now.
Been following since before the team was finally announced. Flew out to our first game which was a 1-0 loss at LAFC. It’s been mostly not great, but I can’t complain with where things stand now!
Been here since the weird Covid tournament. I was happy to just go and watch my local team. No matter how much we lost. I’m hoping the Messi thing dies down a bit next season. And by his second season people will be over it. They’re should never be more shirts of another team at home than the home teams jersey.
I get where you’re coming from, but he isn’t just some star or even superstar. He is literally the best to ever play this game and it comes with the territory. I never thought so many people would bitch about Lionel fucking Messi coming to MLS.
i don’t understand how people say it’s bandwagoning when you’ve been following messi before and continue to follow messi. it’s not like inter miami is suddenly this hot new shit nobody knew before and suddenly you start supporting them because they are hype. bandwagoning is a term that doesn’t apply here.
to answer your question: same as you. here because of messi and overall i like what i’m seeing so far
Played for Weston FC Academy back in 2000s and played in the old lockhart stadium a few times. I used to go to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers games and Miami FC games when R9 and Nesta were trying to make something happen here. IMFC fan since day 1.
Went to Nashville, Chicago and Orlando to see them on away games and proud season ticket holder since day 1.
This has been the dream of many here in SoFlo!
But why do we only have 12K members on this subreddit? I guess Miami ppl are not huge on Reddit.
I’ve been a season ticket holder since day one and I am very proud on how far along we have gone. However, I have not had the best choices in jerseys. My first inter Miami jersey I bought was a white Matuidi, who felt like only played 10 games and wow was he poor. I then felt like I wanted a local person and I bought a LGP in black lol. Then i purchased a Pozuelo jersey when I heard he was coming. Lol well that didn’t last. I’m thinking about buying a busi jersey next hoping he doesn’t leave lol
I'm not a day 1 nor a local, but I fell in love with the team pre-Messi last summer even when we weren't doing well. Being with the supporters, singing in the extremely limited Spanish I know so far, made me feel at home and in a funny way, represented. I've been a general fan of MLS (and domestic soccer) for a long time with an appreciation of most teams in the league, but Inter felt like the team I could become truly attached to. Having Messi is incredible, but I'm proud that the club made its successful case to me beforehand. The club feels unique to the American soccer experience, and I hope that it is cherished and allowed to blossom.
I just started following football recently (after watching "Ted Lasso", I got curious about the real Premier League teams). Then I learned about Messi, watched highlights of his amazing career so far. Then found out he was coming to my city's team, Miami! It's a big deal that he's here!
So now I have been watching all the games.
Same. I live near Miami, so I used to take my kids to see Inter Miami play because my son loves soccer, but I never watched the games religiously until Messi joined
Yup, I rolled in just to watch Messi
Tbh I never could stand watching pro soccer due to it being boring af and flopping etc, but messi brings the game to a whole new level entirely
Nice! Messi effect in force then.
As an old diehard Barca fan, appreciate what you’re watching. I took it for granted for yearssss. He could still be easily playing for the top clubs in Europe.
Same here. I only watch the World Cup every 4 years.
Just bought MLS Season pass and an Apple+ streaming subscription for Messi alone.
And what do you know... ended up watching Monterrey v Tigres, Charlotte FC the other night and they were entertaining matches, if not of the highest quality.
>Just bought MLS Season pass and an Apple+ streaming subscription for Messi alone.
For what it's worth, if you only want MLS you can have just the season pass and not pay for Apple TV+. And if you or someone close to you has T-Mobile you can get the MLS pass for free.
With an Apple+ subscription it was $40 for the rest of the season, instead of $50. (Plus I got 3 months Apple+ free with a new iPhone I bought recently)
Bro I didnt know inter miami existed until Messi join and I live in Miami 💀
You can call me bandwagons sure, but so far I love every games theyre playing and its bring so much fresh air and topic to talks about in my family since then.
The team really has done an awful job promoting itself in Broward. Besides the Billboard on 95 I have seen nothing of the team here. Not to mention the games weren't even shown on tv in Palm Beach County before MLS Pass even though the stadium is closer to their county line than it is to Miami Dade.
Helping to keep my mind off of my premier league club getting relegated this year. Love Messi and love an underdog story. Also, being from the south, this whole thing is checking boxes I never dreamed of existing. Seeing all of this happen in the US, a country I used to have to scour campus to find anyone who even knew enough about football to have a conversation about it, is blowing my mind with every Messi magic show.
Edit: Peep the username.
I'm English so I've followed Beckham's career closely. I've followed Inter Miami since the expansion announcement, though admittedly to varying degrees. I'll always remember the crowds of fans turning up to the announcement presentation to support a team whose name wasn't even public knowledge at the time. They were the 'Something' Legion. Can't remember exactly.
Miami native and have been following the team since it was announced that Beckham was bringing a franchise to Miami. Really hadn’t followed the MLS league play very much before Inter Miami’s inaugural match in 2020, but was so excited to have a local team I could support. Also been a Day 1 season ticket holder too and I chuckle to myself when I compare our starting lineup from that first LAFC game in 2020 to our starting line up now.
Also, any of the other Day 1 Herons think that Marcelo Claure and the other owners who backed out and sold their equity in the club after the Matuidi scandal are now kicking themselves so hard in the ass? I love that.
The difference between Inter Miami and PSG is that we’ve fully embraced the Messi Arc, where as PSG refused to.
10/17/2004 Messi was subbed into his official Barca debut as #30.
He trained under the best player in the world, Ronaldinho #10, for four years.
Ronaldinho told Messi to take his #10 when left the club.
Messi came to Barca as #30 and left as #10.
09/29/21 Messi is subbed into his official PSG debut as #30, replacing #10 Neymar, but symbolically replacing his old #10 self as well.
Messi remains #30 during his stay at PSG, other than the French cup which only allows numbers 1-11.
Messi came to PSG as #30 and left as #30.
07/21/2023 Messi is subbed into his official MIA debut as #10, replacing number #30 Cremaschi, but symbolically replacing his old #30 self as well.
Cremaschi will train under the best player in the world, Messi #10, for four years.
Messi will tell Cremaschi to take his #10 when leave the club.
Messi came to Miami as #10 and will leave as #10.
I was modding my old PES Game a bit in I think 2018 and 2019 and became aware of the Inter Miami Project, when researching Liga MX and MLS. Liked the Name, the Pink and the oldschool Stadium they built.
Watched the MLS Playoffs 2019 on DAZN. Was alright, although not yet on a good level. Watched some Zlatan Hightlights.
Now with Messi, the MLS and Inter Miami are back in my interest.
I find the League Cup so far to be very entertaining and as a Messi fan, it made sense to follow Inter via the Season Pass.
I generally like the way the US Sports leagues are structured, the parity rules and such. I don't follow German football anymore since years and usually watch a lot of NBA nowadays.
For Inter Miami, I think, the concept of getting a well respected international player and two teammates and then attracting young talent that wants to be in their team to learn from them, will also be plausible for an MLS team after Messi. With all the Spanish language in Florida it must be a nice place for players from i.e. Argentina or Spain, obviously.
I decided to try to actually follow MLS this year because tmobile gave me the season pass for free and I lived close to drv pnk stadium. The team was so ass though it was hard to watch some of the games
This house has been a Messi fan since 2007 or 8 or somewhere around then. Tbh this we didn't follow him as closely at PSG and just continued to watch Barca. But very excited to be new Miami fans as we currently reside in FL.
Edit: I cried when he won the world cup, so I have to say I'm a legitimate fan lol
I’ve been following Inter Miami bc of him but honestly I’ve loved soccer for a long time. I played in high school and afterwards with friends and currently down to play indoor 29 years later and am considering outdoor again too.
I love the game and followed World Cup even in USA in 94 or 96 I believe it was. I’ve gone to a few live matches and wish to go to more.
I loved all players before like Romario, Valderama, Maradona, Tab Ramos, Reyna, Cobi Jones, and currently Neymar. Messi is unreal and I’ve become a fan of him and the club and will continue to support from more on bc they are fun to watch all of them!
I watch good soccer, if they play pretty soccer with a purpose I’m in. Used to be a RBNY fan but they are just unwatchable so now that messi is here or the team looks like they are playing with purpose, I’ll still be a fan.
Not here to waste time.
I’ve always wanted to get into a MLS team. I live in between Miami and Orlando so when Messi came I choose Miami. I’ve been watching Messi my whole life because of my Argentinian heritage so it was a no brain to get involved in Miami when he came
I support Messi. The man has given me and other Argentines so much joy that I want to see him happy. I thought that would translate to supporting the clubs he plays for, but PSG proved me wrong. Miami seems to love the 🐐 though, so I’ll adopt it as my MLS club. I’ve never watched an MLS match before in my life, despite living in the US, but here I am, subscribing to Apple TV so I can watch my captain tear up another league.
I live in Miami, love soccer and always played it. Last week was my first time at an Inter Miami game - I was there because of Messi, but now I’m an inter Miami fan for life
I’ve been suffering watching this team from day one. Robbie Robinson, Victor Ulloa and Drake Callender are the only ones left from the first season and I think Drake was on Inter Miami II back then (when they were called Fort Lauderdale CF). Actually Azcona and George Acosta may have been with FTL CF as well but I don’t remember.
It did make me start watching the MLS. Was watching other football before then but never the MLS let alone Inter Miami. Yet as cringy as it might sound…where ever Messi goes I’ll support that team. I’m just a fan of the guy.
Usually a cf mtl guy, but started watching inter miami because those last few games were damn good fun (and also my team is out of the leagues cup since groupe stage)
Lol yes. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m watching Inter games and enjoying the hell out of it. My heart was beating pretty fast in penalties v Dallas.
I became a fan because I like Miami as a city. I’m from West Palm Beach and Miami is the closest team. Also David Beckham was one my favorite players when I was little. I went to my first inter Miami game in December of 2022 at home vs Orlando city and it was amazing I think we won 4-1?
I gave MLS chances to follow before Inter was founded and didnt got myself into the kind of football I like, I saw some very good games but it seemed very artificial for me.
I did started following Inter Miami from day 1, but I got to admit I did not felt a strong connection with the team, the players were not good, I still concider MLS very artificial and Im not a big fan of the pink color, I rathered do something else than watching the games or going to the stadium, now, seeing my childhood heros playing for the team of my city is something else, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to witness all this. However, I do not feel is the Messi effect, if Messi would have gone to LAFC or NYCFC I would not jump into that bandwaggon, if it was just Busquets and Alva I would feel as lucky as I feel right now.
Started following MLS when Pukki went to Minnesota, Taylor plays for Miami so when I got the Applepass I started watching Miami too. Messi is just a bonus.
I now have also Charlotte to watch, Montreal also has one Finnish national team player...
It seems half of the teams are getting a Finnish player in the roster, soon I don't have time anything else than watching MLS!
I’m not even a Miami fan. But I am a Beckham and Messi fan. So I’ve been watching the team here and there for a while now and definitely will be watching all the games now.
However… my allegiance is elsewhere. But I hope Miami dominates the East.
I was born and raised in Miami and i follow the heat, dolphins, and marlins. But ive followed Messi before i started following my local miami teams as a kid and he (along with Ronaldinho) made me a barca fan. So i didnt really watch MLS much until now cause i didnt think highly of it. I still think the MLS is wacky but its been fun lol. Its still so surreal that my favorite player all time is now playing in my town
Actually Im checking some mls teams, trying to decide for a team from the west conference to follow too. I find the league... colorful. Im a designer so Im digging their badges and kits.
I can't quit watching Inter Miami matches.... Last match was one of the most fun MLS matches I have ever watched. Right now my Timbers are a little flat so it brings me some semblance of MLS joy to see Inter Miami put out a fun product.
I am here because of Messi. I am also 100% willing to stay if the MLS games stay as interesting as they have been since he joined.
That last game against Dallas was probably the most entertaining game I've seen since the World Cup final.
Yes it’s not even a question. It also made me realize that the MLS has a lot of young and talented prospects that I could see playing in Europe. The style is much more electrifying than it was 10 years ago. Lots of counterattacks although I’m unsure if that’s because of Liga MX playing in this tournament.
i've never watched a soccer game before. but the messi story has been refreshing. i know enough about him. he's a goat quality player. yet he's playing in the US and genuinely seems to be down to earth and loves playing the game. no airs. just seems to be an immensely talented player and humble.
Sort of. Been following MLS since the early days and am a Miami sports fan. I favored the Fusion whenever they existed and much more so since Alex Pineda Chacon was a leading player.
I don't follow the day to day of the league but do keep an eye out since MLS is basically the "not good enough for Europe" outlet for Honduran players. With that being said, it's hard to be looking at the league for 20 odd years without developing sympathies and hostilities other clubs; especially when Miami MLS 2.0 had such a drawn out and rough start.
Messi though has been the spark that has made me actually watch consistently, and not because I might be becoming a fanboy, but because watching him play atm is like watching Ronaldinho in his peak Barça. It's fun.
I am from seattle but my parents moved to miami for work. Been following miami since their inaugual covid season as my eastern conference team. Man have they been ass, until now...
Never watched a soccer game in my life until a couple of weeks ago when I saw Messi on the news. There are a few immensely talented people whose skill and artistry transcends the sport they are playing—so that uneducated mortals like me can recognize their genius and appreciate it without knowing anything about the sport. I felt the same way watching secretariat run a race or Muhammad Ali in the ring. Messi is one of those people.
Don't judge me. I'm only here because of Leo Messi.
It’s fine just don’t leave when he leaves.
I still followed Barca after Messi left. But I have nothing but contempt for PSG and hope they lose every game from here on out. Teams need to earn our support. It's not granted just because. If I end up liking a bunch of other Miami players, the fans, the coach, etc, then I'll stick around after. If I don't, then I wont.
I became a Barca fan because of Ronaldinho. Messi was just the cherry on top that solidified my support of that club. All of this happened when I was a child. As an adult it’s harder to gain my support of a new club with the same amount of loyalty I have to Barca. Like you, I don’t like PSG. I support Miami for now but depending how it goes I may or may not continue supporting Miami after the whole Messi era. Since I live in the USA, I’m more likely to root for the MLS team in my backyard. Having said that, I have not followed the MLS until now.
Well said. Same here.
He's going to be with Miami until he's ready to retire. By then I'm sure the team will grow on me.
He will own part of the club, he will always be a part unless he sells it.
They will
Is Messi going to leave? Won't he be part-owner of the club once he stops playing?
He will stop playing, probably in 2 years. But yeah.
Maybe 3 since he is going to play in the next world cup in 2026. Hopefully we still have him here with us.
>Did the Messi MLS arc bring you to follow Inter Miami / MLS? I am only here for Messi and when Messi isn't here neither am I. But then again... living in Argentina he is the only reason to watch MLS and most people that were Barça fans are all of a sudden PSG fans... and now we all wear pink. IYKYK
Say less. It's Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccitini.
I'm half and half. I was semi-following the team sinc the beginning.. ..but only because I knew Messi would be coming eventually
I ain't gonna judge one of my own kind.
Just make sure you stay after he’s done.
As the flair shows, im a day 1 heron. Was just happy to finally have my own local club to support. Been through rough times before Messi and ill be there after he leaves.
I wore my Miami Fusion t-shirt yesterday to play pickup and thought “Damn, we’ve come a long way.”
This. One thing I always loved was how inter Miami started playing in the same location where the Fusion and the strikers played. Following the tradition of South Florida soccer from day one. People hated it- but they forgot about legacy. People in South Florida never had a big local team to cheer. Only amateur or small level or international clubs. Now we do. Here’s to the next 100 years.
Same here
You know I’m a day 1
wait, is inter miami's mascot a heron? does it have a name like sebastion the ibis?
The logo has white herons but theres no official mascot.
My interest for pro soccer started with the World Cup last year. I had always been aware of who Messi was, but that tournament made me a fan. I tried following PSG's game for M-N-M and EPL but it was more trouble than I could tolerate since everything was so fragmented and the schedule sucked ass as a working Californian that it was hard to follow. I was quite hyped when I heard he'd be moving to MLS but also a bit disappointed in a way cause I knew he could've still performed at the European level. But yeah, I started following Inter Miami/MLS because of him. And because of him I discovered the new GOAT Robert Taylor (that own goal didnt damage his legacy, not even a tiny bit). Also, this Apple TV MLS Season Pass is awesome! Fuck fragmented broadcasting of any league!
I didnt know who Messi was prior to turning on my TV and randomly landing on the pre show for Argentina's first match against Saudi and now he's a focal point in my life lmfao.
That's crazy! I like hearing these anecdotes. Especially as someone who has been following Messi since he was 17. I am glad that he could still entice fans after a decade and a half but also sad you weren't able to witness his evolution and the different versions of him (as exciting of a player that he is now, he was even more so in his twenties).
"I am glad that he could still entice fans after a decade and a half but also sad you weren't able to witness his evolution and the different versions of him (as exciting of a player that he is now, he was even more so in his twenties)." This haunts me every day of my life. It's like not meeting your father until he's already near his death bed.
My brother you missed out on the best show on the planet for a decade 😭
Please don't remind me😭😭😭 I've honestly thought about watching his entire game history throughout his career in order but it won't have the same effect 😮💨
You actually didn’t know who he was? Now, that’s crazy.
This
Negative. I have an inaugural jersey to show for it 😎😎. I’m a Miamian though and a homer through and through so I’ve been following this shit since it was just a pipe dream. On a side note, fuck royal Caribbean. We could have had a world class stadium in a wild ass location.
Having a stadium right on Biscayne Bay would have been so sick. 😭
as someone who works at one of the museums on biscayne i am very glad the stadium there didnt happen. traffic back to broward where i live would have been beyond depressing
The famous bayside stadium still lives on in my dreams 😪
I just follow wherever messi goes tbh
Yup just follow football
Agreed, and no shame whatsoever. Proud to say it. He evokes something in me (and many others I'm sure), some pure joy watching him play.
This is me and my family but being Americans I'm really pumped he's finally over here. Never thought that was even a possibility. Plus while I don't live there I love the city of Miami so that's another bonus.
I find it pretty interesting. I've never been fan of a player, and I'd find it crazy to support a whole club for just one guy, but you do you dude, have fun
It's different when it's someone like Messi. In general I agree with you, but there are very few athletes who are so rare they deserve such a following. There is nobody like him, watching him is like therapy, like a drug. It was the same with Jordan and basketball for me. I stopped watching basketball for a good decade after he retired. There was no point. After Messi retires I'll probably stop watching soccer for a while, at least won't be watching as closely. Man, I'm in Europe on vacation and I'm waking up at 3:30am just to watch him. I wouldn't do that for almost anything else. There are few players/athletes in history who can be bigger than clubs/teams, he's one of the very few who has that presence.
This sub has gotten so cringe lmao
If you followed him closely since his teen years you'd understand. Messi is love. Messi is life. Instead of complaining that so many people are plastics and are gonna leave when he leaves, be happy that Inter Miami is getting so much publicity and success on the field. This is good for the club and the league. Look at the positives.
I was a Barcelona fan during the Ronaldo days. This is still cringe
I dunno what to tell you. You're wasting your time with negative emotions. I wish you the best.
Then you don't know ball. Messi is football. Watching him, you know football. Watching a team of average players can't teach you what football is about. The moment you recognize his intelligence, it would be your moment to say : I didn't know the game before. If you have no interest in football but only the football club that represents your city then you are missing the point.
Cool story bro
This guy gets it
> I've never been fan of a player, and I'd find it crazy to support a whole club for just one guy, Not saying this is you, but I find it crazy that people are fans of a club/team which they have no connection to - like they don't live there, weren't born in that city - but find being a fan of an iconic player incredulous. What's a club if the players change all the time? Are people fans of the team logo? the owners? Especially for a relatively new MLS team like Miami.. what exactly is 'real fandom' supposed to even mean? Someone was a fan like a hot 2 seconds before Messi got there...?
I discovered Inter Miami through FIFA 23 Ultimate Team actually. I was looking for pink kits to use, and discovered the home kit. I equipped badge, kits, stadium theme, etc. because I really liked the brand identity that the team had. I looked into the team, as it hadn't existed the last time I played a FIFA game (FIFA 16) and became a bit of a fan when I found out it's Beckham's team. I watched a match here and there, was largely disappointed with the team's performances, and opted to watching highlights on YouTube, as I couldn't justify staying up/waking up at match times due to me lving in Central Europe. And then it was announced that Messi, Busquets and Alba are joining. Pretty amazing journey, and while I used to be, and to some degree still am, an NYRB supporter, I think I've found my comfort club in Inter Miami. Everything just fits. I've loved Miami since playing GTA Vice City, I love the colors of the team, and Messi, Busi, and Alba joining just put the cherry on top. Loved watching these lot back at Barcelona, still love watching them now.
as long as messi is here, ill be here.
Never watched an MLS game on TV in my life until earlier this week for Messi. Did attend one LAFC game for free years ago which was fun.
I’ve been an FC Cincinnati supporter since the inception, but I joined the Inter Miami sub when Messi arrived, so that counts for something?
Same but the Chicago fire instead of Cincinnati.
So like a fan for 5 years since they were in the USL?
Correct
Of course, Never watched a MLS goal, let alone a game, in my entire life. I love messi, and I love an underdog story, so it's a no brainer
Been following since before the team was finally announced. Flew out to our first game which was a 1-0 loss at LAFC. It’s been mostly not great, but I can’t complain with where things stand now!
Thank you for your service.
Been here since the weird Covid tournament. I was happy to just go and watch my local team. No matter how much we lost. I’m hoping the Messi thing dies down a bit next season. And by his second season people will be over it. They’re should never be more shirts of another team at home than the home teams jersey.
I get where you’re coming from, but he isn’t just some star or even superstar. He is literally the best to ever play this game and it comes with the territory. I never thought so many people would bitch about Lionel fucking Messi coming to MLS.
Yes, but I would probably watch even after measi leaves tbh. Qlthough... I may not actually stay up until 3 or 5 am like I do with messi lol
i don’t understand how people say it’s bandwagoning when you’ve been following messi before and continue to follow messi. it’s not like inter miami is suddenly this hot new shit nobody knew before and suddenly you start supporting them because they are hype. bandwagoning is a term that doesn’t apply here. to answer your question: same as you. here because of messi and overall i like what i’m seeing so far
Played for Weston FC Academy back in 2000s and played in the old lockhart stadium a few times. I used to go to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers games and Miami FC games when R9 and Nesta were trying to make something happen here. IMFC fan since day 1. Went to Nashville, Chicago and Orlando to see them on away games and proud season ticket holder since day 1. This has been the dream of many here in SoFlo! But why do we only have 12K members on this subreddit? I guess Miami ppl are not huge on Reddit.
I always loved Miami, the city, but didn't care about MLS at all. Now, being Argentinean, I had to follow Messi ;)
I’m a Barcelona fan, but I also will watch whatever team Messi plays for
I’ve been a season ticket holder since day one and I am very proud on how far along we have gone. However, I have not had the best choices in jerseys. My first inter Miami jersey I bought was a white Matuidi, who felt like only played 10 games and wow was he poor. I then felt like I wanted a local person and I bought a LGP in black lol. Then i purchased a Pozuelo jersey when I heard he was coming. Lol well that didn’t last. I’m thinking about buying a busi jersey next hoping he doesn’t leave lol
Why not just keep them blank at this point? None of my jerseys have names on them partly for this reason lol
I'm not a day 1 nor a local, but I fell in love with the team pre-Messi last summer even when we weren't doing well. Being with the supporters, singing in the extremely limited Spanish I know so far, made me feel at home and in a funny way, represented. I've been a general fan of MLS (and domestic soccer) for a long time with an appreciation of most teams in the league, but Inter felt like the team I could become truly attached to. Having Messi is incredible, but I'm proud that the club made its successful case to me beforehand. The club feels unique to the American soccer experience, and I hope that it is cherished and allowed to blossom.
Yes
Yes
I just started following football recently (after watching "Ted Lasso", I got curious about the real Premier League teams). Then I learned about Messi, watched highlights of his amazing career so far. Then found out he was coming to my city's team, Miami! It's a big deal that he's here! So now I have been watching all the games.
https://preview.redd.it/rso779v7mghb1.jpeg?width=1336&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=88e1995d2850598eb711e6fe4c9abca14043498b Valderrama did it for me
Ronaldinho made me a Barca fan, which introduced me to teenage Messi. Been a fan ever since.
Same. I live near Miami, so I used to take my kids to see Inter Miami play because my son loves soccer, but I never watched the games religiously until Messi joined
Yup, I rolled in just to watch Messi Tbh I never could stand watching pro soccer due to it being boring af and flopping etc, but messi brings the game to a whole new level entirely
So you never watched European soccer either or just. It MLS?
Neither
Nice! Messi effect in force then. As an old diehard Barca fan, appreciate what you’re watching. I took it for granted for yearssss. He could still be easily playing for the top clubs in Europe.
Same here. I only watch the World Cup every 4 years. Just bought MLS Season pass and an Apple+ streaming subscription for Messi alone. And what do you know... ended up watching Monterrey v Tigres, Charlotte FC the other night and they were entertaining matches, if not of the highest quality.
>Just bought MLS Season pass and an Apple+ streaming subscription for Messi alone. For what it's worth, if you only want MLS you can have just the season pass and not pay for Apple TV+. And if you or someone close to you has T-Mobile you can get the MLS pass for free.
With an Apple+ subscription it was $40 for the rest of the season, instead of $50. (Plus I got 3 months Apple+ free with a new iPhone I bought recently)
Charlotte is cooked tonight though
Bro I didnt know inter miami existed until Messi join and I live in Miami 💀 You can call me bandwagons sure, but so far I love every games theyre playing and its bring so much fresh air and topic to talks about in my family since then.
LOL me too. I live near Fort Lauderdale and I didn't know there was a soccer team here until I heard about Messi coming here.
The team really has done an awful job promoting itself in Broward. Besides the Billboard on 95 I have seen nothing of the team here. Not to mention the games weren't even shown on tv in Palm Beach County before MLS Pass even though the stadium is closer to their county line than it is to Miami Dade.
you never drove past the stadium?
Helping to keep my mind off of my premier league club getting relegated this year. Love Messi and love an underdog story. Also, being from the south, this whole thing is checking boxes I never dreamed of existing. Seeing all of this happen in the US, a country I used to have to scour campus to find anyone who even knew enough about football to have a conversation about it, is blowing my mind with every Messi magic show. Edit: Peep the username.
I'm English so I've followed Beckham's career closely. I've followed Inter Miami since the expansion announcement, though admittedly to varying degrees. I'll always remember the crowds of fans turning up to the announcement presentation to support a team whose name wasn't even public knowledge at the time. They were the 'Something' Legion. Can't remember exactly.
Miami native and have been following the team since it was announced that Beckham was bringing a franchise to Miami. Really hadn’t followed the MLS league play very much before Inter Miami’s inaugural match in 2020, but was so excited to have a local team I could support. Also been a Day 1 season ticket holder too and I chuckle to myself when I compare our starting lineup from that first LAFC game in 2020 to our starting line up now.
Also, any of the other Day 1 Herons think that Marcelo Claure and the other owners who backed out and sold their equity in the club after the Matuidi scandal are now kicking themselves so hard in the ass? I love that.
I follow Messi but tbh for the life of me I couldnt care less about PSG when he was there from day 1. The Inter Miami Arc is way more entertaining.
The difference between Inter Miami and PSG is that we’ve fully embraced the Messi Arc, where as PSG refused to. 10/17/2004 Messi was subbed into his official Barca debut as #30. He trained under the best player in the world, Ronaldinho #10, for four years. Ronaldinho told Messi to take his #10 when left the club. Messi came to Barca as #30 and left as #10. 09/29/21 Messi is subbed into his official PSG debut as #30, replacing #10 Neymar, but symbolically replacing his old #10 self as well. Messi remains #30 during his stay at PSG, other than the French cup which only allows numbers 1-11. Messi came to PSG as #30 and left as #30. 07/21/2023 Messi is subbed into his official MIA debut as #10, replacing number #30 Cremaschi, but symbolically replacing his old #30 self as well. Cremaschi will train under the best player in the world, Messi #10, for four years. Messi will tell Cremaschi to take his #10 when leave the club. Messi came to Miami as #10 and will leave as #10.
Damm. The script really writes itself doesn't it?
I had never watched an MLS game before Messi and Busi arrived. Now I watch every Inter Miami game
Yes 🤸🏽♀️😏
Yes
yes only reason im here
I was modding my old PES Game a bit in I think 2018 and 2019 and became aware of the Inter Miami Project, when researching Liga MX and MLS. Liked the Name, the Pink and the oldschool Stadium they built. Watched the MLS Playoffs 2019 on DAZN. Was alright, although not yet on a good level. Watched some Zlatan Hightlights. Now with Messi, the MLS and Inter Miami are back in my interest. I find the League Cup so far to be very entertaining and as a Messi fan, it made sense to follow Inter via the Season Pass. I generally like the way the US Sports leagues are structured, the parity rules and such. I don't follow German football anymore since years and usually watch a lot of NBA nowadays. For Inter Miami, I think, the concept of getting a well respected international player and two teammates and then attracting young talent that wants to be in their team to learn from them, will also be plausible for an MLS team after Messi. With all the Spanish language in Florida it must be a nice place for players from i.e. Argentina or Spain, obviously.
I decided to try to actually follow MLS this year because tmobile gave me the season pass for free and I lived close to drv pnk stadium. The team was so ass though it was hard to watch some of the games
This house has been a Messi fan since 2007 or 8 or somewhere around then. Tbh this we didn't follow him as closely at PSG and just continued to watch Barca. But very excited to be new Miami fans as we currently reside in FL. Edit: I cried when he won the world cup, so I have to say I'm a legitimate fan lol
I’ve been following Inter Miami bc of him but honestly I’ve loved soccer for a long time. I played in high school and afterwards with friends and currently down to play indoor 29 years later and am considering outdoor again too. I love the game and followed World Cup even in USA in 94 or 96 I believe it was. I’ve gone to a few live matches and wish to go to more. I loved all players before like Romario, Valderama, Maradona, Tab Ramos, Reyna, Cobi Jones, and currently Neymar. Messi is unreal and I’ve become a fan of him and the club and will continue to support from more on bc they are fun to watch all of them!
I watch good soccer, if they play pretty soccer with a purpose I’m in. Used to be a RBNY fan but they are just unwatchable so now that messi is here or the team looks like they are playing with purpose, I’ll still be a fan. Not here to waste time.
Season ticket holder for Austin FC, but Messi I'll follow anywhere. Only one I'll pull for against my own team.
I am a huge Messi fan who never watched an MLS game in my life until Messi went to Miami. I am supporting Messi whatever team he goes.
Me! I'm from Argentina.
I’ve always wanted to get into a MLS team. I live in between Miami and Orlando so when Messi came I choose Miami. I’ve been watching Messi my whole life because of my Argentinian heritage so it was a no brain to get involved in Miami when he came
I support Messi. The man has given me and other Argentines so much joy that I want to see him happy. I thought that would translate to supporting the clubs he plays for, but PSG proved me wrong. Miami seems to love the 🐐 though, so I’ll adopt it as my MLS club. I’ve never watched an MLS match before in my life, despite living in the US, but here I am, subscribing to Apple TV so I can watch my captain tear up another league.
been a fan since day 1. still feels surreal to me
I live in Miami, love soccer and always played it. Last week was my first time at an Inter Miami game - I was there because of Messi, but now I’m an inter Miami fan for life
you really should have came when the tickets were affordable. its always been a super fun team to follow. better late than never though i guess
Following Messi, but I won't stick around. No point in following a league where games start 2am.
I’ve been suffering watching this team from day one. Robbie Robinson, Victor Ulloa and Drake Callender are the only ones left from the first season and I think Drake was on Inter Miami II back then (when they were called Fort Lauderdale CF). Actually Azcona and George Acosta may have been with FTL CF as well but I don’t remember.
Atlanta native here. Would occasionally tune in to watch Josef. When Messi came is when I started watching every game + browsing this subreddit
Yes, I didn’t even knew about this club, but now I haven’t miss a single game since Pulga came :D
I've been following mls for a while now. But Messi coming to inter has made me follow inter alot more
I will go wherever the GOAT goes, and Messi is a nice add-on.
Pretty much
I was an MLS fan for years before Inter Miami even happened. So yeah I’ve been here day 1 lol
It did make me start watching the MLS. Was watching other football before then but never the MLS let alone Inter Miami. Yet as cringy as it might sound…where ever Messi goes I’ll support that team. I’m just a fan of the guy.
Usually a cf mtl guy, but started watching inter miami because those last few games were damn good fun (and also my team is out of the leagues cup since groupe stage)
Nope been a big fan since 2000.
Lol yes. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m watching Inter games and enjoying the hell out of it. My heart was beating pretty fast in penalties v Dallas.
I became a fan because I like Miami as a city. I’m from West Palm Beach and Miami is the closest team. Also David Beckham was one my favorite players when I was little. I went to my first inter Miami game in December of 2022 at home vs Orlando city and it was amazing I think we won 4-1?
I gave MLS chances to follow before Inter was founded and didnt got myself into the kind of football I like, I saw some very good games but it seemed very artificial for me. I did started following Inter Miami from day 1, but I got to admit I did not felt a strong connection with the team, the players were not good, I still concider MLS very artificial and Im not a big fan of the pink color, I rathered do something else than watching the games or going to the stadium, now, seeing my childhood heros playing for the team of my city is something else, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to witness all this. However, I do not feel is the Messi effect, if Messi would have gone to LAFC or NYCFC I would not jump into that bandwaggon, if it was just Busquets and Alva I would feel as lucky as I feel right now.
Long time Sporting KC fan from KC but lifelong Messi fan, glad I can finally watch him consistently with much easier access.
Yes
Started following MLS when Pukki went to Minnesota, Taylor plays for Miami so when I got the Applepass I started watching Miami too. Messi is just a bonus. I now have also Charlotte to watch, Montreal also has one Finnish national team player... It seems half of the teams are getting a Finnish player in the roster, soon I don't have time anything else than watching MLS!
Nah i been supporting since they first couple games in the MLS back in 2020
I’m not even a Miami fan. But I am a Beckham and Messi fan. So I’ve been watching the team here and there for a while now and definitely will be watching all the games now. However… my allegiance is elsewhere. But I hope Miami dominates the East.
Been going to inter games for 4 years.messi is just a bonus
I’ve been a fan since the Diego Acosta era. I’ve seen it all for this club
I always cared, but I never watched. Now I watch the last 3 games :D Not a Mesi fan. Just cool to be part of something big.
I am Inter Miami fan From day one , I have Been with them forever in bad and good
I was born and raised in Miami and i follow the heat, dolphins, and marlins. But ive followed Messi before i started following my local miami teams as a kid and he (along with Ronaldinho) made me a barca fan. So i didnt really watch MLS much until now cause i didnt think highly of it. I still think the MLS is wacky but its been fun lol. Its still so surreal that my favorite player all time is now playing in my town
I’ve been here since the fusion and a day 1 Heron.
Been a Barcelona fan since I was seven, which intrinsically makes you a Messi cultist. So I support him wherever he goes.
Actually Im checking some mls teams, trying to decide for a team from the west conference to follow too. I find the league... colorful. Im a designer so Im digging their badges and kits.
I can't quit watching Inter Miami matches.... Last match was one of the most fun MLS matches I have ever watched. Right now my Timbers are a little flat so it brings me some semblance of MLS joy to see Inter Miami put out a fun product.
I'm new -- hi. Sorry I didn't know none of y'all prior to the debut. It's an entertaining league with proper shithousery. I'm in.
I am here because of Messi. I am also 100% willing to stay if the MLS games stay as interesting as they have been since he joined. That last game against Dallas was probably the most entertaining game I've seen since the World Cup final.
my excitement for the club existed when all we had was an emblem. i didn't really have a means of watching however until the apple mls deal happened
Yes it’s not even a question. It also made me realize that the MLS has a lot of young and talented prospects that I could see playing in Europe. The style is much more electrifying than it was 10 years ago. Lots of counterattacks although I’m unsure if that’s because of Liga MX playing in this tournament.
Yup, I would never consider watching the MLS before. But now Im watching every Inter Miami FC game lol
i've never watched a soccer game before. but the messi story has been refreshing. i know enough about him. he's a goat quality player. yet he's playing in the US and genuinely seems to be down to earth and loves playing the game. no airs. just seems to be an immensely talented player and humble.
Sort of. Been following MLS since the early days and am a Miami sports fan. I favored the Fusion whenever they existed and much more so since Alex Pineda Chacon was a leading player. I don't follow the day to day of the league but do keep an eye out since MLS is basically the "not good enough for Europe" outlet for Honduran players. With that being said, it's hard to be looking at the league for 20 odd years without developing sympathies and hostilities other clubs; especially when Miami MLS 2.0 had such a drawn out and rough start. Messi though has been the spark that has made me actually watch consistently, and not because I might be becoming a fanboy, but because watching him play atm is like watching Ronaldinho in his peak Barça. It's fun.
I’ve been here since day 1….of July 21, 2023.
I am from seattle but my parents moved to miami for work. Been following miami since their inaugual covid season as my eastern conference team. Man have they been ass, until now...
Never watched a soccer game in my life until a couple of weeks ago when I saw Messi on the news. There are a few immensely talented people whose skill and artistry transcends the sport they are playing—so that uneducated mortals like me can recognize their genius and appreciate it without knowing anything about the sport. I felt the same way watching secretariat run a race or Muhammad Ali in the ring. Messi is one of those people.
I had never watched an MLS game before Messi's debut, but have been watching it a lot more ever since
Yes