Published 4th Jan 2024
Since his stunning switch to play in the MLS in the United States in July 2023, Argentinian World Cup winner Lionel Messi has been instrumental in helping to raise the profile of the league across the world.
Let's dive straight in to find out some of the biggest things that have happened since Lionel Messi first put on his number 10 shirt for the MLS side Inter Miami.
Where can I watch North American football matches?
It all depends on where you live. For example, if you live in Hungary, one of the best places to watch MLS games is Unibet TV. This renowned iGaming site shows games from around the world, and if you're interested in North American soccer games, they have frequent coverage of the following leagues:
- MLS
- USL Championship
- NWSL (W)
- MLS Next Pro
- NPSL
- NISA
- NWSL Challenge Cup (W)
- USLW (W)
- WPSL (W)
- UWS
- MLA All-Star Games
To gain access to any North American soccer matches on this reputable online sports betting site, you must first register a new account. It's free to sign up, and you can benefit from a guaranteed new player welcome bonus as soon as your new account has been activated.
Has Messi's presence had an impact on the popularity of the MLS?
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top tier of men's professional soccer (or football if you're from certain regions) in North America, and when Lionel Messi decided to join, it shocked the world.
It had an instant impact on the popularity of the league, and anyone who was remotely interested in football was now even more keen than ever to watch him play for his new team.
It attracted a new wave of soccer fans to the DRV PNK Stadium who might have otherwise never visited without Messi's arrival. Similarly, more people started subscribing to MLS soccer match streaming apps to watch him play from their preferred devices.
He is widely regarded as the best soccer player in the history of the sport, and the commotion generated by Messi's arrival has given the MLS a positive boost at home and abroad.
Messi has single handedly got more people than ever interested in watching the league and taking up playing the sport. He has helped raise the league's profile and sparked widespread interest in the league.
He could have gone to almost any club in the world, but he decided to go to the MLS, which says a lot about the integrity of the MLS. His move could even signal the start of an exciting new era for soccer in America and Canada.
Inter Miami has also profited since his arrival, thanks to a spike in Messi shirt sales, and through the sales of other Messi-branded memorabilia and merchandise and ticket sales.
What other sports can I watch on Unibet TV?
As well as soccer, you can also watch many other live sporting events, such as American Football, Handball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Ice Hockey, Cricket, Rugby League, and Tennis.
They also have live streaming services for Boxing, Darts, Golf, Winter Sports, Motor Sports, Snooker, Basketball, and Volleyball, to name a few.
Final Thoughts
Messi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, so there's plenty more still to come from the G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time). Inter Miami fans will be hoping he can take them to the playoffs and beyond, but only time will tell what his true impact for the club will be.
In the 14 appearances he made at the end of last season for Inter Miami, he managed to score 11 goals and assist in 5 goals. He will no doubt want to add to this impressive tally when the 2024 ML regular season gets underway in February 2024.
Inter Miami finished in 14th place out of 15 teams and will be looking to have a much better season with a newly settled Messi shoring up their attack.