American football legend calls on Messi to act more maturely

American soccer legend and former MLS executive Alexi Lalas recently caused a stir when he publicly criticized Lionel Messi, due to the Argentine superstar's absence from the MLS All-Star game.

Alexi Lalas publicly criticized superstar Messi for being absent from the MLS All-Star match - Photo: Fox Sports

In a recent interview, Lalas did not hesitate to express his disappointment with Messi's actions. He emphasized the importance of the All-Star games to American sports culture. "We all grew up watching the All-Star games, and it's a symbol of all sports in America," Lalas shared.

He expressed surprise at the way public opinion is building Messi as a "saint" of righteousness who is against the shortcomings of MLS, and even opposing the concept of All-Star.

Lalas's stance goes against the backdrop of Messi's supporters, who say that participating in the All-Star game could risk unnecessary injury or disrupt a player's busy schedule. However, the former player focused on the contractual and professional aspects.

Lalas affirmed: "Messi signed the contract, he knows that participating in the All-Star game is part of the deal. If Messi understands the rules of the game, he needs to act more maturely. If he doesn't want to play, he should negotiate right when he signs the contract."

Messi was banned for one MLS match for not attending the MLS All-Stars Tournament - Photo: REUTERS

Alexi Lalas's statements quickly spread across the media, creating a wave of heated debate.

Some fans agree with Lalas, saying that Messi should lead by example and participate in all activities stipulated in his contract, especially when he is the most influential player in the league. They believe that Messi's presence will help increase the value and appeal of the All-Star Game, an important event to promote the image of MLS.

However, there are also many opposing opinions, defending Messi. Messi's supporters believe that the player's health and performance should be given top priority, especially when he is in the final stage of his career.

The MLS All-Star Game is an annual event of Major League Soccer (MLS) that brings together the best players in the league. The recent match between the MLS All-Star Team and the Liga MX (Mexico) All-Star Team took place on July 23.

The main purpose of this event is to promote the league, connect with fans and create commercial value. Players are selected based on fan votes, coaches, and decisions by MLS officials. It is a mid-season highlight, attracting widespread public attention to soccer in North America.

TUAN LONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/huyen-thoai-bong-da-my-keu-messi-can-cu-xu-truong-thanh-hon-20250729125857412.htm