I think people are looking too much into this and instead aren't viewing this as a ludicrously paid employee choosing to not shit on his employer. On a personal level I don't think this has...
I think people are looking too much into this and instead aren't viewing this as a ludicrously paid employee choosing to not shit on his employer. On a personal level I don't think this has anything to do with Messi and it's just the Saudi League using their most famous player to push their product.
That said, I think with the recent off season signings, there maybe an argument. Do I think top to bottom the MLS is overall better league? Absolutely. Do I think teams with a history of recent success like the Union, LAFC, or Nashville could beat Al-HIlal or Al-Ittihad? Yea, but the Saudi Super League is doing a good job of throwing money at players in the ways the CSL wasn't able to do a decade ago. I don't think it's the most outrageous thing to say, it's not like he went the A-League and said A-League is better than MLS.
It's always boggled my mind that sports audiences still care to follow their team or take their league seriously after importing players who have no connection to the area.
Yea, but the Saudi Super League is doing a good job of throwing money at players in the ways the CSL wasn't able to do a decade ago.
It's always boggled my mind that sports audiences still care to follow their team or take their league seriously after importing players who have no connection to the area.
But isn't that the case for every top league and top team across all sports? I mean how many of the top teams in the top 5 European soccer leagues are filled with academy players? Sure midtable or...
But isn't that the case for every top league and top team across all sports? I mean how many of the top teams in the top 5 European soccer leagues are filled with academy players? Sure midtable or lower table teams will have a decent number but Barca, Inter, City, Bayern, PSG, etc are all filled with players with no connection to the area. Outside of soccer, the top basketball (NBA) , top baseball (MLB), or top hockey (NHL) are filled with players with no connection to the area. To me, top teams needing top talent source their players from across the nation if not across the world.
I don't personally follow sports, but it seems to go against the spirit of sports to source players from literally anywhere. I think there's some logic in wanting to support talent from regions...
I don't personally follow sports, but it seems to go against the spirit of sports to source players from literally anywhere. I think there's some logic in wanting to support talent from regions with poor viewership or financial opportunities, but in general isn't the whole the point to see how talent from one place faces off with talent from another place?
Not in particular. That's the case for national competitions, like the olympics, or the FIFA World Championship, but generally sports is not about that level of regionality. Teams regularly have...
in general isn't the whole the point to see how talent from one place faces off with talent from another place?
Not in particular. That's the case for national competitions, like the olympics, or the FIFA World Championship, but generally sports is not about that level of regionality. Teams regularly have players from other areas, in every sport.
Outside of tournaments that feature national teams (Olympics, World Cup, etc) , I have never once heard this idea in modern sports, particularly at a club level. Micheal Jordan is not from...
isn't the whole the point to see how talent from one place faces off from talent from another place?
Outside of tournaments that feature national teams (Olympics, World Cup, etc) , I have never once heard this idea in modern sports, particularly at a club level. Micheal Jordan is not from Chicago, Messi is not from Barcelona, Babe Ruth isn't from NYC, Wayne Gretsky isn't from Alberta or LA.
Everyone views things differently but my general impression is that people don't care where you're from, they care that you play for their city and win for their city. Honestly sports are great and I think if you followed it, you'd probably find yourself cheering for a team made up of a lot players with zero connection to the city they play for.
I agree with your point... but Wayne Gretsky actually was born and raised in Ontario, and yet never played for the Leafs. "Wayne Gretsky isn't from Edmonton, St. Louis, New York, or LA." (take...
I agree with your point... but Wayne Gretsky actually was born and raised in Ontario, and yet never played for the Leafs.
"Wayne Gretsky isn't from Edmonton, St. Louis, New York, or LA." (take your pick) would be more accurate to serve your point about him not playing on his hometown NHL team. ;)
Lol, sorry, long day at work. I meant to say he isn't from Alberta not Ontario , where as you rightfully pointed out, was where he was raised. Don't ask me why I went to province for Canada but...
Lol, sorry, long day at work. I meant to say he isn't from Alberta not Ontario , where as you rightfully pointed out, was where he was raised. Don't ask me why I went to province for Canada but stayed in cities for the US and Europe lol. I blame my lack of knowledge of cities/towns in Canada.
No worries. It was a bit surprising to see though, since the majority of Ontarians (myself included) typically just say were "from Toronto" when asked by non-Canadians, since we're used to most...
No worries. It was a bit surprising to see though, since the majority of Ontarians (myself included) typically just say were "from Toronto" when asked by non-Canadians, since we're used to most people knowing the city but not necessarily the province its in... or any other cities/towns here (where we're actually living).
And it also gets even more annoying when you live in a place like Georgetown, London, Waterloo, Stratford, Marathon, Essex, Hanover, Perth, etc that got their name from other, more famous places around the world. :P
Isn't the point of sports to have match? If someone in high school moves to a different country, shouldn't they be able to participate sports because they aren't originally from there? Besides I'm...
Isn't the point of sports to have match?
If someone in high school moves to a different country, shouldn't they be able to participate sports because they aren't originally from there?
Besides I'm sure there are pub leagues everywhere we you can see locals play sports. Professional stuff is obviously next level, they make a living doing it. Just like you can move to a new place and participate in local leagues, so can the professionals.
There is a huge level of sportswashing ongoing by the Saudis. F1, golf and soccer are just a few of the heavy hitters they are attempting to buy and disrupt. Of course they are going to get a high...
There is a huge level of sportswashing ongoing by the Saudis. F1, golf and soccer are just a few of the heavy hitters they are attempting to buy and disrupt. Of course they are going to get a high level athlete to promote and market their sport. The human rights abuses and the sheer brutality pf MBS might make some take pause, but to be honest, money talks and the Saudis have enough to buy whatever they want. Right now they are going after sports. I have no doubt none of these sports will be better for it.
Probably cause he gets paid to promote the game in Saudi land...its the only reason most players actually agree to go there. MLS used to be the go to place where high profile players go to retire...
Probably cause he gets paid to promote the game in Saudi land...its the only reason most players actually agree to go there. MLS used to be the go to place where high profile players go to retire but the Saudi money is too good
I think people are looking too much into this and instead aren't viewing this as a ludicrously paid employee choosing to not shit on his employer. On a personal level I don't think this has anything to do with Messi and it's just the Saudi League using their most famous player to push their product.
That said, I think with the recent off season signings, there maybe an argument. Do I think top to bottom the MLS is overall better league? Absolutely. Do I think teams with a history of recent success like the Union, LAFC, or Nashville could beat Al-HIlal or Al-Ittihad? Yea, but the Saudi Super League is doing a good job of throwing money at players in the ways the CSL wasn't able to do a decade ago. I don't think it's the most outrageous thing to say, it's not like he went the A-League and said A-League is better than MLS.
It's always boggled my mind that sports audiences still care to follow their team or take their league seriously after importing players who have no connection to the area.
But isn't that the case for every top league and top team across all sports? I mean how many of the top teams in the top 5 European soccer leagues are filled with academy players? Sure midtable or lower table teams will have a decent number but Barca, Inter, City, Bayern, PSG, etc are all filled with players with no connection to the area. Outside of soccer, the top basketball (NBA) , top baseball (MLB), or top hockey (NHL) are filled with players with no connection to the area. To me, top teams needing top talent source their players from across the nation if not across the world.
I don't personally follow sports, but it seems to go against the spirit of sports to source players from literally anywhere. I think there's some logic in wanting to support talent from regions with poor viewership or financial opportunities, but in general isn't the whole the point to see how talent from one place faces off with talent from another place?
Not in particular. That's the case for national competitions, like the olympics, or the FIFA World Championship, but generally sports is not about that level of regionality. Teams regularly have players from other areas, in every sport.
Outside of tournaments that feature national teams (Olympics, World Cup, etc) , I have never once heard this idea in modern sports, particularly at a club level. Micheal Jordan is not from Chicago, Messi is not from Barcelona, Babe Ruth isn't from NYC, Wayne Gretsky isn't from Alberta or LA.
Everyone views things differently but my general impression is that people don't care where you're from, they care that you play for their city and win for their city. Honestly sports are great and I think if you followed it, you'd probably find yourself cheering for a team made up of a lot players with zero connection to the city they play for.
edit : I meant to say Alberta not Ontario
I agree with your point... but Wayne Gretsky actually was born and raised in Ontario, and yet never played for the Leafs.
"Wayne Gretsky isn't from Edmonton, St. Louis, New York, or LA." (take your pick) would be more accurate to serve your point about him not playing on his hometown NHL team. ;)
Lol, sorry, long day at work. I meant to say he isn't from Alberta not Ontario , where as you rightfully pointed out, was where he was raised. Don't ask me why I went to province for Canada but stayed in cities for the US and Europe lol. I blame my lack of knowledge of cities/towns in Canada.
No worries. It was a bit surprising to see though, since the majority of Ontarians (myself included) typically just say were "from Toronto" when asked by non-Canadians, since we're used to most people knowing the city but not necessarily the province its in... or any other cities/towns here (where we're actually living).
And it also gets even more annoying when you live in a place like Georgetown, London, Waterloo, Stratford, Marathon, Essex, Hanover, Perth, etc that got their name from other, more famous places around the world. :P
Isn't the point of sports to have match?
If someone in high school moves to a different country, shouldn't they be able to participate sports because they aren't originally from there?
Besides I'm sure there are pub leagues everywhere we you can see locals play sports. Professional stuff is obviously next level, they make a living doing it. Just like you can move to a new place and participate in local leagues, so can the professionals.
I never got to see it but the NHL had a 500 mile rule. You had to be from 500 miles within the team area.
why does it matter? big teams usually have fans all around the world and not only in the city they are from
Course he's bitter. He's fading into irrelevancy when other players are getting loads of coverage for going to America
There is a huge level of sportswashing ongoing by the Saudis. F1, golf and soccer are just a few of the heavy hitters they are attempting to buy and disrupt. Of course they are going to get a high level athlete to promote and market their sport. The human rights abuses and the sheer brutality pf MBS might make some take pause, but to be honest, money talks and the Saudis have enough to buy whatever they want. Right now they are going after sports. I have no doubt none of these sports will be better for it.
Probably cause he gets paid to promote the game in Saudi land...its the only reason most players actually agree to go there. MLS used to be the go to place where high profile players go to retire but the Saudi money is too good