What Lionel Messi Lacks To Become ‘LeBron James’ or ‘Tom Brady’ of MLS? Ex-USMNT Star Questions Apple’s Mandate

Lionel Messi is said to be missing a crucial element in his skill set, which the MLS has been advised to focus on. Apart from that, La Pulga has been encouraged to emulate the likes of LeBron James and Tom Brady. Expressing this concern is former USMNT star Taylor Twellman, who believes there is room for improvement when it comes to the 36-year-old’s media interaction.

The Argentine maestro seldom entertains interviews, which enhances his enigmatic persona. Furthermore, his limited proficiency in English presents significant challenges within an English-speaking country, such as the United States. Twellman affirms MLS should endeavor to ameliorate this engagement discrepancy.

Lionel Messi told to be like LeBron James and Tom Brady

Taylor Twellman recently sat down for an in-depth conversation on the distinguished Awful Announcing podcast. During this dialogue, he addressed the limited media visibility of Lionel Messi becoming a problem despite him being a significant attraction for American soccer. “I wish Apple mandated that Lionel Messi did more,” the pundit remarked. “He’s good when he’s available, but I’m a little surprised he’s not been as available as what I think he should be.” 

He drew parallels with other high-profile athletes by stating emphatically, “Listen, the way I’ve always said this, if LeBron James and Tom Brady can give you any interview whenever you want in their field of action on the field, before, pre-game, whenever it may be, then Lionel Messi has to do that in Major League Soccer.”

Furthermore, the 43-year-old openly expressed his astonishment at the sparing television appearances offered by the 8x Ballon d’Or winner following his transition to Inter Miami. He concluded with hopes of witnessing an increase moving forward. While the Argentine’s media engagement may be lacking, his impact on the sport since joining Inter Miami cannot be denied. A fact backing this is a recent report that suggests that Lionel Messi’s presence has elevated Inter Miami to billion-dollar club status.

La Pulga’s impact made Inter Miami $400M+ richer

Before Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami held an approximate valuation of $600 million. The celebrated player’s arrival sparked a discernible surge in merchandise and ticket sales alike. In merely a few months following this event, Inter Miami’s value has now escalated to $1.03 billion. Owing to this monetary elevation, Inter Miami has eclipsed the worth of notable Premier League clubs, including West Ham United, Everton, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa.

Read More: “What He Can Do Walking Around” – Jan Åge Fjørtoft Hails to Lionel Messi’s Greatest Skill That Sets Him Apart From Other Soccer Stars

Furthermore, the MLS club has installed itself amongst the globe’s top 20 most valuable soccer clubs. This significant turn of events can be largely attributed to Lionel Messi’s unexpected decision to play in the MLS. A move that undeniably altered the club’s financial tide towards unprecedented heights.

Read More: Lionel Messi May Not Play Inter Miami’s 6th MLS Fixture Against New York Red Bulls: Here’s Why

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.