The Argentine club Inter Miami, which features star Lionel Messi, has become the most valuable team in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. According to a report from the specialized outlet Sportico, seen by the Argentine News Agency, the Miami-based club reached a valuation of $1.45 billion. This figure represents a 22% increase compared to 2025, allowing it to displace Los Angeles FC, which had been leading the statistic for four years and is currently valued at $1.400 billion. The top 5 is completed by Los Angeles Galaxy ($1.170 billion), Atlanta United ($1.140 billion), and New York City ($1.120 billion). These were the only five of the league's 30 franchises to exceed a value of $1 billion. A key factor in the increase in Inter Miami's valuation was the construction of its new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, which is speculated to be inaugurated in 2026. Messi arrived at Inter Miami in mid-2023 after two turbulent years at Paris Saint-Germain, where he did not have a good time due to the hostility of French ultras. Since his arrival, the Argentina captain has played 88 matches, scoring 77 goals and providing 44 assists. Upon his arrival at the 'Herons', the club whose main shareholders are Argentine Jorge Mas and former English footballer David Beckham was one of the worst in the MLS. However, Messi managed to guide it to the conquest of the first four titles in its history. The first of these was the 2023 Leagues Cup, followed by the 2024 Supporters' Shield, the MLS Eastern Conference title, and the conquest of the 2025 Major League Soccer championship. Messi's main objective for 2026, in addition to those he will have with Inter Miami, will be the World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which has Argentina as one of the top candidates.
