Messi, a World Cup champion and seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, is joining the struggling MLS club at an annual salary between $50 million (€44.55 million) and $60 million.
A thunderstorm could do little to dampen the mood as Inter Miami's fans flocked to their stadium to witness Lionel Messi's grand unveiling as the club's newest addition.
The club's owner dubbed Messi "America's number 10" as the soccer star was presented with his pink No. 10 jersey in front of an almost full 20,000-seat stadium on Sunday.
Messi, a World Cup champion and seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, is joining a struggling club that currently holds one of the lowest positions in the US Major League Soccer (MLS) and has endured an 11-match winless streak.
The club had previously announced the details of Messi's contract, which spans two-and-a-half seasons and is valued at an annual salary between $50 million (€44.55 million) and $60 million, amounting to a total contract value of $125 million to $150 million in cash alone.