26 February 2024 , 15:13
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Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber responded bluntly when asked if Lionel Messi's transformative impact on the sport in the United States would be short-lived.
Messi has put MLS back on the map since joining Inter Miami last summer, with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner sparking an increase in crowds, media coverage, TV audiences and public interest. The 36-year-old may be in the twilight of his career, but he remains hugely influential on the pitch, scoring a superb stoppage-time equaliser on the road at LA Galaxy on Sunday evening.
The Argentine has done plenty to accelerate the growth of football in the US, although cynics wonder whether Messi's impact will stand the test of time after his inevitable retirement in the years ahead. American soccer is at a pivotal moment in its history with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, giving a once-in-a-generation opportunity to capture the nation's attention and grow the game.
Garber has welcomed Messi's effect on the league since his arrival, enabling Inter Miami to work with league partners Adidas and Apple to muster up the money required to lure Messi to MLS.
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But Garber believes in the product with or without Messi and he is sure the league will continue to grow, with a massive crowd at Bank of America Stadium watching Charlotte FC's 1-0 victory over New York City on Sunday.
"I was in Charlotte yesterday with 65,000 people and Messi was not playing", Garber told reporters at Dignity Sports Health Park, where the Galaxy broke their regular-season attendance record with 27,642 watching Sunday's draw with Inter Miami.
Messi snatched a stoppage-time equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy on Sunday (Getty Images)Garber, however, is not blind to the fact that Messi's move to Miami has been big business for every franchise in the league, and he believes the former Barcelona icon will entice many more star players to make the leap to MLS. Garber added: “I think all of you know he's done well, he's happy. It's been great for Major League Soccer. It's great for Inter Miami.
“This is very much about where we were in 2007 and where we are today. Somebody wrote this article or a headline that said 'Will [Inter Miami co-owner] David Beckham change the course of soccer in America?' He didn't just do it once, he did it twice.
"And I think you'll see many more players like Leo or like David, or whether it was Thierry Henry or whether it's Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) or Riqui Puig, there are great players that look to our league as a league of choice. And it's fun to see it all come to fruition."
The average MLS attendance increased by more than 1,000 fans per game from 2022 to 2023, rising to 22,094. That number is sure to increase in 2024 with a full season of Messi mania, with huge demand for tickets to Inter Miami games home and away, and he has undoubtedly had a wider effect on MLS, increasing interest among other franchises.