Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
According to Apple, the MLS Cup Playoffs debut of superstar Lionel Messi was the most viewed sporting event ever for the company. Apple did not release specific viewership numbers for the match which Inter Miami won 2-1 over Atlanta United.
Apple had heavily promoted the broadcast was available to stream free through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The game also streamed at Apple.com and was shown in Apple Stories in certain major cities around the world.
In addition, fans on TikTok could watch a special “Player Spotlight: Messi” presentation of the match where the camera was trained on Messi throughout the game. Apple reports as many as 150,000 viewers at a time watched the TikTok offering. This also marked the first time TikTok has streamed an entire live soccer match with a single-player focus.
Messi signed a reported $150 million deal to play for Inter Miami starting in 2023 which also gives him an ownership stake in the team when his playing days conclude. He is signed through 2025 and there is an option for an extension for an additional year. Messi and Inter Miami will have their second match in the best-of-three series on Saturday.
