Javier Mascherano hailed the impact Lionel Messi was having on Major League Soccer after another bumper crowd turned out to watch the Argentine superstar.
Over 62,000 were in attendance as Messi’s Inter Miami side drew 0-0 with Chicago Fire at Soldier Field – an all-time record crowd for the Fire.
The New England Revolution and Sporting KC also had record attendances last season against Miami as the clamour to see eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, and arguably the greatest player of all time, Messi shows no signs of letting up.
“In the summer, Messi will have been here for two years, and I think he’s changing how the world sees MLS in one way or another,” Mascherano said in remarks reported by ESPN.
“There’s no doubt about that. In the end, we’re talking about a player who’s capable of achieving all of that, of giving maximum visibility to a league like this.
“We saw it today, and it’s one of the many examples of everything he generates. The people came to see him, that’s the reality.”
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Enjoy Messi while you can
Messi will be 38 in June and it could be he ponders his future after next summer’s World Cup finals, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
And Mascherano urged MLS to capitalise on his appeal while they can.
“Now, MLS has the responsibility to continue advancing,” Mascherano said. “It’s made progress, but it’s necessary to continue supporting the fact that he’s here to continue developing soccer in this country. He’s a unique, unrepeatable player. Everywhere he’s been, he’s marked a before and after.”
Messi frustrated against Fire
The crowd in Chicago didn’t quite get the Messi they hoped for as, despite him hitting the woodwork twice, Miami were unable to carve out too many golden opportunities with the draw seeing them slip to third in the Eastern Conference, a point behind Charlotte FC albeit with a game in hand.
Mascherano’s team looked tired after a hectic start to the season that has seen them competing in MLS as well as reaching the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, in which they will meet the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“We have to remember that, in our case, we’ve been playing every three or four days for almost two months, and the wear and tear is very high,” Mascherano said.
“And despite everything, the team continues to compete. There are days when the team performs better and other days when it doesn’t, but in the end, the team competes.”
