Miami (USA), Feb 20 (EFE) – Inter Miami is not only the MLS Cup champion, but has also established itself as the most valuable team in the North American league, with a record valuation of $1.45 billion, just six years after its official debut. The arrival of Lionel Messi in the summer of 2023 has been the main driving force behind this success.
The Miami club was recognized for the first time as the most valuable in MLS at the start of the 2026 season, with a valuation of $1.45 billion, surpassing Los Angeles FC, which had topped the ranking for the past four years, according to a report by the specialized media outlet Sportico.
This milestone comes after a 22% increase in Inter Miami’s valuation compared to last year, and dethrones the Los Angeles club from the top of the ranking after four consecutive years at the top.
The Messi effect has been fundamental to Inter Miami’s overtaking of the league. In addition to contributing to the MLS Cup title last December and Inter Miami’s run to the Round of 16 in the last Club World Cup, the Argentine star helps attract high-profile players to the club whose signings would otherwise be much more difficult.
The latest addition to this list was Argentine Rodrigo De Paul, a World Cup champion with Argentina, who ended his time at Atlético Madrid early to share a locker room with his compatriot.
“It’s undeniable and unquestionable that without Messi we wouldn’t be where we are, both on and off the field. In other words, besides being the main pillar of our sporting successes, like the MLS title, without Messi we also wouldn’t have become the most valuable club so quickly,” Inter Miami’s President of Business Operations, Xavier Asensi, told EFE.
The same report highlighted Messi’s impact, which boosted revenue, valuation, viewership, and global positioning for Inter Miami.
“Leo (Messi)’s arrival at the club has been a game-changer. Without Leo, we wouldn’t have been able to reach the revenue levels we’ve had this past year,” Asensi added.
Inter Miami was founded in 2018 and didn’t begin competing until 2020. Its valuation has doubled in the two and a half years since Messi’s arrival.
As an example, the Miami club is valued at more than three times that of other MLS teams, such as Montreal, whose valuation is $430 million.
But it’s still far from matching the franchises of the NBA and NFL. The team with the lowest valuation in the basketball league is the Memphis Grizzlies, at $3.5 billion, while in the NFL that “honor” belongs to the Cincinnati Bengals, at $5.25 billion, according to Forbes.
Inter Miami does, however, surpass six MLB baseball franchises.
The report highlighted that Inter Miami does not yet generate the advertising revenue of NBA or NFL teams, but is seeking a naming rights deal for its stadium that rivals the best in those leagues.
“The ownership’s vision has always been to be the benchmark for soccer (on and off the field) in the United States first and foremost, and then continue to grow,” Asensi stated.
Inter Miami’s revenue is expected to reach $250 million this year, according to Sportico, with only a small portion of that coming from MLS.
The team will inaugurate its new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, next April. With a capacity of 25,000 spectators, the stadium is expected to host concerts and other events, opening a new revenue stream for the club.
The report highlighted that only half of the NFL teams and about eight NBA teams will generate more game-day and commercial revenue this year.
With Messi’s contract renewed through 2028, the new stadium will provide Inter Miami with even greater stability to continue growing in the competitive American sports landscape.
“Starting this year, 2026, and thanks to the new stadium we will now inaugurate, ‘Miami Freedom Park,’ the club’s financial health will depend on more factors, where the Messi factor will undoubtedly continue to be crucial,” Asensi concluded.
