Messi effect: Inter Miami now have more IG followers than Inter Milan

Major League Soccer side Inter Miami seems to be gaining a lot of prominence following Lionel Messi's sensational transfer.

The David Beckham co-owned club were the lucky team to land the football icon after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi had been linked with an emotional reunion with Barcelona after his PSG deal expired, while a move to Saudi Arabia was also mooted.

However, it was Inter Miami who finally signed the 36-year-old, with the World Cup star joining on a free transfer, per BBC.

The 36-year-old has since been officially unveiled at his new club ahead of his much-anticipated debut.

Inter Miami gains on social media

It has now emerged that Inter Miami have benefited significantly on social media since Messi's arrival.

It is no secret that the Barcelona legend is one of the most admired footballers in the world, with the forward the second-most followed player on Instagram after Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentine has seemingly helped his new side get some substantive following on the platform, with the MLS outfit now boasting more followers than Serie A giants Inter Milan as cited by ESPN.

Inter Miami currently have 10.2 million followers on Instagram compared to Inter's 9.8 million.

While it remains unclear how much the MLS has gained since Messi's arrival, it is clear his signing has helped boost the club's following on social media.