Lionel Scaloni, World Cup-winning coach with Argentina, sparked the debate by claiming that Major League Soccer (MLS) is already on par with Liga MX. The strategist praised the growth of soccer in the United States and made it clear that today he sees almost no differences between the two competitions.
His statements come in the context of the event “A New AFA Era”, held in Miami, where the Argentine coach analyzed the soccer scene in North America. Scaloni used the Leagues Cup as an example, a tournament in which MLS teams have dominated the last editions, leaving Mexican clubs out even before the semifinals.
Scaloni praises MLS and criticizes Liga MX
During a press conference, Scaloni was blunt when talking about the current level of soccer in the United States:
The MLS has become very similar to the Mexican league, they play against each other and there are almost no differences. They are two powerful leagues, but MLS is going up
The coach not only valued the sporting growth, but also the media impact and the ability to attract top talent. The presence of figures such as Lionel Messi or Sergio Busquets has raised the profile of the American league and this, according to Scaloni, is already reflected in the performance on the field.
Does it matter where the players called up to the Argentina national team play?
When asked if the league in which his players play influences his decision, Scaloni was clear that talent and performance are more important than the badge on their shirts.
What matters most to us is performance. It doesn’t matter much where they play. If they are in strong leagues, better, but both MLS and Liga MX are competitive leagues
In the last FIFA Date, the Argentine national team called up two MLS players, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, while no Liga MX players were considered.
With MLS winning the last Leagues Cup and teams raising their level year after year, Liga MX’s traditional dominance in the region is beginning to be threatened. What once seemed like a clear difference is now an increasingly even rivalry.
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