For Mario Kempes, the move to the United States can help Lionel Messi win a new World Cup. The Argentinian is convinced that he made the right career choice.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi bid farewell to European football in the summer of 2023, after memorable stints at FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. He chose to pursue the American dream, with David Beckham and the Inter Miami board luring him to Florida. Messi suffered from injury in the United States, but he has more glory under his belt – he inspired a League Cup triumph – and is seen as playing at a level that will prevent him from being pushed to the limit at the age of 36.
Kempes, who won the World Cup in 1978 and saw Messi emulate those feats at Qatar 2022, told Infobae why a move to America can help prolong the most prestigious careers: “I can’t recommend anything, he’s older and knows what he’s doing. I think he is right to come and play in the United States – here he will be much calmer, he will have more time to play than in Europe, which is more complicated, and maybe he will be able to participate in the other World Cup. But the preparation will be totally different because of the adrenaline that we can have in Europe, even if here the league will bring more and more players from powerful divisions“.
Messi’s presence in MLS is expected to attract other top talents to the United States, such as Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez, who have already joined him in Miami. He is currently preparing for the 2024 season, with friendlies against clubs like Newell’s Old Boys and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
