As pink lights illuminated Nu Stadium and the booming chants from the supporters reverberated through the venue, Inter Miami CF co-owner David Beckham stepped onto the field to address the crowd of thousands gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of a 12-year ambition.
Struggling to hold back tears, Beckham took in the sights of the 26,700-seat stadium he had envisioned since he first announced Miami as the home for his MLS franchise back in 2014.
“We had no name, no fans, and no stadium,” Beckham shared from the midfield. “But today, I stand in our new home. We are champions of MLS. The greatest player in the history of the game is playing in Miami. Dreams truly can come true.”
Beckham had made two promises to fans upon joining the league: a stadium would be built in Miami, and the club would attract the best footballing talent. On April 4, with Lionel Messi leading the team onto the pitch, Beckham finally fulfilled those promises.
As Beckham and co-owners Jorge and Jose Mas admired the spectacle of pink fireworks lighting up the night sky, a tifo unfurled, proclaiming “Aquí empieza una nueva era,” which translates to “Today starts a new era.”
Inter Miami has centered its identity on signing Messi and realizing the vision of Nu Stadium. Although they have accomplished two major goals, the demand for further achievements continues. They now face the challenge of pursuing their next significant milestone without a permanent head coach.
Charting a course forward without Mascherano
Javier Mascherano shocked the MLS scene when he resigned as Inter Miami coach on April 14, just four months following his leadership in securing the club’s first MLS Cup. He cited “personal reasons” for his departure.
The club’s executives were informed of Mascherano’s decision after the 2-2 draw against Red Bull New York on April 11, a source confirmed to ESPN. However, players were not made aware until they arrived for training the following Monday morning when sporting director Guillermo Hoyos announced that he would act as interim coach.
“During practice, Guillermo came in and introduced himself to the team, saying he was taking over. We just had to roll with it and keep moving forward,” said Inter Miami defender Ian Fray in a statement to reporters last week. He later shared that he had texted Mascherano a heartfelt farewell after not being able to say it in person.
Reports indicate that Mascherano contemplated stepping down after the MLS Cup victory in December but chose to remain through the start of the season. After the draw against RBNY, he felt it was time to conclude his coaching chapter in Miami and allow the club to embark on a new journey, according to a source.
Another insider stated that the high expectations on and off the field, in addition to the team’s elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup at the hands of Nashville SC last month, all influenced his choice to leave. However, contrary to reports, sources clarified that Mascherano did not have any conflicts with Messi or other players on the roster.
Hoyos will now oversee Miami’s upcoming matches without an immediate plan for appointing a long-term replacement. He is under pressure to maximize the talents of a roster that includes Messi, Luis Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul, while also tapping into the potential of their new $15 million signing, Germán Berterame.
As the team navigates leadership transitions both on and off the pitch, one fundamental principle remains: Inter Miami must continue pursuing greatness.
Developing a pipeline of stars
Messi’s arrival has dramatically shifted the club’s trajectory, raising the bar for each player in the Miami pink. The designated players have transitioned from Gonzalo Higuaín and Rodolfo Pizarro in 2022 to FIFA World Cup champions like Messi and Sergio Busquets just a year later.
With Messi onboard, no name felt out of reach; his signing represented the launching point for Inter Miami 2.0. Busquets wasn’t alone in joining either, as former Barcelona companions Suárez and Jordi Alba followed suit in subsequent weeks and months. However, as Busquets and Alba confirmed their retirements post-2025, concerns emerged among fans on social media about the potential decline of the roster.
Mas swiftly alleviated fears that the Herons might regress to the pre-Messi era of Higuaín & Co., making a personal trip to Spain to recruit reigning World Cup champion Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid. This was a clear signal: the pursuit of excellence will not end when Messi departs.
“It’s about continuing to attract stars, maybe not just one mega star like Messi, who is a unique phenomenon, but creating a team full of talented individuals,” Mas told ESPN.
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Why did Javier Mascherano leave Inter Miami?
Lizzy Becherano reflects on Mascherano’s exit from Inter Miami.
Mas’ ambition to recruit top players is bolstered by a distinctive advantage: having Messi among their ranks. Many players who have recently signed with Inter Miami have admitted that Messi played a significant role in their decision to join the club.
“[Messi] was heavily involved in the negotiations from the beginning, wanting to ensure everything was agreeable,” De Paul told ESPN. “He was very attentive. Once the deal was finalized, Messi came to the club the next morning to greet me, find out what I needed, and check on my welfare. It was a wonderful moment that marked the beginning of a friendship.”
Even though Messi’s contract concludes after the 2027-28 season, Mas remains confident in the club’s ability to attract top talent without that marquee name. He has laid out the groundwork: Messi’s initial agreement with Inter Miami contains a provision that grants him ownership in the club after retirement. While Messi may no longer be on the field, his ongoing involvement can help shape a new recruitment strategy.
“I recognize that Lionel Messi’s playing career is drawing to a close,” Mas stated. “I see a future beyond Messi’s leadership, one where we continue to bring in stars.”
“What I believe the post-Messi era will entail is Messi’s continued involvement. We have the unique opportunity for Messi to become a partner after his playing days. This will undoubtedly play a crucial role in keeping him connected to the club and the sport.”
Beyond his remarkable achievements and record-breaking feats, Messi’s enduring impact at Inter Miami lies in how he flipped the club from a struggling team to a globally-recognized franchise. In the future, when there are no significant stadium inaugurations or the world’s best player propping up the roster, Mas has emphasized that he will leverage the club’s enhanced reputation to pursue premier talent.
However, Inter Miami must establish a championship culture while Messi is still present if they want to boost the club’s global appeal.
Strong business foundations, but will they endure?
To meet the on-field expectations, Inter Miami must maintain its financial growth. President of business operations Xavier Asensi is charged with supporting Mas’ goal of signing the top-tier players by expanding the club’s business initiatives and exploring new revenue streams. He is preparing for Inter Miami’s future as carefully as he did for Messi’s addition: with strategic foresight.
“I don’t rely on luck; I believe luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” Asensi told ESPN. “Things happen, or you can actively create them, but you must be ready when they do. Lionel’s arrival wasn’t by coincidence; there was work, strategy, and planning that paved the way for it. … You aim for the highest level, and once you reach it, you strive to maximize its impact.”
“An example is the primary jersey sponsorship agreement we signed in 2021, where I included a clause stating that if the club acquired a player with at least five Ballon d’Or awards, the sponsorship fee would double. This was stipulated in a 2021 contract. This illustrates how contracts were structured to prepare the club for Messi’s eventual arrival.”
Every deal made by the team now accounts for a future without Messi on the field, not merely the current roster. Inter Miami recently secured a five-year agreement with Adidas. While the club had been using Adidas due to a larger MLS contract, this new contract establishes an independent partnership tying the Three Stripes to the Herons.
This partnership will extend beyond the standard league-wide kit deal to create unique lines of athletic apparel, positioning Miami as one of Adidas’ premier international clubs. The new contract spans until 2031, three years beyond Messi’s playing contract.
With Messi contributing on the field, Inter Miami became the most valuable team in MLS, worth $1.45 billion, as reported by Sportico. Nevertheless, Asensi is looking beyond 2028.
Rather than relying solely on clauses related to five-time Ballon d’Or players, Asensi and the team are considering how Nu Stadium and Miami Freedom Park can anchor new business endeavors.
Inter Miami has recently launched Heron Sports & Entertainment, a platform dedicated to organizing and promoting major entertainment events. The strategy is to utilize the stadium as a venue for various events outside Inter Miami matches.
The Herons are not the first team to explore business beyond soccer, following the examples set by European giants such as Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, who have capitalized on their stadiums as entertainment venues for profit on non-match days.
For instance, the Bernabéu recently hosted Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour, while Spurs are scheduled to welcome Bad Bunny for two nights in June. As MLS takes a break during the World Cup, Miami is set to feature Mexican artist Carin León at Nu Stadium in July.
The Inter Miami leadership recognizes that there won’t be another Messi to transform the club or another stadium to inaugurate anytime soon. For the moment, there are no significant milestones that will redirect its trajectory.
With one of North American soccer’s most ambitious front offices and Messi eternally connected to the club, Inter Miami will persist in seeking avenues to make history, in whatever form that may take.