Lionel Messi pictured visiting incredible Miami home as he looks to expand his £15m portfolio

Lionel Messi is adjusting well to life in Miami on the pitch and appears to be doing the same off it as he was spotted visiting a property in the city.

The 36-year-old swapped Paris for the Sunshine State this summer after deciding to leave Europe for the first time in his club career. His move to Inter Miami came as a surprise to many supporters, given the interest from his former club Barcelona and the lucrative offer of a move to the Saudi Pro League alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, the chance to move to the glamorous city where he already owned property proved too hard to resist. After a gruelling final season in France, he flew to Fort Lauderdale with his family to sign with his new MLS employers earlier this month.

The legendary playmaker is already investing in a new home in Vice City, just weeks after signing his two-and-a-half-year contract in the United States. Pictured here alongside his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three children, the family toured the sprawling mansion next to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Football legend Lionel Messi stepped out of a car before heading out to house hunt with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children after his sensational debut win with Inter Miami FC. Image: MEGA / REAR GRID)

The Boca Raton district has long been host to some of the most recognizable names in the world of sports and entertainment and boasts an enviable seaside setting. Nicknamed the “Venice of America,” the neighborhood already boasts several big-name residents.

Numerous celebrities and NBA stars from the Miami Heat have owned properties in the luxurious neighborhood. Messi could follow suit, even though he already owns several properties in various parts of the city.

Lionel Messi is seen looking at waterfront mansions along Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway (Image: MEGA/REAR GRID)

His wife Antonela Roccuzzo joined Messi on the visit to the house (Image: MEGA / REAR GRID)

The former Barcelona man was seen entering a gated property in the area after getting out of a car alongside his wife and sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. Dressed in casual clothes, they were photographed heading towards the luxurious property they might decide to call home.

It’s clear that the whole family is welcoming this change of scenery after so many years in the spotlight during the megastar’s time at his former clubs Barcelona and PSG. Their enthusiasm was best demonstrated by the fact that one of the couple’s sons was spotted wearing an Inter Miami shirt bearing his famous father’s name.

Lionel Messi is seen looking at oceanfront mansions in a part of Miami nicknamed the “Venice of America” . Image: MEGA / REAR GRID)

Messi had already expressed his desire for his young family to be able to live a quieter life after many years of public pressure following the intrigues surrounding his brilliant career. Announcing his intentions to move to the United States, he explained the reasons for his decision in an interview with the newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.

He said: “I have made the decision to go to Miami, to leave Europe. It is true that I had offers from another European team but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe my only idea was to go to Barcelona.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barça, I have to go to the MLS to experience football in a different way and enjoy my day-to-day life more. Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more peace of mind.”

The Messi family has owned an apartment in Miami for four years. The Argentine couple already bought a luxury apartment in the Porsche Design Tower in 2019. The 60-story skyscraper is located about 25 minutes from Inter Miami’s training base and is situated between Bal Harbour and Aventura.

Football legend Lionel Messi is seen house hunting with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children along Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway, nicknamed the “Venice of America” (Image: MEGA/REAR GRID)

The stunning $9 million (£7 million) condo boasts an incredible array of modern amenities, including views over neighbouring Miami Beach, as well as a car lift and a private cinema. In addition to this, the complex also features a golf simulator, a private restaurant and an outdoor lounge with sea views available to residents.

Messi, who in 2017 paid £7m for his apartment in the Porsche Tower on the city’s seafront, reportedly shelled out £6m for an even larger property a few years later. Messi completed his Miami property purchase by shelling out £800,000 for each of the two apartments at the Trump Royale hotel.

The area is known as the “Venice of America” and has attracted big-name residents. Image: MEGA / REAR GRID)

However, it seems he is now keen to expand his £15m property portfolio as he is likely to want a new family home while they settle in the States. He will not be short of money to spend after signing an incredible deal in America.

As part of his contract with the World Cup winner, the superstar striker will earn $150m (£117.6m) over the course of his deal, with lucrative links to corporate giants also included. Among the companies Messi will have favourable commercial deals with are long-term sportswear suppliers Adidas and tech giants Apple.

Basically, Messi will receive a portion of the profits obtained through the sales of MLS merchandise during his stay in the United States. In addition, he will also receive a portion of the revenue obtained through the sales of the MLS Season Pass, which is the streaming platform created by Apple to broadcast the league’s matches.