In a recent interview in Argentina, Barcelona star Lionel Messi dismissed Major League Soccer (MLS) as “a minor league” when asked if he would play in the U.S. hosted World Cup in 2026.
Messi’s arrival at David Beckham’s Inter Miami marked a turning point for the club and the MLS. Apple and Adidas partly funded Messi’s $60 million-per-year contract. The contract potentially extends through 2026.
Apple are paying for the deal by subscription taken out to watch him play, while adidas gives him a percentage of the Miami jersey sales that feature Lionel Messi’s name on the back.
The league may not be as high-quality as the Spanish or French top-tier leagues in which Messi played during his playing days in Europe, but the quotes coming out of an interview with Argentina – where he reflected on last summer’s World Cup triumph and his future at club level – make for uncomfortable reading.
When asked about the 2026 tournament, Messi told Star+, “I said it several times and it is a reality – I will always try to compete to the maximum and I am the first to know when I can be there and when I can’t. I am also aware that I went to a minor league, but a lot happens because of the way one faces it and competes.”
When he joined Miami over the summer, Messi made an immediate impact, leading the team to the Leagues Cup title and scoring 11 goals in his first 14 games. The club also made the finals of the U.S. Open Cup, losing to Houston Dynamo after Messi was ruled out of the final with an injury.
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