Leo Messi Sends MLS Ticket Prices Skyrocketing After Announcing Move to Miami

Soccer superstar and World Cup winner Leo Messi is officially making the move to the U.S., announcing plans this week to join Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF. The move is Major League Soccer's biggest acquisition as a league since David Beckham's move to Los Angeles in 2007, and it's had a major affect on ticket prices.

TMZ Sports reports that average ticket prices for Inter Miami have skyrocketed since the announcement, going from an average of just $15 to $230 for home games. That's an increase of more than 1,300%.

Even the team's away games have seen a big boost, hopping from $53 on average to $251, a 374% difference. Fans are lining up for a chance to see the Argentinian striker even though he hasn't officially joined the league yet.

Messi first made the announcement on June 8, telling fans that he opted for Miami after plans to return to Barcelona fell through because of La Liga rules governing team finances. He reportedly turned down a massive payday to play in Saudi Arabia, saying the decision wasn't about money.

"I made the decision that I'm going to go to Miami," Messi told Mundo Deportivo in an interview. "I still haven't closed it 100%. I'm still missing a few things, but we decided to go ahead. If Barcelona didn't work out, I wanted to leave Europe, get out of the spotlight and think more about my family."

Still, he's expected to command a hefty payday in Miami, with a contract that reportedly includes profit-sharing incentives for merchandise and streaming subscriptions.