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The Messi Effect: How the Global Legend Changed the Future of American Soccer
In The Messi Effect, Paul Tenorio, national soccer writer for The Athletic, draws on coveted insider access to bring readers behind the ropes and into the inner sanctum and chronicle the last act of Lionel Messi.
In The Messi Effect, Paul Tenorio, national soccer writer for The Athletic, who has spent more than a decade breaking news and providing critical insight into the power and politics of the sport, draws on his numerous high-ranking sources inside Inter Miami, American soccer, and overseas to bring readers behind the scenes and chronicle the last act of Lionel Messi.
The Messi Effect takes you inside the locker room as Messi’s arrival turned a last-place team into a global phenomenon, and into the Major League Soccer boardroom as league owners debated how to leverage Messi’s arrival to shape the future of the league and sport in America. From his cinematic debut goal to his first trophy with Miami and across two more transformative seasons, Messi’s impact was immediate and enormous. His pink No. 10 shirt became the world’s best-selling jersey, MLS stadiums sold out in city after city, and Inter Miami’s valuation soared past $1 billion.
This is a book about one man's legacy in a rapidly growing and changing game. It's a story about the business of sport and how a player can be both athlete and economic engine. It’s an inside look at how the business of MLS evolved historically and in real time after the legend’s arrival. And it's the story of how a GOAT rides off into the sunset, the choices he makes, and the aftereffects of his greatness for future generations.
In The Messi Effect, Paul Tenorio, national soccer writer for The Athletic, who has spent more than a decade breaking news and providing critical insight into the power and politics of the sport, draws on his numerous high-ranking sources inside Inter Miami, American soccer, and overseas to bring readers behind the scenes and chronicle the last act of Lionel Messi.
The Messi Effect takes you inside the locker room as Messi’s arrival turned a last-place team into a global phenomenon, and into the Major League Soccer boardroom as league owners debated how to leverage Messi’s arrival to shape the future of the league and sport in America. From his cinematic debut goal to his first trophy with Miami and across two more transformative seasons, Messi’s impact was immediate and enormous. His pink No. 10 shirt became the world’s best-selling jersey, MLS stadiums sold out in city after city, and Inter Miami’s valuation soared past $1 billion.
This is a book about one man's legacy in a rapidly growing and changing game. It's a story about the business of sport and how a player can be both athlete and economic engine. It’s an inside look at how the business of MLS evolved historically and in real time after the legend’s arrival. And it's the story of how a GOAT rides off into the sunset, the choices he makes, and the aftereffects of his greatness for future generations.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published June 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
2026
February 10, 2026Non-fiction November TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We are big Messi and Inter Miami fans in our house. In fact, though I was born and raised in Florida, we became Miami transplants the same year as Messi, so we feel a sort of special connection to him and the team in that way. We recently attended the inaugural game at Nu Stadium in Miami Freedom Park, and a couple years ago we attended a big “Messi Experience” interactive exhibit here in Miami which was really fun and well done. It’s an understatement to say that we, along with the rest of Miami, are proud of Messi and our home team!
I was excited to have the chance to listen to an early audio copy of this book. I was riveted the whole time and finished it in 24 hours. It was such an interesting behind-the-scenes look into both Inter Miami as well as the development of the MLS in the United States. In fact, I somehow didn’t realize that the catalyst for creating the MLS was the 1994 World Cup, hosted in the United States for the first time. My family and I actually attended one of those games in Orlando! How cool to have that connection.
Anyway, this book went into the history of the MLS, the global influences and implications, and how the MLS rules were made to keep the league safe from certain circumstances but also hurt itself in someways by doing so. It created many episodes of rule breaking or bending and, eventually, a need for an overhaul of the rules and systems. Of course, this book was also about Messi and how he, personally, impacted the course of the MLS across the country since 2023 and what the league’s hopes are for the future of the sport here. I learned so much about both the politics and logistics that went into the development this league.
While were may interesting tidbits of information throughout the book which would be interesting to anyone who has just a tangential interest in the phenomenon of Messi and the MLS, this book is also a succinct and poignant history for any fan of soccer, MLS or any other worldwide team, since they have so many interconnecting factors.
My only critique or feedback would be - while I see the poetry of ending the book at the culmination of the MLS Cup in December 2025 - knowing that Inter Miami’s own stadium was opening in April 2026 at Miami Freedom Park, and with this book being published in June 2026, I feel it would have been worth going a little more into that than the book did - just how celebratory this event was and what a big deal it is for Inter Miami and the city of Miami itself.
But this was a great read! I’ll be pre-ordering a copy for my husband for Father’s Day. Even though he’s not a big reader, I think he’ll really enjoy this. And I also plan to get a copy for my mom who is the OG soccer fan of my family and, even though she follows international leagues more than the MLS, is sure to still find this to be an interesting and relevant read!
I was excited to have the chance to listen to an early audio copy of this book. I was riveted the whole time and finished it in 24 hours. It was such an interesting behind-the-scenes look into both Inter Miami as well as the development of the MLS in the United States. In fact, I somehow didn’t realize that the catalyst for creating the MLS was the 1994 World Cup, hosted in the United States for the first time. My family and I actually attended one of those games in Orlando! How cool to have that connection.
Anyway, this book went into the history of the MLS, the global influences and implications, and how the MLS rules were made to keep the league safe from certain circumstances but also hurt itself in someways by doing so. It created many episodes of rule breaking or bending and, eventually, a need for an overhaul of the rules and systems. Of course, this book was also about Messi and how he, personally, impacted the course of the MLS across the country since 2023 and what the league’s hopes are for the future of the sport here. I learned so much about both the politics and logistics that went into the development this league.
While were may interesting tidbits of information throughout the book which would be interesting to anyone who has just a tangential interest in the phenomenon of Messi and the MLS, this book is also a succinct and poignant history for any fan of soccer, MLS or any other worldwide team, since they have so many interconnecting factors.
My only critique or feedback would be - while I see the poetry of ending the book at the culmination of the MLS Cup in December 2025 - knowing that Inter Miami’s own stadium was opening in April 2026 at Miami Freedom Park, and with this book being published in June 2026, I feel it would have been worth going a little more into that than the book did - just how celebratory this event was and what a big deal it is for Inter Miami and the city of Miami itself.
But this was a great read! I’ll be pre-ordering a copy for my husband for Father’s Day. Even though he’s not a big reader, I think he’ll really enjoy this. And I also plan to get a copy for my mom who is the OG soccer fan of my family and, even though she follows international leagues more than the MLS, is sure to still find this to be an interesting and relevant read!
June 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!
This is a very interesting book and definitely not what I expected. With the World Cup about to kick off, the timing of its release is perfect. Going in, I expected the narrative to focus heavily on Lionel Messi and his massive influence on Inter Miami. While it does cover that, the book actually spends a lot of time diving into the marketing aspects, financials, and overall rationale behind why Major League Soccer is structured the way it is. I really enjoyed the deep dive into American fan culture, comparing it to other leagues, and examining why so many fans pledge their loyalty to overseas clubs rather than their local teams.
However, some sections became a bit dull and repetitive. The author very clearly does not support how MLS operates, which is obvious throughout the entirety of the book. At a certain point, it feels a bit like, "Okay, we get it—MLS doesn't know what they're doing and needs some serious outside perspective." Having that point continuously drilled into the narrative became a lot to handle. Messi content makes up about half the book, while the other 50% focuses on the sales and marketing side of the league. I did get sick of the “left foot” and “no. 10” being used repetitively. Fortunately, there are some cool stories mixed in and a few fun *Ted Lasso* references, so I did appreciate the diversity of what was shared.
I did run into a few nitpicks. First, one point felt factually off: the author claims Messi was confused by the concept of salary caps because nowhere else in the world uses them. That feels poorly phrased, especially since we all know Messi couldn't return to Barcelona specifically due to La Liga's economic controls and spending limits. I think the author was trying to reference the unique American style of overall team budgets and roster constraints, but it could have been stated much more accurately. On a positive note, I found the explanation of Designated Players interesting, which was a helpful breakdown for me since I primarily follow European soccer. Another minor irritation was a
typo where the author spelled "dietitian" incorrectly with a "c"—something that definitely needs to be fixed.
Overall, this is a good, highly insightful read that teaches you a lot about the inner workings of MLS and highlights some classic American organizational inefficiencies. While I don't know the exact timeline of when it was written, it already feels like there are more modern updates and league changes that could be shared. It would be incredibly interesting to see a revised edition down the road to see how the author folds the aftermath of the World Cup into the ongoing development of MLS.
This is a very interesting book and definitely not what I expected. With the World Cup about to kick off, the timing of its release is perfect. Going in, I expected the narrative to focus heavily on Lionel Messi and his massive influence on Inter Miami. While it does cover that, the book actually spends a lot of time diving into the marketing aspects, financials, and overall rationale behind why Major League Soccer is structured the way it is. I really enjoyed the deep dive into American fan culture, comparing it to other leagues, and examining why so many fans pledge their loyalty to overseas clubs rather than their local teams.
However, some sections became a bit dull and repetitive. The author very clearly does not support how MLS operates, which is obvious throughout the entirety of the book. At a certain point, it feels a bit like, "Okay, we get it—MLS doesn't know what they're doing and needs some serious outside perspective." Having that point continuously drilled into the narrative became a lot to handle. Messi content makes up about half the book, while the other 50% focuses on the sales and marketing side of the league. I did get sick of the “left foot” and “no. 10” being used repetitively. Fortunately, there are some cool stories mixed in and a few fun *Ted Lasso* references, so I did appreciate the diversity of what was shared.
I did run into a few nitpicks. First, one point felt factually off: the author claims Messi was confused by the concept of salary caps because nowhere else in the world uses them. That feels poorly phrased, especially since we all know Messi couldn't return to Barcelona specifically due to La Liga's economic controls and spending limits. I think the author was trying to reference the unique American style of overall team budgets and roster constraints, but it could have been stated much more accurately. On a positive note, I found the explanation of Designated Players interesting, which was a helpful breakdown for me since I primarily follow European soccer. Another minor irritation was a
typo where the author spelled "dietitian" incorrectly with a "c"—something that definitely needs to be fixed.
Overall, this is a good, highly insightful read that teaches you a lot about the inner workings of MLS and highlights some classic American organizational inefficiencies. While I don't know the exact timeline of when it was written, it already feels like there are more modern updates and league changes that could be shared. It would be incredibly interesting to see a revised edition down the road to see how the author folds the aftermath of the World Cup into the ongoing development of MLS.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When a global superstar in soccer decides to play for a team in the United States, it makes for a seismic reaction from soccer fans across the world and provides American soccer a lot of publicity. Three examples of this are when Pele arrived to play for the New York Cosmos in 1975, David Beckham arriving from England to play for the LA Galaxy in 2007 and Lionel Messi’s signing with Inter Miami in 2023. The latter of these events is covered in this book by Paul Tenorio.
It should be noted that this book’s primary focus is not Messi himself but the business of Major League Soccer (MLS), the highest level of professional soccer in the United States. The “Messi Effect” is how his presence in MLS would affect the growth, quality of play, popularity and progression of MLS. The league has taken slow but mostly steady growth since its near bankruptcy in 2001. There was a noted increase in many of these items when Beckham joined, a fact Tenorio notes often.
However, the connection between the two superstars of different eras is much tighter than that. After his playing days were over, Beckham became one of the owners of the Inter Miami expansion team, thereby becoming Messi’s employer. Why Messi decided to join Inter Miami is told in excellent detail early in the book by Tenorio and he does just as fine a job with his explanations of the inner workings of MLS ownership.
Tenorio notes how the principal owner of Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, is a visionary and forward thinker as Mas wants the league to use the power of Messi’s popularity to grow the league’s international status. As a whole, ownership of MLS has always had a conservative view of growth and favored competitive balance, a formula what was working for the NFL. Tenorio paints a terrific picture of these owners and how their actions were holding back the size of growth for the league. There are changes coming that he points out, but they may be too late to complement the exposure the league is getting from Messi and the 2026 World Cup coming to North America.
I bring all these up because this is a fantastic look at not only Messi’s arrival and on-field performance but MLS as a whole – from its beginnings to its upcoming changes on the schedule and rosters. Any fan of MLS or soccer in general will want to add this one to their library.
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
It should be noted that this book’s primary focus is not Messi himself but the business of Major League Soccer (MLS), the highest level of professional soccer in the United States. The “Messi Effect” is how his presence in MLS would affect the growth, quality of play, popularity and progression of MLS. The league has taken slow but mostly steady growth since its near bankruptcy in 2001. There was a noted increase in many of these items when Beckham joined, a fact Tenorio notes often.
However, the connection between the two superstars of different eras is much tighter than that. After his playing days were over, Beckham became one of the owners of the Inter Miami expansion team, thereby becoming Messi’s employer. Why Messi decided to join Inter Miami is told in excellent detail early in the book by Tenorio and he does just as fine a job with his explanations of the inner workings of MLS ownership.
Tenorio notes how the principal owner of Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, is a visionary and forward thinker as Mas wants the league to use the power of Messi’s popularity to grow the league’s international status. As a whole, ownership of MLS has always had a conservative view of growth and favored competitive balance, a formula what was working for the NFL. Tenorio paints a terrific picture of these owners and how their actions were holding back the size of growth for the league. There are changes coming that he points out, but they may be too late to complement the exposure the league is getting from Messi and the 2026 World Cup coming to North America.
I bring all these up because this is a fantastic look at not only Messi’s arrival and on-field performance but MLS as a whole – from its beginnings to its upcoming changes on the schedule and rosters. Any fan of MLS or soccer in general will want to add this one to their library.
I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't care about Messi. He is probably the single greatest soccer player of all time and that is very boring to me. BUT, with the World Cup around the corner, it's hard not to want to read every soccer book that comes out, especially one written by the inestimable Paul Tenorio. His street cred as a long-time reporter covering North America's domestic league, Major League Soccer (MLS) was what convinced me to read a book about Messi for the first time in my life and I was not disappointed. Some people will be.
Think of this as a spiritual sequel to the late Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment because in many ways it's hard not to. After all, Messi's arrival in MLS is a direct result of the deal the league brokered with Beckham to get him to sign with the LA Galaxy in 2007. As a result, the narrative follows MLS's signing of Lionel Messi, his accomplishments thus far in the league, and the ways in which MLS has capitalized on his star power, failed to capitalize on his star power, and the continuing opportunities to capitalize on his star power going forward.
This is why some people will be disappointed: the narrative is about Messi's impact on the future of American soccer and not about Messi himself. If you're looking for his biography or a bunch of inside stories about his time at FC Barcelona, you won't get it here. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of Messi to be had in this book, but it is all about his time at Inter Miami CF.
When we're not talking about Messi himself, we're talking about a lot of MLS's wheelings and dealings, and Tenorio makes it damned entertaining. The man's definitely put in his 10,000 hours in reporting and storytelling because his ability to dart back and forth between Messi anecdotes, MLS backroom shenanigans, and stories about the various other players, coaches and staff involved really kept me engaged the entire time. I even came away liking Messi a bit more.
Bottom line is, this is an excellent book. The story of American soccer and MLS is a classic American underdog story that continues to provide its fans with high highs and tough lows. If you're interested in learning a bit about who this Messi fella is and why you should care in the run up to the World Cup, you will have a great time. If what you want is ~300 pages of Messi gossip, you'll have to read something else.
Think of this as a spiritual sequel to the late Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment because in many ways it's hard not to. After all, Messi's arrival in MLS is a direct result of the deal the league brokered with Beckham to get him to sign with the LA Galaxy in 2007. As a result, the narrative follows MLS's signing of Lionel Messi, his accomplishments thus far in the league, and the ways in which MLS has capitalized on his star power, failed to capitalize on his star power, and the continuing opportunities to capitalize on his star power going forward.
This is why some people will be disappointed: the narrative is about Messi's impact on the future of American soccer and not about Messi himself. If you're looking for his biography or a bunch of inside stories about his time at FC Barcelona, you won't get it here. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of Messi to be had in this book, but it is all about his time at Inter Miami CF.
When we're not talking about Messi himself, we're talking about a lot of MLS's wheelings and dealings, and Tenorio makes it damned entertaining. The man's definitely put in his 10,000 hours in reporting and storytelling because his ability to dart back and forth between Messi anecdotes, MLS backroom shenanigans, and stories about the various other players, coaches and staff involved really kept me engaged the entire time. I even came away liking Messi a bit more.
Bottom line is, this is an excellent book. The story of American soccer and MLS is a classic American underdog story that continues to provide its fans with high highs and tough lows. If you're interested in learning a bit about who this Messi fella is and why you should care in the run up to the World Cup, you will have a great time. If what you want is ~300 pages of Messi gossip, you'll have to read something else.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.
Solid look into the inner workings of the deal that brought Messi to Major League Soccer (MLS) and the ways that the powers that be in the league are trying to maximize the impact he has during and after his time on the field.
This book isn't as much about Messi per se as it is about the different people and factors that operate around him.
I find the behind the scenes stuff of MLS to be fascinating, and there's certainly parallels to the late Grant Wahl's "The Beckham Experiment" here, which is mentioned a few times in the book.
Would love to read a sequel to this once Messi's career is done to see how a lot of these things turned out.
Solid look into the inner workings of the deal that brought Messi to Major League Soccer (MLS) and the ways that the powers that be in the league are trying to maximize the impact he has during and after his time on the field.
This book isn't as much about Messi per se as it is about the different people and factors that operate around him.
I find the behind the scenes stuff of MLS to be fascinating, and there's certainly parallels to the late Grant Wahl's "The Beckham Experiment" here, which is mentioned a few times in the book.
Would love to read a sequel to this once Messi's career is done to see how a lot of these things turned out.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I’m probably not the target audience for this book since I’m not a huge soccer fan.
I learned a lot about American soccer while reading this book, but I found there was a lot of repetition, sometimes too many details and sometimes not enough, and that it was hard to keep track of all the dates.
In short, it’s all about money and regulations, slowness and resistance to implementing changes…
The Messi Effect? I’d call it the Beckham-Messi Effect… especially when the discussion revolves around Messi, even though he’s only a secondary character in the story.
I enjoyed reading it, but only in small doses. Very (too) technical for a beginner like me!
I learned a lot about American soccer while reading this book, but I found there was a lot of repetition, sometimes too many details and sometimes not enough, and that it was hard to keep track of all the dates.
In short, it’s all about money and regulations, slowness and resistance to implementing changes…
The Messi Effect? I’d call it the Beckham-Messi Effect… especially when the discussion revolves around Messi, even though he’s only a secondary character in the story.
I enjoyed reading it, but only in small doses. Very (too) technical for a beginner like me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I watch a lot of soccer. A ton of premier league and a little MLS. This book taught me so much in regard to MLS and a little on how premier league became so big here. I honestly had no idea that the 1994 World Cup being hosted here was what really triggered the MLS. The MLS has so much to do to truly compete with the other soccer leagues. This book really highlights where they struggle and the changes that need to happen. If you’re a soccer fan, I really recommend reading this. Especially if you watch MLS. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
May 29, 2026
As someone that doesn’t know much on the business side of soccer this book was very educational. Learning about the MLS and their journey to raise the level on the world stage. Then adding in bringing one of the best if not the best player to an MLS club that was the worst in the league and how that changed not just that team but the entire MLS. If you want to know more about soccer or MLS or just interested in a good non fiction check this one out. Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the ALC! #TheMessiEffect #NetGalley
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March 8, 2026Many experienced fans are pondering the Messi phenomenon. It seems to me that he's the only footballer who doesn't consider himself a celebrity. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to see a little bit of the underbelly of professional football. It might be useful if you use 1xBet Canada sportsbook and casino. I enjoy making sports predictions based on my analysis of the situation.
June 6, 2026
4.5/5
This is so much more than a Messi book, it's about how MLS hasn't moved quickly enough to capitalize on momentum and help the league reach the next level of it's growth. I'm a huge fan of Paul's writing, and have been since he was back with the Orlando Sentinel in the early days of Orlando City. This is Paul at his best. It will be interesting to come back to this in 10 years and see what the league does.
This is so much more than a Messi book, it's about how MLS hasn't moved quickly enough to capitalize on momentum and help the league reach the next level of it's growth. I'm a huge fan of Paul's writing, and have been since he was back with the Orlando Sentinel in the early days of Orlando City. This is Paul at his best. It will be interesting to come back to this in 10 years and see what the league does.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Messi Effect by Paul Tenorio
Book #67
4 Stars (-- Amazon 4.33 Goodreads)
Release Date 6/3/26
80,000 Words
Sports
Ebook from NetGalley
#whiskersandwordsbookreview #onesentencereview #messi #netgalley
------ This is an interesting sports book with lots of information and well written, it’s long though and I am not a big enough soccer/football fan for that.
W
Book #67
4 Stars (-- Amazon 4.33 Goodreads)
Release Date 6/3/26
80,000 Words
Sports
Ebook from NetGalley
#whiskersandwordsbookreview #onesentencereview #messi #netgalley
------ This is an interesting sports book with lots of information and well written, it’s long though and I am not a big enough soccer/football fan for that.
W
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Messi Effect is a fascinating eye opener into the world of soccer. I had no idea who Lionel Messi was before reading this book. Sure, I heard his name but knew nothing about him or his contributions to the world of soccer. I absolutely loved this book. The author did a great job writing this and I can tell that much research was done.
June 2, 2026
Very interesting, thorough, we are Messi fans and he’s a business genius for coming to the us
June 6, 2026
Review to follow soon.
May 31, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. I learned a lot that I didn’t know about the MLS. Truly incredible how one player can make such a difference.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews