WATCH: 'America's No. 10' Lionel Messi Unveiled As Inter Miami Player In Front Of Thousands Of Cheering Fans

Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami ties him with the club till 2025. The deal reportedly pays Messi between $50m and $60m a year.

Inter Miami's co-owner David Beckham opened the ceremony saying Messi's arrival was a "dream come true".

Source : Getty Images

World Cup winner Lionel Messi, who is in the twilight of his 'once in a generation career', was unveiled as Inter Miami’s latest sporting superstar on Sunday. The legendary footballer, one of the greatest players of all time in the history of sport, was greeted with roars of appreciation by fans as he walked onto the field at jam-packed Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium. The mega event marked Messi's first official appearance as an Inter Miami player. The 36-year-old's contract with Inter Miami ties him with the club till 2025. The deal reportedly pays Messi between $50m and $60m a year.

Inter Miami's co-owner David Beckham opened the ceremony saying Messi's arrival was a "dream come true".

"Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for the next stage in your career," said the former Manchester United player whose move to MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 was the league's previous biggest arrival.

"Welcome to our family Leo," Beckham added in Spanish, to roars from the crowd

Soak it in, Leo Messi.

The warmest of welcomes to @InterMiamiCF. pic.twitter.com/STzKSDrBGh

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 17, 2023

Miami's majority owner Jorge Mas then whipped the crowd up with his own bilingual speech.

"Tonight is a gift and celebration to the city that opened its arms to my family," said the Cuban-American businessman.

"Tonight we are doing this in the rain. "This is holy water!" he added.

"This is our moment! Our moment to change the football landscape in this country," he added, before introducing Messi as "Your new number 10, America's number 10".

Messi🗣️: "I have no doubt that we will have a lot of fun here, we will have a great time and beautiful things will happen."

pic.twitter.com/5Ei1lEbUIA

— FCB Albiceleste (@FCBAlbiceleste) July 17, 2023

Messi, who arrived in Miami on Tuesday, told the crowd in Spanish: 

"Thank you very much to all the people for supporting me and giving me this love. I am very happy to be here in Miami," he said.

"I really want to start training, to compete, I have the same desire that I always had to compete, to want to win, to help the club continue to grow.

"I am very happy to have chosen to come to play in this city with my family, to choose this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it a lot, we are going to have a good time and very good things are going to happen," he said.