One of the biggest news in the tech industry today is the launch of the much-awaited iPhone 15, something that has nothing to do with football, however, La Pulga has managed to intrude here as well as during the iPhone 15 presentation a notification arrives at the main screen which shows that Messi scored a goal in the 8th minute of the game, giving Inter Miami one goal lead against Atlanta.
It’s not a secret that Apple played a role in bringing Messi to MLS, as the former Barcelona star is set to benefit from Apple’s significant $2.5 billion partnership with the MLS over the next decade. Reports suggest that discussions have taken place regarding the potential allocation of a share of the revenue generated from the MLS Season Pass, the league’s streaming package accessible on Apple TV+.
According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, the subscription service has experienced a remarkable surge in popularity. When the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner joined the US league, the MLS Season Pass had only 6,143 subscribers. However, by the time La Pulga made his debut for his new club in the Leagues Cup on August 21, that number had skyrocketed by an astounding 110,000. This incredible increase now means that Apple can proudly claim about 80 times the previous subscriber count.
Apple also released some intriguing data that reveals a significant milestone. The three most-watched matches in MLS Season Pass history all took place during the week of July 19-26. Interestingly, this coincides with the same week when Messi made his debut for Inter Miami.
The friendship between Apple and Messi is no doubt blossoming, but what happened at the iPhone 15 launch has sent Messi fans into a frenzy.
A scoreboard graphic appears during the iPhone 15 unveiling as the presenter is highlighting the new capabilities of the device. The host demonstrates how to check live scores while describing the features by swiping down from the notification bar. The update of Messi’s goal in the 8th minute appears on the scoreboard from Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United.
While scripting the presentation draft, Apple and its team of writers could have used any number such as “10”, a number far more intertwined with Messi’s name, instead they went with the number 8. If Apple wants to give us a hint very well then as Messi is currently battling with the likes of Haaland and De Bruyne for his 8th Ballon d”Or and the chances of him winning are more or less confirmed, thanks to Apple.
