With the world keenly focused on Miami for Lionel Messi‘s arrival, the planet’s largest company has taken out a massive new billboard ad to welcome the Argentinian legend to South Florida.
In a nod to Inter Miami’s color scheme and Messi’s perceived status as the ‘Greatest of All Time,’ Apple’s billboard features a pink goat, alongside the message: ‘now on [Apple logo] TV.’
While the message could be lost on some Miamians, who aren’t generally known for soccer fandom, it should make sense to anyone who has followed Messi’s celebrated signing with the MLS club: The World Cup winner agreed to join Inter Miami for a reported annual salary between $50 million and $60 million, much of which will be supplemented by Apple TV – the league’s media partner.
Adidas is also believed to be giving Messi a cut of merchandise sales, while Inter Miami is willing to give him an ownership stake when the 36-year-old eventually retires, according to multiple reports.
What’s more, Apple TV also plans to release a docuseries about Messi, which is being produced by Tim Pastore, who won an Emmy for ‘Free Solo’ and ‘Jane.’
Apple TV is banking on Lionel Messi drawing soccer fans to the company’s streaming service
Lionel Messi was accompanied by his wife Antonella on a recent shopping trip in Miami
Messi endeared himself to local fans by grocery shopping at Publix on just his second day in South Florida.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was spotted pushing a cart at the grocery store’s checkout with different types of cereal including General Mills’ Lucky Charms and Kellogg’s’ Fruit Loops on Thursday, as fans are eager for Inter Miami to confirm his signing by this upcoming weekend, at the earliest.
Messi landed in Miami on Tuesday with his wife, Antonela, and their three sons, Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5.
The Argentine, whose height is listed at 5-foot-7, even had time to pose with some of his US fans based in the Sunshine State, as he was headed towards the grocery store’s exit.
Earlier this week, Messi was spotted at a family meal in Miami Beach on his first day in the US on Wednesday and was even kissed by a fan on his way out of the eatery.
The 2022 World Cup winner was expected to sign his contract and be announced officially as a Miami player on Thursday – but the announcement now could come on Friday. Everything is going to plan, despite confirmation potentially coming later than anticipated.
Pictured last week, the Messi family have been in the Caribbean before they move to Miami
Part-owner David Beckham was spotted at Inter Miami’s training ground on Wednesday, as he hopes to wrap up Messi’s move as soon as possible in hopes of turning his clubs fortunes around.
Inter Miami is currently ranked in last place (15th) in the MLS’ Eastern Conference. The Herons are 11 points off the Chicago Fire, sitting in ninth place.
Messi shared his intent to move to the US last month after turning down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and seeing a Barcelona return become unattainable.
He played for PSG for the last two seasons but never really made himself at home in France’s capital, where ultras accused him of not playing up to his usual standards after the team’s exit to Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 of the Champions League — a trophy that continues to elude the Ligue 1 champions, backed by the state-run sovereign-wealth fund of Qatar.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
