Former USA international Alexi Lalas has issued one point of criticism for Lionel Messi during his time at Inter Miami.
The Argentine superstar joined the Herons last summer in a deal that has since transformed MLS and soccer in America for the better, with Messi and Inter Miami becoming the hottest ticket in town and attracting new fans to the sport.
Sitting top of the Supporters’ Shield standings, Messi’s form this season with the Florida franchise has been sensational, with the 36-year-old now back to his best after suffering a hamstring injury in March that kept the forward out for a month.
Yet despite all the glitz and glamour, Lalas has one piece of criticism aimed towards Messi and Inter Miami.
Lalas accuses MLS and of over-hyping Messi’s Inter Miami goals
Speaking on the State of the Union podcast, the former USA international suggested that Messi’s goals for Inter Miami are being over-hyped by supporters and the league, though Lalas admits that the forward’s consistency is making the Herons a must-watch team for fans.
Lalas said: “He is incredible, and this was such an interesting game because the goals that we have now started to associate him with MLS, we’ve been doing it for years with Barcelona and Argentina, we’re associating with these magical moments.
“And yet both of these goals were nothing. If it wasn’t Messi, we’d be like, yeah, okay, whatever, he just scored a penalty and then a broken play that he did finish off. But, the greatness is in that Messi is doing this and he’s doing it consistently and for this team in pink, each and every time they go out, they’re must-see TV.
“And more often than not, they are delivering. And individually, when it comes to Messi right now, he is on a torrid pace and if he were to keep this up, we would see a historic production.”
MLS know hyping up Messi is helping promote the league
With Inter Miami quickly becoming the most followed MLS team on social media and the league itself seeing a huge increase in Apple TV subscriptions to watch the games, it’s easy to see why over-hyping Messi is now a regular thing.
The Argentine international is arguably the most famous athlete on the planet and still at the peak of his powers at Inter Miami, a mix that MLS are looking to exploit and then some whilst Messi is still here.
Indeed, whilst Lalas does have a point over certain Messi moments being over-hyped for no real reason, MLS know they have a golden goose on their hands in the 36-year-old, and the league will grow as a result of pushing his name forward.