Since the Argentine’s arrival, the league has already undergone significant upheaval, but what can the people in charge do to seize the moment?

The 2023 Major League Soccer season will always be closely associated with it, regardless of how long it is in the future—10, 20, 50, or 100 years. It’s a year that will always hold particular meaning for the Major League Soccer (MLS) and be remembered as a turning point in the history of American soccer. The decision made by Lionel Messi, the Lionel Messi, to play for Major League Soccer in 2023 will have an impact on everything that occurs in the future.

But now the question is how that rippling effect will manifest itself. To what extent will it extend? To what extent will Messi’s presence disrupt the league? When it’s all over and Messi decides to retire, how much of the league will have changed from the one he joined?

Everyone is curious about that as the offseason approaches, and it will be important for the league to find out as they try to take advantage of Messi-mania. However, how are they able to accomplish that?

Messi-craze

Messi significantly broke many of the league’s rules when he signed with Inter Miami. In other cases, however, even if the player in question was the most well-known to date, it was a well-known tale to everyone who has watched the league for the previous ten years.

Although Targeted Allocation Money has greatly aided in roster filling, the Major League Soccer (MLS) still has a wage ceiling and constraints on designated players. When it comes to filling up the back half of MLS rosters, there are still a ton of restrictions that nobody except the ardent supporters of this league will ever truly comprehend.

We are currently in a similar position to when Messi’s boss at Inter Miami, David Beckham, altered the league by joining LA Galaxy. Though Messi has ensured that interest in the league has never been higher, players from all over the world are vying for their own chances to play with or against the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in the United States. Beckham made MLS a popular destination for some of the biggest stars in the game.

Don Garber, the commissioner of MLS, commented, “The significance of his decision to join MLS cannot be overstated.” “He participates in our league. We’re no longer just a footnote in the global sports narrative; we’re now one of the biggest storylines globally and most definitely this summer. Since the greatest player to ever play the sport is here and excelling, all eyes are on Major League Soccer.”

Since Messi’s arrival, a number of household names have been associated in the league, including Luka Modric, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Hirving Lozano, Alexandre Lacazette, and Luis Suarez. They won’t be the last. There will undoubtedly be a surge in interest throughout the winter transfer window and into the summer, as players may decide to move after competing in the Copa America or the European Championship.

However, teams will have to work within the salary cap framework of the league in order to recruit those individuals. But it’s still unclear exactly what that will entail as the offseason approaches.

Owners split up

You must realize that the MLS was founded on a history of failure in order to comprehend why the league is currently structured the way it is. All previous leagues had failed, usually because there were no expenditure restrictions. Teams threw money at a sport that was not yet ready, spending themselves to death in the process. Less than 30 years after its founding, MLS is still unwilling to allow it to occur.

The other thing you need to know about the league is that its owners are usually split into two groups. The desire to compete with the greatest teams in the world drives one to push the envelope, spend lavishly, and pursue these goals. The other, who is unwilling to truly push the boundaries when it comes to spending, prefers stable progress.

Its division has previously caused problems. Debates about salary expenditures, transfer fees, and even charter travel have taken place, and the largest teams in the league have been repeatedly exposed for manipulating the rules to suit their own goals. Even while some owners have high aspirations, there has always been a constituency that is content with the league’s current level of competition.

Because of this, teams in every location have a legitimate chance of competing at the top of the league, which has benefited MLS much since its founding. In this division, there are no perennially dominant super-clubs like Bayern Munich or Manchester City. FC Cincinnati had the best regular-season record in 2023—not because they spent a lot, but rather because they spent wisely—compared to being the poorest team in the league two years prior.

Practically speaking, the league is still in its infancy, but now that Messi is participating, it appears that it is time to ride this bike as far as possible. Relaxing the regulations to give clubs more latitude is the first step towards achieving this.

Not a single fourth DP arriving

Prior to the MLS Cup final, Garber made it very clear in his State of the League speech that the Designated Player number would not be changing, regardless of any future adjustments. That does not imply, however, that changes to the roster’s composition will not be made.

“There will be announcements coming out of our board meeting, which is next week, and we’ll have press availability with a number of exciting things that we’re doing,” Garber stated. “We don’t plan to add a fourth DP.” “We have some exciting news to share with you all next week, but it needs to be approved by the group of owners first. A vote for a fourth DP is not on the schedule.”

Which “exciting” changes are they, then? Even in the absence of a DP number change, there may be some significant choices made during the MLS Board of Governors meetings, according to reports and speculations.

Will the pay cap be significantly increased, and if so, how will it change? Will clubs receive more TAM so they have more options in the present configuration? Will the league come up with any more creative acronyms to add, which will just make it possible for teams to sign better players? We’ll quickly learn the truth.

Saudi shadow

Everything that occurs in the Major League Soccer (MLS) these days is instantly compared to what is happening in the Saudi Pro League. While Messi became the GOAT for the MLS in 2023, Saudi Arabia signed Cristiano Ronaldo a few months earlier. Saudi Pro League clubs went all out to capitalize on the arrival of a legend of the modern game, signing several of the biggest names in the world to make sure that Ronaldo wouldn’t be the only star lighting up the Middle East, while MLS has responded to that signing with a more cautious approach.

Many have been waiting for an MLS answer ever since the spending frenzy that brought players to the Pro League, including Neymar, Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Roberto Firmino. However, in actuality, MLS is unable and unwilling to react to that level of spending.

According to USA Today’s Garber, “I think any emerging league needs to make whatever decisions make sense for them to try to be part of the global conversation,” which is exactly what the Saudis have done. “I’ve seen it a lot in the past, and it has worked in a few of those instances. It hasn’t succeeded in the instance of China and the Chinese League. The test of whether or not their plan worked will come with time.

It indicates that the challenger leagues are making a significant message that the globe is more than simply the major leagues in Europe and that we are a part of it. Thus, I’m wishing for their prosperity. We don’t feel worried or terrified of it.

striking with a hot iron

It’s obvious that adjustments are required, even though MLS teams would not spend as much as Saudi Arabian teams would in order to compete with the Messi acquisition. And as it tries to take advantage of the current surge in interest in soccer, the league appears to be aware of that.

Naturally, star power is the initial step in that process. Fans adore celebrities, and nothing captures their attention quite like a well-known face. Of course, Messi is the highlight player, but other players, such as Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, will probably want to play alongside or against the Argentine sensation.

Undoubtedly, Inter Miami will be seeking to bolster their lineup with further star power. The club is going to have one of its most intriguing offseasons in a long time as they try to fit Messi, Alba, and Busquets in. Suarez appears to be one of those pieces, bringing him back to his closest buddy in the game, Messi, but beyond that, what other options will they have?

If Beckham and his co-owners had their way, Miami would recruit a real All-Star squad capable of competing with the best in the European league. We’ll have to wait and see what latitude the new regulations provide them in order to assemble their team because it’s not up to them.

But it’s more than simply star power. The quality of MLS as a whole needs to rise. Entire rosters must be strengthened, adding more talent to every team from the top to the bottom. By doing that, MLS teams will be able to compete in the area as Liga MX battles rage on. Additionally, it will present MLS clubs with an opportunity to compete in the Club World Cup against the greatest teams in South America and Europe.

Looking ahead to 2024, the league has a ton of advantages: With Messi as the face of it all, there were packed stadiums and a large TV deal. But if MLS wants to keep expanding both domestically and internationally, the real caliber of play must improve significantly. Supporters must be persuaded that the product being used on the field is on par with, if not better than, what they can see on European television.

Of course, it’s easier said than done, but financial support is always a good place to start. With more money coming into the league thanks to Messi’s arrival, it’s safe to say that the league is in a better position than ever before to finally blast past the failures of the past and into a new era. Loosening restrictions and increasing spending will almost certainly result in a better product.

The road map

Of course, Messi is only a small piece of a larger scheme. He plays a huge, huge part, of course, but there are a ton of other factors that might propel American soccer to new heights.

The World Cup in 2026 will undoubtedly create millions of new fans if 1994 is any indication. The competition will take place that summer. Prior to then, the Copa America will take place the following summer, serving as a sort of prelude to the World Cup. The women’s game appears to be growing as well; a bid has been made to return the Women’s World Cup to the United States in 2027.

The idea is that Messi is really a single component of a bigger picture. His Miami contract expires in 2025, so it’s possible he won’t even live to see that puzzle finished.

“I wouldn’t say that Lionel Messi’s departure from MLS is the timing,” Garber remarked.”The main question is: What do we want to be in 2027? The entire globe will be watching us [at the 2026 globe Cup], and the American soccer market will be exposed to the worldwide football and soccer community. What kind of goods do we offer? The athletes and the field experience are only two parts of that offering. Everything is centered around them, including the competition’s structure and rules. An evaluation procedure is necessary for each of those items.

“Alright, so maybe 2025 isn’t the deadline after all. Hopefully, Lionel decides to stay past that date. Making the league what we want it to be in 2027 is our plan.

That will be three years away in a few weeks. Though it may seem far off, it will arrive sooner than you think. How will MLS appear then? When compared to the league we see now, will it even be identifiable?

Perhaps, perhaps not, but change is in the air as MLS tries to capitalize on Messi’s arrival and ride that wave into a new era.