Can Lionel Messi complete what Pelé started in U.S. club football?
Fifty years ago, a legend left Santos to join U.S. club football — Pelé, widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time and the king of football. Half a century later, another South American great, Lionel Messi, is taking American club football to new heights.
In 1975, Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The club introduced him in a chaotic press conference, and spokesman John O’Reilly later remarked, “We had many superstars in the U.S., but none reached Pelé’s level. Everyone wanted to touch him, shake his hand, or take a photo with him.”
Though past his prime, Pelé’s presence sparked widespread interest in football across the United States, drawing fans back to the sport they had dubbed “soccer.”
On June 15, 1975, Pelé made his debut against the Dallas Tornado, scoring in a 2-2 draw and becoming the only player to have won three World Cups at the time. Following his lead, stars like Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Johan Cruyff, Bobby Moore, George Best, and Gordon Banks joined the NASL in the following years.
Pelé played his final competitive match on August 28, 1977, defeating the Seattle Sounders 2-1 and securing the Cosmos’ second Soccer Bowl title. He ended his career with an exhibition match between Cosmos and Santos on October 1, scoring from a 30-yard free kick for Cosmos in the first half. Even the rain during the second half seemed symbolic, prompting a Brazilian newspaper to write, “Even the sky is crying.”
Seven years later, the Cosmos folded, and with them, the NASL ceased to exist due to early 1980s economic struggles and disputes with player unions. The United States had no top-flight league until it promised a professional league while hosting the 1994 World Cup, leading to the launch of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996 with ten teams.
Although stars like David Beckham, Kaká, Andrea Pirlo, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, and David Villa joined MLS, none matched Pelé’s transformative influence. That changed with Messi. His arrival brought U.S. club football back into global focus.
Seven-year-old Inter Miami rose to prominence immediately after signing Messi. Initially, the attention was all media hype, but his magic on the pitch soon made the club a serious contender, earning three trophies in quick succession, culminating in the MLS Cup.
Messi’s impact extended beyond Miami. His performances brought international recognition to MLS, which had previously remained in the shadows of global football. Barcelona, unable to financially retain their all-time top scorer after Messi’s two difficult years at PSG, watched him seek a new challenge, ultimately joining Inter Miami mid-2023.
Many questioned why Messi would choose a relatively unknown club over Al-Hilal’s massive offer. Inter Miami had never won a title, their squad was weak, and they had no permanent coach. Yet Messi’s presence changed everything. Ticket prices skyrocketed from $29 to $329, and his potential debut tickets sold for up to $110,000. Inter Miami’s social media followers surged from 1 million to 8 million even before his debut.
Messi made an immediate impact, scoring in his first match to secure victory. His influence attracted other stars to MLS: former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez, Argentine World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul, Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller, and Tottenham’s former captain Son Heung-min.
Under Messi, Inter Miami transformed. He led the team to the League Cup, becoming the tournament’s top scorer with ten goals and winning the best player award. In subsequent seasons, he helped the team achieve a record 74 points, surpassing New England Revolution’s 73, and secured the Supporters’ Shield, ensuring qualification for the Club World Cup.
Even though Miami exited the playoffs early, Messi’s popularity soared. Fans clamored for his jersey, including opposing players and referees, while stadium attendance and MLS viewership records were broken.
In the current season, Messi fulfilled another dream by winning the MLS Cup, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the final. This marked his 47th career trophy, 44 at the senior level. He became the first MLS player to win back-to-back MVP awards. In the regular season, he scored 29 goals in 28 matches, adding 19 assists, maintaining an unmatched contribution across multiple seasons.
Through Messi, U.S. club football has undergone a renaissance, reminiscent of Pelé’s impact 50 years ago. With his contract running until 2028, Messi may finally bring to fruition the challenge Pelé once began: establishing American football among the world’s elite.
