Rumors of Messi's Influence: De La Vega's National Team Future Uncertain
The Leagues Cup final between the Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami escalated into a heated confrontation between players, sparking rumors of Lionel Messi influencing Pedro De La Vega's national team future. Despite not being directly involved in the altercation, Messi, De La Vega, and Rodrigo De Paul exchanged words, leading to speculation about Messi's potential impact on De La Vega's Argentina call-up. De La Vega praised Messi and De Paul, emphasizing their greatness and his respect for them. He acknowledged that clashes like the one with Inter Miami's players are common in football and expressed his desire to remain focused and unaffected by the situation. As a forward in a position with strong competition in Argentina's squad, De La Vega faces challenges in securing a spot due to the team's specific requirements for players. With limited opportunities for substitutes beyond the main starters, De La Vega's chances of representing Argentina remain slim. Speculation about Messi's alleged influence on De La Vega's national team prospects arose from a story shared by former MLS player Alan Gordon on the MLS Journeyman Podcast, where Gordon claimed Messi had allegedly prevented De La Vega from playing for the national team. Despite the controversy, De La Vega continues to strive for a chance to represent his country on the international stage.