How Apple is helping bring Lionel Messi to the United States
Christopher Hutton
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Apple played a critical role in helping a United States soccer team acquire one of the world’s greatest soccer players, including offering him shares and his own documentary series.
Lionel Messi announced on Wednesday that he is joining Inter Miami’s team as the next step of his career. Part of that arrangement includes Messi receiving a share of Apple’s revenue generated by the MLS Season Pass, the streaming service for the league’s games operated by Apple.
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Apple TV also revealed on Tuesday that it is airing a four-part documentary series focused on Messi’s World Cup career, with a focus on his 2022 Qatar win.
Messi will also receive a cut from any of Adidas’s profit increases that may occur due to Messi’s joining the MLS.
Apple’s and Adidas’s contributions likely helped convince Messi to swap teams. The world-renowned soccer player spent the last two years with Paris Saint-Germain, where he won two Ligue 1 titles. He had been considering several offers, including a lucrative deal from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, alongside Miami’s offer and a rumored return to Barcelona.
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Apple signed a 10-year $2.5 billion agreement with the MLS last summer that will give the platform exclusive streaming rights for the sports league’s games.
The major streaming services continue to fight for who will have each sports network. YouTube received exclusive rights in December to stream NFL Sunday Ticket for $2 billion.