Messi effect: Inter Miami now the most valuable club in MLS | OneFootball

The arrival of Lionel Messi marked a turning point for Inter Miami, which, with his presence, is experiencing the best moment in its history both on and off the field. After winning the MLS Cup for the first time in 2025, the Herons managed to become the highest-valued franchise among the 30 participants in the American league.

According to the specialized outlet Sportico, the team led by the captain of the Argentine National Team will start the 2026 season with an estimated value of $1.45 billion, placing Los Angeles FC in second place on the list with a value of $1.4 billion.

The key was the 22% increase the Herons saw in 2025, which allowed them to surpass the Californian team, which failed to defend its top spot after increasing its valuation by just 9% compared to last year.

Sporting success is not the only factor behind Inter Miami’s growth, as the construction of their new stadium—set to open this year—also played a major role. The top five is completed by Los Angeles Galaxy ($1.17 billion), Atlanta United ($1.14 billion), and New York City FC ($1.12 billion, also boosted by the construction of a new venue to be inaugurated in 2027).

Only these five franchises surpass the $1 billion mark among the 30 teams participating in the tournament, leaving an average valuation of $767 million, a 5% increase compared to last year.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.