Lionel Messi called Major League Soccer ‘a minor league’ in an interview in Argentina about whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup that will be held in the United States.
Messi joined David Beckham’s Inter Miami in a landmark moment for the team and the league, with MLS allowing his $60million-a-year deal to be part-funded by Apple and adidas. It could run through to 2026.
Apple are paying into the deal through subscriptions taken out to watch him play in the league, while adidas give him a cut of the Miami jerseys that are sold with his name on the back.
While the league is not at the standard of the Spanish or French leagues Messi competed in during his time in Europe, the quotes emerging from an interview with Argentina – where he reflects on last year’s World Cup win and his future at international level – make for awkward reading.
When asked about the 2026 tournament, Messi told Star+: ‘I said it several times and it is a reality – I will always try to compete to the maximum and I am the first to know when I can be there and when I can’t.
I am also aware that I went to a minor league, but a lot happens because of the way one faces it and competes.’
Messi said that he is targeting playing in next summer’s Copa America for Argentina, which is also held in the US.
