In partnership with Media City Qatar. After winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Lionel Messi has begun a new challenge in the MLS.
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00:00 He's one of the greatest players of all time and he's won it all in Europe and on the international stage
00:05 But time is up in France for Lionel Messi as he heads stateside for a new challenge in the MLS
00:11 Hello there and welcome to football now from Doha now
00:19 Lionel Messi is the type of player that only comes around once in a generation
00:22 In fact, many would even argue that he is the greatest player of all time and even at 36 years old
00:29 He still has that ability that would make any club in the world desperate for his signature
00:34 So when after just a couple of seasons, he announced that he would be leaving PSG in France
00:38 There was no shortage of interest
00:40 In fact, it became one of these stories of the summer would he be returning to his boyhood club Barcelona or even moving to Saudi?
00:47 Arabia in the end Messi opted for the MLS the expansion side into Miami in a move that has captivated the US audience
00:55 We'll take a look at how he's getting on shortly
00:57 But first let's remind ourselves why he's regarded as one of the best ever in the game to do it
01:02 born in Rosario
01:04 Argentina Messi began playing football for local team Newell's old boys and signs of greatness were there early on as he scored almost
01:11 500 goals in six seasons
01:13 His family moved to Spain after a trial at Barcelona's La Masia Academy in the year
01:18 2000 and he made his first team debut at just 16 years old by 18
01:23 He was a regular starter learning from the likes of Ronaldinho who recognized Messi's potential very early on in their playing days together
01:30 One of the most significant moments in Messi's career was the arrival of Pep Guardiola as Barcelona's first team coach who not only took the forwards
01:38 Game to new levels, but also built one of the best teams in football history around him
01:43 They won 14 trophies in four seasons together before Pep left for Bayern
01:47 But Messi success continued the era post pep brought another six La Liga titles as well as another Champions League
01:54 Whilst he was part of one of the most successful attacking forces of all time the MSN trio alongside Neymar and Luis Suarez
02:02 the three of them scoring a combined
02:04 364 goals providing
02:07 171 assists in just three seasons
02:09 We were very lucky and Barca fans. It was an absolute honor to watch Messi here from the beginning of his career
02:16 Practically at least as a professional
02:18 I mean
02:19 Every season you could kind of see how he became more and more important until he became
02:23 The best in the world and for most of us here at Barcelona the best in the history of football
02:27 You just had to watch him play every single game see what he was capable of doing things that you weren't seeing in any other
02:32 Player not just in Barca, but in the world basically
02:35 Yeah, it is quite some career, isn't it?
02:37 And his time at Barcelona in particular will be remembered for decades to come just a 34 club honors and six Ballon d'Or
02:44 He spent a lot of that time sharing the La Liga stage with another top talent of this generation
02:49 Cristiano Ronaldo who spent nine years at arch rivals Real Madrid and with Ronaldo now at Al Nasa
02:55 There was talk that they could be facing off once again Messi being linked with a move to another top Saudi side
03:01 Al-Hilal that never quite came to fruition
03:03 But it's a rivalry that will live long in the memory and there will always be respect from both sides
03:10 From my point of view it was pure admiration because you get to see every single week watching those two compete against each other
03:17 was something really amazing and
03:20 Yeah, it it actually is sparkled like this sense of admiration for both truly appreciating what they were doing
03:27 Not only for the sport of football but for Barcelona Real Madrid and for the Spanish culture in general
03:32 But all good things must come to an end as Barca's financial issues in
03:37 2021 forced Messi to depart the club that he had been playing for for 23 years in a tearful press conference
03:43 He said his goodbyes and headed for France
03:45 And although he didn't hit the goal-scoring heights that we saw in a Barcelona shirt his time at Paris Saint-Germain will be remembered for what?
03:52 He did on the international stage
03:54 Finally winning the FIFA World Cup for Argentina in 2022 a trophy that had eluded him up until that victory in Qatar
04:02 It was incredible because of course Messi was just missing, you know that trophy that World Cup
04:07 The comparisons with Maradona have been really harsh, especially in Argentina. Also other comparisons with Ronaldo
04:13 They're saying that he wasn't that he wouldn't be the best in the history of football until he got that World Cup
04:17 So finally achieving that what was really incredible here in Catalonia and Barcelona. There's really
04:21 Massive support behind Messi. We all want him to succeed to do the best he can and finally making it there
04:28 You know, it's it's just a proof, you know, or the little extra he needed to show everyone how unique of a player he is
04:35 He's a one-of-a-kind and honestly, it was really special to finally see him lift that World Cup after two years in Paris
04:42 There's no sign of retirement just yet and his new chapter in the MLS is a significant moment for football in
04:47 America the league has somewhat struggled to retain global interest at times
04:52 But a new broadcasting deal with Apple TV is making matches much more accessible to supporters across the world
04:58 So how much of an impact is Messi's move made and will fresh eyes from around the globe tune in?
05:03 I think what Messi's done already is become a national focal point for MLS
05:09 Which they haven't had before really what you don't have is what you have in the NFL where people in
05:14 Alabama are talking about what's happening in Pittsburgh
05:17 Everything's been localized in MLS and Messi puts this on a huge national stage
05:22 I think it does move everything up a notch for MLS and he puts them in the conversation
05:27 You see sports media in America that have ignored soccer
05:31 pretty much all the time apart from World Cups now talking about MLS games or League's Cup games and
05:37 With the World Cup coming to the US in 2026. It's just moving the sport up several notches
05:44 Yeah, the Sun is starting to set on a career that has been nothing short of outstanding
05:49 But hopefully for Messi not without a little bit more success in the USA
05:53 That brings us the end of this week's show do let us know your thoughts at home using the hashtag football now Messi
05:58 And we'll see you next time. Bye for now
06:01 You
06:03 (upbeat music)