- No up and down in American soccer
- Always a thrilling fight to the finish
- Interest is building across the world
GOALNo promotion or relegation: MLS rival of Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi explains why it’s ‘good to be different’ as play-offs dominate in the United States
GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The top tier of American soccer is expanding its reach around the world, with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi aiding that cause following his stunning move to Florida in 2023. He is pulling in A-list guests desperate to catch a glimpse of him in the flesh, while viewers are tuning in from every corner of the planet.
GettyWHAT RUSSELL SAID
Messi is now embracing that structure, while ex-Scotland international Russell has been on the books at Sporting Kansas City since 2018. He has told the Offside with Taylor Twellman podcast of what makes MLS special: “People can have their opinions of the promotion, relegation, all that kind of stuff. And then... it doesn't really matter what you do in the regular season. It really doesn't. As soon as as that time hits for play-offs, that's when it counts. And yes, those leagues I played in there's play-offs as well, but there's also the automatic promotion and relegation as well. So this league is just solely focused on post-season, that's it, end of the season. I don't know. I probably think it is a good thing. It's different from everywhere else. It's good to be different. I mean, how many teams have we seen win the Supporters Shield with record points and then you're gone first round of the play-offs. And that is probably what makes it so unique as well. Everyone knows that it's play-offs and it's just whoever's the best team through that, whoever does whatever it takes to win, who's got what it takes to win as well. There can only be one winner. You've got 29 teams trying to do it.”
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