Lionel Messi — perhaps the biggest sports star on the planet — is taking his talents to South Beach. News broke on Wednesday that the World Cup-winning winger will be joining American side Inter Miami after his two-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi’s move to the United States is the most significant news in the history of Major League Soccer. David Beckham’s Inter Miami beat out Barcelona and a few clubs in Saudi Arabia for the Argentine’s signature.
This comes just days after the Herons sacked manager Phil Neville. Inter Miami has started the season horrendously, but with the face of football now donning the team’s pink and black kits, its odds to win the MLS Cup are sure to see a drastic change in the coming days.
The lines have already begun to move.
The Herons had the joint-second longest odds to win the MLS as of Wednesday morning with 100-to-1 at Caesars Sportsbook. However, since the announcement that Messi would be joining the team with “immediate effect,” those odds have been cut in half to +5000.
This is quite remarkable considering Inter Miami is dead last in the MLS’ Eastern Conference with 15 points from 16 matches. All of that being said, the club is just six points off the last potential playoff spot (currently occupied by Charlotte FC) with a game in hand. There are 34 games in the MLS regular season.
2023 MLS Cup Winner
Odds as of Wednesday, June 7
Los Angeles FC (+400)
FC Cincinnati (+450)
Philadelphia Union (+650)
Nashville SC (+750)
New England Revolution (+1200)
Seattle Sounders (+1200)
St. Louis City (+1300)
Atlanta United (+1800)
Columbus Crew (+2800)
Orlando City (+3000)
San Jose Earthquakes (+3000)
FC Dallas (+3300)
Austin FC (+3500)
D.C. United (+3500)
New York City FC (+4500)
Vancouver Whitecaps (+4500)
Inter Miami (+5000)
Minnesota United (+5000)
Toronto FC (+6000)
Houston Dynamo (+7500)
New York Red Bulls (+7500)
Charlotte FC (+8000)
Portland Timbers (+8000)
CF Montreal (+10000)
LA Galaxy (+10000)
Real Salt Lake (+10000)
Sporting Kansas City (+10000)
Chicago Fire (+25000)
Colorado Rapids (+25000)
