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26 Days Before Facing Lionel Messi, $2,700,000 Rival Star Explodes Against Detractors Citing Inter Miami Icon

Published 09/02/2023, 9:15 AM EDT

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Lionel Messi, Inter Miami’s new number 10, has had a transformative impact on MLS after his arrival in the United States. Players in the league have likely been inspired by the world champion and seem to be determined to emulate his greatness. Surprisingly, a rival midfielder of Houston Dynamo invoked La Pulga’s name to challenge the critics who judged his national selection in the upcoming international fixtures.

The 33-year-old Mexican veteran got his first call-up under their new coach Jaime Lozano in the national squad. However, soccer pundits disagreed and deferred to the coach’s judgment. In this instance, the former Atletico de Madrid forward defended his career, hitting back at the criticism.

Why did the Mexican veteran namedrop Lionel Messi?

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Hector Herrera, the Earthquake’s midfielder believed that his compatriots were not qualified to judge his performance. He strongly criticized naysayers while likening them to doubters, who think they might be Messi, without ever having played the sport.

The $ 2.7 million rated star remarked to Marçà, “I can imagine what they are saying, but you take the comments from who it comes from. There are people in our country who feel they are the Messi of soccer and believe they have the power of speech to say who does things right, who does things wrong when they have never even touched a ball in their life.”

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Herrera, however, is pleased with his career as a Mexican player so far but still has ambitions for more glory in the twilight of his career. The former Porto midfielder was eager to get back into the national team after scoring a mere 10 goals in 104 appearances. Additionally, Herrera showed regard for Lionel to mark his impact on American soccer.

Hector Herrera’s take on La Pulga’s arrival in MLS

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Lionel Messi ushered a fresh era of soccer in America after he joined the Herons this season. Messi played a crucial role in Inter Miami‘s triumph in the Leagues Cup and propelled them to the finals of the U.S Open Cup with 11 goals in just 10 games. Hector Herra, who is 26 days away from facing the Herons, was ecstatic about La Pulga. The Mexican international commented, “I have said it on other occasions. It is the arrival of the best player in the world right now and for many years to come”.

via Imago

Meanwhile, the World Cup 2022 winner showcased his value within the team by joining forces with his former Barcelona teammates and other players, effectively putting an end to the 11-game losing streak for Inter Miami. Eventually, fans and the club hope to transform their season in the MLS Eastern Conference, as they stand second from the bottom.

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WATCH THIS STORY | Soccer Stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Make a Huge Assist for Esports Space

Do you agree with how Hector Herra referred to Lionel while being critical of his critics? Comment below and let us know.

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Written by:

Prabuddha Basu

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Prabuddha is a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. Growing up watching the sagacious Manchester United where legends like Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes shone, Prabuddha has been an admirer of the EPL giants, and looks forward to the new era stars like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford as the torch bearers. Keen follower of the game, he values weaving his articles with facts, analysis and captivating narratives.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra