Messi and his trip around the world in 20 days with Inter Miami: 37 thousand kilometres, five countries and many millions

In the middle of the preseason with InterMiami, Lionel Messi This Friday he will embark on a world tour that will take him travelling more than 37 thousand kilometers in twenty daystouring America and Asia, before the official start of the season in MLS which will take place on February 21st. The agenda includes six friendly matches in five countries, which will require trips to El Salvador, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan, in that order.

At the beginning of the tour, the first stop will be San Salvador, IN The Saviour, on January 19 at the Cuscatlán stadium for a friendly match against the local team. There in Central America will be the premiere of the 2024 version of the team Gerardo Martinowith Luis Suarez as stellar reinforcement.

Three days later, Inter Miami is scheduled for a duel against FCDallas at the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas. It will be Monday the 22nd and will serve as a stopover for the longest part of the journey, which will take him to the Far East to play another four matches.

A week after the match against Argentine Alan Velasco’s FC Dallas, Messi’s team will board a private plane to fly to Saudi Arabiawhere he will have a double date that promises stellar clashes.

At the start of the Asian tour on Monday 29 January, they will face the Al Hilal of Neymar Jr., even if the Brazilian will not be able to play because he is recovering from a serious knee injury. His reunion with Messi is a mystery because the Brazilian was in his country until recently.

A few days later, on February 1st, there is the guaranteed top photo: they will face Inter Miami Al Nassr, and Leo will hug his all-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

After that clash in the land of sheikhs and petrodollars, Inter Miami will continue eastwards to stop in Hong Kong, in Chinawhere they will play against on February 4th Hong Kong All-Star a team made up of the stars of the local championship.

In the last phase of the marathon tour he will reach Inter Miami Japan face the Vissel Kobe Wednesday 7th in the capital, Tokyo. It won’t be a simple “friendly match”: the presence of Andrés Iniesta, a player who said goodbye to that club, is expected, and who will have the chance to reunite not only with Messi but also with his former teammates Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

From there, with all the jet lag in the world in tow (literally) and several million dollars raised, the team David Beckham The last plane will be taken to transport him to the United States but this time crossing the skies of the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to the benefits it will obtain from playing each match, the American team’s strategy is to strengthen its presence in the Asian market, where Messi is a marketing phenomenon that both Barcelona and the Argentine national team have already been able to cultivate.

To enhance Inter Miami’s trip to the East and the phenomenon that Messi arouses throughout the world, it is worth remembering that only one MLS team has friendlies scheduled outside the borders of North America: Real Salt Lake, who will play three matches in Portugal.

On the way home is Newell’s

As if it were a reward for so many kilometers travelled, Messi will give himself a gift on February 15th when he will play his last preseason match, against Newell’s no less and in his new home, the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where he played serves as a home.

The clash against Leprosy will take place the week before Messi’s first competitive match, Wednesday 21 February against Real Salt Lake. The first step in a very busy agenda which until March includes commitments for the MLS but also for the Concacaf Champions League and two friendlies with the Argentine national team in China.