Why did his move to Miami make MLS must-see TV overnight?

Ticket prices jumped like it was LeBron joining a pickup run.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d458b79-38af-4dfe-b01f-d2d9a3317622 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-531d3fec-6c44-41a9-b782-9d0b22624ebc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-357c56e8-8d4c-4030-b4e7-43091da2a529","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(137.44682%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image - Pinterest

Celebs show up for Messi the way they do courtside NBA seats.

[{"selector":"#anim-20084baf-3738-49b2-b2e0-c7cc5ea5bc01 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5c43910-3ffd-4275-8a35-885b04e57dea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-028b24bc-0747-4c92-81d2-5d3182669bc2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(137.44682%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image - Pinterest

Miami became a global soccer hotspot the second he landed.

[{"selector":"#anim-d595f782-c2b4-4f4e-92ad-cb53c78e05a3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc0e0ad3-0169-437c-8ba7-83f90e4d6614","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9258ca26-6aa5-4fd8-b877-318f95d91b84","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(137.44682%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image - Pinterest

Messi sells out stadiums without saying a single word.

[{"selector":"#anim-3b600ae8-4b8d-470d-9fc5-d6f9af2e3363 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.1316282072803006e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6170c85a-9812-49cb-a2ad-f73da095b4d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d9a7ff0-7387-4fdf-bd01-9dbc2233974b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(137.44682%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image - Pinterest Learn more

He made MLS cool without changing who he is.

[{"selector":"#anim-1554e0af-8c1e-4019-99ed-66832001c4e7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad8e58e4-f34f-41a5-84af-2bae25f14e96","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d890967-eec8-4b27-96b3-2a2d15867e14","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(137.44682%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image - Pinterest Learn more