Brandi Chastain: Messi’s Miami move will boost men and women’s soccer in the US
The USWNT legend believes that while the women’s game has progressed, the men’s game has lagged behind but that is about to change with Messi’s arrival.
Lionel Messi has enjoyed a dream start to life in MLS with Inter Miami - with two victories and three goals in his first two games plus a place in the Round of 16 at the Leagues Cup, he could not have wished for a better start. And while life is sweet at Beckham’s Inter Miami, one USWNT soccer legend believes that the Argentinean’s arrival will have a positive knock-on effect and transform both the men’s and women’s game in the US.
Brandi Chastain made 192 appearances for the USWNT between 1988 and 2004, and famously rifled in the decisive, winning penalty in the shootout against China to hand the USWNT their second World Cup title in 1999 and that iconic celebration. Chastain has watched how women’s soccer in the US has made advances in recent years, in some ways overshadowing the men’s - certainly in terms of silverware. Now she thinks the furor surrounding Messi will serve to enhance soccer in general in the United States.
“For a long time, women’s soccer was leading the charge and there was al ways the question: ‘Why isn’t the men’s national team as good as the women’s national team?’” she told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. “Soccer now, together, collectively, has a chance. The fact that a player like Lionel Messi, who I believe will enhance the amount of eyes that will be on soccer in America, I think that’s good for both of us.”
Golden age for women’s soccer
The USWNT at +250, are the favorites with the bookies to win the tournament and lift the trophy for the third time running. First however, they must secure a place in the next round - they top Group E on goal difference, level on points with the Netherlands heading into Tuesday’s decider against Portugal.
Chastain says there has never been a better moment in history to be involved in women’s soccer and while the World Cup has underlined its successes, there are still areas that need to be looked at and improved.
“Any competitor is never satisfied. We are always striving for better - that’s the nature of what we do,” she explained. ”I think women’s football is at an all-time high, globally. The fact that we have 32 teams - take the US women’s national team for example, we have 14 players who have never played in a World Cup before. To me, that speaks volumes about growth. But what we do know, the NSWL will be expanding to 14 teams, my team here in the Bay will be joining in 2024 so we have growth happening. We are not satisfied that the purse for the Women’s World Cup is grossly under what the Men’s is, so we have a lot of ways to still travel. I believe since 1999 we have certainly made some inroads. What I do believe is that women’s football, and the women who are in it, is the deepest, richest well of talent that has been untapped and now sponsors, television rights, are seeing the light and so I’m very thrilled. This is the best time out of any time to be part of women’s football”.