MLS set for biggest year ever thanks to Lionel Messi as Apple TV stream globally
The MLS is set for its biggest year yet as Lionel Messi prepares for his first full season at title favourites Inter Miami which Apple TV will stream globally.
Messi's Miami kick-off the new MLS season in a stand-alone fixture on Wednesday night (Thursday morning GMT) when they host Salt Lake.
Miami, under the presidency of co-owner David Beckham, finished a disappointing 14th in the Eastern Conference last year despite eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, 36, joining in June.
But the club, who also boast ex-Barcelona trio Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, are hot favourites to win the MLS this year under coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino.
They have already enjoyed success after lifting the 2023 Leagues Cup and reaching the US Open Cup final last year. Interest is now exploding in the League according to ex-Premier League defender Liam Ridgewell, who played in the MLS from 2014-2019 with Portland Timbers and now coaches at the club.
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Ridgewell, 39, reflected: “The additional of Messi and Tata going in there with Busquets, Suarez and Alba has propelled them. People have made them favourites because they have got Messi.
“With the stars they have got, they will be going all out to try and win it. There have been stars come to the MLS in the past like David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Frank Lampard but Messi is arguably above the rest.
“It is a good thing to keep eyes on the MLS because the sports market here includes the NBA and NFL as we just saw with the Super Bowl. It is tough but now the MLS is starting to transcend across the world globally.
“Messi has had an injury in pre-season but Miami as a team will be looking to hit the ground running. Players are licking their chops to face him but they are not necessarily going to come out on top because he is incredible.”
Miami’s opening fixture of the 29th MLS season will be streamed on Apple TV in the second of a 10-year partnership offering fans the chance to watch any game on a season pass, which also now has separate Spanish broadcasts.
Ridgewell believes the improving coverage will help grow the League, which has attracted World Cup winner Hugo Lloris to LAFC. He added: “Apple’s involvement will hopefully start bringing a younger audience and help attract younger players to the MLS.
“Apple have done a good job of it and should help elevate it to where we think it should be going. Especially with the US hosting the Copa America this year and the 2026 World Cup coming up here and in Canada and Mexico too.
“Apple’s coverage has been a breath of fresh air because before teams were doing their own productions. It is probably similar to when Sky Sports took on the Premier League and Messi is the perfect person to align with. It is only going to get bigger now.”
The clear progress helped Forbes this month estimate Inter Miami, who are building a new ground, to now be worth $1billion after a 72 per cent jump from a year ago.
Ridgewell added: “David Beckham has been patient building up the team. It is not just a selfish thing, it is going to improve the product and the league itself.”
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