We may not know about ‘The Domino Effect,‘ but we certainly witnessed ‘The Lionel Messi Effect‘ in the United States. Why? Forget the MLS; the 5’7″ Argentinian superstar has taken over the entire sporting scene in the country. His latest antics have made him a heartthrob for even the baseball community, as many Americans are more eager to watch Messi’s Inter Miami than Aaron Judge’s New York Yankees!

Still don’t believe us? Allow us to present a live example, or should we say, a thesis for your consideration. To fill you in, on October 25th, Friday, we see Inter Miami play their first MLS playoffs clash against Atlanta United. Coincidentally, we will have the New York Yankees play a World Series Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the exact same date. While the Yankees-Dodgers are starting their game at 8:08 p.m. ET, the Miami-Atlanta clash will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Even though the start times for both sporting events differ by almost half an hour, it creates some confusion for fans regarding which games they should catch up with. Interestingly, this prompted renowned journalist José Armando to post a poll on his X (formerly Twitter), asking which game fans would prefer to watch. Option one read, ‘Messi’s Inter,’ option two said, ‘Yankees vs. Dodgers,’ and the third option stated, ‘A little bit of each.’

The results you ask? Prepared to be amazed! Option one, featuring Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami, secured a staggering 86.8% of the votes. In contrast, the Yankees vs. Dodgers garnered just 9.7%, with 3.5% of respondents expressing interest in catching both sporting events. This is indeed a shocking and eye-opening poll.

One might argue that José Armando achieved such high votes for Messi due to the considerable following of the soccer fanbase on his Elon Musk-owned social media platform. However, that alone doesn’t account for La Pulga’s dominance over someone like Aaron Judge, who also has a significant fan base in the States, particularly for the sport he plays.

Historically, MLB has garnered more ratings and viewership compared to MLS. Nonetheless, Messi’s ability to win this poll demonstrates his profound influence within the country, let alone what he did for Inter Miami!

It’s the Lionel Messi world we are all living in!

No one ever imagined that the arrival of one player would permanently change the game for Inter Miami. Aside from their domestic triumphs, it’s largely the off-pitch success that has everyone excited. Whether it’s competing with Taylor Swift’s box office power or surpassing legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods to become America’s most popular athlete, Lionel Messi has outperformed nearly everything.

Specifically for Inter Miami, he has helped the Florida-based club generate substantial revenue, pushing the club’s valuation to a staggering $1 billion. Additionally, the Herons’ social media presence has skyrocketed from 1.06 million followers to 17.1 million. Beyond the packed stadiums, A-listers are making time to see La Pulga in action. Lastly, we can’t overlook the silverware he has helped Miami win through collective effort.

All in all, Inter Miami is truly fortunate to have brought someone like Lionel Messi on board. Upwards and onwards, as they say!