Lionel Messi’s impact on Major League Soccer has been tremendous, to say the least. His arrival at Inter Miami helped push the club’s valuation past $1.2 billion, outpacing even the Miami Marlins at $1 billion.
Meanwhile, his longtime teammate and friend, Luis Suarez, joined him in Florida after a glittering career across Europe and South America. According to Goal, whispers suggest both stars could take their partnership one step further and launch a brand-new MLS franchise of their own.
The idea is not without precedent. David Beckham famously secured franchise rights as part of his contract with the LA Galaxy in 2007 and later founded Inter Miami. Messi’s current deal contains a provision that gives him equity in Inter Miami once he retires, so a jump into franchise ownership isn’t out of the question.
Gus Poyet, a former Uruguay international, told Goal he has openly discussed the potential for Suarez and Messi to team up in that capacity, saying, “That could be something that they work with. They are very good friends. If they open a new franchise in MLS, maybe they stick together and work together. The families are very close as well.”
Besties, teammates, to business partners?
Suarez’s timeline could be the catalyst for these discussions.
He may retire as early as 2025, depending on his fitness and personal goals. Poyet added, “It depends on the quantity of games that he plays. It could be [his last season]. It’s where you are, the pace of the game, the family. It’s a big decision.”
Whether that retirement comes at the end of 2025 or a bit later, ownership presents a path for Suarez to remain involved in the game without stepping into coaching, which he has shown little inclination toward.
Messi, on the other hand, has indicated he’ll keep playing as long as he finds joy and can still contribute. “I know that the moment I feel that I am no longer able to perform, that I no longer enjoy or help my teammates, I will quit. I’m very self-critical,” he told MBC1’s Big Time Podcast last year. The day he does walk away, the conditions are ripe for the two friends to build a legacy beyond the pitch.
If they decide to take ownership of an MLS expansion team, the allure aka “Messi effect” will be immediate at the management level. Combining their immense star power with years of top-tier experience could draw talented players and enthusiastic fans to a new franchise. More than that, it would serve as a statement that MLS continues to grow, evolve, and attract the best minds in global soccer, both on and off the field.
