Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami last summer, with MLS since transformed into one of the most watched leagues in world soccer.
The Argentine international has opened the door for MLS to evolve as a division, with Messi’s arrival also seeing Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez join Inter Miami, with other teams in America making their own moves for big-name players.
With Inter Miami sat top of the Supporters’ Shield standings, there’s a real chance that the Herons could complete a domestic double if they go all the way in MLS Cup in the post-season, where Messi will be fit to play after spending a month out injured.
And fellow MLS star Ryan Gauld has shared what Messi has done for the league since signing.
Messi praised for bringing more attention to Inter Miami and MLS
Writing for Nutmeg Football, the Vancouver Whitecaps playmaker lauded Messi for bringing more eyeballs to MLS, with Gauld also praising Inter Miami’s separate moves for the likes of Busquets and Suarez.
Indeed, MLS’s reputation has hit new heights few would have expected a few years ago, and the impact of Messi joining Inter Miami will have a huge effect on which direction the league will go in a lot further down the road.
Gauld wrote on Messi’s impact on MLS since arriving: “There’s no doubt that Lionel Messi and the Barcelona boys going to Inter Miami has probably opened a lot of eyes and given the league that extra level of credibility.
“The league has always had a lot of good, young South American players, for example, but now there are a lot more who are hungry to follow in his footsteps. The publicity around the MLS is huge off the back of it.”
Messi can transform MLS into one of the best in the world
Whilst Messi has spent the majority of 2024 either out injured or on international duty, the Argentine superstar has brought the reputation of MLS as a whole to a new level of popularity.
And if MLS can build from this success with other teams making huge signings of their own, then there is a real chance that the division can become one of the best in the world as well as one of the most alluring.
Indeed, everything is there for MLS to finally become a real player in soccer, and the league must capitalize on the success of Messi and build on from what the superstar forward has brought to Inter Miami.