
<p>When seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, announced he was heading to Miami to play for Inter Miami, it made headlines throughout the globe.</p>



<p>This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for soccer enthusiasts to see how a legendary player helped revitalize the sport in North America. <a href="https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/messi-meets-america/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple TV+</a> has begun streaming the six-part docuseries “<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/how-to-watch-messi-meets-america-series-from-apple-and-mls-20231011-WST-461389.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Messi Meets America</a>“, which gives an in-depth look at the Argentine’s transition to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-mls-on-us-tv-and-internet/">Major League Soccer</a>.</p>



<p>As stated in a press release issued by the streaming service, the docuseries “takes viewers behind the scenes as the greatest player to ever step on the pitch leads his new team to a Leagues Cup title and beyond.”</p>



<p>According to the press announcement, the series will investigate Messi’s adaptation to American culture and assess the effect he has had on soccer in North America as “Messi Mania crisscrosses the continent.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Messi Meets America — Official Trailer | Apple TV+" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fqRm0TCDRw8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h5>In reality…</h5>



<p>Despite the premise, the film does not provide any interesting behind-the-scenes video or personal insights into Messi the man. Messi Meets America is essentially <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/messi-meets-america-review-a-fine-highlight-reel-with-little-depth-20231012-WST-461642.html">a sales pitch</a> for Messi and MLS in the United States.</p>



<p>According to the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/10/11/messi-meets-america-apple-tv-plus-david-beckham-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Telegraph</a>, though, this is not a documentary at all. Instead, it is a lengthy advertisement for Major League Soccer, which, coincidentally enough, can be seen primarily on Apple TV.</p>



<p>They say it is a compilation of slow-motion footage showing the World Cup winner strutting his stuff on the field. Ecstatic supporters and pundits chant in the background.</p>



<p>Here’s what other critics thought of the series:</p>



<p><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/messi-meets-america-lionel-messi-missing-inter-miami-apple-tv-soccer-david-beckham-1234850982/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rolling Stone</a>: “Messi Meets America seems, more than anything, like a marketing stunt.”</p>



<p><a href="https://decider.com/2023/10/11/messi-meets-america-apple-tv-plus-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Decider</a>: “Messi Meets America is basically a slick advertisement for Major League Soccer on Apple TV+”</p>



<p><a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38631657/lionel-messi-mls-inter-miami-documentary-review-learned" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN</a>: “It often feels like a promotional campaign”</p>



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<h2>What do other critics say about <em>Messi Meets America?</em></h2>



<p>Additionally, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/11/entertainment/messi-meets-america/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNN</a> sees it as an effort to make Messi’s introduction to US soccer into a joyful event. It provides glimpses of local life in the towns the team travels to. While focusing mostly on David Beckham, the documentary also features interviews with the other members of the MLS club. For example, Apple adds teammates, ticket salespeople and the equipment manager.</p>



<p>Critics have contended that Beckham, owner of the Herons, has known for some time that he can profit off fame. This documentary shows that he understands that marketing Inter Miami to American fans requires a celebrity endorsement. He sees the draw in the most famous, renowned, and marketable athlete in the world. Messi immediately became a household name.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire</em></p>


Messi Meets America docuseries panned by critics

Despite being made by Apple TV+, the "Messi Meets America" documentary about the Argentine great is quite disappointing, critics say.


<p><em>Messi Meets America</em>, the new documentary series from Apple, is not included in MLS Season Pass, an Apple spokesperson told World Soccer Talk. Instead, subscribers to <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=wst_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l35s4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLS Season Pass</a> wanting to watch Apple’s Messi series will need to add Apple TV+, the subscription streaming service that costs <a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.4000?at=1010l35s4&amp;ct=messiinamerica" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$6.99 per month</a>.</p>



<p>Produced by Smuggler Entertainment and Major League Soccer, <em>Messi Meets America </em>features behind-the-scenes footage of his arrival in MLS. Per Apple’s press release, it’ll also chronicle “Leo’s immersion in America, the remarkable journey and transformation of Inter Miami CF, and most significantly, the impact he is currently having on soccer in North America as ‘Messi Mania’ crisscrosses the continent.”</p>



<p>The first three episodes of Apple TV+’s <em>Messi Meets America</em> premieres globally on October 11. Those will be followed by the final three episodes, which are currently in production, later in the MLS season.</p>



<h2>Will MLS fans upgrade to get Apple’s Messi series?</h2>



<p>Normally with a new series on Apple TV+, the first episode is available as a free preview. However, an Apple spokesperson told World Soccer Talk that none of the episodes will be available for free. Instead, Apple TV+ is the only way to watch it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trailer released for the Apple documentary about Messi 🍿<a href="https://t.co/BxC8tHf8s4">pic.twitter.com/BxC8tHf8s4</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1708820043553771580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Whether MLS fans who are already paying $99 per year for MLS Season Pass will fork over $6.99/month extra to watch <em>Messi Meets America</em>, we’ll have to wait and see.</p>



<p>In Apple’s announcement about the six-episode series, the tech giant made a point of mentioning “For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.”</p>



<p>The big question is whether there’ll be anything worth seeing in the series, especially for MLS fans who have watched many of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> games with Messi.</p>



<p>What behind-the-scenes content would be worth watching in the series especially when it’s produced in association with the league itself?</p>



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Apple TV+'s Messi series not included in MLS Season Pass

Apple's Messi series entitled 'Messi In America' is not included with subscriptions to MLS Season Pass, according to an Apple spokesperson.

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Apple TV+'s Messi series not included in MLS Season Pass