en.as.com/soccer/beckham-says-bringing-messi-to-mls-was-not-just-for-miami-n/
Beckham says “bringing Messi to MLS was not just for Miami”
Fort Lauderdale is eating good with Messi and the Panthers right now
You mean Ft Lauderdale politicians
Meanwhile me a Miami born person who once vowed to burn Ft. Lauderdale to the ground because I was frustrated how long it took to get there because of Miami traffic:
“Haha, we’ve always been friends, right guys?!” 😅
That’s why you gotta live near either FTL/MIA downtowns. i95 using the express lanes between downtown and Miami and FTL can be as fast as 25 mins, then add another 10 mins from downtown to Chase stadium.
I drive an hour and 30 mins. to games. The express lanes are the best!
I went to one Marlins game in their new stadium. A 45 minute drive turned into 3 hours because someone decided to crash for sport in Miami. I will never go that deep into Miami again. Florida Marlins > Miami Marlins.
I also agree Florida Marlins > Miami Marlins 😭
RIP to the fans in Palm Beach when every team wants to move to downtown Miami.
Half of their lives will be spent in traffic.
It was convenient as hell for me however because my mom works across the street and I worked a couple blocks away.
I'd just literally have lunch at the park and watch a few innings
Can’t you take that train that kills a lot of people?
You'd need a shuttle. But bright line is honestly pretty nice
Panthers about to be the only Broward County team in a year.
Then again is MIA and the new stadium in a good location like the Dolphins place?
Dolphins stadium is actually faster to get to from FTL and the rest of Broward than it is for most people in Miami tbh. The new Inter Miami stadium (I think it’ll be called Freedom Park?) will be next to the airport in the heart of Miami. It’s gonna suck more to get to from FTL but will still only be like 35-45mins. Maybe a bit more with game day traffic, I don’t know.
And Hallandale Beach
My grandma lives there. I had so much fun going there as a kid.
I’m in Hallandale Beach rn for work lol
What about Hollywood?
Unless there’s a wooden gate and drawbridge surrounding all of Fort Lauderdale that’s only accessible by secret password, it’s not a fort. It’s just Lauderdale. Same goes for Worth, Texas.
Not just for Miami but also for himself
hey don't forget STH who can recoup half their cost by selling the ticket when he's in town
Not just for Miami. It was for the Argentinian NT as well
Long time ago I worked at a service station on the turnpike. So many Argentinian would come through on the way to Disney. They didn't know how to pump gas so I would do it. Woman were top shelf with a little chubby dude almost always
I live in central Florida. It’s astounding. But if they can make the trek to Disney from SA they’re probably making a good living.
The thing I don’t understand are the guys who are bigger insisting they try to fit in medium shirts.
Medium in latam is a bit bigger than in the states
The point being the guys roll up looking like a cased sausage instead of clothes that fit, with a bombshell wife.
Well yeah, the dude is fucking loaded to the nines. The people who are flying to the US for a DISNEY vacation from Argentina are the uber rich.
But it doesn’t answer the question on why they never wear clothes that fit. If you’re 5’5 280 with a massive beer gut it might be time to go up to an XXL not a medium.
Ego my man (also selling it)
Considering price flights, $$$ are usually the answer
Also the shadow economy is strong (it's not sketchy, it's the whole getting around tariffs and selling shit at a markup thing)
It’s true - my Dad called me the other day and started asking about Messi and the MLS and “isn’t there a new team coming? Seems like I’m hearing more about soccer here.” And if HE hears about it from his news sources that means almost everyone is hearing about.
I’m assuming your dad is in the San Diego area?
Detroit. He’s never been a soccer guy. In fact, we all grew up playing Football Basketball and Baseball our whole lives. Then I joined a +35 yr old rec league and saw the light 💡
Ah. That makes sense now. I was thinking he was in San Diego since I bet there’s tons of news there about the new team.
every SDFC game will be sold out I think
Detroit is building is large soccer stadium soon I think. It’s probably related to that. Michigan does need a real soccer team though, I’d just rather it come from the west side of the state where I live : )
Your post is snarky enough. Keep up. But seriously, facts.
I’ve been in Brazil for the last 5 months. Miami Messi jerseys are prob the most popular non Brazilian soccer jersey. At the very least he’s putting an MLS team on the map.
I’m on vacation in Spain and I’ve seen Miami Messi jerseys for sale alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona in shops.
The fact that they look so fresh helps
The fact they look so fresh helps
I definitely hope the MLS growth can be sustained once Messi retires
Yeah, I hope the league can capitalize off this. Hope they loosen payroll restrictions.
I love your guy Arango, by the way. Any word if he's playing Copa America?
cries
Yea…. League should have been much more aggressive to relax spending restrictions when the news was announced. Still in favor of a salary cap overall but I think MLS sluggishness will result in MessiLS to receive a small positive bump rather than a huge boost the opportunity could have provided.
Only 10% of the teams are profitable, MLS needs to find more revenue before loosening the payroll restrictions.
The Apple TV deal is locked in for 9 more years so nothing new there.
San Diego is getting a new team, but after that pickings get pretty slim for more expansions. Maybe Las Vegas, Phoenix or Jacksonville.
Licensing deals could go up. Revenue from inside the stadium could go up.
What SHOULD happen is the MLS should start making tiers and give smaller, but just as good and hungry cities teams. Milwaukee, New Orleans, Richmond, etc. Even small cities like Portland Maine or Burlington VT or Jax. Three tiers with Pro/Rel
What will happen will there will be a couple more plastic soulless teams and the league will stagnate
Detroit has entered the chat
Ouch, Detroit should have been on my list.
I guess I should have also included OKC and El Paso.
Indianapolis too, could add Phoenix to that list of Potential and throw in Tampa Bay while you're at it. All those teams won't get in but point is its not so slim. More potential cities than spots, especially if MLS says we're only going to 32 teams.
Phoenix was in my first list and I think it or Vegas will be next. Indianapolis could be in the group with OKC.
I think PHX is ideal if not for needing a indoor stadium like the Cardinals and D-backs. Maybe they can get something going with the AZ Cardinals ownership or if they get a billionaire investor. So I see the focus shifting to the east once San Diego joins. I have Indy in the lead just because of the recent news, but I wouldn't sleep on Detroit if they sell cash out to a big money billionaire like Dan Gilbert. I think the last west team for a bit os San Diego, only leaves Sac/Vegas out west.
Yeah, good point. The only counterpoint I would make is that if the profile of the league went up, it would attract more local buzz. A lot of the euro snobs scoff at the level of MLS play and if the league had more prestige, it would garner more attention, at least in theory. I see in NYC MLS gets such little attention on local news coverage or sports talk. So a higher profile could certainly boost the league but that's a gamble the league would have to be willing to make if you say only 10% are profitable.
We have the World Cup to capitalize on along with Messi. Should be huge for the league.
They wont
Gut feeling is I think the league is gonna make a leap in quality.
I really hope so. It would make me even more inclined not to see Man City win every season just to see the world’s best.
Nah
If MLS wanted that they should have chosen any other fan base than Miami. Most fickle front runner fans in the country. Once Messi is gone they will be back to the bottom in attendance again. Zero lasting impact on that franchise.
Due to their location they can always have a carrousel of stars in their twilight years to keep fans interested but probably not at this level.
Messi chose Miami what are you talking about? For the biggest soccer player in the world, who is from South America, no other team would have been attractive to him.
Exactly. Besides Miami, and probably LA, he wouldn’t have come
I think futbol in Miami will be different than NA Pro sports has been, plus I don't see why the franchise wouldn't constantly have a big name or two on the roster
Laughs menacingly
Tbh, it won't be, but some growth will remain. Messi fans are fans of Messi and will mostly fall off to the next big thing.
Can't deny it's gotten more people interested
It's temporary interest, just like every aging star that comes to the MLS. The league will never be taken seriously if we keep using this method, because it will never improve the product.
The hope would be this puts South American eyes on MLS. Kind of like the pipeline of talent Miami is pulling now to their team. Kinds growing up will consider the MLS.
I think it's already starting, with a lot of talented young MLS players coming from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela,Uruguay
It started before Messi got here (Borrero, Almada, Velasco, etc). Hopefully it accelerates now
Fair point
Bingo. Bring in SA and Mex talent.
SA fans have been following more since ATLs Almiron/Josef thru the Barco and now Almeida days. MX fans watching more with Chicha, Ache Ache, Vela, etc.
I'd also like to see if other concacaf nations are tuning in like Panamanians to watch Carrasquilla. Would be an interesting metric.
Not sure about the TV numbers, but we’ve definitely seen an uptick in interaction from Guatemalan fans because of Hagen, and he’s only our backup. Can’t imagine what it would be like if Schulte were to lose form or get hurt (plz no)
Friend, South American talent has been the selling point of the league since 1996. There is nothing new about bringing in latin american players. Just lok at a list of the league MVPs.
Can’t tell whether I agree or disagree with your comment. On one hand, yeah the league should take steps to improve, and can do so in pretty sizable measures.
On the other hand, watching MLS in 2024 and then watching it when Zlatan was here in 2019 it’s abundantly clear the league has improved by pretty solid margins. So at this rate, the product IS consistently improving.
I don't think the goal is to keep every single person who is watching MLS now. If MLS can keep even 10% of new fans watching past when Messi retires I think they'll say it's a success.
IDK.. it got me into soccer as a whole. My friends were pretty casual, then Messi arrived and they got hyped so I decided to check out soccer. Now I watch it all.. premier league, la liga, mls, bundesliga, international. Messi was definitely the catalyst in my case.
Well Messi is unique, in that his is a global brand and is also still world class. even if not the player he was 5 years ago - it’s not like most every team on the planet wouldn’t take him.
Not to mention the extra talent he’s drawn Miami
But I strongly agree we move the mls forward by raising the skill floor not the ceiling
In practice, raising the ceiling has the habit of raising the floor, but it doesn't work the other way around. Every time the league has taken this kind of step, other rules changes have ensued to make the league as a whole more professional and deeper. (There are pressures involved in this, from the teams that want to compete, from the players' union, from increased commentary and scrutiny, etc.)
Do you think every single person that tunes in for Messi will stop watching when he leaves?
Most of them, yes.
So we are still left with more interest than before?
Got heeeem!
Not the question that was asked
The vast majority will, but some will remain and that is a net positive, but it isn't an immediate boost to be expected to continue when Messi leaves.
If MLS stays the way it is right now, everyone watching MLS games to see Messi will stop watching after he leaves. Those ppl who started to follow because of him didnt care before and they wont after unless they change some things about the league to keep that extra attention (antiquated roster rules/regulations and a couple other things). Some might stay and maybe start following their local team if they arent from Miami, but as of now that seems like wishful thinking.
You really think every single person who started watching MLS will leave when he does? Every one of them?
Obviously im speaking in general terms, im guessing 85-90% of the people that watch for Messi will stop when he leaves. i might be wrong, i dont really care either way
Whether he plays in the league or not, you cannot deny that MLS is a fun league to watch. The stakes aren’t as high so it doesn’t feel as high pressure as in Europe, but some crazy things do happen, for example, Kellyn Acosta’s 90+9 minute half way line goal that was blown in by the wind to comeback from 1–3 down to 4–3 up.
I remember when this was a shoestring league and Beckham coming here was a huge moment because he actually put forth an effort.
The league grew with him at Galaxy. Of course we can’t keep doing that, but we need consistent eyes on the league to start being able to entice more international players to be able to come play here.
I mean, MNUFC was just some bleachers and a field 15 years ago. Now they have an awesome stadium and are pulling in consistent attendance even to midweek games.
Just need cbus to bear Pachuca
This.
Not just for Miami. But the women. And the children, too.
People are so critical, Beckham explains THAT Messi coming to the MLS caused more people to tune into the MLS. He makes a point to say that young Americans will see Messi and play soccer. Isn't that true? Has the MLS not grown in popularity?
Either way, Beckham is the only player who has been on a similar MLS pedestal to Messi. When he speaks about what Messi can do for the league, Beckham's speaking from his experience.
On a different note, the article OP linked is a journalist reporting on a Good Morning America interview with David Beckham. An interview that focused on Beckham docuseries. Modern journalism is a joke
It’s easier to be critical, negative, and pessimistic. Especially on the internet.
Exactly. People need to start appreciating the finer details of things. Anyone who talks shit about Messi coming to MLS isn’t a true fan of the sport
The question won't be answered until he is gone. Will Messi have a lasting positive effect on the league? We will find out later. People tuning into games now is clearly happening. He is clearly drawing eyeballs.
Maybe he elevates the league, maybe some of the viewers he attracts stay... maybe.
You make a great point! Messi's tenure in the MLS has just started, we have no way of knowing how many years he'll play in America or the lasting impact
I mean, you really can’t deny it’s brought more eyeballs to the league and thusly more money. How/if they parlay this into further success remains to be seen.
After last night Sounders match, I'm not sure that "more eyeballs" is a good thing. Everyone who saw that match (with a greater than double digit IQ) just saw some REAL shit reffing. Feels kind of like we should "clean house" a little before inviting more people over.
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14d
There would be blood n the streets if EPL reffing was as bad as MLS reffing.
They didn't get rid of VAR. They haven't voted on it yet.
It was for the greater good of the MLS wasn't it David?
Didn't New England or Chicago sell out/have their best attendance record ever when Messi came? All the teams are experiencing that on Messi away days...curious to see the Vancouver turnout next.
Curious if he plays here next week. And if he doesn't, how early they'll announce and what it does to our currently sold out attendance.
Not for nothing but Columbus hasn’t had any issues putting butts in seats. I find it obnoxious. Even during the cup ceremony after we won the championship the commentators are talking about how Messi will impact next season like give us a goddamn fucking minute to be the winners and talk about Messi affecting next season… you know… NEXT FUCKING SEASON.
I’m tired of logging in to ATV and having to scroll past the Messi banner to get to my club’s live match (whom I’ve favorited in the app).
I appreciate that it’s good for the league and for getting more viewers, but really how many Americans or Canadians that knew who Messi was enough to even care about his presence weren’t already watching?
It’s just a pull for international viewers and most of them are plastic fans. Once he’s gone I doubt even 80% will stay.
Most of those people will disappear. They already have. Look at the other matches. No impact.
Gee... thanks Beck...
s/
It's true. I support Minnesota. It's got to be easier to fill dp slots when Messi is in the league. No one can claim to be above MLS now.
I want a 36 team selling league with two balanced schedules, then playoffs and MLS cup. 36 academies developing North American talent and shipping the best off to top European leagues. That gets me an exciting product in league play and a really good national team.
Yea cause fuck every other city in the US that should have a team
There’s a lot of bitter comments in here but it’s quite obvious what he is saying. Just like when Beckham came to the LA it helped the entire league and now Messi is doing the same. Whether he is doing it to pad his own pockets or not doesn’t matter, it’s helping the league grow.
And the growth of the domestic league is directly tied to talent development at the youth level. If a bunch of athletic 9 and 10 year olds tune into the MLS and follow Messi (or their local team), they may decide to focus on soccer at a young age instead of football or basketball. There will be more talent funneled into the USMNT down the line.
Now now, my newfound success will be felt across the land. No no, no need to clap, there's plenty of greatness to go around. Like in your city, when Messi comes to play!
Tickets starting at $499.
Now go! Enjoy the revolutionary new era of Soccer that could only happen because of ME!
Need Columbus to finish the story in the 2024 CCC final. And then off-season rules changes that allow MLS to pull away from Liga MX’s big guns in the 2025 and 2026 editions (along with respectable results in the Club World Cup).
If MLS can go into the 2026 World Cup being able to say that it is clear of Liga MX, then that’s a MUCH more marketable foundation to build on, if they want to capitalize on the Messi/World Cup buzz.
Being able to tell people “We had no top-flight pro competition when we hosted in 1994. In 2026, we have a Top 10 league on the verge of becoming Top 5” is how you convince the Messi/World Cup audience that MLS is a rapidly-rising league that new fans should invest in.
Liga mx seems to be sinking themselves tbh
I'd rather Columbus lose and that be the catalyst for changes...
No, we need a humiliating defeat for Columbus.
cynical comments will dominate this thread, as if Beckham was simply desperate for his next payday…
I hope this is the beginning of something amazing for MLS
It was never for Miami.
It was for the ownership groups.
Messi League Soccer
Messi Luis Sergio?
When’s he suiting up for everyone else?
Just wait for global warming, when Nashville is the hottest beach town in the country.
They should force Miami to loan him to either Columbus or Seattle for Club world cup next year.
Yeah I love being the MLS champs and having ads and banners and game reminders for Messi and not my fucking championship club. Feels great
it's an elite club in a small media market, not really sure what can be done with that, it's like Clemson football
Except that Columbus is also an elite club in a small media market, and they're not getting shit from Apple. Before Messi arrived, all the banners last year were promoting LAFC.
Columbus has achieved something remarkable
How… thoughtful.
To put it kindly, thats wrong. It was for Seattle at least.
Here is what we lost with Messi's arrival and the Apple requirement:
Home broadcasts, home announcers, available in most formats in town (free TV, basic cable, on networks for bars to show)
Pre-game show made up of ex players and local sports people
Post-game show, same
All games on free (basic cable) or over the air
In return we got:
Non stop Messi promotion
On a shitty network that is nowhere near the quality we had
For a league that acts as though we no longer exist and doesn't care if we do, unless we're playing Portland.
I grant you, it's much easier to see a Sounders match from worldwide now, thanks to Apple+/MLS+. But that's really the only use case. Living in Seattle, we took a significant hit in availability and quality. For no discernible purpose.
Casual attendance at Sounders matches is down about 10,000 from before Pandemic. Messi League Soccer isn't the only reason, but pulling the games off free TV for the local market is definitely playing a part.
As a Sporting KC fan, you nailed every bullet point. We also had all the perks you pointed out. Now, I've tried to watch games where the random talking head can't even remember which state SKC plays in and can't pronounce key players names. Also, season ticket holders got royally screwed when they moved the game to Arrowhead for a giant cash grab. The "Messi effect" has just been a giant F You to a lot of markets.
You forgot a couple other things -Season ticket price increases for the potential Messi appearance -No Open Cup in favor of the Leagues Cup -A free podcast about how good and important Messi is from Taylor Twellman every week (he delivers it during your team’s game when he should be doing analysis)
Handsome AND generous.
Feel like we (other club supporters) need to grow / evolve past this nonsense. An an English ex-pat, it boggles my mind.
It was just for Miami. Don’t try to convince me that Philly should be happy just to play background to another team’s main event because we get a few more eyes on our matches / bums in our seats. We’re good - thank you very much.
I highly doubt your ownership would share that perspective lol
I don't care what perspective ownership has. And neither should you. It's very rare that their priorities and focus match the supporters.
In addition, that's a very short-term view on things - even for ownership. Most "new" fans that only tune-in to watch Miami or spend a lot on a ticket to see the local club play Miami will disappear once he is gone. I promise you.
This is not how you create sustainable growth - it's just greedy capitalising for nothing other than profit sake.
Makes the "MLS is a retirement league" assholes look right when you start telling me it's good for everyone.
In a single entity league, it is good for everybody. The owners are laughing to the bank
Everybody? Or owners? That are not the same.
Right my comment didn’t reflect that which you are right. Ideally it will make the league quality go up for fans, but it’s single entity so the owners are all happy whether they win or not.
It was for all of us and the endless push notifications we get to enjoy from the MLS app anytime anything even remotely related to Messi happens.
Its a fair statement
Thanks for tickets to a regular game for 400$. Very appreciated 👍
Working for a club in the mls when it was announced that Messi was signing was insane. In a matter of days it went from no one really interested in the league to everyone texting me and talking to me about the league. Something I’ll always remember
The home crowd in Montreal was chanting Messi's name. Crowds in Montreal usually reserve "the business" treatment to the best opposing players
Fuck that shit I’d be mortified if Columbus chants his name.
I respect the talent and accolades but when you come into my house on game day you’re the enemy and I’m screaming trash talk.
Yes a boost in revenue and guaranteed sell out for every team that hosts IM. I just wish clubs had a way to not gouge their regular fan base on ticket prices for said matches. Yes if you are a STM you are locked in at face value. But I've seen examples like Nashville even gouging their STM's by not including the Concacaf Champions League match against IM and juicing the prices on them. But on the flip side I know a lot of STM flipped their tickets for cash too soooooo😅
Cool. Can Timbers borrow him and Busquets for a bit?
I think /mls sub count was 563k when it was announced? Just looking at that metric should tell you slot more eyes are on the league. It’s up for the owners and execs to better the product.
Beckham when he brings Griezman and Di Maria to Inter Miami:
“This was not just for Miami”
What a great guy! 👍
he's trying to make a good point but he made that point in the most pretentious way possible.
cant deny MLS has grown a bit thanks to Messi being in the league
Oh fuck off
Messi + Miami is a big attention draw. It's a US vacation/party city with international adoration. People would still pay attention to Messi being in the US; but can you imagine if he were playing in.. uh.. checks map.. Columbus, Ohio?
Good for MLS as a whole would be ditching the DP nonsense and making a salary cap on par with the top 4 Mexican clubs and becoming the dominant North American league and ultimately the dominant league in all of the Americas at which point they could make an effort to compete with the top flight Euro clubs for world dominance. I would say that next step could be done in the next decade but it seems the owners would rather keep up the current scheme where they only have to pay a handful of stars and maybe win a champions league every few years instead of every single year.
Why does "Miami" play an hour away in Fort Lauderdale? No stadiums in Miami?
But also so the rest of us could lose
Of course not. It was for AppleTV.
Beckham's dream was to always own a team. Miami just happened to have the void needed.
Beckham basically is the reason I like the LA Galaxy. He was playing around the time I moved to LA.
🙄
Not just for Miami but for the whole states he’s sure a gem to watch
All of our ticket prices went up to subsidize a forced subscription for Apple TV.
We are all basically buying a Supporters Shield and MLS Cup for Miami.
And we're expected to say "thank you!"
I was over Messi about 5 minutes after he signed. Sold the ticket to the game last year. Already sold it this year. Some moron paid me 1/3 of my entire season ticket price for my seats even though he's going to be playing in Copa America. So I guess I'm thankful for that.
Not to mention the fact that it’s completely fucked up the competitive balance of the league. Eastern conference teams that have successfully built good competitive squads have been overshadowed by this lavish addition.
I love when I bring up the fact that Apple is paying for their player being bad and get downvoted, like you have been. Why should we be happy that the broadcast parter is paying for them to have a player?
Messi playing in the MLS can (hopefully will) open the door for other bigger names to be willing to come to the US to play. If by some crazy chance the rumors about Reus signing with CITY come true, we have another big name player in the league. If that continues to happen the MLS could quickly become a top league in the world. Provided MLS doesn’t shoot themselves in the foot…
The league would have to undergo considerable changes but it could blossom with Messi opening the door to attract names.
I mean if we hadn’t had Beckham, Villa, Kaka, Frank Lampard, Zlatan, Shaquiri, Burki, Pirlo, Nani, Schweinsteiger, Rooney, Henry, Benteke, so on and so forth this would be a good point
I find it really hard to believe that Messi is gonna be so hands on with academies and care about building up youth soccer in the US when he doesn’t even do a damn interview. Like this quote is Beckham saying what Messi is gonna do, why isn’t Messi saying it?
His kids are in the academy so he's frequently at their games supporting them. He also shared the Ballon d'Or with them last year so I would say his role is more to be a supportive and inspirational presence than a hands on coach. Gressel recently mentioned in an interview that Messi doesnt speak much but when he does he has precise feedback for the youngsters in the team.
I’m sure it’s impactful for Miami’s academy and those of his children, just not so sure beyond that. He was already inspiring youth without being here I think. Don’t get me wrong I’d love it if he became an advocate for our soccer system but I just don’t really see it happening
He's very private and introverted so I dont see him getting involved on a broad scale. Having said that, I've seen a lot of promise from the fan reaction videos & local news reports at away games
Ex. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWWGOpmz5f0
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/lionel-messi-revolution-gillette-stadium-fans/
That stuff is nothing new, I’m talking about changing soccer in the US, not just making new Messi fans
So, how many bonus points do the non-Messi teams get? Oh, right...none.
Messi coming to Miami was the best thing for the MLS. As a soccer fan, it’s nice to see more people wearing jerseys when I go out
As a STH who couldn’t attend our Miami home game anyways. I thank Messi for funding 50% of my STH costs this year.
Agree, I recently read that MLS games are being pirated online more than ever; therefore there’s worldwide demand. Apple, the Germans (Adidas, Continental, VW Group, T-Mobile, DHL, etc.) and the Canadians (BMO & RBC) know it and they will cash out eventually.
Because it’s single entity franchises who aren’t genuinely competing with one another.
The thing is, the wins Messi achieves with Miami is downright.....like......noble.
He could've taken the easy route, and joined a solid team like this Columbus one and won everything having to put in little effort. That's just not how Lionel Messi became Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi takes beat down broken teams, does all the work AND make the Miami players seem like high quality pros. Takes the kids by the hand and show them the way.
The high risk here is when Messi can't play, the team falls apart. But nobody could've predicted that Nashville would crush Messi's leg like that. That's just comes with sport.
Not to stomp on Columbus achievement here. The mexicans are hard business, all respect for that. It just takes more than that to have "what Messi and squad couldn't do" not completely fall on deaf ears by the american people.
Barca and PSG were nothing until he showed them the way too
Look at Miami’s roster even without Messi and try and tell me this is a good point lmao they have Busquets Suarez and Alba for gods sake
First time you're seeing this dumb copypasta I assume
It was for MLS. I never cared about other teams or matches, unless Sounders are playing. I do seek out Miami highlights and watch them if they pop up on FS1.
To cement the idea of a retirement league! Yes!
No shit, it was for celebrity cash draw
"Not just for Miami but for me to fleece the league, Adidas and Apple"
Yeah it was for his wife’s Botox bills
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Not just for Miami but also for Fort Lauderdale.