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Lionel Messi's move to the United States of America with Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami has helped the league soar in popularity. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has "given the league extra credibility" according to fellow MLS player Ryan Gauld.
In an article on Nutmeg Football, Gauld, who captains Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS' Western Conference, gave an insight into the limelight the league has got since the Argentinian moved to Miami.
He also credited the 37-year-old's Barcelona teammates, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets for the increase in the league's popularity.
“There’s no doubt that Lionel Messi and the Barcelona boys going to Inter Miami has probably opened a lot of eyes and given the league that extra level of credibility," the Scotsman said.
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According to the 28-year-old, Lionel Messi has laid the path for other South American players to follow.
“The league has always had a lot of good, young South American players, for example, but now there are a lot more who are hungry to follow in his footsteps. The publicity around the MLS is huge off the back of it,” he added.
Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami last summer and already broken records in the MLS. Earlier this year, in the match against New York Red Bulls, the diminutive forward recorded the most assists (five) in a single MLS game while also registering the most goal contributions in an MLS game with six as Inter Miami won 6-2.
"Without Beckham, there is no Lionel Messi in MLS" - League Commissioner
Lionel Messi's impact on the MLS has not just been on popularity but also in terms of economics with sponsorships increasing by an approximately 15 percent at both the league as well as the club levels. Moreover, as many as four MLS teams, including Inter Miami, are now worth over $1 billion, according to Sportico.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber shared his view on Messi's impact on the league and highlighted how David Beckham's move eventually led to the Argentinian moving to Inter Miami.
"It's important to remind ourselves and everybody else that having arguably the best player of all time in our league says a lot about where MLS is, and how far it's come over the years," Garber said.
On Beckham's signing, Garber, who is in his 25th year in the role of MLS Commissioner, said that it was the "first real statement" by the league.
"There's no Messi in MLS if David didn't come into our league in 2007," he added. "It really was the first real statement that MLS can be a league of choice for the top, most well-known players in the world."
American football, or soccer as it is more popularly known in the region, is set for another boost with the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled to be hosted jointly by Canada, USA, and Mexico.
