Messi how much world cup

NEYMAR was spotted courtside at the Miami Heat game just hours after his pal Lionel Messi revealed that he would be joining Inter Miami this summer.

The Brazilian ace was part of a star-studded guest list as the Heat took on Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the NBA finals.

Neymar , 31, was sat near former Manchester United star Paul Pogba at Kaseya Center, while his former team-mate Gerard Pique’s ex-partner Shakira was also in attendance.

Prior to the match Neymar warmed up on court with Heat superstar Jimmy Butler, while he also posed with the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Just hours before the game, the Paris Saint-Germain star had taken to Instagram to wish Messi well in his move to Miami .

He wrote: “Brother… it didn’t turn out as we thought but we tried everything. It was a pleasure to share two more years with you.

“Good luck in your new stage and be happy. I love you.”

Messi, 35, replied calling Neymar a “beautiful person”.

The PSG ace, who clutched a Jimmy Butler T-shirt, will have come away from last night’s game disappointed with the result – as the Heat fell 109-94 to surrender home court advantage and go 2-1 down in the series.

Messi may well be spotted courtside at Kaseya Center next season, after he completes his Miami switch.

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In confirming his next destination, the Argentine superstar said: “It’s true that I had offers from another European team but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe, my idea was only to go to Barcelona .

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.”

Neymar, meanwhile, has also been linked with a switch away from PSG.

The former Barcelona ace remains under contract in the French capital for at least another two seasons – although he has been linked with Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United .

Shakira, meanwhile, jetted into Miami from Barcelona yesterday, leaving her two boys Milan, ten, and Sasha, eight, with their dad Pique.

The 46-year-old is a big fan of Butler, and last month rumours even circulated that the two may be dating .

Shakira has attended plenty of sporting events of late.

Upon her recent return to Barcelona, she attended the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix .

She also went to last month’s Miami GP , and was spotted having dinner with Lewis Hamilton that week.

While Hamilton’s fortunes have improved in recent races, with Sir Lewis coming second in Barcelona , Shakira will be hoping that Butler and the Heat can bounce back with a victory over the Nuggets in Game 4 at Kaseya Center on Friday night.

Butler, 33, scored 28 points in last night’s game, while team-mate Bam Adebayo managed 22 alongside 17 rebounds.

The Heat found themselves on the wrong end of a Jokic masterclass, however, with the two-time MVP scoring 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.

Jamal Murray also managed a 30-point triple double – scoring 34, 10 and 10 on a great bounce-back night for Michael Malone’s men.

LIONEL MESSI has lifted the lid on being “so unhappy during a difficult two years” at Paris Saint-Germain.

The legendary Argentina World Cup winner, 35, was tipped to rejoin Barcelona on a free transfer.

Messi decided to leave PSG when his contract expired.

And a Nou Camp return seemed almost certain following several public declarations of love from boss and ex-teammate Xavi Hernandez.

However, Messi left Barca and football fans stunned when he confirmed he was joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami instead.

The veteran could end up linking with three former pals in Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

And Messi admits rejecting Barcelona due to their ongoing financial problems.

But he has now opened up on his last two years in the French capital with PSG.

Messi won two titles as he netted 32 goals in 75 games.

Yet he failed to help PSG achieve their dream of winning the Champions League.

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And Messi was roundly booed by fans in his final home game at the weekend.

The superstar admits he was far from happy at the Parc des Princes, and hopes playing in the MLS will bring him a new-found joy.

Messi told Mundo Deportivo : “I’m at a point where I want to step out of the spotlight a bit, think more about my family.

“I had two years where I was so unhappy on a personal level that I didn’t enjoy it.

“I had that month that was spectacular for me because of winning the World Cup, but apart from that it was a difficult period for me.

“I want to rediscover joy, enjoy my family, my children, the day-to-day.

“And that’s why the decision for Barcelona didn’t happen.”

LIONEL MESSI has confirmed he will join Inter Miami this summer after a return to Barcelona collapsed.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of June.

And Inter Miami have now confirmed his stunning move in a video on Twitter which included several reports of the transfer.

Messi himself told Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo: “I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami. [I decided] to leave Europe.”

He added: “It’s true that I had offers from another European team but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe, my idea was only to go to Barcelona.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.

“Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”

Messi was linked with a return to Barcelona in recent weeks, but the club’s current financial state has made it difficult for them to submit an adequate offer.

The forward’s father and agent, Jorge, held talks with Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Monday morning to discuss the possibility of a free transfer.

The 65-year-old even revealed that his son was eager to return to the Nou Camp.

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However, Inter Miami ‘s offer appears have been too good to turn down.

In a response statement, Barca said: “On Monday, June 5, Jorge Messi, the player’s father and representative, informed Club President Joan Laporta of the player’s decision to join Inter Miami, despite having been presented with a proposal from Barça, in consideration of the desire of both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi for him to once again wear blaugrana.

“President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.

“Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from Barça fans to honour a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barca.”

Spanish outlet SPORT report that he will earn £43million-a-year which equates to £830,000-a-week.

And according to The Athletic , Adidas, Apple and MLS were all hoping to entice the Argentine to lucrative commercial proposals.

I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami.

Lionel Messi

Adidas – one of the league’s largest corporate sponsors – have reportedly proposed a profit-sharing agreement, meaning the forward will receive a cut of any increase in profits resulting from his MLS involvement.

MLS and Apple have also considered offering Messi a share of the revenue generated by new subscribers to the MLS Season Pass, the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+.

In addition to these commercial proposals, MLS chiefs are understood to be willing to offer Messi the option to purchase a percentage of any team in the league upon his retirement.

Messi was also linked with a move to Saudi Arabia following the announcement of his PSG departure.

However, he didn’t want to join former rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Saudi Pro League.

The 35-year-old already owns a stunning £7m apartment in Miami which boasts incredible views of the coastline.

BARCELONA have been criticised for releasing a “disrespectful” statement after Lionel Messi confirmed his move to Inter Miami.

Messi, 35, is leaving PSG when his contract expires in the summer and Barca were in talks to bring the Argentine back.

But their financial issues and concerns Messi had about returning to the spotlight made the move impossible, leaving the club legend to choose America as his next destination.

In response, Barca said a statement which read: “President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.

“Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from Barca fans to honour a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barca.”

But fans reacted furiously as one said: “That Barcelona statement was so unnecessary and disrespectful.”

Another added: “This was not necessary to tweet.

“Clearly a PR move by you admin, it’s sad because this is my own club as well lmao but nah you guys should not have made this post literally just trying to make us look good yet again when we aren’t in the right”

One raged: “This is low from Barcelona.

“Considering they are talking about their best player in club history. Don’t patronise his decision. He can do what he wants.”

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Messi confirmed his intention to join Inter Miami after a return to Barca collapsed when speaking to Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.

The Argentine World Cup winner told Mundo Deportivo and Sport: “I’ve been supporting Barca during the year. I’m a fan.

“I spoke to (manager) Xavi a lot, we discussed and we always had frequent exchanges.

“I heard reports of La Liga giving the green light but the truth is that many, really many things were still missing in order to make my return to Barca happen

“I didn’t want to be responsible for them to sell players or reduce salaries. I was tired.”

Messi added: “I really wanted to return to Barça, I had that dream.

“But after what happened two years ago, I did not want to be in the same situation again, leaving my future in the hands of someone else.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.

“Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”

INTER MIAMI are already basking in the Lionel Messi effect.

That’s after their Instagram followers jumped an incredible four hundred percent in under a day.

Messi, 35, left fans stunned by announcing a free transfer to David Beckham’s MLS franchise yesterday.

The ex-PSG star was widely expected to rejoin Barcelona.

But Messi will now continue his glittering career in America , six months after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.

The veteran is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most popular sports stars on the planet.

He boasts an astonishing net worth of almost £500million.

And over £50m of that is pocketed through lucrative sponsorship deals.

Inter Miami are now starting to feel the beginning of that effect on Instagram.

Before Messi’s move was announced, their account had 900,000 followers from across the globe.

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But less than 24 hours later, that figure had jumped to a whopping 4.7m.

That’s an astonishing increase of around 411 percent.

Simultaneously, Messi’s former club PSG have since lost one million followers after his exit last weekend.

And the ace’s influence is sure to continue growing at Miami once he pulls on the jersey for his first match.

Reflecting on his decision to join the Americans, Messi said: “I’m at a point where I want to step out of the spotlight a bit, think more about my family.

“I had two years where I was so unhappy on a personal level that I didn’t enjoy it.

“I had that month that was spectacular for me because of winning the World Cup, but apart from that it was a difficult period for me.

“I want to rediscover joy, enjoy my family, my children, the day-to-day.

“And that’s why the decision for Barcelona didn’t happen.”