Gareth Bale tells Lionel Messi MLS teams ‘accept losing’ and there ‘is no consequence to defeat’

Gareth Bale has given Lionel Messi an awkward endorsement of Major League Soccer – saying he’ll enjoy playing under less pressure because teams ‘kind of accept losing’.

Bale played for LAFC for a few months in 2022, winning the MLS Cup and scoring a dramatic last minute header in the final before his team beat Philadelphia Union in the final.

World Cup winner Messi, meanwhile, is set to make his Inter Miami debut on July 21 in a move that will galvanize the reputation of Major League Soccer both in the United States and across the globe.

But speaking to BT Sport, Bale – who played against Messi and Barcelona for fierce rival Real Madrid in a nine-year spell in Spain – said: ‘It is a lot more chilled (in MLS). If you lose at Real Madrid, it is like the world has ended. 

‘You are crucified. You feel down. You go home and you’re not happy.

Bale played 13 times for LAFC last year, scoring three goals and winning an MLS Cup 

World Cup winner Messi is set to play his first game for Inter Miami next month on July 21

‘They accept losing a bit more (in America). There is no consequence. You can’t get relegated over there. 

‘When you lose a game you go on to the next one. They accept losing a lot better over there. 

‘They know how to lose but they celebrate every win like you have won the championship. He will definitely enjoy it.’

Miami are currently last in the Eastern Conference after firing coach Phil Neville days before Messi’s move was revealed. 

The team has a tally of 15 points from 17 games and sits seven points away from a playoff position.

Bale played 13 times in Los Angeles, scoring three goals including his header in the MLS Cup final.

‘It’s special,’ Bale said at the time of LAFC’s triumph. ‘The reason why I came here was to try to help the club win a trophy and to win the MLS Cup. 

‘Obviously, they’ve come close in the past but never got to the final and won it.’

Bale and Messi played against each other for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively in Spain

He then went on to play for Wales in the World Cup at the end of 2022 before eventually announcing his retirement from the game in all formats. 

The 35-year-old Messi is expected to sign a two-and-a-half year contract with Miami in a multi-million dollar deal funded in part by adidas, Inter Miami’s kit supplier, and AppleTV, who have a billion-dollar deal to broadcast Major League Soccer across the world.