Ditching $1,000,000,000 Offer to Take a Chance on America, Lionel Messi Deserves Michael Jordan Treatment for David Beckham’s Miami, Says MLS Coach

Soccer fields in the USA are heating up ever since Lionel Messi joined the Major League Soccer. This momentous event can transform the league. The hype in the nation has been sky high ever since he joined a month ago. Even in the twilight of his career, the legendary footballer remains among the popular names. His move has also prompted discussions about his play and how his play will be officiated.

Will the maestro get superstar treatment like Michael Jordan back in the day?

Will there be more whistles in favor of Lionel Messi?

The Argentinian legend decided to take his talents to MLS despite getting a nerve-numbing $1 billion contract offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. He signed for Inter Miami on a $150 deal that runs for three years. While this is nowhere near the number of the Saudi Arabia offer, it is a game-changer for MLS. His contract is about four times higher than the biggest MLS salary. Last season, Lorenzo Insigne signed a $56 million four-year deal for Toronto FC, which pays him $14 million a year, significantly less than Messi.

Usually, superstars who are among the highest-paid players in USA sports get preferential treatment from refs. The example of Michael Jordan rings loud because, at his peak, he was also the highest-paid NBA player. He got calls in his favor owing to his status. Before Messi, the biggest arrival on the football scene was David Beckham, who brought MLS huge limelight. He also got favors from refs considering his stature at that time.

Soccer writer for the Athletic, Pablo Maurer delved into the situation. Pablo writes, “Messi is not David Beckham; he’s something more. He is arguably the greatest of all time, a man who spurned a $1 billion offer elsewhere to take a chance on soccer in America. He is a player who could finally make MLS the “league of choice” commissioner Don Garber has said he wants it to be.”

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As someone who is consistently in touch with bigwigs in the league, he states, “Talk to coaches, players, and executives across the league and you’ll get varied sentiments for how referees should handle Messi’s presence on the field in America. But there’s certainly a sizable camp that wants him protected. As one MLS coach put it: “He should get the (Michael) Jordan treatment. (He) should get every single call.”

Officiating and superstars

Controversial referee Tim Donaghy, who’s now a convicted felon for influencing games, revealed this in the Netflix special documentary, Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul. After he had called travel on Michael Jordan’s spin move, MJ’s head coach Phil Jackson blasted him. Then in the locker room, a referee then revealed that “they want that call but don’t want to on him”

While such treatment is understandable for high-profile names who rack in large numbers of viewers, it can leave a sour taste among many fans. 

Do you think this treatment helps the state of the sport? Do share in the comments below.

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