The Cooligans Podcast: Messis Struggle in MLS and the Impact of Roster Rules
The world's greatest player, Lionel Messi, has recently been causing a stir in Major League Soccer (MLS), but not in the way fans had hoped. In a recent episode of "The Cooligans" podcast, hosts Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros delved into the reasons behind Messi's struggles to make an impact in the league and how the league's own rules might be to blame.
Polanco doesn't mince words: "Lionel Messi is wasting his time playing for Inter Miami, and it's the MLS' fault." He points to the recent 3-3 draw between San Jose and Inter Miami as a symptom of larger issues. Despite the presence of Messi and other global stars like Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, Miami's defense is "barely defending," ruining what could have been the most dominant MLS team in history.
"Whatever style and tactics that Javier Mascherano has in place for this team...defending just has not been a priority," Polanco said.
But why is that? Guerreros explains that the MLS's strict roster and salary-cap policies are stymying Miami's ambition and ultimately the league's own growth. "Would [Miami owner] Jorge Mas have a better defensive team if he was able to?" he asked. "Without a doubt."
According to Guerreros, the crux of the problem is that when you have someone like Messi for three years, those rules are hindering you. "Apple's paying for it, the rest of the owners are paying Messi's salary. Everyone is putting in a little bit to keep this guy here, and you can't surround him with a good enough team to not look like this defensively," he said.
For fans and league officials hoping Messi would transform MLS overnight, it's a sobering reality check. "You are hindering your own success," Guerreros warned, urging for change. If MLS wants to shine globally, it needs to let stars like Messi win on the field – not just on the marquee.
To stay up-to-date with the latest news and analysis on Lionel Messi and the state of MLS, subscribe to "The Cooligans" podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
