Lionel Messi praised for 'changing the trajectory' of MLS

Martin Macdonald

• 25 Oct 2025 12:00 CDT
• 4 min read

News

Lionel Messi has been praised for "changing the trajectory" of Major League Soccer.

The MLS was once viewed as a retirement league of sorts for stars who previously plied their trade for the biggest teams in Europe.

In recent years, the league has sought to change that narrative by bringing in younger players, like from South America for example.

Even though Messi is in the twilight of his career, he is undoubtedly the best player in MLS and over the regular season won the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals over the course of the campaign.

The MLS playoffs have now commenced and Inter Miami started with a surprise 3-1 win against Nashville, with the Argentine scoring two of the goals.

Prior to that game, Messi received some glowing words from MLS commissioner Don Garber.

"I don't think we ever could have imagined that Leo would have been able to deliver for this club, for this city and for this league the way he had," he said.

"He has reset the trajectory for Major League Soccer and we were already doing pretty well. And I think having three more years is just going to be another gift."

Messi signs new contract with Inter Miami

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has agreed a new three-year extension with David Beckham’s MLS franchise that will see him contracted with the Florida outfit until 2028.

He has made no secret of his fear of retirement, but those lingering doubts are for another day. Messi will play into his fifth decade, having proven to himself he still has what it takes to cut it at MLS level.

Indeed, there are three main reasons why the World Cup winner has decided to remain with Inter Miami:

• His performance level
• To launch Freedom Park
• The 2026 World Cup

Performance Level

Messi remains the outstanding draw for MLS but he is also the league’s outstanding player. He finished as the top scorer during the regular season by scoring 29 times in 28 games, producing nine doubles and a hat-trick. Inter Miami might only have been able to finish third in the Eastern Conference, but this was due to a leaky defence. The Herons scored an astonishing 81 goals this season – 13 more than any other club in the regular season.

New Stadium

Barcelona had hoped that Messi might be back with the Blaugrana in some capacity as they inaugurate the newly refurbished Camp Nou, but instead it will be Inter Miami who have the great man as their figurehead when they open Freedom Park. The new 25,000-seat stadium is soccer specific and is expected to be opened in 2026. The management of the club were counting on Messi being available for this occasion, and that will be the case.

World Cup 2026

Messi, of course, has his eyes fixed on the World Cup next summer, and remaining in Miami will provide him with a sense of continuity prior to the competition. He wants to be available as Argentina defend their title. Remaining in Miami gives him the best chance of doing that.

September’s clash with Venezuela in qualifying was expected to be his last competitive game on Argentine soil, but with Messi announcing his intention to continue until 2028, could we see more from him?

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