Lionel Messi (36) added a new accolade to his already glittering list of honours, as he was named Athlete of the Year by Time Magazine.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward was awarded the prize after winning his eighth Ballon d’Or and for raising the profile of the sport within the US. In doing so, he became the first men’s footballer and the first non-American to win the title.
His arrival from Les Parisiens to Inter Miami marked a significant change in the relationship between the US and the sport. There was a massive increase in searches related to match dates and tickets, all brought about by the desire to catch a glimpse of the World Cup winner in action.
Subsequently, ticket prices for Inter Miami have inflated astronomically, while Apple TV the rights holder for the MLS has seen a significant rise in subscriptions. This led to Time stating that ‘Messi has managed to do what once seemed impossible: turning the US into a soccer country.’
