The 'Messi effect' a dream come true for MLS, says Commissioner Garber

[p]Former England captain David ‌Beckham kicked the domestic league into another gear two decades ‌ago when he signed with LA Galaxy, and Golden ‌Boot contender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] has had his own profound impact three years after signing for the Beckham-owned MLS side.[/p][p]His heroics on the ‌sport's biggest stage, including two last-gasp ⁠assists to get Argentina ‌past England in the semi-final on Wednesday, stand to make him ​an even bigger draw when he returns to his club.[/p][p][b]"None of us in the league understood ​what Messi was when he was playing at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a], other than as fans,"[/b] said MLS Commissioner Don Garber.[/p][p][b]"The ⁠fact that he would ​have a right-footed cross at the last moment — see, I even know what that is — and be able to win a game in front of the world and ‌be in the final, and then take off his Argentina jersey and put on an MLS jersey. I never dreamed that that could happen."[/b][/p][embed guid="e3ba4264-47ba-4ded-abba-c027b1dbdc14" url="https://x.com/OneFootball/status/2077370343673704596?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Garber told Reuters last month that he views the quadrennial showpiece tournament on home soil as a launchpad for a new era in the U.S. league.[/p][p]That growth may be helped by the arrival of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-city/rsHkUNCo/"]Orlando City[/a]'s recently acquired forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griezmann-antoine/OxCa1jdT/"]Antoine Griezmann[/a], the ‌all-time leading scorer for LaLiga club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico Madrid[/a], who ​said the level of competition at MLS is ‌above what it was in years past.[/p][p][b]"The World Cup also helps so all kinds of American kids can enjoy soccer and want to start kicking a ball,"[/b] he said. [b]"Hopefully, we can put on a show ⁠in the stadiums to ⁠make kids want to ‌play soccer."[/b][/p]