Comment comes After Liverpool winger was urged to avoid MLS after Liverpool exit
MLS Commissioner Don Garber has responded to claims that Mohamed Salah should avoid Major League Soccer, suggesting critics should instead watch Lionel Messi in action for Inter Miami.
Garber was reacting to comments made by Egypt football director Ibrahim Hassan, who advised Salah to remain in Europe when he leaves Liverpool, describing MLS as “too far out of the spotlight.” Hassan added that if no European offers arrive, a move to the Saudi Pro League would be preferable.
Garber said he was surprised by the remarks. “Well, that’s the first time that I’ve ever heard anything like that,” he said during league meetings in Sarasota, Florida. “Leo Messi is the most popular player in the world. He was, and he still is. I’d be happy to send an Apple subscription to the head of the Egyptian FA so he can watch as many Messi games as he’d like.”
He acknowledged that skepticism toward MLS is not new, pointing to past criticism from figures such as former Italy manager Gian Piero Ventura, who once questioned the league’s level when leaving Sebastian Giovinco out of his squad.
Garber argued that perceptions are outdated, highlighting the league’s growing influence. MLS provided 36 players for the 2022 World Cup, more than any league outside Europe’s top five, and continues to develop talent now playing internationally. He also pointed to examples of players using MLS as a platform ahead of major tournaments, including Gareth Bale and James Rodríguez.
“I think that [Hassan’s] point of view is very indicative of what MLS deals with as we develop as an aspiring major player on the world stage,” Garber said. “I can remember, not that long ago, Mexican national team coaches saying: ‘If you’re in MLS, you’re not going to play for our national team.’ That’s not the case today.”
MLS is currently ranked 13th in Opta’s global league power rankings, placing it among the top competitions outside Europe, and ahead of several established leagues worldwide.
Garber insisted the league’s progress should not be overlooked. “We’re just constantly dealing with this perspective that we, Americans, will never get it, and it’s just not true,” he said. “We’ve got dozens of players [who came through MLS teams] playing in Europe. We’ve got some of the best players in the world playing here. We have the best facilities if you put them up against any league in the world. We have a national team coach [Mauricio Pochettino], who has been on the world’s stage, who believes in Major League Soccer. I’ve been dealing with skepticism for 27 years. It’s never stopped me, and it never will.”
