Lionel Messi gifts custom pink Beats to Inter Miami teammates

In a recent, high-profile move to Major League Soccer (MLS), football icon Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, made headlines by gifting his new teammates customised pink Beats headphones on his first day with the club. Co-owned by former English footballer David Beckham, Inter Miami sports a unique pink colour theme which is reflected in Messi's choice of gift.

Beats, a fashionable headphone brand, is owned by tech titan Apple, which intriguingly also had a role to play in Messi's transfer. Till date, the $3 billion acquisition of Beats, is Apple’s highest one yet. For almost a decade Beats has been run as a separate company, but its IP was critical in the development of Apple Music and Apple’s own audio products like AirPods and HomePods.

Messi's move to MLS was facilitated by a revenue-sharing agreement involving MLS and Apple TV+, Apple's streaming service that holds MLS broadcasting rights. An annual MLS subscription for a user in India comes with a price tag of Rs 2,199.

Further strengthening the bond with Apple, Inter Miami features Apple TV+ as a shirt sponsor, with the logo prominently placed on the sleeve. As a brand ambassador for Adidas, which happens to be Inter Miami's kit supplier, Messi has additional ties to his new club.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has cleverly negotiated an ownership stake in Inter Miami as part of his contract. He stands to earn a base fee of 40-50 million per year, with the contract running until the end of 2025.

Messi's impact on MLS has been immediate and profound. In just two matches, his extraordinary performance, including a spectacular extra-time free kick in his debut match and two goals with one assist in the next game, has drawn global attention.

In addition, Messi is reunited with former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at Inter Miami. The club has even roped in former Barcelona and Argentina coach Tata Martino for this venture. Speculations are rife about potential additions to the team, with former Barcelona stars Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez reportedly in talks. Also, Sergio Ramos, Messi's former PSG teammate and erstwhile rival from his Barcelona days, is expected to join Inter Miami.

With the 2026 Football World Cup set to take place in the US, Mexico, and Canada, Messi's move to the US could potentially redefine the football landscape in North America. Apple, too, is making significant investments in the sport, securing league rights and facilitating Messi's transfer.

Interestingly, when rumours surfaced about Manchester United's sale by its current owners, the Glazers, Apple was among the potential buyers, underlining the tech giant's growing interest in the world's most popular sport.