Major League Soccer’s seismic recruitment of Lionel Messi, the world’s most famous soccer player, by David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF has created a tsunami of pleasure in South Florida — particularly amongst high-end realtors.
The deal is alleged to be value an estimated $60 million a yr, including owning a minority stake within the team.
Negotiations, that are still ongoing, reportedly also include Messi’s receiving profit-sharing from two of MLS’s biggest partners, Apple and Adidas.
And while the World Cup winner could have joined any team on the planet, including an extravagant offer from Saudi Arabia of $1.6 billion over three years, Messi selected Miami, which has a well-recognized lifestyle to his native Argentina.
It’s a no brainer, really. In Miami, he can mingle with famous friends, speak Spanish and simply fit right into a city known for its Latin population and culture.
And he already has multiple homes to pick from in town — but is about to go house-hunting, boosting an already red-hot luxury property market.
In 2019, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner bought an expensive condo within the Porsche Design Tower, situated in Sunny Isles Beach. He paid $5 million for the 4,400-square-foot apartment, which features oceanfront views, 24-hour security, a heated swimming pool, gym and spa.
Like most of his real estate holdings, it was purchased through an entity called Edificio Rostower through his father, Jorge Messi. Sleuths were capable of make the connection, though.
“The deal was not publicly announced,” said Sebastian Tettamanti, the manager VP of promoting and sales for Dezer Development, the Porsche Design Tower’s developer.
“Nevertheless, it was leaked on the time and clearly the transaction has been recirculated recently. We have now close to twenty billionaires within the Porsche Tower, but we maintain their privacy.”
Most significant for Messi? Porsche Design Tower boasts a robotic elevator, called the Dezervator, which allows residents to drive their cars on to their apartments. Each unit has its own private sky garage, which may accommodate three cars.
“The Dezervator was created as a substitute for valet parking,” noted Tettamanti, “but our billionaire and famous residents appreciate the privacy factor. They don’t need to undergo the lobby, and it’s change into a well-liked amenity because of this.”
In 2021, Messi bought an even bigger condo just just a few doors down, paying $7.3 million for your complete ninth floor of the Regalia Tower, situated at 19575 Collins Ave. With only 39 residences in total, the constructing is incredibly exclusive and features six pools, a spa, fitness center, yoga studio, children’s playhouse, chef’s kitchen, and a champagne bar and wine cellar.
The savvy real estate investor also paid just over $1 million each for 2 units on the fortieth and forty third floors of the nearby Trump Royale tower.
Nevertheless, sources say it’s unlikely he’ll live in any of those apartments, noting that with three children, the Messi family prefers houses.
Two years ago, while in Miami for the the 2021 Copa America Championship, Messi rented a 5-bedroom waterfront mansion on Key Biscayne. The residence at 440 S Mashta Drive was listed for rent for $200,000 monthly.
A high-end property will seal Messi’s place at the head of Miami’s buzzing social scene.
Miami is home to an increasing variety of mega celebrities, including Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Ivanka Trump, Giselle, Tom Brady, Cindy Crawford and in fact Beckham.
Networking on this level is certain to be tantalizing for Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, who is alleged to be her husband’s sounding board. The native Argentinean is a model and influencer with over 35 million Instagram followers. The stunning brunette has endorsement deals with brands like Alo and Guerlain.
The glamorous couple, who met once they were five and began dating in 2008, are sure to affect Miami’s practically year-round red carpet scene—from Art Basel to F1—with their star power.
Also they are parents to a few sons, Thiago, 10; Mateo, 7; and Ciro, 5.
Luckily, they will lean on a solid network of friends for advice on navigating Miami, including where to send their children to highschool.
Considered one of Messi’s closest buddies, Sergio Agüero, lives in nearby Hollywood along with his girlfriend Sofia Calzetti. The man Argentinian and former Barcelona soccer star bought a $15 million waterfront mansion about ten minutes north of Sunny Isles Beach.
And while Agüero retired because of an irregular heartbeat it is alleged he shall be hanging across the Inter Miami club to bolster and tease his dear friend.
Then there’s Shakira, considered one of Miami’s most celebrated residents. The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer goes way back with Leo and Antonella, having been married to Gerard Piqué, who was Messi’s teammate in Barcelona. The previous couple attended Messi’s 2017 nuptials in happier times.
Shakira should give you the option to smooth over a number of the transition for the Messi family, having officially moved to the Magic City herself from Barcelona last April, within the wake of her divorce.
Already, it has been suggested that Shakira has influenced where the Messi family’s children will enroll, specifically Miami Country Day, where her two children Sasha and Milan attend, together with exes Tom Brady and Giselle’s brood, too.
And while there have been have been rumors that Antonela doesn’t get together with Shakira, she showed her support for the singer, liking several thinly-veiled Instagram posts about her breakup, including adding fire emojis to a video for “Session 53,” which seemingly addressed Piqué’s infidelity along with his recent girlfriend, Clara Chia.
An estimated 100,000 Argentinians live in Florida, specifically within the Miami-Dade and Fort Lauderdale areas, in line with data from the US Census Bureau and projections from the Pew Research Center.
Leo and Antonela are sure to hobnob at Miami Beach’s Faena Hotel, which is owned by fellow Argentine Alan Faena and incorporates a high-end Argentinean restaurant, Los Fuegos By Francis Mallman and is a frequent destination for A-listers.
In Miami Beach, there’s even a “Little Argentina” neighborhood in North Beach stuffed with authentic restaurants, and where 1000’s of ex-pats flooded the streets during 2022’s FIFA World Cup championship game.
Messi prefers privacy and quiet a lot that he bought out his neighbors in Barcelona and doubled the scale of his $10 million Castelldefels estate.
In 2022, the couple bought a property on Ibiza’s western coast from Swiss businessman Philippe Amon for $12 million.
However it’s their home in Rosario, Argentina that Messi cherishes probably the most. Called “The Fortress,” the 25-room mansion is reportedly where he made the choice to play for Inter Miami and where he intends to retire.
Built on three adjoining plots of land in a gated private estate near the footballer’s home city of Rosario, where he and Antonela grew up and first met, it has a playroom for the kids, cinema, gym and underground garage with enough space for 15 cars.
Nevertheless, with Inter Miami in last place in the meanwhile, Messi won’t have time to go to his other properties. There’s loads of work to do to bolster his recent team’s MLS standings.
But even with their poor record, the Messi effect has already been felt. The team’s Instagram went from 1 million to eight million followers for the reason that big announcement, making it the primary account for any sports franchise in America.
Ticket prices have risen exponentially, too. Before Messi, fans were capable of attend Inter Miami games for a measly $22. Not anymore. Seats for Messi’s July 21 opening day match against Cruz Azul are going for over $1,000—and as much as $10,000 for VIP packages—on resale sites.
Demand is so high, the DRV-PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where Inter Miami currently play, is expanding its capability by 3,000 seats to accommodate 22,000 spectators.
In 2025, the team will move to its recent home, a 25,000-seat stadium in Miami, called Miami Freedom Park.
That’s still a drop within the bucket. Last September, during a friendly World Cup warmup match between Argentina and Honduras, the Hard Rock Stadium sold out its 65,000 seats, buoyed by Messi’s appearance. (He scored two goals during Argentina’s 3-0 victory.)
Messi may also attract fans from Argentina and all around the world to Miami. “This helps solidify Miami as a hotbed for soccer globally,” said Mathew Ratner, Director of Sports and Entertainment Tourism for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.
“Inter Miami team owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas have done a wonderful job of constructing this franchise and being on the forefront of MLS.”
