Lionel Messi could be coming to Australia – but there’s a catch

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami could be bound for Australia in the coming weeks, with the Major League Soccer club in talks over a tour that shapes as his third and probably final visit to the country as a player.

The catch? They might have to start losing for it to happen.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami could be coming to Australia.Credit: AP

Messi, 36, instantly turned Inter Miami into one of the world’s most-watched teams when he signed a two-and-a-half year, $230 million contract, shunning huge offers from Saudi Arabia to see out his storied career in south Florida.

His decision has had a transformative impact on the club, with ticket prices for home games skyrocketing by 500 per cent on average, and some fans shelling out almost $40,000 for front-row seats to see him play.

Now Inter Miami, which is part-owned by David Beckham, is seeking to take Messi, the team and their garish pink jerseys around the world to capitalise on the World Cup winner’s devoted global fanbase.

Several promoters are trying to lock in government support to bring Inter Miami to Australia, either at the end of the current MLS season or during the next pre-season, for at least one friendly against an A-League team. According to multiple sources familiar with the discussions, Melbourne and Perth are the two most likely destinations, with any match involving Messi considered a surefire sellout.

Lionel Messi celebrates Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup win.Credit: Getty

The only issue is that if Messi helps Inter Miami reach the MLS play-offs, which begin in late October, it may become mission impossible.

Messi has made a predictably brilliant start on the field with his new club, scoring 11 goals in his first 11 games while steering Inter Miami to their first piece of silverware in the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament involving teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX. Since his arrival, they are unbeaten in all competitions.

With eight games left to play in the league, Inter Miami sit 14th in the Eastern Conference - six points adrift of ninth position. The top seven teams in each MLS conference qualify for the play-offs, while the teams ranked seventh and eighth enter a wildcard round.

While they would appear to need a miracle run to make it, Messi has proved time and again he is eminently capable of conjuring miracles at will - and it may be that his footballing genius could get in the way.

Miami’s last regular-season match is on October 21, and if their season continues beyond that, the window of opportunity for an Australian trip is much smaller, according to sources.

Venue availability is also a complicating factor, particularly with cricket season approaching and a series of concerts set to take place over the summer months blocking out some dates.

A pre-season trip in February is a possibility, but there is expected to be huge interest from around the world in Messi and Inter Miami, which could blow any bids from Australia out of the water.

“Victoria is the major events capital of Australia, and we are always looking to secure the biggest and best events for the state,” a spokesperson for the Victorian government said.

A Tourism WA spokesperson said: “Tourism WA is always looking for unique major sporting and cultural event opportunities to drive visitation and inject millions into the state.”

The Australian Professional Leagues have given approval for any A-League teams to take on Inter Miami, although it would come in the midst of the new season, which begins on October 20.

Messi has played in Australia twice before, in friendlies for Argentina against the Socceroos in 2008 and Brazil in 2017 – both at the MCG.

An agreement to bring Messi back to Melbourne controversially fell through last year due to Argentina’s refusal to travel to Australia for another ‘SuperClasico’ against Brazil, despite more than 60,000 tickets having been sold for it.

Exhibition matches involving MLS teams are not without precedent, either – more than 80,000 people at Accor Stadium watched Beckham’s LA Galaxy beat Sydney FC 5-3 in a post-season clash in 2007. They flew out again three years later to take on the Newcastle Jets in a deal bankrolled by former owner Nathan Tinkler.