It's official, soccer superstar Lionel Messi is Time magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2023, an accolade handed to him after an exceptional year that saw him clinch his eighth Ballon d'Or and spark a football frenzy stateside with his move to MLS club Inter Miami. Spotlighting the Argentinian's monumental influence on soccer's rising prominence in the U.S., as reported by Reuters.
While Messi has been busy making headlines for his on-field prowess, it's his ability to mingle with the common folk off the pitch that's causing quite a stir. An image of Messi strolling through Miami, taking pictures with fans, has soccer enthusiasts buzzing. ESPN FC offered a sneak peek into the legend's down-to-earth charm in a post of him on X, casually walking around the city like it's no big deal.
Lionel Messi just casually walking around stores in Miami and taking pictures with fans 😂 pic.twitter.com/sUgWOvVaPy
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2023
The 36-year-old athlete had a buffet of lucrative deals to choose from when he left Paris St Germain, but, despite being romanticized by his former club Barcelona and tempted by a wealthy offer from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, it was the siren call of Miami that won him over. "The truth is that fortunately, I had several options on the table that were interesting, and I had to analyse them and think even, weigh them up with my family, before making the final decision to come to Miami," as Messi told to Time.
After delivering a stellar performance netting 10 goals in seven Leagues Cup appearances for his new club Messi's influence has skyrocketed the demand for everything from game tickets to replica shirts in a pink frenzy. Subscription numbers for Apple TV, who've partnered with the MLS for a decade, saw a bullish rise, indicative of a nation that's finally curving towards soccer fever.
Past recipients of the Athlete of the Year title include the likes of Simone Biles, LeBron James, the U.S. women's soccer team, and Aaron Judge, who snagged the honor in 2022. Messi's name now proudly sits alongside these vaunted champions, further cementing his status as not just a transcendent soccer icon, but a global sports phenomenon.
