MLS is Not a “Retirement League” After Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Arrival, Says St. Louis City Defender & Urges League to Open Up Salary Caps

With his move to Inter Miami, Lionel Messi catapulted the MLS’ journey from oblivion to a chart-topping sporting gala in the US. Last year, the MLS broke its single-season attendance at games, surpassing the 10 million mark set in 2022. Besides, ticket prices for matches also soared to all-time highs after Messi arrived in Fort Lauderdale. Thanks to this popularity, St. Louis City ace Tim Parker thinks the League is no longer a home to washed-up players. In a testimony to that, he also appreciated that La Pulga is captaining Argentina and ‘still scoring goals on the international stage!’

It is true that Lionel Messi’s move still has the spotlight. But to capitalize on the opportunity and attract more star players, the MLS must compromise on certain salary cap-related rules. Parker doubled down on that need while lauding the ‘Messimania.’

The traditional perception of the MLS needs to now be ‘rationalized’, certainly after Lionel Messi set foot in the US!

Tim Parker got close to winning the Defender of the Year award with St Louis City. Besides, he had storied runs with other MLS clubs like Vancouver Whitecaps, NY Red Bulls, and Houston Dynamo. A home-grown talent, he took pride in the direction the league is heading. “I think Messi coming over is obviously the biggest one, the biggest name. At first, people used to think when old guys would come over here, it was a retirement league, this and that. But he’s still playing for Argentina, he’s still scoring goals on the international stage,” said Tim Parker.

He continued, “I think we have to really rationalize that thought process of guys coming over here as a ‘retirement league’ because that’s just not the way it is anymore”, as compiled by Fox News. While the MLS has come a long way from what it used to be, it is yet to attract young superstars from outside of the US. And Time Parker seems to be well aware of the same. He urged Major League Soccer to ease the salary caps and facilitate clubs’ spending on overseas talents.

MLS can continue growing with certain monetary relations in the wage caps

In 2023, the MLS set a salary cap at $5.21 million. There are players outside the salary cap, called ‘Designated Players.’ But the league allows a club to sign only 3 DPs. This amounts to a drastic pay disparity between a club’s three marquee players and others who share the entire wage budget. Interestingly, most players in elite European clubs rake in more salary than the MLS’s capped amount of $5.21 million per club!

READ MORE: Julian Gressel Confesses Wish For ‘Mate’ Date with Lionel Messi, Weeks After Joining Luis Suarez & Co. at Inter Miami

Hence, not every young superstar will take a pay cut like the veteran Luis Suarez to join an MLS side. “I do think that by opening up the salary caps, it will change a little bit of the restrictions on the league,” said Tim Parker, highlighting the need for the hour. What are your thoughts on the veteran defender’s claims? Tell us in the comments.

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