Messi's Debut Game Viewed by Record 12.5 Million People

Lionel Messi's debut game with Inter Miami has set a record for American television. According to TyC Sports, the Florida team’s match against Cruz Azul (2:1) in the Leagues Cup was watched by 12.5 million people. This reportedly makes it the most-watched match in American television history.

The game garnered more interest than the NBA Finals series in 2022, which saw an average viewership of 12.4 million for the games featuring Boston and Golden State.

In total, the most-viewed event on American television in 2023 was the Super Bowl, which attracted an audience of 115 million for the game between Kansas City and Philadelphia.