A former Major League Soccer star has made a controversial claim about Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
Messi and his Inter Miami teammates have made an impressive start to the 2024 MLS season.
Gerardo 'Tata' Martino's side are currently top of the Eastern Conference after taking 10 points from their opening five matches, although the Argentine superstar has missed the last two games through injury.
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Miami have also progressed to the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup - where they will face Mexican side Monterrey - after beating Nashville SC 5-3 on aggregate.
Messi's first season with Miami started well, as he guided them to the Leagues Cup title in his first month at the club.
Things tailed off after that, but David Beckham's franchise look well equipped to challenge for the MLS Cup this year.
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The fact that Miami have been able to bolster their squad by signing the likes of Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez in recent months speaks of the constantly improving level of MLS.
Every season more and more established stars join American club, while clubs are also starting to develop their own top talents that attract the interests of European clubs.
With that in mind, former MLS and USMNT star Alexi Lalas has predicted how Inter Miami might do in the Premier League.
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During a Q&A on X, the former midfielder was asked how MLS's best team - currently Inter Miami - would get on in the best league in the world.
Lalas simply replied: "Mid-table."
It's fair to say not many people agreed with him.
"Mid-table of the Championship, maybe," one follower replied, while another wrote: "They would finish dead last. Might not even get a win."
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However, one MLS fan argued that Miami would get at least a few wins: "Miami or Columbus could 100 per cent beat teams like Everton, Forrest, and Crystal Palace consistently.
"The other teams...not so much. I'd put those MLS teams at lower mid table. Upper mid table if they had an excellent year."
Topics: MLS, Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, Football, Premier League
Alex Brotherton