Lionel Messi As Athlete Of The Year 2023 By Time

Lionel Messi was chosen as Athlete of the Year 2023 by Time (Instagram/@leomessi)

JAKARTA - United States Magazine Time set Inter star Miami Lionel Messi as Athlete of the Year 2023. Messi became the first footballer to be chosen to hold the title.

Messi carved a variety of achievements throughout 2023 which led him to be the choice of time version.

The former Barcelona star brought Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup after winning a penalty shootout against France.

This became Argentina's first title after 36 years. Yes, Argentina three times became world champion with each star.

In 1978, Mario Kempes brought Argentina to become champions. Furthermore, Diego Armando Maradona who did it in 1986. Then, Messi brought home the World Cup trophy in Qatar.

This complements Messi's success in bringing the Argentine national team to win the trophy. Previously, he won the Copa America 2021.

The last achievement carved by Messi was to win the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time. He also broke the record as a footballer to win the award.

More than that, Messi has had a big impact on US football, especially MLS. As a leading magazine in the US, Time is certainly more calculating Messi than Cristiano Ronaldo because it contributed to MLS after joining Inter Miami.

Moreover, the process of joining Messi to David Beckham's club is not easy. After Paris Saint-Germain, the 36-year-old player got an offer back to Barca or moved to Saudi Arabia by strengthening Al-Hilal.

He got a tempting offer when he was willing to play in Saudi Arabia. However, Messi chose to move to the US to join Inter Miami.

"Frankly, I got a number of offers that were very interesting. My first option was to return to Barcelona. However, it was impossible. I had tried it, but failed," Messi told Time.

"In addition, I also consider Saudi Arabia who have built competitive competition," he said.

"I consider all the offers and discuss it with family before finally deciding to come to Miami," he said.

The arrival of Messi to the US was not just riding through. He really had an impact on MLS and Inter Miami.

In fact, Messi has made a scene after scoring a goal through a free kick in his debut. The free kick goal immediately became trending.

He scored 10 goals for seven appearances in the League Cup. Not only that, Messi brought Inter Miami to win the tournament trophy followed by the MLS and Mexico clubs.

The arrival of the player who won the Champions League four times and 10 times brought Barca to win the La Liga trophy really raised euphoria.

An interesting phenomenon in a country that is only a number of soccer branches after basketball, American soccer (American football), baseball, boxing, tennis, and golf.

The euphoria really hit the US and Miami. The ticket price for Inter Club Miami immediately skyrocketed. However, tickets remain sold out.

Apple TV, who has been in collaboration for 10 years with MLS, was also profitable. The reason, those who subscribe to Apple TV immediately increased significantly.

"Messi has done something that seems impossible, namely turning the US into a soccer country," Time wrote.

Sales of Inter's home jersey Miami immediately recorded history. Because, in the first 24 hours, sales have reached 600 million dollars or 9.3 trillion!

This sales broke the record when Ronaldo returned to Manchester United and Tom Brady when he joined the football club, without Bay Buccaneers.

Messi himself equals the success of the articism of Simone Biles and Lebron James basketball player who was once chosen as Athlete of the Year Time. Whereas last year's Athlete of the Year was won by Aaron Judge from New York Yankees.

Although Messi became the first footballer, the soccer branch had actually been chosen.

Only, at that time what appeared was the women's soccer team led by Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. The US women's soccer team was chosen for being a world champion for the fourth time.