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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>All-time great moved to America in 2023</li><li>Made immediate impact on &amp; off the field</li><li>Is rarely put on media duty by the Herons</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Be like Tom Brady & LeBron James! MLS told where they must improve with Lionel Messi as ex-USMNT star highlights surprising flaw

Major League Soccer

CF Montreal

Inter Miami CF

<p><a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lebron-james-serena-williams-times-square-why-lionel-messi-mania-mls-no-surprise-inter-miami-tata-martino/blt90f5919236435f36" target="_blank">Superstars from other major sports in the United States</a> are forever made available to the media, regardless of their status, and front up to the cameras before, during and after high-profile fixtures. That is not the case when it comes to Messi, who has been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/absurd-lionel-messi-barber-story-miami-highlights-how-normal-eight-time-ballon-d-or-winner-is/blte0723cf9124f86f7" target="_blank">kept out of the spotlight at Inter Miami</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-effect-inter-miami-staggering-social-media-numbers-revealed-mls-side-soar-above-nfl-mls-nba-giants/bltc1643196ac903612" target="_blank">the biggest draw in American soccer</a>, but he rarely speaks to the press. MLS pundit Taylor Twellman is “surprised” by that, with there obvious benefits to be found in maximising Messi’s global appeal.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Ex-USMNT star Twellman has told the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9HNTXNO3Tk " target="_blank"><em>Awful Announcing podcast</em></a>: “I wish Apple mandated that Lionel Messi did more. He’s good when he’s available, but I’m a little surprised he’s not been as available as what I think he should be. Listen, the way I’ve always said this, if LeBron James and Tom Brady can give you any interview whenever you want in their field of action — on the field, before, pre-game, whenever it may be — then Lionel Messi has to do that in Major League Soccer.”</p><p>Twellman added on <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/explained-why-lionel-messi-mls-apple-adidas-set-new-transfer-trend-inter-miami-soon-hit-europe-premier-league-la-liga/blt7e18a477be69411d#cs6c3e5fbd66f5e783" target="_blank">MLS and Apple forcing the issue</a>: “I think it may come. I was just a little surprised that we didn’t get as much Lionel Messi in front of the cameras as I thought, or more so, as I hoped we would have.”</p>

WHAT TWELLMAN SAID ABOUT MESSI

<p>Messi has continued to star on the field for Inter Miami, attracting sell-out crowds and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/lionel-messi-no1-inter-miami-superstar-ranked-coolest-above-lebron-james-serena-williams-kim-kardashian/bltdca6f8797dda84cc" target="_blank">A-list guests to every game that he graces</a>, and the Herons are up and running 2024 after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-playing-free-tata-martino-reluctant-discuss-mls-play-offs-inter-miami-one-game/blt39b8ec292ce81606" target="_blank">claiming a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in their season opener</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Be like Tom Brady & LeBron James! MLS told where they must improve with Lionel Messi as ex-USMNT star highlights surprising flaw | Goal.com

MLS has been told where it must improve when it comes to Lionel Messi, with the Argentine needing to become more like Tom Brady and LeBron James.

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