MLS commissioner Garber Q&A: Capitalizing on Messi mania - ESPN

The economic winds are very much at the back of MLS. The league has the world's most popular player, Lionel Messi, gracing its games. Sponsorships at both league and club level have increased about 15%. According to Sportico, four MLS teams are worth more than $1 billion.

The pipeline of overseas players continues to be fruitful. Young talents like the LA Galaxy's Gabriel Pec and FC Dallas's Petar Musa are joining the league alongside veterans like Inter Miami CF's Luis Suárez, LAFC's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and the New York Red Bulls' Emil Forsberg.

Yet the challenges keep coming. With Messi on board, it's imperative that MLS take advantage of his presence, the better to leverage growth beyond his playing days. The 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States presents a massive opportunity that must be exploited. There are labor issues with the league's referees and an ugly spat with the U.S. Soccer Federation over the league's continued participation in the U.S. Open Cup.

Overseeing all of this is MLS commissioner Don Garber, who is approaching his 25th anniversary in the role and has overseen immense growth in terms of team valuations, season tickets and stadiums built. He sat down with ESPN to discuss a variety of topics about the league's present and future.

(This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.)

— Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Obviously much of the spotlight is falling on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. What is the league doing to leverage his presence in Year 2?

Garber: It's important to remind ourselves and everybody else that having arguably the best player of all time in our league says a lot about where MLS is, and how