'Unrepeatable' Lionel Messi's impact on MLS lauded by Javier Mascherano as Inter Miami boss throws onus on league to 'continue advancing'

Messi has done incredible work with Miami since his arrival in MLS. The iconic World Cup winner has 63 goal involvements in 48 games and has brought plenty of eyes to a league that has been growing in profile across the last 20 years.

MLS has been steadily expanding since the arrival of David Beckham at LA Galaxy and has seen multiple top stars - such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa, and Thierry Henry - attempt to raise the profile of the league. Messi has taken it to new heights, however, as evidenced by the fact that Chicago Fire set an attendance record on Sunday when they hosted Messi's Miami at Soldier Field. More than 62,000 fans were in attendance for the 0-0 draw and clubs are now considering moving fixtures to bigger venues when the Herons are visiting, per ESPN.

Mascherano told reporters, after Messi hit the bar twice in the stalemate: "In the summer, Messi will have been here for two years, and I think he's changing how the world sees MLS in one way or another. There's no doubt about that. In the end, we're talking about a player who's capable of achieving all of that, of giving maximum visibility to a league like this.

"We saw it today, and it's one of the many examples of everything he generates. The people came to see him, that's the reality."

Mascherano added: "Now, MLS has the responsibility to continue advancing. It's made progress, but it's necessary to continue supporting the fact that I'm here to continue developing soccer in this country. He's a unique, unrepeatable player. Everywhere he's been, he's marked a before and after."

Miami face early MLS Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew on Saturday. Mascherano's side are fourth, three points behind with a game in hand.