“Cool to See the Greatest” – USMNT Legend on Cloud Nine as Lionel Messi Graces US Open Cup, Which Haven’t Been Given the Respect it Deserves

Last night, Lionel Messi made history by taking Inter Miami to their maiden Lamar Hunt US Open Cup finals. With this qualification, the seven-time Ballon d’Or adds yet another achievement to his fairytale start to life in America. The biggest winner however from Messi’s arrival is American soccer culture which has been put on the spotlight and pedestal it deserves.

While American soccer culture places the US Open Cup below the Leagues Cup; Leo’s presence has lent back the prominence to the former. After all, the US Open Cup is the country’s oldest ongoing national soccer competition. USMNT icon Herculez Gomez pointed this out today and thanked Messi for bringing the relevant spotlight the competition deserves.

USMNT legend thanks Lionel Messi for bringing back attention to the US Open Cup

One of the biggest takeaways from Lionel Messi’s mesmerizing stint in the USA so far has been the eyeballs that he has generated with his presence. As per reports; every match day involving Leo has been selling at an incredibly high rate. Moreover, Apple is also reporting a significant increase in subscriptions. Overall; this has brought back some much-needed prestige to American soccer culture, especially to competitions like the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

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Former US Open Cup winner and USMNT icon Hercules Gomez holds a profound respect for American soccer institutions. Hence he expressed his satisfaction at witnessing Messi’s influence drawing attention to the often overlooked aspects of USA’s soccer framework, particularly the US Open Cup. “It’s pretty effen cool to see the greatest player that has ever played in the 108th edition of the US Open Cup. Many in this country haven’t given this tournament the respect it deserves,” said the LA Galaxy icon.

The fact that this year’s US Open Cup is the 108th edition of the tournament speaks volumes about its prestige. Here’s all you need to know about the cup and what makes it special.

What’s the significance of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup?

Since its inception in the 1913-1914 season, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup has stood as the longest-running national soccer tournament in the country. The event initially took shape as the National Challenge Cup and saw Brooklyn Field Club emerge as the victors, securing a trophy gifted by Thomas Dewar to advance American soccer. The United States Soccer Federation later rebranded and dedicated the competition to Lamar Hunt, an executive in both the North American Soccer League (NASL) and Major League Soccer (MLS), in 1999.

What sets this tournament apart is its inclusive structure. Around 100 clubs participate in the U.S. Open Cup, representing professional leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation. These include Major League Soccer (MLS), the Championship and League One divisions of the United Soccer League, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), and MLS Next Pro.

Amateur clubs from the initial stages of the competition, who qualify through their respective leagues, contribute to the diverse lineup of participants. The winner directly gets a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Thus Messi might get a shot at winning one more trophy if he wins the US Open Cup.

Do you see Lionel Messi leading Inter Miami to their maiden US Open Cup? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!

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