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The 2024 Major League Soccer season begins Wednesday night, and all eyes are on Lionel Messi and his first full season with Inter Miami.
Messi will play against Real Salt Lake on the road earlier this year, and while the general consensus is that he is a good player for MLS, there are some who are not big fans.
League commissioner Don Garber believes there’s too much attention on Messi, especially from the media.
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![Lionel Messi celebrates](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/1200/675/Lionel-Messi3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi celebrates a goal against the Philadelphia Union during the first half of the League Cup soccer semifinal on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Chris Zagora)
“It’s easy and somewhat lazy for a reporter to just write about Messi. It’s like writing about Taylor Swift,” he told Sports Business Journal. “There’s a lot here that I think people need to be aware of.”
Gerber’s comments come at a time when there is intense focus on MLS, especially given the deal with Apple, a 10-year, $2.5 billion partnership to offer MLS season passes on Apple TV.
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One of the main reasons for Apple’s investment is the addition of Messi and other famous teammates, including Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
They won the 2023 Leagues Cup on August 19 last year and are expected to be one of the best teams in MLS this season.
![Lionel Messi corrals Toronto](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/09/1200/675/Lionel-Messi3.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Inter Miami’s No. 10 Lionel Messi controls the ball during the first half of the match between Toronto FC and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on September 20, 2023. (Carmen Mandert/Getty Images)
But it’s also true that league commissioners want to cover other great players and teams in the league.
However, Gerber’s comparison between Messi and Swift is interesting. He apparently talked about how it was reported in the NFL last season that Swift was dating Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce for another Super Bowl win. is mentioned.
Indeed, like Swift, Messi is one of the most recognizable faces around the world and anything involving him will make headlines.
![Lionel Messi gets the ball](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/09/1200/675/d38ea94d-Lionel-Messi.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (right) shoots the ball past Toronto FC defender Kobe Franklin during the first half of an MLS soccer match on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. take away. (AP Photo/Wilfried Lee)
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But for soccer, Messi is king, and for the millions of soccer fans who tune in to watch him all season long at Inter Miami, coverage of one of the greatest players to ever lace up his shoes is a must-have. .
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