New York (CNN) – Watching Lionel Messi make his debut in the United States would require paying as much money as the soccer player himself.
Tickets for Friday’s highly anticipated first game with Inter Miami in the League Cup are selling for as much as $110,000, according to search on ticket resale site Vivid Seats. It is one of the most expensive ticket prices ever recorded for an MLS team.
Some seat prices skyrocketed after the soccer star officially signed with the Major League Soccer team on Saturday in a deal said to be between $50 million and $60 million per year.
However, there are much cheaper options for Friday’s game. A Vivid Seats spokesperson said the average price is $487, and some fans travel more than 1,100 kilometers to watch the game against Mexico’s Cruz Azul. Last year, tickets for the League Cup match between Inter Miami and Barcelona cost almost half as much.
Prices for Messi’s MLS debut, on August 20 against Charlotte, averaged $288, according to Vivid Seats, an increase of nearly 900% since early June, when prices began. Ticket prices for Inter Miami, which currently sits last in the rankings, have increased 700% since then.
Messi, 36, is one of the most successful athletes in history, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and was part of last year’s world champion Argentina team. The deal includes an ownership option for the club and a portion of the revenue from new Apple TV MLS Season Pass streaming subscribers, according to multiple reports.
At a presentation event on Sunday, Messi said he was “very excited” to be in Miami. “I came here with the same desire to compete, the desire to win and to help the club continue to grow,” he said in a packed stadium.
“Messi madness” also extends beyond the pitch. Hard Rock Café introduced the “Messi’s Chicken Sandwich” last week, which consisted of crispy fried Milanese-style chicken breast topped with melted provolone cheese. The sandwich is already on sale in its hotels and restaurants.
“Analyst. Web buff. Wannabe beer trailblazer. Certified music expert. Zombie lover. Explorer. Pop culture fanatic.”