Lionel Messi has told Major League Soccer (MLS) to change one of its strict transfer rules, saying that clubs should be given more flexibility to bring in more players without any restrictions. The Inter Miami skipper thinks that relaxing these rules would allow 'more important players' to join the league and help increase the growth of the sport in the United States.
MLS clubs face signing restrictions through roster rules, consisting of the Designated Player rule and salary cap limits. The DP rule allows a club to sign three players whose salaries exceed the maximum cap, which permitted Inter Miam to sign a legend like Lionel Messi in 2023.
In an interview with NBC, Messi was questioned whether football could become more famous in America like other sports, to which he responded:
"Every team should have the opportunity to bring in players and sign whoever each team wants without limitations or rules for players to bring them in. I don’t think that today all teams in the United States, all clubs, have the power to do that, and I think that if they were given the freedom, many more important players would come and help the growth of the United States. Everything I went through and everything I did to achieve that — it was the dream of my life. And it all came to mind, everything I went through to get there — my family, my people, and Argentina."
Lionel Messi's move to the MLS has actually increased the League's visibility and standings. His presence has also attracted some big players like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Thomas Muller, and Son Heung-min.
Why did Lionel Messi extend his contract with Inter Miami?
Messi's previous contract was set to expire at the end of 2025, which led to speculations regarding his future as he entered the final months of his contract. However, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has revealed that signing a new deal was an easy decision.
In a recent conversation with NBC Nightly News (via GOAL), The Argentine captain cited the lifestyle in Miami as a key reason for his contract extension, as he and his family enjoy living in the city.
"Honestly, I felt really good during the year. I'm happy living in Miami, as is my family, and honestly, the decision was easy," Messi said.
He also said that he also evaluated his mental and physical health while deciding to stay with the club, saying:
“I've always said that I’ll base my decision on how I feel day to day and how I feel physically and mentally to continue playing and to continue being part of this club."
The 38-year-old was handed the MLS Golden Boot after scoring 29 goals in 28 outings during the regular season.