Inter Miami and Major League Soccer owe a great deal to Lionel Messi. The surprising arrival of the Argentinian superstar in the summer of 2023 is responsible for igniting a never-before-seen soccer fiesta and a wave of sporting excitement on the soil of the United States. Mia Hamm, however, disagrees, as in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, she admitted that it is the City of Angels that is ‘getting people’s eyes’. 

It’s not like the USWNT icon isn’t thrilled to have “one of the best players that has ever played this game”; in fact, “incredibly excited” is how Hamm described the arrival of La Pulga. Then again, being a part of Los Angeles FC’s star-studded ownership group, alongside the likes of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Will Ferrell, and many others, compelled Mia to describe how LAFC and the city’s companion teams are also ahead of Inter Miami in capturing people’s attention without the help of a global icon like Messi.

“I think we are Los Angeles,” began Hamm during her exclusive chat with EssentiallySports. “We have so much competition—the City of Angels—we have the Lakers, the Rams, the Chargers, the Clippers, the Galaxy, Angel City, and then you bring all the college teams,” she continued, boasting about the city’s lineup of most sought-after teams across sports like NBA, NFL, MLS, and WNBA.

Not to mention the players on all these LA-based teams who boast similar popularity to Messi, at least in America, including LeBron James, Justin Herbert, James Harden, and Christen Press. “We’re competing against a lot of other forces in terms of getting people’s eyes and whether that’s bringing in one of the best players in the world to be a part of your club,” added Hamm. 

Additionally, Mia stressed the importance of setting professional standards and raising the bar beyond the popularity factor. “It’s also about winning and competing every single day for trophies. And I know at LAFC, that’s what we focus on, but we’re also committed to making sure the players that are part of our club are committed to our community because our supporters are paramount to our success on the pitch,” concluded the 2x World Cup winner with a message for fans.

Evidently, Hamm seems to be confident about how majorly it has been Los Angeles that played a significant role in elevating the sporting success and popularity. However, that also doesn’t mean she underestimates the potential of her MLS archrivals.

Mia Hamm acknowledges Lionel Messi for elevating Inter Miami but admits LAFC loves ‘challenges’

Aside from expressing her gratitude for the arrival of the FC Barcelona icon in the States, Mia Hamm praised Lionel Messi for exhibiting seriousness towards Inter Miami since day one. “He’s committed in every aspect of the game. He’s not coming here for vacation, he’s coming here to win titles,” added the ex-USWNT forward, praising Messi for being an ‘incredible teammate’ by helping the Herons win every single game he features in.

Even though Hamm admitted that MLS is lucky to have someone like Messi, she didn’t shy away from acknowledging LAFC’s optimism, viewing Messi and Miami’s combination as healthy competition. “From our club perspective, we love challenges. We try to raise our level every single game, and our focus is on winning titles as well,” boldly asserted Hamm.

Notably, this year Inter Miami was crowned the MLS Shield victors with a record tally of 74 in the Eastern Conference, with LAFC making a third-place finish in the overall standings—albeit they secured a first-place in the Western Conference. However, the playoffs saw Miami endure an early exit at the hands of Atlanta United, with Steve Cherundolo’s side doing just fine.

LAFC is set to play their conference finals vs. Seattle Sounders, where a win will see them potentially compete for the MLS Cup in the final against the winner of Orlando City vs. NY Red Bulls. Let’s see if the team makes Mia Hamm’s prediction of winning titles come true.