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Pelé and Messi in the USA: Two Eras and Two Contexts

By Arthur Fernandes

HEMPSTEAD, NY - APRIL 15: New York Cosmos and Brazil legend Pele #10 takes a picture with Laraine Memola Captain of the Cosmos Cheerleaders and another member of the cheerleaders before the start of the North American Soccer League match between New York Cosmos and Tampa Bay Rowdies at James M Shuart Stadium on April 15, 2015 in Hempstead, NY, (Photo by Ira Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
HEMPSTEAD, NY - APRIL 15: New York Cosmos and Brazil legend Pele #10 takes a picture with Laraine Memola Captain of the Cosmos Cheerleaders and another member of the cheerleaders before the start of the North American Soccer League match between New York Cosmos and Tampa Bay Rowdies at James M Shuart Stadium on April 15, 2015 in Hempstead, NY, (Photo by Ira Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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The arrival of major international soccer stars in the United States always sparks fascinating comparisons, especially when it comes to legends like Pelé and Messi. However, the circumstances surrounding their respective transitions to the soccer scene in America couldn’t be more different.

While Pelé landed on American soil in the 1970s as a gambit of hope to revive interest in soccer, Messi arrives as an already established star in the Major League Soccer (MLS). The Cosmos, the team that embraced Pelé, was on the brink of obscurity in the North American Soccer League (NASL), and his arrival not only gave a boost to the club but also helped usher in a new era for soccer in the USA.

On the other hand, Inter Miami, which Messi is heading to, is a relatively new franchise still in search of a defined identity in the competitive landscape of the MLS. While Pelé’s Cosmos became a legend and is remembered as an icon of American soccer’s past, Messi’s Inter Miami is trying to build its own legacy on a terrain that is already more conducive to soccer than when Pelé arrived.

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) receives from Brazilian football legend Pele the FIFA/FIFPro World XI award on January 9, 2012 at the Kongresshaus in Zurich during the FIFA Ballon d’Or event. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) receives from Brazilian football legend Pele the FIFA/FIFPro World XI award on January 9, 2012 at the Kongresshaus in Zurich during the FIFA Ballon d’Or event. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Besides the differences in the sports settings, there are also striking distinctions in the players’ personal approaches. Pelé, who had to adapt to makeshift playing fields and even painted ones to conceal their deficiencies, faced unique challenges and contributed to popularizing soccer among an audience unfamiliar with the sport. On the other hand, Messi, with his well-received arrival and a lucrative contract, seems to be joining a scene that is already well-established.

It is important to recognize the pivotal role played by these soccer legends at crucial moments for the sport’s development in the United States. However, it is equally essential to understand that the circumstances that shaped their journeys in the USA were inherently distinct. While Pelé was the hope of a rebirth, Messi is the personification of an era of consolidation and continuous growth. Therefore, comparing them requires a careful appreciation of the complexities of the context in which each of them made their indelible mark.

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