According to Hollywood actor Owen Wilson, Lionel Messi has had a bigger impact on American soccer than Pele.
The most recent famous person to compare Pele’s epic time with the New York Cosmos in 1975 to Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami is actor and LAFC supporter Owen Wilson.
The “Zoolander” star believes Messi has had more of an impact on American soccer than the legendary Brazilian player did back in the day.
Wilson pondered on his youth on Sunday night, remembering how “huge” it was when Pelé played for the Cosmos. He said, “It feels like that again with Messi, maybe even bigger.”
Similar to Pele, Messi’s decision to sign with Miami shocked the world and has led to an unprecedented amount of interest in the Dolphins.
When Pele first joined the New York Cosmos in 1975, the team’s fan base exploded, necessitating a move to a bigger stadium.
The Miami Dolphins’ Instagram following increased by 11 million after Lionel Messi joined the team, catapulting them to the fourth-most popular position among American sports teams.
Wilson said, “I think it’s already doing it for the MLS.” He was making a reference to Messi’s impact on the MLS. There is a tangible energy here.
I used to go to all the games with a friend of mine who lived in Dallas. really the entire country. Now, my entire family is addicted to it.
Celebrities like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, DJ Khaled, Prince Harry, and many more have increased their attendance at games with Messi on the team ever since Miami signed him.
Fans have flocked to stadiums and signed up for Apple TV to watch the 36-year-old World Cup winner play after Miami’s remarkable run to the Leagues Cup.
Miami will now concentrate on the challenging mountain they must climb to participate in this year’s MLS postseason.
Due to the horrible play that afflicted Miami throughout the season before Messi and several other players joined the team recently, the team is currently among the league’s bottom-dwellers.
Miami is ranked 14th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 7-4-14 and only 25 points after 25 games. With 25, they are slightly ahead of Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC for third-worst in the league.
