Lionel Messi’s arrival has already transformed the football scene in the United States. But now, it’s not just about change — both Inter Miami and American football are making their presence felt.
In 2024, Messi’s club Inter Miami topped the list of most Googled football teams globally. When considering all sports, Miami ranks third. Interestingly, Messi has not one but two teams dominating the Google search charts. His national team, Argentina, which won the Copa América this year, ranks third among football teams and eighth overall.
The combined top spots in Google’s search trends, however, belong to two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams — the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following them is Messi’s Inter Miami, which had a mixed season but stayed in the spotlight thanks to Messi. It’s clear that Messi is the main reason for Miami’s popularity in Google searches throughout the year.
Next on the list is another football team, Bayer Leverkusen. Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen shocked everyone by winning the Bundesliga last season without losing a single match, earning the title of ‘Invincibles.’ Their remarkable performance drove massive interest among football fans, as reflected in Google searches.
The next three teams on the list come from other sports leagues: the Boston Celtics (National Basketball Association), the New York Mets (Major League Baseball), and the Dallas Mavericks (National Basketball Association). Messi’s Argentina national team sits eighth overall, thanks to their World Cup-winning legacy and their successful Copa América title defense last July.
Rounding off the top ten are two teams from different sports — the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and Canada’s Edmonton Oilers (National Hockey League).
2024’s Most Googled Teams
- New York Yankees (Major League Baseball)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (Major League Baseball)
- Inter Miami (Major League Soccer)
- Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- Boston Celtics (National Basketball Association)
- New York Mets (Major League Baseball)
- Dallas Mavericks (National Basketball Association)
- Argentina Football Team (Argentine Football Association)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (National Basketball Association)
- Edmonton Oilers (National Hockey League)
