Miami has long been known as a hotspot for the world’s rich and famous—but in recent years, it’s also become a hub for a very select group: soccer stars.

In 2021, former professional soccer player David Beckham sparked a flock of newcomers to the 305 area code, when he purchased Inter Miami FC alongside siblings Jorge and Jose Mas, nearly 15 years after he made his MLS debut with L.A. Galaxy.

Since then, Beckham, 50—who boasts a celebrity profile that some believe outshines his status as one of the world’s greatest soccer players—has worked hard to draw in the best and brightest athletes to his team, achieving a true coup in 2023 when he convinced Argentinian legend Lionel Messi to sign on with Inter Miami.

Messi, 37, was soon joined on the squad by Luis Suarez, both of whom were named in the team’s lineup for the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off tonight in Miami at 8 p.m. EST, when the city’s home team goes head to head with Egyptian side Al Ahly FC.

The match up will be set against the glittering backdrop of one of the most glamorous cities in the world, one that rivals Los Angeles and New York as America’s most star-studded locale. But when it comes to soccer, what is it that makes Miami so appealing?

According to Florida-based real estate agent Cara Ameer, one of the city’s main draws is its lack of state income tax, which enables high-paid sports stars to retain a much heftier chunk of their sky-high salaries than they would if they lived elsewhere in the country.

“Miami is an international city that offers great weather, an amazing lifestyle with access to beaches and waterways along with an array of shops, restaurants, and nightlife,” she explains.

“It is also the sports hub of South Florida with several professional teams with football, baseball, hockey and of course, soccer. One of the biggest draws is the fact that there is no state income tax in Florida which is a huge draw athletes, models, those in the entertainment industry, as well as entrepreneurs,” Ameer adds.

“The diversity of so many different cultures in Miami is also particularly appealing, given the varied backgrounds so many soccer players come from—Europe, Latin America, etc.”

Realtor.com® economist Jake Krimmel agrees, pointing to the city’s glamor and culture as being among the main lures for A-list arrivals.

“Weather, beaches, status, nightlife, glamour,” he says, describing what pulls people to the city. “It’s also an international city and one that’s especially appealing for Spanish-speaking players.”

But that isn’t Miami’s only appeal. Krimmel notes that the city’s impressive inventory of luxury real estate also helps attract so many high-net-worth individuals, particularly because the prices for these kinds of splashy properties are lower than they are in New York and Los Angeles.

“From a housing economics perspective, Miami also has a really attractive real estate market for high-income earners, with ample luxury housing at a lower price point than other cities with wide international appeal like New York or Los Angeles,” he notes.

Still, since Beckham’s purchase of Inter Miami in 2021, prices in the city have shot up—with the median listing price currently sitting at $510,000, representing an 18.9% increase in that four-year period.

And that trend is set to continue, particularly after the Argentina Football Association made a decision to move its headquarters to the Sunshine State, while dozens of other sports stars have also made tracks to the city, including Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez and NFL legend Tom Brady.

The Beckhams take Miami—and its luxury real estate market

Since relocating to the city part time, Beckham and his fashion designer wife, Victoria, are reported to have purchased multiple properties—most recently snapping up an extraordinary $80 million mansion, which they bought in 2024, according to The Real Deal.

The imposing nine-bedroom, 9.5-bathroom, waterfront property is just a 40-minute drive from the stadium where Inter Miami currently plays.

Described in its listing as being one of “Miami Beach’s most significant estates,” the expansive property boasts 14,270 square feet of living space and 124 feet of private waterfront space, including a dock.

Inside the home, there are amenities aplenty, from a gym and spa to a chef’s kitchen and a home movie theater. Plus, the “sophisticated, layered, and rich” interior and exterior designs were masterminded by architect Choeff Levy Fischman in collaboration with Antrobus Design Collective and luxury homebuilder Bart Reines.

Should the Beckhams find themselves in need of a beach alternative, the home also comes complete with a stunning private pool surrounded by lush, landscaped gardens and a large, outdoor entertaining area.

Twelve-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows ensure the home is flooded with natural light at all times, while tall palm trees on either side of the gardens allow for maximum privacy—no doubt a must-have for such a starry couple.

In addition, there is also a sizable rooftop area, where the Beckhams will be able to enjoy panoramic ocean and city views. On a clear day, the soccer pro might even be able to watch his team in action from the luxury of his own home.

The property had been sitting on the market since November 2022 before it was purchased in 2024, according to records, and was last sold in 2018 for the relatively low price of $10 million.

According to The Real Deal, the home’s previous owner was property developer Niklas de la Motte, who completely transformed the home before putting it back on the market—with an impressive price increase.

It marks the second Miami Beach home for David and Victoria, who already owned a beautiful Zaha Hadid-designed penthouse, which they purchased in 2020 for a whopping $20 million.

The home is inside a building known as One Thousand Museum, which is understood to have cost an eye-watering $280 million to build and which has been described as “one of the most complex skyscrapers to ever make it off the drawing board.”

The lavish, full-floor condo was procured through Beckham Brand Limited, the partnership and licensing company owned by the soccer star.

In addition to their real estate holdings in Miami, David and Victoria also own several properties in the U.K., although they sold their most famous home—a countryside estate known to their fans as “Beckhingham Palace”—back in 2014.

They purchased a Grade II-listed Victorian home in London’s Holland Park in 2013, paying around $37.9 million for the property before pouring an estimated $10 million into renovations.

The couple still own that home today, and it featured prominently in their wildly popular Netflix documentary, “Beckham.”

Lionel Messi makes Miami his home base

As for Messi, he snapped up a $10.8 million waterfront compound in Fort Lauderdale, FL, just months after signing his Inter Miami deal.

The 10,400-square-foot, eight-bedroom dwelling is every bit as sleek and luxurious as you might expect.

Messi’s home is filled with sparkling chandeliers, a cream-and-black color palette, and modern lines. The property is a part of the private neighborhood known as Bay Colony and sits on a cul-de-sac with 170 feet of water frontage.

Designed by Canadian interior decorator Lori Morris, the mansion abounds with upscale finishes and chic glamour. The enormous rooms feature plush textures, pops of gold, and lofty ceilings—even a 27-foot dome in the entryway.

The Italian kitchen alone is worthy of a magazine spread and includes luxe appliances, a gorgeous island, and high-end cabinetry.

Each of the eight bedrooms is its own mini suite, offering privacy and luxury for family members and friends.

Among the home’s other swanky amenities are a fitness room/spa, an entertainment lounge, office space, and a fabulous 1,600-square-foot primary retreat.

Outside, there are two docks for watercraft of any kind, plus a heated pool and a gorgeous, water-facing patio.

This past April, Messi established even more roots in the Sunshine State by garnering four units at the Cipriani Residences Miami condominium, according to the Wall Street Journal.

One of the units was sold to the soccer superstar for $7.5 million and comes complete with four bedrooms and sprawls across 3,500 square feet.

The building boasts several amenities, including two lavish pools, a residents-only restaurant, a speakeasy and catering.

It is currently under construction and expected to close in 2028.

Luis Suarez follows suit with his own Miami property purchase

Soccer star Suarez joined Inter Miami FC on the pitch with Messi after leaving Grêmio FBPA in Brazil in 2024.

Upon arriving in Miami, he dropped $12 million on an eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom abode near Messi’s Fort Lauderdale pad.

Suarez and his wife, Sofia Balbi, snapped up the home in an off-market deal.

The 38-year-old Uruguayan is considered one of the best strikers in the soccer world, having previously played with Messi at FC Barcelona from 2014 to 2020.

Formula 1 star Sergio Perez snaps up luxury condo

Several other athletes have decided to dip their toes into Miami real estate in recent years, including Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez.

Perez, 35, who is known to his fans as “Checo,” purchased a four-bedroom luxury condo inside the new St. Regis Residences—a 50-story high-rise on the waterfront in Brickell.

According to sources familiar with the deal, Checo splashed out millions of dollars on the home—with one insider pointing out that a unit similar to the one the Formula 1 legend purchased is currently on the market for $9.6 million.

Prices for the remaining units in the building—which is due to be completed in 2027—start at $5 million, indicating that Perez paid a pretty penny for his new Florida digs.

The unit, which boasts more than 4,400 square feet of living space, features 5.5 bathrooms, “breathtaking panoramic views of the waterfront and Brickell skyline, private elevator access,” and an array of amenities housed in the lavish new high-rise building.

The Related Group–developed St. Regis Residences, which began construction in November 2024, offer the utmost in luxury, including a residents-only, fine-dining restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Fabio Trabocchi; exclusive beach club access; a private marina; and a bayfront infinity pool.

Inside the building, there is a golf simulator, beauty salon, pet spa, a “fully equipped fitness center,” lap pool, a Pilates and yoga studio, and a salt spa, as well as saunas and steam rooms.

In fact, the only other amenity that might interest Perez is a driving simulator, which would allow him to keep up his racing skills after deciding to not return to the sport for the 2025 season.

Following the news of Perez’s exit from Red Bull after three years, the team’s principal, Christian Horner, insisted that the decision had been the driver’s own—explaining that the Mexican had wanted to take time out to reevaulate his future in the sport.

“Checo, he’s been a fantastic member of this team,” Horner said, according to the Formula 1 website. “It’s been a tough year for him but he’s a great person and of course [he] played such a key role in the ’21 drivers’ championship, ’22 and ’23 constructors’ [championship].

“He was second in the drivers’ world championship last year, he’s won five Grands Prix in our cars. But he reflected after the season and we sat down and discussed it last week about what are the next steps, and he’s decided that he’s going to take a bit of time out.

“We’re sad to see him leave the team, but obviously it’s time for him to spend with his young family as well and reflect on what he wants to do for the future.”

Perez, who began racing in Formula 1 in 2011, is the father of four children with his wife, Carolina: daughter Carlota, sons Emilio and Sergio, and another daughter whose name has not been publicly shared.

In a post on his Instagram account, Perez indicated that he does not plan to relocate to Miami full time, describing his newly purchased abode as his “vacation spot.”

“I am so glad to have Miami as my vacation spot,” he wrote, while sharing images of himself posing with a team of staffers from the St. Regis Residences.

NFL legend Tom Brady makes plum Miami property pick

NFL icon Tom Brady is yet another athlete who has invested in creating a real estate empire in Miami.

The 47-year-old purchased a mansion on Miami’s Indian Creek Island—which is known to many as “Billionaire bunker” because of its ultrawealthy residents—in 2020 for a hefty $17 million in 2020, when he was still married to supermodel Gisele Bündchen.

However, in the years since, the former New England Patriots quarterback has plowed millions of dollars into an extensive gut renovation of the home, which was only recently completed in January.

Brady’s plans for the property essentially saw him demolishing the existing structure to make way for a modern dwelling, which the Fox Sports commentator has proudly been showing off in a series of social media posts in recent months.

The property was initially supposed to serve as home base for Brady and his family; however, things were turned upside down when he and Bündchen went their separate ways.

Per their divorce settlement, Brady held on to the Indian Creek property, while his former spouse moved into her own Miami abode—a stunning $11.5 million mansion that sits just across the bay from her ex-husband’s dwelling.

It is not just Brady’s personal life that has gone through something of a transformation in the years since he picked up his “Billionaire Bunker” home.

At the time of the property purchase, he had just signed on to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, having spent almost the entirety of his football career with the Patriots.

His contract, which was worth a reported $50 million, spanned two years—with Brady announcing his retirement from the sport in February 2021, only to then backtrack six weeks later, confirming that he would play a third season with the Buccaneers.

One year later, he announced his retirement for a second time, insisting on this occasion that he was quitting “for good.”

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