Inter Miami’s MLS Cup Odds Cut in Half After Messi Decision

• Lionel Messi has announced he intends to join Inter Miami and Major League Soccer.
• Although the contract isn’t finalized, the announcement has cut Inter Miami’s MLS Cup odds in half.
• Inter Miami currently has +5000 odds to win the MLS Cup despite being last place in the Eastern Conference.

MIAMI – Lionel Messi announced the he will join Inter Miami of Major League Soccer in an interview with Mundo Deportivo and Sport. The contract details aren’t finalized but Messi said that “I’m going to join Inter Miami. The decision ins 100% confirmed.”

The MLS released a statement acknowledging Messi’s intentions to join Major League Soccer.

Major League Soccer says that “We are pleased that Lionel Messi has stated that he intends to join Inter Miami and Major League Soccer this summer. Although work remains to finalize a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest soccer players of all time to our League.”

When Messi’s decision was first reported, Inter Miami had +10000 odds to win the 2023 MLS Cup. Now, the Miami club has +5000 odds at online soccer sportsbooks to win a championship in 2023.

The news was initially announced by Guillem Balague, a prominent Spanish sports journalist who recently wrote a Lionel Messi biography. The news was massive and media outlets ran with it, but now Messi’s statements on Mundo Deportivo and Sport make it official.

Inter Miami currently sits in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-11 record. With 18 games left in the 2023 MLS season, Inter Miami has a chance to make a run with the arrival of Lionel Messi.

Inter Miami’s +500 odds at online sportsbooks could further shorten if they sign Gerardo “Tata” Martino as their head coach. Martino won the MLS Cup in 2018 with Atlanta United FC, as well as coaching Lionel Messi with the Argentina National Team and FC Barcelona.

Reports from Argentina state that Tata Martino is lined up to become the next coach of Inter Miami, a perfect fit with their newly acquired Argentina legend. The arrival of arguably the greatest soccer player in Lionel Messi automatically brings value to Inter Miami’s +500 odds to win the MLS Cup.