Portland adidas HQ puts up huge Lionel Messi display as America gets set to finally welcome him
Adidas headquarters in Portland put up a huge Lionel Messi display as America prepares to finally welcome a soccer star with unveiling in Miami on Sunday
- Lionel Messi will be unveiled next Sunday by Inter Miami in Florida
- And adidas is building on the hype at its US headquarters in Portland, Oregon
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Adidas’ US headquarters is all set for Lionel Messi’s unveiling of Inter Miami, with a photo of the building showing it decorated with a huge representation of the Argentine superstar.
At the Portland, Oregon site, Messi is shown wearing a Miami jersey in front of a gradient pink background, in a photo shared by Sports front office.
Ahead of Messi’s official unveiling this Sunday at the DRV PNK Stadium, his signing was finally confirmed on Saturday by Inter Miami, who released a 40-second clip captioned (in Spanish) “Yeah guys.”
Nevertheless, there were no doubts or concerns about the move this week when he landed in Miami and was even running errands at Publix with his family.
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The Adidas display in Portland follows a billboard erected by Apple in 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 next to the message: ‘on now’ [Apple logo] TV.’
Apple has entered into a ten-year, $2.5 billion streaming deal with MLS this year, and the tech giant is expected to supplement much of Messi’s salary with Miami.
The World Cup winner will earn a reported annual salary of between $50 million and $60 million in MLS.
Thousands of miles from his new home in Florida, there was also enthusiasm for Messi, as earlier this month the flagship Adidas store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood was decorated with mock-ups of Messi.
The store put up displays of him both outside and inside the store, including the messages “Impossible is Nothing” and “Bienvenido (welcome) to Miami.”
The windows of adidas’ flagship store in New York are full of mock-ups of Lionel Messi
A sign reads “Bienvenido A Miami” above a photo of Messi and Inter Miami merchandise
Adidas would also give Messi a share of merchandise sales, while Inter Miami is willing to give him an ownership stake if the 36-year-old eventually retires, according to multiple reports.
Messi is expected to be unveiled alongside ex-Barca teammate Sergio Busquets, who has joined him in Miami.
Jordi Alba is also expected to join the club.
Messi’s highly anticipated debut for Miami comes against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21.
However, he will not play until August 20 vs. Charlotte F.C. in the MLS.