The fandom of Lionel Messi continues to grow in the United States since he signed for Inter Miami. Aside from box office sales of his jersey and match tickets, the striker is also grabbing the eyeballs of renowned stars. In fact, yet another billionaire has joined his growing fanfare. So far, the Argentinian superstar has left an indelible mark on the American fans, who can’t seem to get hold of him.
Likewise, he also seems to have impressed the owner of the soccer club, which he’ll be facing in the upcoming days.
Lionel Messi continues to make fans
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The co-owner of FC Dallas, Dan Hunt, is apparently looking to seize the opportunity for a major financial boost with Messi’s presence at Inter Miami. He foresees the impact of the veteran’s move to the U.S. extending to other MLS teams. His presence has reportedly resulted in increased club valuations and attracting talented players.
As stated by the Dallas Morning News, he said, “It’s the greatest coup in the history of the league. Sometimes in life, you need these moments. We needed that David Beckham moment, to really spur the league forward.” Hunt will get to witness Messi’s magic on Sunday. Dallas will lock horns against the Herons at FCD’s stadium in Frisco for a Leagues Cup match. Both sides will be looking to progress to the next stage of the competition.
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Hunt anticipates that with the excitement surrounding the World Cup winner, the game is likely to go to box office within minutes. He also insisted that watching La Pulga is like watching the NBA legend Michael Jordan. “It’s like watching Michael Jordan,” he said. “You’re watching one of the two greatest players of all time in that experience,” while adding it’s going to be a “big moment” for FC Dallas.
Sunday plans locked in 🔒
Check out our match preview ahead of our @leaguescup round of 16 matchup against FC Dallas tomorrow. Details: https://t.co/bBh4acXfw7 pic.twitter.com/wiPCmIMbDI
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 5, 2023
Indeed, given Messi’s popularity, facing him tomorrow will definitely see Hunt cash in a significant amount of money. Interestingly, Hunt’s investment portfolio isn’t limited to just owning a soccer team.
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An extensive investment portfolio
Dan Hunt shares ownership of FC Dallas with his elder brother, Clark Hunt. Aside from the MLS side, they also jointly run the NFL team Kansas City Chiefs with the other siblings Sharron and Lamar Jr. Earlier this year, Hunt won the NFL Super Bowl with the Chiefs as they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35. Before this, they won the Super Bowl in the year 2020 and way back in 1970.
Furthermore, he is also a pioneer investor and stakeholder in the NBA franchise Chicago Bulls. Indeed, it has been quite a successful journey for the Hunt family. Now, thanks to Messi, they will be able to grow their soccer investment portfolio in the world of sports, even more.
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What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.