Bale explained how Major League Soccer is to Messi

 Bale explained how Major League Soccer is to Messi

Messi and Bale(Getty)

On the day Lionel Messi announced his decision to join Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer, it was like a window into his departure from his old club Barcelona. Barcelona congratulated Messi and said he would be playing in a "comparatively low-pressure" league.

That's true; compared to the top leagues in Europe, the pressure of expectations in the Major League Soccer in the United States is much lower. The major leagues in Europe are less significant compared to Messi's accomplishments in world football. He has achieved almost everything imaginable at the highest level of global football. He has won the World Cup for his country. He is 36 years old now, and it seems that he wants to play the remaining part of his career with less pressure and more enjoyment, and that is evident from his decision.

Messi is not the only one to go to the Major League Soccer. Many big stars of past and present have chosen to end their careers in the league in the United States. Among them is former Welsh forward Gareth Bale. He has given his opinion to BT Sport about the Major League, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur, his former clubs.

Bale made his debut in the Major League with Los Angeles FC in 2022. He had a good first season there. He presented Los Angeles with their first Major League Soccer trophy in their history. BT Sport wanted to know his thoughts on various aspects of the Major League.

The former Welsh star's praise for the Major League is not unwarranted. However, he has made some comments that may diminish the league. What Bale said is, "This league is very laid-back." He believes that the environment of the league in the United States is more relaxed compared to many football leagues around the world. He explained the concept of this "laid-back" league by saying, "If you lose a match with Real Madrid, it feels like you've lost the whole world. The world has ended. You have to leave in a certain way. You return home with pressure. It affects your mood. But losing in the United States is seen as very normal. There is no major consequence. There is nothing like a disaster in the Major League."

But did this comment make the Major League seem somewhat insignificant to Bale? There may not be any reaction to this, but it's true that what Bale said is not a great advertisement for the Major League Soccer in the United States.

This criticism of the Major League has been heard before. There is no subject of disagreement here. In a season, no matter how poorly a team plays or loses one game after another, nothing significant happens after the loss. The points in the league table may be affected, but the risk of dropping down to the lower tier and being relegated to the lower division is never there for the club. Relegation or promotion exists in almost all football leagues in the world.

In most countries, the two teams at the very bottom of the league table are relegated to the lower division. A team rises from the lower division to the highest level, and that's how the leagues are not just about the trophy; it's also a battle for position. The English Premier League, La Liga in Spain, the Bundesliga—everywhere, the fight for the top is like a title race. The Major League Soccer, on the other hand, lacks that intensity. It is more of an entertainment league than a competitive one.

So, the Major League Soccer has its strengths and weaknesses, and it's understandable why players like Messi and Bale are drawn to it.