Hopefully, you’ve never experienced a broken-down relationship yourself. It’s beyond repair and the two parties have annexed themselves off one another. The best thing to do is to simply move on. That’s the juncture Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain seem to have found themselves at. Could Major League Soccer offer a refuge for the GOAT? We look at final potential Lionel Messi to MLS franchise destinations.
But first things first, it’s confirmed, he’s leaving PSG.
Atlanta United
If Lionel Messi wants to link up with some of his fellow countrymen, then Atlanta United boasts a good number of Argentinian players calling the Mercedes-Benz Stadium home. That includes Santiago Sosa, Franco Ibarra, and Thiago Almada – a man he won the World Cup with.
Given that Messi has a penchant for winning, Atlanta United built their franchise on doing just that when they won the MLS Cup in their second-ever season of existence.
Inter Miami
Despite having limited experience in Major League Soccer, David Beckham’s franchise was among the potential suitors when Messi announced he wanted to leave Barcelona. While the move didn’t transpire then, Miami still offers a lot for him. Firstly, a decent-sized Spanish community and head coach, Phil Neville speaks the language too. The weather will also suit his preferred idyllic settings, having been commonly spotted on the beach during the offseason.
Los Angeles Galaxy
Amid the turbulent season at LA Galaxy, even the most irate protesting supporter would be excited if Lionel Messi came to play his football at Dignity Health Sports Park. California and Los Angeles are commonly associated with Hispanic influence so could easily make himself at home. The franchise has been at the forefront of glamor transfers having seen David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Robbie Keane all previously turn out at the club.
Galaxy even offers a former Barcelona teammate if Messi wants a familiar face, as he played 26 games with Riqui Puig between 2019 and 2021.
Austin FC
Not scoring enough goals? A Lionel Messi to MLS transfer will sort that out. Eight goals in their opening nine games of 2023 do start to ring some kind of alarm for Austin FC coaching staff. Acquiring a man who doesn’t seem to stop scoring for club and country should offer a suitable remedy. Furthermore, just like the local proximity of Texas, the Austin roster has a lot of Spanish speakers to make Lionel feel at home. Maximiliano Urruti, Emiliano Rigoni, and Sebastián Driussi are all fellow countrymen and there are plenty of other South Americans to help him settle.
New York Red Bulls
Despite the club being rooted at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, the New York Red Bulls franchise offers a shedload of incentives for Lionel Messi. The god-like player could come in and be the change. While he’s not the kind to want all the glory, if he can lift the team to become the totality of successful football it’s a very nice plaudit to have. The formation played by the current head coach isn’t too dissimilar to the shape he’s playing at PSG, so could easily slot into this more challenging role. Of course, living in the Big Apple is also rather appealing for anyone who has lots of cash to spend on luxury items.
