TikTok, Major League Soccer, and MLS Season Pass on Apple TV are bringing back ‘Player Spotlight: Messi’ — a special live stream offering fans an all-Messi match view.
The live streams will be shown on the @MLS, @InterMiamiCF and @AppleTV TikTok accounts, starting with Inter Miami’s second Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on Aug. 2. The other three live stream dates will be announced at a later time.
Last season’s Messi live stream during Inter Miami’s playoff opener against Atlanta United drew more than 6.4 million viewers, setting the record for the largest live audience for a U.S. sports event on TikTok. Apple also said the Oct. 25, 2024 match was their most widely viewed sporting event.
“After the overwhelming success of Player Spotlight: Messi, which delivered our biggest-ever live U.S. sports audience on TikTok, we knew we had to bring it back,” said Rollo Goldstaub, Global Head of Sports Partnerships at TikTok, in a statement.
The league is “pushing the boundaries of how fans experience the game,” says MLS Executive Vice President of Media Seth Bacon.
“With this collaboration, we’re bringing fans even closer to one of the greatest players of all time — in a way that’s dynamic, immersive, and made for the next generation of fans,” Bacon said. “We’re proud to keep innovating with partners like Apple and TikTok to create unforgettable moments.”