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Messi’s early exit from MLS playoffs a blow to Apple TV

MacDailyNews

Nov 12

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On Friday, October 25th, Lionel Messi made his historic MLS Cup Playoffs debut, and fans tuned in for free on MLS Season Pass in droves.

In a blow to Apple TV and Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi’s inaugural MLS playoff campaign came to a disappointing early round one end, as Inter Miami was unexpectedly eliminated by Atlanta United (about whom nobody gives two…). Despite setting a new MLS record with 74 points during the regular season, the World Cup champion’s team couldn’t maintain their momentum in the playoffs. While Messi’s impact on Major League Soccer has been undeniable, his first full season in the league will conclude without a championship title.

Reuters:
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It was bad news for those hoping to cash in on the world’s most famous player reaching the finale, including Apple TV, who signed a blockbuster streaming deal with the league in 2022, and for broadcaster Fox, who will also air the Dec. 7 match.
But the 37-year-old has more than proven his worth for the league and his team, experts say, at a vitally important time for the sport in North America, where the World Cup will be staged in 2026.
“Messi has been the type of boost that MLS has needed. The issue for MLS has been attracting stars at the end of their career,” said Andrew Zimbalist, a professor at Smith College and co-author of National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Football. “The special thing about Messi is that he is one of the top five soccer players of all time and even though he is now 37, he still can play, or at least have spurts of truly dominant soccer.”
Despite Saturday’s setback, Messi and his Miami team mates will still compete in next year’s expanded 32-team Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States.
The league announced last month an attendance record of more than 11 million fans across the regular season and Inter Miami told ESPN, opens new tab that they had nearly doubled their revenue since Messi signed in July last year.
Apple said that Messi’s playoff debut was its most-streamed sporting event ever…

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MacDailyNews Take: Messi expects Miami to be his final club and his contract is set to expire at the end of next year, so time is ticking loudly for Apple TV, MLS, and MLS Season Pass.

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