Inter Miami’s MLS Cup Odds on the Move Upon Lionel Messi Signing

Lionel Messi is coming to Major League Soccer. The sport’s biggest global star has confirmed his move to Inter Miami CF, and sportsbooks are taking notice, as the team’s odds to win the 2023 MLS Cup have shortened dramatically.

At BetMGM Sportsbook, Inter Miami’s MLS Cup odds adjusted incrementally from +20000 to +2000 as rumors, news, and bets around Messi’s filtered in starting Tuesday.

“Yesterday Inter Miami was 200-1,” BetMGM trader Seamus Magee told Gaming Today via email on Wednesday. “Then after some chatter and bets coming through we moved to 150-1. Then today as more bets and news were shoring up, we went all the way to 50-1. Upon confirmation of the deal going through, we now sit at the low odds of 20-1. Lots of bets have been coming through all day today.”

As of Thursday morning, BetMGM has Inter Miami priced at +1800 to win the 2023 MLS Cup, sixth on the odds board.

Inter Miami Futures Odds for 2023 MLS Season

Inter Miami’s MLS futures odds are on the move across the sports betting landscape.

At the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, Miami — in last place in the Eastern Conference — was tightened from +15000 to +2500 to win the Cup “with the impending arrival of Lionel Messi,” vice president of risk Jeff Sherman tweeted Wednesday.

The SuperBook’s further adjustment to +1600 was not based on action, according to Sherman. There have been murmurs of Messi’s former teammates Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez joining him in South Florida, and Sherman said in a direct message that his book is “anticipating more signings, Busquets sounds like it’s happening, possibility of Suarez or others.”

PointsBet‘s price on Inter Miami was as short as +1200 on Wednesday before lengthening out to +3000. Caesars Sportsbook is also dealing +3000, the most attractive price we’re seeing among the top sports betting apps as of this post.

Here’s a quick rundown of Inter Miami’s MLS Cup futures odds.

• Caesars +3000
• PointsBet +3000
• FanDuel +2600
• DraftKings +2500
• BetMGM +1800

Caesars is the only online sportsbook that we found to list odds for conference winners. If you think Miami will at least get to the MLS Cup Final by winning the Eastern Conference, you can bet them at +1600.

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When is Lionel Messi’s MLS Debut With Inter Miami?

Despite Inter Miami sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, bettors are bullish that Messi — the 12-time league winner in Spain and France — can turn around the season for his new club. Of course, MLS is different from European leagues in that the championship is decided by a playoff system like in most American sports leagues.

Nine teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, and Miami sits just six points out with 18 games left to play.

Inter Miami’s July 21 Leagues Cup game against Cruz Azul is reportedly the potential debut date for Messi, which means his first MLS game could be Aug. 20 at home against Charlotte FC. The Argentine could play in as many as 12 league matches with half of those taking place at home.

The team recently parted ways with head coach Phil Neville, and interim Javier Morales is in charge, but there have been reports of former FC Barcelona and Argentina coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino reuniting with Messi in Miami. Martino, also from Argentina, led Atlanta United to their 2018 MLS Cup title.

Lionel Messi Odds to Win MLS Golden Boot

Given that there are still details to sort out before Messi is registered as an MLS player, the oddsmakers are still rolling out prices for Miami’s newest signing to finish as the top scorer for the 2023 MLS season. DraftKings is among the first to have odds for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner at +3500.

LAFC’s Denis Bouanga leads the race with 10 goals and is the favorite at most sportsbooks. Depending on when Messi debuts, and how far the lead is, it’ll be interesting to see how the Argentine goalscorer progresses up the odds board.

MLS Futures Odds for 2023 Season

Defending MLS champions LAFC continue to be the favorites to repeat. FC Cincinnati, Philadelphia Union, and Nashville SC round out the top four among the major sportsbooks.