Lionel Messi mania causes off-field spectacle to match on-field brilliance with Inter Miami

News about Messi's experiences in Miami seem to make just as much news as his on-field displays

Lionel Messi's arrival in the United States was always going to cause new levels of excitement amongst the American soccer audience, but Messi mania is equal parts a celebration of his on-field excellence and the off-field spectacle that seems to define the experience.

Virtually every documented moment in Messi's American experience has felt buzzworthy and provided entertainment value so far, even down to the most mundane of errands. It's a reaction that exemplifies Messi's unique stature in not just soccer but in the entire sporting landscape, and hype is unlikely to die down anytime soon as the star plans a multi-year stay with Inter Miami.

Ahead of Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo (live on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network), here's a look at the off-the-pitch storylines that are drawing almost as much attention as Messi's on-the-pitch excellence.