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Hollywood actor and LAFC fan Owen Wilson has become the latest big name to compare Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami to Pele’s iconic stay in America with the New York Cosmos back in 1975.
In fact, the Zoolander star even believes Messi has had a bigger impact on US soccer than the Brazilian legend did many years ago.
‘I remember as a kid it was such a huge deal when Pelé played for the Cosmos, and it feels like that again with Messi except maybe even bigger,’ said Wilson on Sunday night.
When Pele joined NY back in 1975 the Cosmos had to move to a larger stadium to accommodate the increased amount of fans that wished to attend his first game. In a similar vein, after Messi joined Miami the team received an increase of 11 million followers on Instagram and became the fourth most followed sports team in the United States.
Actor Owen Wilson has compared Lionel Messi joining Miami to Pele joining the NY Cosmos
Pele brought unfounded amounts of attention to American soccer when he joined NY in 1975
Messi has had a similar effect on MLS since joining Miami, that Wilson said may eclipse Pele’s
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‘I think it’s already doing it for the MLS,’ Wilson said of Messi’s impact on the league. ‘You can see the excitement.
‘I had a friend in Dallas, them going to the games. Just all over country. Even my mother is now really into it.’
Since Messi joined Miami, the team has also seen a rapid increase in the amount of celebrities at their games – including the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, DJ Khaled, Prince Harry and many others.
The 36-year-old World Cup winner has certainly excited those who have turned out to stadiums or signed up to watch him on Apple TV after Miami’s sensational run to securing the first ever Leagues Cup trophy.
Miami will now have their sights set on the large hill they have to climb if they wish to make the MLS playoffs this season.
Due to the poor play that plagued the team all season before Messi and several others joined the team recently, Miami currently sits among the basement dwellers of the league table.
Miami’s record of 7-4-14 has netted them only 25 points through 25 games and slots them at 14 in the Eastern Conference. Their 25 points is also the third lowest in the entire league ahead of only Toronto FC and the Colorado Rapids.
