$600 Million Rich After US Arrival, Lionel Messi ‘Will Exploit and Expose’ MLS, Says USMNT Legend

The arrival of Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer (MLS) has undoubtedly elevated the league’s profile, but there’s a growing concern about whether his presence might inadvertently highlight the weaknesses within the competition.

Widely acknowledged as the greatest soccer player of all time, Lionel Messi recently joined Inter Miami on a two-and-a-half-year contract, bringing with him a staggering $600 million fortune accumulated over years of unparalleled success.

Has Lionel Messi exploited and exposed certain deficiencies?

In just six games with Inter Miami, Messi has already scored nine goals and led his team to a final. This remarkable feat raises questions about the standard of play in both MLS and Liga MX, the Mexican professional soccer league. Recently former USMNT legend Herculez Gomez, a well-respected voice in soccer analysis, offers an interesting perspective on Messi’s influence.

According to Gomez, Messi’s dominance is not only about his individual brilliance but also about the weaknesses in the soccer quality of the region. Gomez points out, “He’s been destroying and making regions look bad for quite some time. 17 years, every season he makes a region look bad because he’s the best player to ever play the game”.

But certainly even at this age when you put him into the CONCACAF region against some of these teams that don’t have the money. Not right now, okay? In Major League Soccer, and in Liga Mx, he will exploit and expose the deficiencies of this region.” At 36, Messi’s prowess remains unparalleled. When placed in the context of the CONCACAF region his impact becomes even more significant. Mainly because many teams lack financial resources.

READ MORE: Despite Turning Down $1,600,000,000 Offer, Lionel Messi Continues to Cash In on $25 Million Paycheck From Saudi Arabia

Inter Miami’s success in the Leagues Cup further exemplifies Messi’s impact. With a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami advanced to the 2023 Leagues Cup final. What else has he done since his arrival? Let’s dive deeper.

Messi is turning fortunes around

Since La Pulga’s arrival, Inter Miami has experienced a remarkable turnaround. The team is on a six-game winning streak. Including a penalty shoot-out victory over FC Dallas, all achieved with their Argentine captain leading the charge.

The team scored 21 goals during the Leagues Cup. A significant improvement from their 22 goals in 22 MLS games before Messi’s arrival. Furthermore, Inter Miami’s perfect record of six wins in six games with Messi starkly contrasts their previous 5-3-14 (W-D-L) record in the Eastern Conference.

As Inter Miami prepares to face Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final. The question remains: Will Messi’s influence be enough to lift the trophy for his team? What do you think?

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