Source: LiveScore
Brad Friedel, the former USA No. 1, has praised Lionel Messi's "enormous" impact on American football since joining Major League Soccer.
Messi, 36, won the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time and caused uproar across the country when he joined Inter Miami in July of last year, not long after Argentina won the 2022 World Cup.
With 11 goals and 5 assists in 14 games for the Florida team in his rookie season, he more than delivered. Friedel, who resides in the city, has revealed the former Barcelona superstar's revolutionary impact on Miami and world football culture.
According to the 52-year-old, who spoke to LiveScore, the team's current stadium is located in Fort Lauderdale, but they are now constructing a new one in Miami. However, if you hadn't known that Fort Lauderdale was home to an MLS club, you probably wouldn't have guessed that there was one.
Inter Miami pink shirts and Messi's visage were on billboards and in every magazine the moment he signed. The effect has been tremendous.
The effect on Apple TV and every venue he performs at has been tremendous. You need only peruse the preseason schedule to see that they have invitations to play in El Salvador, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia.
Inviting MLS teams to games like that is unusual. The effect is far-reaching and greater than anybody could have anticipated. Next month marks the beginning of the most anticipated Major League Soccer season ever, as Messi prepares for his first full campaign with the team.
In his opinion, Major League Soccer was already on the upswing before the four-time Champions League winner arrived, and Friedel has urged league officials to make sure the renewed enthusiasm may result in long-term expansion.
The former goalkeeper for the Columbus Crew and manager of the New England Revolution said this in his press conference before tonight's friendly match between Miami and Al-Hilal: "The league has been developing, regardless of whether Messi came or not.
Achieving long-term survival is as simple as obtaining the support of television companies and major sponsors. The Premier League is fantastic for that very reason. Here, we've been having a hard time landing that big, lucrative TV deal, so here's hoping this might start some conversations.
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