While the arrival of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami CF has boosted Major League Soccer viewership to new heights, the U.S. soccer league has a long way to go before its growth can really kick off.
Despite the Messi effect, present-day MLS ticket prices and viewership still lag far behind those of other American professional sports leagues.
According to sports consultant Lee Berke, the MLS “needs more Messi’s” to reach the same cultural relevance as NFL and the NBA.
Though the Argentian’s placement in Miami has done undeniable wonders for the league, it seems it may take a village of global soccer superstars for the MLS to start achieving its goals.
