Top US Soccer League Faces Call to Loosen Spending Spenders
Lionel Messi believes that Major League Soccer (MLS) must relax its spending restrictions in order to compete with top European leagues. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner thinks that giving teams more freedom to sign players will attract bigger-name stars, ultimately boosting the league's popularity.
In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Messi expressed his desire for MLS to loosen its purse strings. "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," he said.
Currently, MLS teams are limited to three designated player spots, which allow them to sign high-profile players like Messi without counting against the salary cap until that season's maximum annual salary is met. However, this system is set to change in 2025 when the salary cap increases to $743,750. Despite this, some argue that the current rules hinder teams' ability to compete with bigger leagues.
Messi believes that by giving teams more freedom, they will be able to attract top talent and grow the league's fan base. "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," he said.
The Argentine superstar also expressed his desire to play for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. When asked about his age being a factor in his participation, Messi acknowledged its impact but reassured that he will assess his fitness on a day-to-day basis next year during Inter Miami's preseason and make a decision accordingly.
While Messi's voice carries significant weight, ultimately the decision to relax spending restrictions lies with MLS owners. However, it seems clear that the league must adapt if it wants to continue growing in popularity and competing with top European leagues.
Lionel Messi believes that Major League Soccer (MLS) must relax its spending restrictions in order to compete with top European leagues. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner thinks that giving teams more freedom to sign players will attract bigger-name stars, ultimately boosting the league's popularity.
In an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Messi expressed his desire for MLS to loosen its purse strings. "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," he said.
Currently, MLS teams are limited to three designated player spots, which allow them to sign high-profile players like Messi without counting against the salary cap until that season's maximum annual salary is met. However, this system is set to change in 2025 when the salary cap increases to $743,750. Despite this, some argue that the current rules hinder teams' ability to compete with bigger leagues.
Messi believes that by giving teams more freedom, they will be able to attract top talent and grow the league's fan base. "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," he said.
The Argentine superstar also expressed his desire to play for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. When asked about his age being a factor in his participation, Messi acknowledged its impact but reassured that he will assess his fitness on a day-to-day basis next year during Inter Miami's preseason and make a decision accordingly.
While Messi's voice carries significant weight, ultimately the decision to relax spending restrictions lies with MLS owners. However, it seems clear that the league must adapt if it wants to continue growing in popularity and competing with top European leagues.
. Like, what's the point of even having a salary cap if you're just gonna raise it anyway? It's all just a bunch of nonsense... I mean, who doesn't want to see Messi and his friends running around on the field, but at what cost? The owners are just trying to line their pockets with more cash 
. And Messi thinks that giving teams more freedom will solve everything? Please, it's just gonna make them even richer 
. What about the regular fans who can't afford tickets or jerseys or whatever? Don't they count for anything?
. But at the same time, we gotta balance that with financial stability so teams don't go bankrupt. It's a tricky issue, but I think it's worth exploring. Maybe it's like what they do in some European countries where they have a public subsidy for their leagues? Just food for thought 
. If the rich get richer and the poorer teams can't compete, it'll just lead to another league dominated by LAFC or NYCFC 
️. We need to see how this new system plays out before we start making promises about attracting superstar players like Messi 
. And let's be real, if top talent isn't coming in, it's not just a matter of giving teams more freedom – there are other issues at play too 
. Still, I'm excited to see where this changes take the league and hopefully we'll start seeing more competitive matches and some decent football being played 
.
. It'll be a nightmare to manage the salary cap and all that jazz 
. Maybe they can find a balance between giving teams more freedom and keeping things under control? 
. Maybe some teams can splurge a bit more and attract some better players... but if that means it gets harder for smaller teams to compete, then maybe they should focus on developing their own talent 
. I'm not sure what's the solution here, but I think Messi's got a point 
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. It's not just about attracting bigger-name stars, but also about letting teams develop their own style of play and culture 
. If we're gonna compete with the big boys in Europe, we need to think outside the box (or in this case, the salary cap) 
. It's time for MLS to level up and give its owners more power to make decisions about player signings. We can't keep relying on the "three designated players" rule as a crutch – it's time to evolve 
.
. And let's be real, if top European leagues have been doing it for years and still dominate, why do we need to change now? It's not like MLS teams are being unfairly capped in terms of revenue or something. We're just talking about a salary cap, not a participation trophy 
. I'd rather see them focus on developing their own talent rather than trying to poach top stars from other leagues. That way, they can build a strong foundation and attract fans organically 
.