2022 FIFA World Cup Winner Lionel Messi has taken the MLS by storm since he arrived at Inter Miami last month. After signing a historic contract, Messi made his Inter Miami debut on July 21 and scored twice in his first appearance for the club. Since his debut, Messi has scored 9 goals in 6 matches and led his team to the 2023 Leagues Cup Final.

Messi is all set to play in his first-ever Leagues Cup final on August 19, and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will be waiting to host the Argentinian legend at Geodis Park. Earlier this year, Giannis bought a minority stake in the $552 million-worth MLS club Nashville SC, which will face Inter Miami in the final.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s investment in MLS has paid off

In March, Giannis bought a minority stake in the MLS club Nashville SC along with his brothers Kostas and Thanasis. “I have always had a dream of owning a soccer team,” Giannis told ESPN after his investment in the club. Giannis’ father was a professional soccer player and played in Nigeria and Germany. So, this investment was a tribute to their father by the Antetokounmpo brothers.

Giannis’ investment in MLS seems like a genius decision as Nashville SC made it to the Leagues Cup final, beating CF Monterrey 2-0 in the semi-final. Nashville will face the Argentinian maestro Lionel Messi in the final. Apart from the possibility of winning the Cup, this match will also be a profitable encounter for Nashville SC. After Messi’s arrival in MLS, the average ticket prices to watch Leo play have skyrocketed.

The ticket prices for the semi-final between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union went as high as $1000, which averaged $152 before Messi’s arrival. As Nashville host Lionel Messi and Co on their home turf, they can expect people to pay thousands of dollars to watch Messi play in the final.

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Giannis is not the first NBA legend to invest in a club in MLS.

NBA stars have a fondness for soccer

Before him, former MVPs Kevin Durant and James Harden bought a 5 percent stake in Philadelphia Union and Houston Dynamo FC respectively. NBA players seem to love soccer and continue to invest small chunks of their massive contracts into various teams across the world. Even LeBron James holds a minority stake in the English club Liverpool FC and can be spotted supporting the team in the Anfield stadium during the NBA off season.

With Messi’s arrival in MLS, soccer’s popularity has increased exponentially in the USA. Whatever the result on August 19, it is great for American soccer that a legend like Messi is playing at the highest level on their biggest stage.

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Do you think Giannis’ team can upset Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup final? Tell us in the comments!