Inter Miami CF took home two prestigious honors at the 17th Annual Sports Business Awards on Wednesday night in New York City, with the Club having the standout performance of the evening among sports entities. With the signing of Lionel Messi in July 2023 as the catalyst, the Club was recognized with Deal of the Year and Team of the Year honors.
The pair of honors underscores the commitment of Inter Miami Ownership to the Club’s motto, Freedom to Dream. Managing Owner Jorge Mas, and Co-Owners Jose Mas, and David Beckham fulfilled the Freedom to Dream ethos by signing world-class players to compete for Inter Miami CF to represent the essence of South Florida.
“Our Club is built on dreams, big dreams” said Inter Miami CF Managing Owner Jorge Mas. “I, together with Jose and David, promised our fans that the world’s best players would call Inter Miami home. We delivered on our promise and are honored to dedicate these recognitions to our fans whom always believed in us and this is only the beginning.”
Deal of the Year Winner: Inter Miami CF Signs Lionel Messi
The signing of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, transformed North American sports and catapulted Inter Miami into a global phenomenon overnight. Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami elevated the team's on-field performance immediately, ignited a commercial surge, and helped transform Inter Miami into a reference point for fútbol globally.
The Deal of the Year Award was presented by Super Bowl Champion, and former National Football League player, Jason McCourty. Inter Miami CF Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi accepted the award on behalf of the Club.
Sports Team of the Year Winner: Inter Miami CF
Just moments after receiving the Deal of the Year Award, Asensi returned to the stage alongside a group of Inter Miami CF members to accept the Team of the Year Award.
The second recognition underscores not just the monumental feat of signing Messi, but also the Club's strategic vision in leveraging the unprecedented moment in Inter Miami history and propelling the Club to exponential heights. The prestigious honor was presented by the legendary Billie Jean King.
Launched in 2008, the Sports Business Awards were established by Sports Business Journal to celebrate excellence in the business of sports. For more information on the distinguished Awards, please visit www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.
