NEW YORK, July 21, 2023 – Proskauer, a leading international law firm, announced today that it advised Major League Soccer (MLS) in its agreements with soccer icon Lionel Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and FIFA World Cup champion, to play for Inter Miami FC. Messi, who will occupy a Designated Player slot, is under contract with MLS through the 2025 season.
Messi, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina seven months ago, recently became a free agent after spending the last two years at French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain. His arrival builds on MLS’ commitment to being the League of Choice for the world’s elite players. Messi joins the MLS club that is owned by Jose Mas, Jorge Mas and David Beckham. Proskauer previously advised MLS in 2007, when the League signed Beckham, and in 2018 when ownership was awarded the expansion team.
Earlier this year, Proskauer also advised MLS on the League’s expansion to San Diego. The San Diego Club will become the 30th team in the League and marked the 20th expansion transaction that Proskauer has handled for MLS.
The Proskauer team advising MLS was led by partners Jon Oram and Jason Krochak (Sports Law); partners Amanda Nussbaum and Janicelynn Park (Tax); associates Arthur Burke and Eric Zilber (Sports Law); and associate Aaron Lee (Tax).
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For more than 55 years, Proskauer has advised the world’s premier sports organizations on their most critical and complex matters. Our lawyers play a pivotal role in the transactions, negotiations and litigations that are at the leading edge of the business of sports.