Lionel Messi’s teammate boldly claims winning the MLS is ‘harder’ than UCL
Lionel Messi ’s teammate has sparked discussion by insisting that winning Major League Soccer is actually harder than lifting the UEFA Champions League.
The comment has grabbed attention because it challenges how many fans around the world view the relative difficulty of success in different football competitions.
Rather than focusing on prestige, the argument zeroes in on structures and demands unique to MLS.
Rodrigo De Paul claims MLS is tougher than the UCL
Rodrigo De Paul did not mince words when comparing the challenges of winning the MLS with Europe’s top club tournament. Marca Mexico on X shared his bold statement.
“I think it’s harder to win the MLS than the Champions League. It sounds crazy but the format of MLS is really tough. You have to play perfectly all the time,” De Paul said.
De Paul’s perspective highlights how the MLS season combines a lengthy regular season with a postseason playoff tournament to decide the MLS Cup.
MLS format demands consistency, then knockout grit
The MLS structure that De Paul references is quite distinct from most European leagues and continental competitions.
In MLS, teams first navigate a 34-match regular season against conference rivals where consistency matters, but the ultimate title comes through a multi-round playoff system.
The postseason pits the top teams from the regular season into high-stakes knockout matches that require a different tactical and psychological approach compared with a league table fight.
By contrast, the UEFA Champions League mixes group stages with two-legged knockout rounds between elite European clubs, often rewarding sustained performance across both phases.
Many observers view that mix as a measure of both consistency and experience at the highest level of competition in club football.
De Paul’s claim does not directly diminish the global stature of the Champions League but rather draws attention to the unique grind of MLS, where travel demands, playoff uncertainty and regular-season positioning all play into a club’s quest for silverware.
Whether fans agree with him or not, it shines a spotlight on how different football success can feel depending on the competitive landscape.
Read more:
