Is Lionel Messi the greatest soccer player in MLS history?
Yahoo Sports contributors Christian Polanco is joined by MLS analyst Matt Doyle who discuss Lionel Messi’s impressive season with Inter Miami and debate if this is the greatest individual season in MLS history. Hear the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Lionel Messi and his season, because he wins the Golden Boot.
It was an international break, and he did both.
He played for his MLS team and for his country.
He has one of the greatest seasons in MLS history, where we have, uh, how many 48 goal contributions.
So I'll put it to you.
Is this the greatest individual season that you've seen in MLS?
Yeah, Carlos Vela had 49 goal contributions in 2019, which is still the record, but he played 56 more games than Messi did.
Messi beat Vela on goals per 90 and assists per 90.
He also had more non-penalty goals.
Look, Messi is still the second-best player in the world, maybe still the best.
He's doing to MLS what I think everybody thought he would do to MLS.
Everybody thought he would do to MLS.
So how does he have a game like the game against Nashville, where he just looks completely unstoppable?
I mean, the first goal was just one of those like, uh, who was it that crossed in front of him trying to stop the shot, and it's like a joke.
It's like you're not even close.
It's so strange.
He's whatever, 10, 12 years older than some of the defenders he's on, and they seem lost.
And it weirdly goes from game to game.
At the Leagues Cup final, he's like, 'O.
Vargas is like, bro, you're done.
You're not doing anything today.'
Bro, you're done.
You're not doing anything today.
And then the next game against Seattle in the regular season is like a completely different team.
Right.
It's a completely different team.
So I don't know, is it Messi having a good game one day and a bad game another, or is it the rest of Inter Miami?
Because we know how their defending is, and sometimes it can be wildly erratic.
So I think the rest of Inter Miami is the bigger variable.
The first half of that Nashville game this past weekend.
Miami could have been down 4-0.
It was like they got their ass kicked.
It was really, really bad, and the second half was just like 180 degrees and Messi went to a different level.
Nashville is a really good team and they had no chance against Miami in that second half.
A little bit terrifying.
I gotta tell you, I'm picking Miami to win MLS.
Cup because it's like a single game elimination.
I think they'll get past the first round.
I'm worried about them in those single game elimination rounds.