“The scam is complete” – Pundit slams Lionel Messi move to play with ‘puppets’ in MLS

RMC Sport's French journalist Daniel Riolo has slammed Lionel Messi's move to join Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer.

Messi joined PSG on a two-year contract in 2021 after his contract expired at Barcelona. But in both his seasons in France, the French giants were eliminated in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.

Messi's relationship with PSG fans wasn't the best towards the end of his tenure in France's capital. In fact, Neymar, who left them for Al-Hilal this summer, described his and Messi's time with Les Parisiens as 'hell'.

Riolo believes Messi's move to Inter Miami was a marketing scheme that will also protect the reputation of the player by pitting him against weaker opponents. He said on Le Figaro Live, via Le10Sport (h/t Yardbarker):

"He is going to the United States with a completely business approach. He benefits from it, but MLS also benefits from it. He’s not the crook. The scam is complete because he only plays four matches.

“Four matches against puppets, players who let him shine a little for one last lap; he only played four games, and MLS wanted to give him player of the year. Obviously, it’s a scam, it’s advertising, it’s marketing, but it’s not football."

According to the Independent, Apple and Adidas were both involved in the deal to bring Messi to the USA. Apple, as per the Independent, signed a decade-long, $2.5 billion deal with MLS this year and view Messi as a key component in increasing the league's global reach.

According to AS, the former Barcelona superstar could earn around $54 million per year. So far, he has registered 11 goals and five assists in 13 games for his new team.

---

Lionel Messi returns to action for Argentina in Paraguay win

Lionel Messi was absent from Argentina's 3-0 World Cup qualifier win against Bolivia on 12 September. He also played in just five of Inter Miami's last seven league games due to a muscle injury.

Coming into the October international break, there were doubts if La Pulga would be fit to represent La Albiceleste. His cameo in Vice City's 1-0 MLS loss to Cincinnati gave fans hope that he was returning to match fitness.

Messi was left out of the starting XI in Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL qualifier against Paraguay on 13 October. But Lionel Scaloni brought him on in the 53rd minute with the score at 1-0.

Messi didn't have much impact on the game as Nicolas Otamendi's third-minute goal was enough to seal the three points. It remains to be seen if he will earn his 178th senior cap when the 2022 World Cup winners face Peru in Lima on 18 October.