Paul Tenorio on The Messi Effect & World Cup Storylines

Paul Tenorio, author of The Messi Effect, joins the show to break down the long, multi-year process that led to Lionel Messi ultimately choosing Inter Miami. He explains the challenges of reporting the story, including limited access and how difficult it was to track the negotiations behind the scenes, while crediting Jorge Mas for having the vision and persistence to bring Messi to MLS. The conversation then shifts to the current World Cup and where the United States stands on the global soccer stage, with Tenorio noting that while the U.S. is improving, there is still significant growth needed—especially within MLS—for the national team to reach elite status. He emphasizes that this tournament should serve as a foundation-building moment for U.S. soccer, discusses the league’s ongoing growth challenges even after Messi’s arrival, and closes with his outlook on the World Cup field, naming France as the favorite and Mexico as a dark horse.