The designated player rule served its purpose. It allowed the league to bring better players to its teams and to use celebrity to create a sort of cachet and credibility, both within the game and with fans. But as the league has changed, it has been slow to adapt to the increase in teams and, more importantly, the increasing cost of doing business in global soccer. The designated player rule isn’t enough for MLS to keep up. If anything. the rules as they stand present very real limitations to the on-field product.
There’s still no official word on Messi joining the team from Inter Miami themselves. What if he joins as just a part owner and not a player? I don’t understand how one of the best players in the world would settle to play for Inter who’s currently ranked last in MLS.
Because he doesn’t really care about winning in MLS. This is about expanding his brand and for him and his family to live in Miami.
He could just move to Miami without joining MLS as a player.
That doesn’t expand his brand and also means he’s giving up a ton of money.
And of course he’d like to win but it’s not like he really cares whether he wins an MLS Cup or CONCACAF Champions League.
There’s no big money in MLS. The highest paid player is making $8.2 million.
https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/lists/mls-players-salary-2023-top-25-highest-paid/
The Miami Herald reported that it would be a “complicated” deal valued between $125 million and $150 million over the length of the contract, which it estimates to be 2½ years in length, with an option year for 2026. The report states it would include salary, bonuses and equity in the team. Both Apple (the MLS broadcast partner) and Adidas (one of the league’s biggest sponsors) were offering profit-sharing agreements on merchandising and subscriptions to MLS Season Pass.
Messi is not just some regular MLS player.
Definitely agree that the DP rule is a hindrance for MLS cups to compete on the global stage (i.e. against LigaMX teams). Not saying it’s not possible (thanks Seattle) but it definitely makes it much more difficult and results in MLS having to bend over backwards to rest teams in CCL.
If the league is ready to compete, they should change the DP rules. Hopefully Leagues Cup exposes the need.
I think they could even leave a DP exception in case another team wants to bring a Messi level player but most teams are already spending $20 million in roster salary. Most of the DPs they bring in aren’t filling seats because of their names they are there to improve the team. let managers improve their team within a budget to the best of their ability without rules to hinder them.
Apparently the deal still isn’t done. Gonna be interesting to see how it shakes out.
You’d think they’d have to screw up pretty bad after Messi himself announced it.
