Messi’s injury: they estimate a negative impact on the million-dollar business of the MLS

To make matters worse, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup before Nashville; later in the revenge with the 3 to 1 victory of Inter Miami, the “Tata” Martino revealed that Messi’s departure at the beginning of the second half was due to a leg injury.

This injury not only caused his disaffection with the Argentine team, which must play two friendlies in the United States, but, almost certainly, will not allow him to be present in the next two MLS dates, first in DC and then in the New York Red Bulls.

However, the “Flea” could also be left out of the match at the Inter stadium, next March 30 NRTE THE New York City FC; while the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals is just a few days later.

Then will come the Copa América and, again, Lionel Messi, He must be absent from American domestic soccer.

This is probably worse news for the Major League Soccer as a whole. For starters, Messi will miss what could be his team’s only trips to cities with the two largest concentrations of international journalists in the United States.

Although there will undoubtedly be more people to greet Messi at venues other than Audi Field or Red Bull Arena, it will be difficult to beat the global media exposure that those two visits could have brought.

In addition, the injury will also limit his live appearances on AppleTV, as the league’s global streaming partner owns the rights to all MLS regular season and playoff games, as well as the League Cup; but not of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Saturday’s game in DC is the start of a weekend in which the 14 games of the MLS They are available for free versus the paid content of the MLS Season Pass, Forbes reported. Obviously, Messi’s absence will surely have a negative impact on the event aimed at gaining subscribers.

Messi’s agreement with Inter Miami includes a contract with AppleTV, with a percentage of profits from subscription to the Season Pass service. However, Messi’s priority, in his role as an Inter player, is always trying to win cups, regardless of who has the broadcast rights.

Due to the competition of the Concacaf this season, in United States Messi played as many games for FOX as for MLS Season Pass: three in each (one league game aired on both channels). Absurdly on FOX’s part (and presumably due only to contractual obligations) the two games of Messi in the Champions Cup until now they were relegated to FS2.

The calculation is reasonable from the perspective of Messi and Inter: winning the Concacaf Champions Cup would mean a place in the FIFA Club World Cup and $5 million in prize money. But anything short of winning the entire tournament – which FOX has the rights to – probably isn’t in the best interest of the MLS.

All we have to do is remember last year, when M’s eagernessis if competing in the US Open Cup shortly after winning the Leagues Cup contributed to the injury situation that limited him in league play down the stretch.

The most cynical observer of MLS might even suggest that the league’s attempt to completely abandon the tournament in 2024 was due to an easier solution than personally telling Messi and Inter should not make an effort, because it does not include matches shown in the Season Pass.

The truth is more complicated, of course. But since the initial announcement that Messi was going to sign for Inter Miami, MLS had no choice but to move at his pace, not the other way around.

For this winter, that may mean reluctantly watching how

He is putting aside league play to ensure he is healthy for the remainder of Inter’s Champions Cup season and the Argentine National Team’s preparations for the Copa América.