The exploits of ex-USMNT Alexi Lalas came to light recently. In his days, Alexis Lalas’ style of play was characterized by his physicality and endurance. Hence it is understandable why he would expect Lionel Messi to play ‘a hundred MLS matches’ consecutively, without any rest.
It is true that Lionel hopped on a sinking ship when he joined Inter Miami, but since then, he has helped turn the club around. He’s netted ten times in 8 games for the club, leading them to their first-ever silverware and raising hope for better accolades to come.
Who is ex-USMNT player Alexi Lalas? Explained
Alexis Lalas gained prominence for his involvement with the United States men’s national soccer team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The United States soccer team has only a few soccer heroes; Alexis is one of them. Following the World Cup, Lalas became the first American to play in Italy’s Serie A, representing Calcio Padova.
After his spell in Italy, Lalas returned to the United States in 1996 to play in the newly formed Major League Soccer as a prominent member of the New England Revolution.
Lalas further extended his playing career to include stints with Club Sport Emelec in Ecuador and MLS teams like MetroStars and Kansas City Wizards. However, his most triumphant phase was undoubtedly with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
During this time, he secured victories in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and MLS Cup, ultimately concluding his playing journey in 2002. Panayotis Alexander Lalas was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006, and now, he is an analyst for Fox Sports.
Alexi Lalas claims Lionel Messi ‘walks around the whole game’
The comments from Alexis Lalas suggesting that Lionel Messi does not need a rest came about when Tata Martino hinted at the fact that Lionel Messi may take a rest on his MLS debut vs. New York Red Bulls. Lionel Messi is 36 years old, and he has spent the majority of his career on the field.
There were initial concerns regarding Messi’s match fitness against Cincinnati, but coach Tata Martino said emphatically that the 36-year-old Argentine would play. Lionel went on to assist two goals in the match.
However, Tata Martino should take precautions, considering Lionel Messi’s age and immense impact on the team. When asked about Leo’s availability for the Red Bulls game, Tata Martino said, “Leo and many other players are reaching an important physical limit, and from today we will start to evaluate this – how do I face at least the next three games. You also have to consider the large number of games we played in 45, 50.”
In his response, the ex-USMNT player Alexi Lalas hits back at Messi in a lengthy comment on his social media platform, saying, “Load management? Messi walks around most of the game!” Lalas reacted on the social media platform.
Lionel Messi, at the age of 36, may not be able to replicate the work rate of a 20-year-old soccer player, but it looks like his shoulders are still strong enough to carry Inter Miami to further glory.
