Favian Renkel, The Athletic: "Messi's Heir in MLS? Only Mbappé, Ronaldo, Neymar, Yamal and Haaland Can Do It"

Favian Renkel is one of the most active young voices covering Major League Soccer today, writing for outlets including The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, and Forbes, alongside his role at Kickbase USA, MLS's official fantasy partner. In this interview, he discusses the World Cup's impact on MLS's growth, the league's roster restrictions, and who could realistically inherit Messi's role as the face of American soccer.

It’s the first time the World Cup has been held in the States while MLS has been established. How do you think the popularity of soccer and MLS will have been impacted by being one of the co-hosts?

The popularity of soccer in the United States has not reached its peak yet, and with the World Cup being held here, I'm not convinced MLS has made significant gains in attracting new viewers. The hope is that the league will grow after the World Cup, but I don't think that growth will happen immediately. Instead, I expect MLS to continue growing at a steady pace. Unless the league loosens its roster restrictions, that growth will likely remain gradual.

Following the World Cup, how do you think MLS can capture the attention of existing football fans across the world and burgeoning ones in the US?

I believe the key is getting older fans to rediscover the passion they had for playing soccer as kids. Almost every kid in the United States plays soccer at some point, but many eventually drift away from the sport.

MLS needs to do a better job of tapping into that nostalgia because, right now, the average American sports fan wants to watch the best players in the world. With the league's current roster restrictions, it's nearly impossible to bring those players to MLS consistently.

Once those restrictions change, I think we'll see much bigger gains in viewership across the United States.

Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has become a figurehead for MLS. Just how important have the likes of him and Beckham been to the league’s growth? And who could replace Messi in that position when he retires?

There are only a handful of players who could generate the same level of media buzz as Lionel Messi: Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Erling Haaland.

Bringing players of that caliber to MLS is important because it helps grow the sport. Almost every kid in Florida has a pink Inter Miami jersey, but the real question is whether that support extends beyond being a Messi fan. Only time will tell.

Following on from that, the power of those names has helped the league to average 7.9 million viewers a week across the globe. But with more and more European stars opting for the Saudi Pro League, such as Ronaldo, Benzema and Neymar, how will that impact MLS? Can the league compete?

The league needs to loosen its roster restrictions so it can better compete with the Saudi Pro League. MLS already has a competitive advantage because many players would rather live and play in the United States than in Saudi Arabia.

Loosen those restrictions, and you'll attract even more stars. Even with the current rules, we've seen Son Heung min join LAFC, Thomas Müller sign with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Robert Lewandowski move to the Chicago Fire, and Antoine Griezmann head to Orlando City.

If the roster restrictions were eased, it would be like adding jet fuel to the league's growth. Top players are already choosing MLS. If clubs could also compete financially, MLS would be in a much stronger position to win those signings.

Ask many European soccer fans about MLS and they see it as the place major stars are put out to pasture. Do you think that perception is damaging to its global potential, or is it something the league can capitalize on?

That may be the view in Europe, but the perspective in South America is the opposite. MLS is seen as a springboard for young South American talent, providing a league where players can earn a secure paycheck, compete alongside some of the greatest players to ever play the sport, and eventually make the move to Europe.

I think MLS understands this, which is why the league isn't prioritizing winning over the European viewer. Instead, it is focusing on capturing the attention of fans in markets like Argentina, Mexico, and South Korea.

The goal isn't just to attract one audience. It's about building a global fan base.

The league is an interesting mix of upcoming young talent and some of the biggest ageing names in soccer. How important is it to their success that teams strike a balance between youth and experience?

If a team wants to win an MLS Cup, they need both. They need a young core that can maintain a high level throughout the grueling MLS season, dealing with travel and the demands of the schedule, along with one or two world class stars who can step up in the biggest and most stressful moments.

Look at the Vancouver Whitecaps. They had the perfect balance of both and made it all the way to the MLS Cup Final.

What impact do you see Lewandowski making on Chicago Fire’s season? Do you think the striker will have the kind of instant impact we saw with Son?

Easily, a star like that will always come into the league and have an impact as soon as they adjust to the travel and the schedule. The Chicago Fire already had a great team. Lewa just elevates them to another level in the league.

Which teams do you see making the postseason? Any wildcards? And who are your two picks to feature in this year’s MLS Cup?

Watch out for Nashville SC. While they don’t have the flashy European stars, they have some of the best players in MLS, including MLS MVP nominees and winners like Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, and Cristian Espinoza.

For the MLS Cup, I believe Inter Miami will still be involved in the East, but in the Western Conference, we could see LAFC put it all together and make a late-season run behind Denis Bouanga and Son Heung min.

Now after the boost from the World Cup, what do you hope to see for the future of MLS?

I believe the first step in MLS’ growth is becoming the best league outside of Europe and the league of choice for players and fans outside of Europe.

Once MLS surpasses the Brazilian, Mexican, and even Argentine leagues in terms of importance within the global game, those will be real milestones.

I see the future of MLS as a league where young players want to play and where young fans want to watch. If MLS can become the league of choice for the next generation of soccer fans, it will eventually become a mainstream part of the American sports media cycle.

Until then, it will remain a niche league in the United States unless it makes the changes needed to attract the casual viewer. The potential is there, but the league has to make the choices that align with its long term growth.

You've written for major publications including The Athletic and Forbes. What personal projects are you currently working on, and is there anything upcoming that you'd like our readers to know about?

I’m currently working at Kickbase, the official Fantasy partner of MLS. Fantasy sports are a powerful tool for helping a sports league grow in the United States.

I joined this project because I believe in the potential of what fantasy soccer can become and the role it can play in growing the league. I’m excited to be part of the effort to help build Fantasy Soccer into a powerhouse, similar to what Fantasy Football has become in the United States.

Download Kickbase and invite your friends to a league. We are going to need your help growing this league.