The official presentation of Lionel Messi as an Inter Miami player takes place on Sunday, July 16 as football fans experience 'The Unveil' or 'La PresentaSIon' as the event is being dubbed by the club.
The 36-year-old decided to leave Paris Saint-Germain following two years in the French capital, sparking a move to Miami and a new adventure in his career. After he indicated on June 7 his intention to sign with the club, Messi's signing was officially confirmed on July 15.
Messi will next be presented as the next big star of Major League Soccer in front of his Inter Miami fans in a sold-out stadium. The club confirmed performances by musical artists Camilo, Ozuna, and Argentina's own Paulo Londra and Tiago PZK.
The Sporting News looks at the key details of Messi's official presentation as an Inter Miami player and where fans can watch it.
When is Lionel Messi presentation at Inter Miami?
Messi will be presented as part of an event that kicks off at 6 p..m. ET on Sunday, July 16. His new teammate Sergio Busquets is also expected to be introduced to the fans.
The World Cup champion will feature in the portion of the event that begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.
That 8:30 p.m. ET window is also when the free stream on Apple TV kicks off. Here is how that translates to major regions around the world:
| Region | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Sat, July 16 | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Sat, July 16 | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| UK | Sun, July 17 | 1:30 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sun, July 17 | 10:30 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sun, July 17 | 6 a.m. IST |
| Singapore | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. SGT |
| Hong Kong | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. HKT |
| Malaysia | Sun, July 17 | 8:30 a.m. MYT |
| New Zealand | Sun, July 17 | 12:30 p.m. NZST |
How to watch Lionel Messi's presentation at Inter Miami
Messi's presentation will be available for fans around the world to watch in both English and Spanish via a special one-hour show streamed for FREE on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
- Date: Sunday, July 16, 2023
- Live stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
- Stream start time: 8:30 p.m. ET
According to the club, a portion of the event will also be live streamed for free on Inter Miami CF Twitter, YouTube and Twitch channels. This could presumably be the part taking place between 6 p.m. ET and 8:30 p.m. ET, before the Apple TV exclusive window starts.
Kaylyn Kyle will be the host for an English-language commentary team that includes former MLS players Taylor Twellman and Sacha Kljestan, as well as Stefano Fusaro, who will be on-site.
The Spanish-language team will include Messi's former teammate and MLS legend Diego Valeri, Eduardo Biscayart, and host Andres Agulla. Antonella Gonzalez will be on hand at DRV PNK Stadium.
The Athletic have previously reported that MLS have been in talks with CONCACAF, and broadcasters Fox and Univision, to have Messi's presentation aired during halftime of the Gold Cup final between Mexico and Panama which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.