Lionel Messi tells MLS to change rule that would allow ‘freedom’ for clubs to help develop football in the United States

Lionel Messi has called on Major League Soccer (MLS) to change its strict transfer rules, suggesting that clubs should have more freedom to bring in more players without limitations. The Inter Miami captain believes that relaxing these restrictions would allow ‘more important players’ to join the league and help accelerate the growth of football in the United States.

MLS clubs face signing restrictions through roster rules, including the Designated Player rule and salary cap limits. The DP rule allows a club to sign up to three players whose salaries exceed the maximum cap, which permitted Inter Miami to sign a player like Lionel Messi in 2023.

Messi recently sat down for an interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas. In the interview, Messi was asked whether football could become popular in America like other sports, to which he responded:

"Every team should have the opportunity to bring in players and sign whoever each team wants without limitations or rules for players to bring them in. I don’t think that today all teams in the United States, all clubs, have the power to do that, and I think that if they were given the freedom, many more important players would come and help the growth of the United States. Everything I went through and everything I did to achieve that — it was the dream of my life. And it all came to mind, everything I went through to get there — my family, my people, and Argentina."

Lionel Messi’s move to the MLS has obviously increased the league’s visibility and standings. His presence has also attracted some European superstars like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Thomas Muller, and Son Heung-min.

“The decision was easy” – Lionel Messi on renewing his contract with Inter Miami

Lionel Messi recently put pen to paper on a new deal with Inter Miami, extending his stay at the club to 2028. However, before he signed a contract extension, speculation was rife that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner could return to Europe or his home country to close the curtain on his illustrious career. When asked if it was a difficult decision to sign a new contract with Inter Miami, Messi said:

“Honestly, it wasn’t. I’ve always said that I base my decision on how I feel day-to-day and how I feel physically and mentally to continue playing and to continue being part of this club. And honestly, I felt really good during the year. I’m happy living in Miami, as is my family, and honestly, the decision was easy.”

Messi ended the 2025 regular MLS season as the top scorer (29 goals), winning the MLS Golden Boot award for the first time.