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The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has moved to Florida as a free agent after reaching the end of his contract at Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain. A return to Barcelona or lucrative switch to the Middle East had been speculated on for Messi, but he has decided to chase the American dream.<script type="application/json" data-placement="betting-e2">{"type":"betting-e2","data":{"key":{"mobile":"fb9f812b41240655c161bb3d4ad2cf3f","desktop":"671024543858da3e0dfea5d9450ab1a4"}}}</script>Former Real Madrid and Arsenal star Baptista once did that himself – also in the Sunshine State with Orlando City – meaning that the Brazilian is well placed to pass judgement on what the immediate future has in store for Messi. Will he make MLS one of the best leagues in the world and is he capable of scoring 30-plus goals a season? GOAL put those questions to a man in the know…

‘Without Lionel Messi, you can do nothing’ – Ex-MLS star Julio Baptista explains the challenges facing Inter Miami & their incredible signing

MLS has been home to some superstar performers in the past – from David Beckham to Zlatan Ibrahimovic via Andrea Pirlo and Kaka – but few deals have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/lionel-messi-effect-inter-miami-quadruple-instagram-followers-signing/blte919a5ddae28482c" target="_blank">captured the imagination</a> quite like Inter Miami’s for Messi. Quizzed on whether his arrival will help American soccer to establish a standing among the elite, Baptista – speaking on behalf of <a href="https://www.gamblingzone.com/uk/" target="_blank">Gambling Zone</a> - told GOAL: “The MLS, maybe in the future, can be one of the most important leagues in the world. Now, it is in the process of building. I think players are going to start going there. I think maybe in five years or so, they can become a great competition.”

Raise the game

There has been talk of MLS sides being invited to join the iconic Copa Libertadores tournament, with Baptista seeing benefits there to all concerned. He said of a possible coming together being North and South America: “When this happens, the whole league is getting better. The whole league needs some time. If you look at the English league, how many years it took to create this division to be what it is. At the moment, the English league is the best league in the world, but you need the process. You need time to organise everything.”

Continental drift

Baptista knows <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/wayne-rooney-right-lionel-messi-miracle-worker-not-easy-inter-miami-mls/blta9950e052d30230f" target="_blank">how testing MLS can be</a> from his season at Orlando City back in 2016, but he believes that Messi can settle quickly and help to raise collective standards within an Inter Miami squad that is currently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/sergio-aguero-lionel-messi-cracked-up-screenshot-inter-miami-bottom-mls-eastern-conference/blt0452b95c6a57374f" target="_blank">rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference</a> and without a win in 11. The Brazilian said of that challenge: “Miami is a normal team at the moment. They have welcomed Messi and everything changes. Everything is going to go around Messi. He is one of the best players in the world. They can create an incredible team with Messi. Without Messi, you can do nothing. But if you create a good team, have an incredible coach, then maybe you can do something bigger. But for this, you need to create the base. The base is having a good team, and then have Messi.”

No easy ride

Inevitable questions are being asked of whether Messi – who hit 672 goals during his iconic spell at Barcelona – can <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/david-beckham-explains-why-inter-miami-signed-lionel-messi-transfer-million-messages/blt2b5678fd0dc2cb12 " target="_blank">be a prolific presence for Inter Miami.</a> Baptista said when asked if the 2022 World Cup winner can expect to be a 30-goal-a-season star in the States: “It depends what the coach asks from him. Messi is the kind of player that you need to create around and let him stay comfortable on the pitch. This kind of player, when you don’t have the ball, you want him to stay in one position. When you have the ball and create, have freedom, then you can create movement. This kind of player is different. Messi is different. You can’t block him when you have the ball. This kind of player needs to be allowed to be free and to express himself as a footballer. I think Messi can have an incredible season for Miami.”

Still got it?

Messi was welcomed to Miami by an adoring fan base – one that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-florida-lightning-storm-delays-lionel-messi-inter-miami-unveiling-good-time-message-david-beckham/bltdf3138e903e9dd76 " target="_blank">braved the rain at DRV PNK Stadium</a> – along with club co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas. He said of arriving in America after winning just about every major honour in Europe – with his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/when-lionel-messi-arrive-united-states-inter-miami-debut-first-game-mls/bltd735df4d5b1cea53" target="_blank">debut set to be made in a Leagues Cup clash with Cruz Azul</a> on Friday: “I am very happy to have chosen to come to this city with my family, to have chosen this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it very much. We are going to have a good time and great things are going to happen. Thank you very much, thank you all for this day. I can't wait to start training to compete. I feel the same desire I've always had to compete, to really want to win and to help it [Miami] continue to grow.”

The project

‘Without Lionel Messi, you can do nothing’ – Ex-MLS star Julio Baptista explains the challenges facing Inter Miami & their incredible signing | Goal.com India

Lionel Messi is now an Inter Miami player, but will the Argentine icon star in MLS? Julio Baptista explains the challenges facing the all-time great.

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