Messi makes and impact on Miami sports with a look at Mas Canosa’s impact on Cuban-US relations

WE all know about the close ties The Bahamas maintains with South Florida. It’s hardly a secret that the legal as well as the illegal commerce between us has over many decades proven to be enduring, necessary, lucrative and quite creative. Miami-Dade County has 30 “sister city” agreements with foreign municipalities around the world, including one with The Bahamas. And one of Miami’s two “friendship city” relationships is with Barcelona which might prove to be prophetic, as we will see.

This affinity with South Florida has long carried over into the sports arena as well. Especially with the Miami Dolphins football team and the Miami Heat basketball team, many of us are fans.

Now, the world’s most popular sport looks like it might be a future contender for some of our passion for sports. Club Internacional de Futbol Miami is now five years old and better known as Inter Miami, or Miami FC. Miami’s soccer expansion team hasn’t enjoyed much success in the American Major League Soccer so far, but that is likely to change, probably soon. And as it does, we may become more and more engaged.

As Miami’s soccer profile rises, it is also interesting to explore a bit later the story of their new owners.

Less than two weeks ago, a man regarded by most observers as one of the two or three greatest soccer players to ever play the game signed with Inter Miami. Argentine superstar and reigning world champion Lionel Messi signed his Designated Player contract on July 15, committing to lead the team through the 2025 MLS season.

Messi, finishing three