Argentine football legend Lionel Messi recently signed a contract with Fort Lauderdale-based club Inter Miami, and with that came an inevitable relocation to South Florida.
Now, two months after news of the singing first broke, Lionel has purchased a $10.8 million property only five miles away from Inter Miami's Stadium – and it's a haven of luxury and sophistication for him and his family.
Located in Bay Colony, one of South Florida's most coveted neighborhoods, the property (viewed as one of the world's best homes) epitomizes modern luxury living, courtesy of celebrated interior designer Lori Morris.
Toronto-based designer Lori created the monochromatic haven, now known as Messi's home, as a symbol of his commitment to his new team and his 'desire for the best in every aspect of life.'
The 10,500-square-foot mansion boasts eight bedrooms, 9.5 bathrooms, a 3-car garage, and an outdoor pool oasis. Every corner of the house exhibits the designer's signature style – from the quietly luxurious details and bespoke finishes to the timeless black and white palette that speaks to the highest standards of luxury design.
As mentioned, Messi's purchase comes amid his $150 million contract signing with MLS club Inter Miami, partly owned by David Beckham.
The 36-year-old forward, who is moving to South Florida with his influencer wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their three children, who can all enjoy the home's seamless blend of comfort, style, and privacy – but design aside, top real estate agents say this prestigious location is equally noteworthy.
'From an investment point of view, I think he got himself a fair deal at about $1,029/SF in one of the nicest waterfront communities in that area, especially as it seems to be turn-key,' says The Corcoran Group's agent Michael Wiesenfeld.
'The villa next door sold six weeks ago for $661/SF but needed to be completely gutted inside… so at $400/SF at least for the renovation and the time and headaches that go with that, the $1029/SF Messi paid seems pretty good.'
'For his personal life, I think it’s an even smarter move,' adds agent Michael Wiesenfeld, also from The Corcoran Group.
'The key for athletes is to focus on their performance; hence, being only a 15-minute drive from the training facility will make his life much easier, allowing him to maximize the quality of his time on and off the field: train and spend time with his family which is key for him,' the agent adds. 'I don’t know Messi, but from what I can hear of people close to him, he’s first and foremost a family guy.'
And Messi is not the only celebrity to grace the Southern Florida market in recent weeks. Most notably, Gisele Bündchen also purchased an estate in Southwest Ranches, located around 15 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale. We can only ask, who is next?
'My personal belief and hope is that South Florida is now big enough to not be impacted by celebrities buying there. Ten years ago, it would certainly have had a huge impact,' adds agent Michael Wiesenfeld. 'Today, South Florida is a more mature market. However, of course, it still brings a lot of eyeballs and keeps fueling South Florida’s flame.'
