Lionel Messi’s magical year: From a fairytale debut goal that left David Beckham in tears and lifting Inter Miami’s first EVER trophy, to a staggering eighth Ballon d’Or trophy

When Lionel Messi was introduced to Inter Miami fans on July 16, he offered a mission statement of sorts.

“I come here with the same desire to compete, to win and to help the club continue to grow,” he said.

Thanks to his World Cup victory with Argentina in Qatar – in which he was named player of the tournament at the age of 35 – that promise has certainly been fulfilled.

In the five and a half months since Messi arrived in Miami, the club has won its first silverware, lured the likes of LeBron James and Kim Kardashian to the club's home in Fort Lauderdale and surpassed many of its American sporting peers socially. media.

There have also been lighter moments, such as when the Argentinian and his family took a (heavily photographed) trip to the Publix supermarket, unaware of the attention it would bring, or simply not bothered by it.

And while we never got the answer to what Messi likes about his 'Pub Sub', we did find out what an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner looks like in America.

On his debut from the bench against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, he scored a winning free-kick straight from an extremely predictable film script to give his team a 2–1 victory.

Co-owner David Beckham – no stranger to a late free-kick himself – was almost moved to tears. This was the vision he and owner Jorge Mas had created for the club, and Messi took around 40 minutes to bring it to life.

Moments like that continued in the Leagues Cup, which Miami eventually won behind the new big three Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

There were a few volleys against Orlando City, another stunning free-kick against FC Dallas and a screamer against Nashville in the final, as the Argentine adapted seamlessly to America. Should we really have been surprised?

If we learned anything new from Messi's first half of the season in Miami, it was the names of his previously anonymous teammates.

Winger Robert Taylor, who not so long ago played in English non-league football, scored in purple form (four goals, three assists in Leagues Cup matches) and became something of Messi's running mate up front.

And the strong performance of 18-year-old Benjamin Cremaschi, an Argentinian-American local boy who is living his dream in real time, also received a huge platform. He made his debut for the US national team in September.

Messi has a way of lifting those around him to the next level, even off the field.

Beyond its stellar play, Miami's growth on social media was perhaps the biggest marker of the “Messi Effect,” as it was followed more than any NFL, MLB, NHL and other MLS club in the 24 hours after he had announced his move to South Florida. .

The club now has a whopping 15.4 million Instagram followers, dwarfing the New York Yankees (3.3 million) and Boston Celtics (7.7 million).

Messi's league campaign was ultimately derailed by injury – and the club's last-place finish before he arrived – as Miami failed to make the play-offs.

But the weeks that followed still served as a reminder of Messi's greatness and global prestige.

He flew to Paris with his family at the end of October to collect his eighth Ballon D'or, while Miami later hosted a 'Noche d'Or' friendly against NYCFC to celebrate his achievement.

Messi winning the award after Argentina's first World Cup victory since 1986 was not a huge shock. But for Miami it was a moment to take stock of its place in the football world.

The best player in the world lives in South Florida, and that has certainly opened doors.

The club will now head to Hong Kong for the next campaign and will also face Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal.

It doesn't matter how Messi performs in those matches, or even how many minutes he plays. What matters is this: the Herons have established themselves as a global brand in a way that no other MLS rival has done – all thanks to their diminutive playmaker.

With the No. 10 wearing Miami's signature pink for at least two more seasons, that won't change anytime soon.

Now, with a World Cup, ten La Liga titles and a Leagues Cup title under his belt, we'll soon find out if he can take his club to the top of the MLS.