Lionel Messi ends ‘retirement league’ talk in MLS as USMNT star & Inter Miami rival Tim Parker welcomes change of tune in ‘old guys’ discussion

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi decided to go chasing the American dream in 2023 after reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. He is not the first big name to have headed for the States – with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham among those to have made a similar move – but he has raised the bar when it comes to players joining MLS ranks while still in their prime.

U.S. international Parker, who plies his trade for St. Louis City SC, considers that to be a good thing for all concerned, with tiresome debates being brought to a close. The veteran defender has told FOX News Digital: “I think Messi coming over is obviously the biggest one, biggest name. He’s still playing for Argentina. At first, people used to think when old guys would come over here, it was a retirement league, this and that. But he’s still playing for Argentina, he’s still scoring goals on the international stage. Yes, he’s still scoring goals in MLS, but it’s not like he’s not doing it against the best in the world on other stages as well. So I think we have to really rationalise that thought process of guys coming over here as a ‘retirement league’ because that’s just not the way it is anymore.”

Parker and St. Louis will be crossing paths with Messi in 2024, as they are due at DRV PNK Stadium on June 1, and nobody in MLS is underestimating the size of the challenge that a star-studded Herons squad now poses. Parker added on facing all-time greats: “It will definitely be a tall task, but it’s something that requires focus for 90-plus minutes. I think that’s one of the biggest things when you play against the best player ever, you can’t have a moment of lapses because he’ll be able to take advantage of those. And with his supporting cast, they can do the same thing. With [Luis] Suarez, [Sergio] Busquets, [Jordi] Alba, all those guys they have at that club right now, it’s going to require a full-team effort of focus.”

Messi has helped to raise the profile of MLS, with a global audience being pulled towards the game in America, and Inter Miami are currently taking in a historic international pre-season tour that could help to open doors for domestic rivals in the future.