Messi wins the Sportsman of the Year award from the American “Time” magazine

Argentine star Lionel Messi won the Sportsman of the Year award from the American “Time” magazine because of his positive impact on football in the United States since he joined – this summer – the American club Inter Miami.

The magazine wrote, “Messi achieved what seemed impossible: he made the United States a country that loved football.”

Messi made an immediate impact at Inter Miami, helping them win the Mexican American League Cup, the first major title in the team’s history.

The arrival of the Argentine star to the United States also caused a sensation off the field, with viewership for matches and sales of tickets and Inter Miami shirts rising steadily.

-Footballers who have won BOTH Laureus and Time’s Athlete of the Year:

1- Leo Messi

End. Of. List 🇦🇷🐐 pic.twitter.com/LohD8GPyXV

— Sara 🦋 (@SaraFCBi) December 5, 2023

Messi, who won the eighth Ballon d’Or in his career, left Paris Saint-Germain last July to join Inter Miami, which is co-owned by former English star David Beckham.

Messi – the winner with his country in the Qatar World Cup 2022 – did not hide his attachment to his childhood club Barcelona, ​​as he confirmed that the option of returning to it after an experience he spent with Paris Saint-Germain was the first option, but he preferred Inter Miami after being convinced of the impossibility of completing the deal with the Laporta administration for economic reasons. These data prompted him to take a decision that spared him the same situation he experienced when he left the Catalan club.

David Beckham reveals he arrived at Inter Miami training every day at 7am after signing Lionel Messi to watch him ‘go about everything he does’ pic.twitter.com/4wozo3cfTj

— Nazuk-🦋 (@miss_nazuk) November 30, 2023

Messi said, “My first choice was to return to Barcelona, ​​but that was not possible. It is true that I thought at the time of moving to the Saudi League, which is a strong league that could become important in the future in a country I know.”

Messi (36 years old) added, “In the end it came down to Saudi Arabia and the American Football League, and both options aroused my interest.”

Next year, Messi will participate in the Copa America Championship, the draw for which will be drawn on Thursday and which will be hosted by the United States from June 20 to July 14.

Messi led Inter Miami to their first ever trophy 🐐 pic.twitter.com/oalAOzoVeH

— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) December 1, 2023

Messi did not close the door on the possibility of participating in the World Cup in 2026, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, which will be the sixth World Cup in his career.