Home / Sports / Messi's MLS Cup Triumph: Viewership Soars Amidst Data Questions
Messi's MLS Cup Triumph: Viewership Soars Amidst Data Questions
12 Dec, 2025
Summary
- MLS claims over 4.6 million viewers watched Messi's championship win.
- Apple TV data remains unverified, raising questions about total audience size.
- Linear viewership more than doubled from last year, but below 2022 record.
Major League Soccer announced a record-breaking audience of over 4.6 million for Lionel Messi's recent MLS Cup triumph. The reported figures encompass viewership across linear broadcasts in the U.S. and Canada, alongside Apple TV. However, the total audience size is subject to scrutiny as Apple has not released specific viewership numbers for MLS Season Pass.
The league's linear viewership saw a substantial increase, more than doubling compared to last year's final. Despite this growth, the numbers did not reach the record set in 2022. Nielsen, a key audience measurement firm, is currently investigating a potential issue with its updated "Big Data Plus Panel," which could impact the final reported figures and potentially increase them.
While linear outlets in the U.S. and Canada accounted for approximately 1.277 million viewers, MLS claims a significant 3.6 million tuned in via Apple TV and international partners. The league also highlighted that over 70% of Apple TV's global viewers were under 45 and that the event generated a record 798 million social media impressions.
