Lionel Messi has issued a quite brutal assessment of the MLS after making the switch to Inter Miami.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last summer, Messi was convinced to join David Beckham's franchise on a two-and-a-half year contract in one of the biggest moves in sporting history.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is said to be earning $60 million-a-year at Inter, with Messi taking a cut of MLS Season Pass subscriptions with Apple as well as Adidas shirts sold.
In his first season he scored 11 times in 14 appearances and helped Inter win the Leagues Cup on penalties, as well as guiding them to the US Open Cup final before defeat to Houston Dynamo.
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Messi was joined by Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at the DRV PNK Stadium.
The buzz surrounding his MLS move was like anything seen before but Messi admitted that the standard wasn't quite on par with La Liga and Ligue One.
"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," Messi told Star+ when asked about the possibility of playing in the 2026 World Cup in North America.
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"I am also aware that I went to a minor league, but a lot happens because of the way one faces it and competes."
Back in July, Cristiano Ronaldo said that the Saudi Pro League he plays in is "better" than the MLS and would soon surpass the Turkish Super Lig and Eredivisie.
Messi will be 37 next year but still has hopes of achieving more international success with Argentina after recent Copa America and World Cup wins.
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The next Copa America will be in the United States and include six CONCACAF sides.
"As long as I feel that I'm fine and I can continue contributing, I'm going to do it,' Messi explained.
"Today the only thing I think about is getting to the Copa América well and being able to compete in it . Fighting it again like we always did, trying to be champions."
Topics: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, MLS, Argentina
Josh Lawless