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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Scaloni speaks out on MLS 'growth'</li><li>Messi, Almada and Velasco play in league</li><li>Argentina gears up for Copa America</li></ul><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;"><span class="affiliate-text">Watch Inter Miami with the MLS Season Pass</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Stream now</a></div>

Is playing in MLS an 'impediment' for Lionel Messi & Thiago Almada? Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni reveals his stance on selecting players from American division that is still 'growing'

World Cup Qualification CONMEBOL

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<p>Argentinian players have always had a massive impact on MLS, with legends like Diego Valeri, Ignacio Pietti and Guillermo Barros Schelotto all becoming stars in the league. However, since Messi's arrival, there has been a massive focus on the league, even with Argentina's current status as World Cup champions.</p><p>Youngsters like Thiago Almada and Alan Velasco have been in the national team setup, with the former being in the squad that achieved glory in Qatar. And, going forward, Scaloni says that the national team program will continue to keep an eye on players in MLS, who won't be disqualified from call-ups just for not playing in Europe.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>"Well, it's true. In recent years, the MLS has improved a lot and has started to look at young boys with great projection and who are very talented," Scaloni said. "The case of Thiago, Velasco and many, many more, I think I'm an optimist. I see a growing league and that youngsters can contribute to the growth. And why not, as we have seen, the case of Thiago, has been called to the national team and has been world champion. I think it's a competitive league that's to get bigger, so I don't see it as an impediment to being able to be in the national team."</p><p>He added: "Well, the high points, I think that the arrival of foreigners, of coaches who have a different vision of football has made the league richer. I mentioned before that there are teams that play in a very European way, let's say, in which it makes the league competitive. And there are other teams that preserve the Latino tradition a little longer and make the league competitive."</p>

WHAT SCALONI SAID

<p>Scaloni went on to praise Almada specifically. The young Atlanta United star featured in one match at the World Cup in Qatar and is expected to be a key figure for Argentina in the years to come. So far, he has four caps and scored his first goal in a friendly against Panama in 2023.</p><p>"We knew Thiago before we had him in the youth teams," Scaloni said. "We knew very well his quality, his style of play. Well, the decision in this case was not difficult because he is a player who associates very well, who plays very well with the ball and who fits our team very well. So his addition was very good. Besides being a great player, he is a great kid, very professional and for us it is a great pleasure to have him."</p><p>Almada looks set to be an important player for Argentina at the Olympics later this summer, and the Atlanta United man recently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-olympics-dream-thiago-almada-captain-armband-inter-miami-superstar-paris-2024-gold-medal/blt29a11155eeabbb90" target="_blank">admitted that he'd love to play alongside Messi at the tournament</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Scaloni hinted in November that he could leave his role as national team coach, saying the job was "complicated" after winning the World Cup. However, Scaloni has confirmed he'll stay on for the foreseeable future, with all eyes now on the Copa America this summer.</p><p>The coach, though, admitted that he could someday coach in MLS, saying: "Yes. Why not? Yes, I would like to. There would be no downsides. Whenever there are challenges, I've always liked it. Why not?"</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR SCALONI?

Is playing in MLS an 'impediment' for Lionel Messi & Thiago Almada? Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni reveals his stance on selecting players from American division that is still 'growing' | Goal.com English Kuwait

Lionel Scaloni says playing in MLS won&apos;t be held against Argentinian players like Lionel Messi and Thiago Almada in their case for the national team.

Is playing in MLS an &apos;impediment&apos; for Lionel Messi &amp; Thiago Almada? Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni reveals his stance on selecting players from American division that is still &apos;growing&apos;