Nothing MLS is willing to try is going to change the league, because the quality on the pitch isn't the problem, unless we think we should be competing to be one of the best leagues on Earth (we have no business aspiring to that). Plenty of true fans gleefully watch lesser football than MLS provides. I'd say Beckham's introduction was the least damaging to the spirit of competition, as he was really there to sell shirts. I guess the dearth of clubs is what made the galaxy champions so many times- it's easy to call yourself great when there's only 15 teams in the league. Luckily, Zlatan won nothing while he was here. OTOH, Messi, Alba and Busquets plus a supporting cast of decent MLS level players could end up being a wrecking crew that exposes MLS as a joke while doing absolutely nothing for the league but giving them money the owners won't then be allowed to spend on players. And you're right- after Inter takes its ill-gotten 2024 MLS Cup, US Open Cup, Leagues Cup and maybe the CCL (if the 2023 Leagues Cup give them a berth), and Messi retires, the hype balloon will bust. The way to build a league is to allow the owners to pursue talent and allow the supporters groups to protest with non attendance until the owner invests in the roster or sells to someone who will.
I think the Miami geezers are going to start to break sooner, rather than later, and if Messi still chooses to play for ARG I predict him missing even more games. I think the end of this season was a preview on how next season could go, so, unless Miami gets even more young talent I think they will be hard-pressed to win it all.
I've mostly avoided all the Messi hype, but then the Athletic ran an investigative piece on Messi's bodyguard, who may in fact be way more interesting than Messi himself and allegedly earns $3million/year. An insane level of fandom though.
Ha, you made me read that article. BTW, they did not confirm the $3M/year salary of Messi’s bodyguard. But it made me wonder — what other footballer has an on-field bodyguard? I guess if the guy was working at PSG then technically he was security for more than one player during games? Are there other players with bodyguards who get to have them on the touchline?
Inter Miami is going to travel to Asia (China and Japan) for a friendly tour. They travel the first week of November. Between this FIFA date and the next one (November 16 and 21). Source: MLS Moves
$$$$. I get it but shouldn't they want to give their players more of a break? Training camp starts in January.
Technically European teams only have 2 months off, 4 months off is quite a long time for an off season so I understand the move. I see no difference in European clubs doing summer tours here. We need more MLS teams to do this type of stuff I believe if they're not making the playoffs. Keeps them playing, builds a bigger audience for their brands, gives them a chance to compete with teams in form, and gain some notoriety. Isn't everything in life about $$?
If inter Miami went to play friendlies in Asia pre-Messi, there would have been approximately 12 fans in attendance. Nothing wrong with selling out stadiums and raising MLS profile across the globe
I don't blame them for going after the $, but they're going to have 3 weeks off, then have to come back to training for a bit, and then go on the tour. I know they're going to be going pretty easy but seems like a risk for injuries. With what's happening / happened with Messi and Alba, I'd think they'd want to shut them down for a while. Hasn't Messi been going since August of 2022, almost a year and a half, with a short break late June / early July, including a World Cup, etc?
It's during the same time other teams will be in the playoffs, so it isn't going outside the expected active time for MLS teams.
I don’t know if Total Soccer Show really knows this, but they said Messi’s never had 4 months off in his life. (podcast was before this tour was announced).
Oh, it's 1st week of November. I was confused by the dates 11/16, 11/21, but I think those are intl dates. Still, as I said, except for a short break at the end of June, I think Messi's been going since August of 2022. Might be a good idea to give him a longer break, especially given his nagging injury issues. OTOH, if he's going to continue to play for Argentina, he needs to stay game fit anyway...No rest for the weary(!), or for Great Men™!
Of course! When I posted the exact same thing a few weeks ago, I received backlash for even suggesting it… Sep 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 I knew they would have a tour as it’s an automatic money maker and now is the time. There is no reason why they wouldn’t.
I don't disagree with you. I guess I left out the part where I don't really care about MLS' profile, beyond what it would take for individual clubs to acquire talent. And raising it a small degree by tilting the whole pitch toward Inter contradicts the stupid parity they obviously want so badly, since they use caps to stop good clubs from becoming great. Drop the stupid salary restrictions, and the players will get better. Nobody in Europe is going to respect a playoff league anyhow, not really, so the whole "profile" is a nonstarter. I'm an American, and no matter how much I love my club, I will never respect the league because it's a salary-capped cartel. That's fine for American sports, but I watch soccer to get away from that stuff.
Beckham had a bodyguard when they played in Oakland - don’t know about Stanford. Guy was not big but ex-SAS. You don’t want to ******** with them.
By the Numbers: 2023 MLS millionaires club by Soccer America , $20,446,667. Lionel Messi's (annualized) compensation (MLS record). $15,400,000. Lorenzo Insigne's compensation (previous MLS record). ----------------- 114. Players making $1 million or more (up from 91 in May 2022). 15. Americans making $1 million or more (same as in May 2022). ----------------- 7. Seattle Sounders players making $1 million or more (most on any MLS team). 1. Orlando FC players making $1 million or more (fewest on any MLS team). ----------------- 6. Players making $6 million or more. 1. Players making $6 million or more still in playoff contention. Note: Guaranteed compensation. Source: MLSPlayers.org.