André Gomes on MLS: “Anyone Who Comes Here Has to Improve What Already Exists”

The former Portugal international, who shared the pitch with Lionel Messi at Barcelona and faced the highest standards of European football, believes Major League Soccer is growing into a more competitive league, but says players arriving from abroad have a responsibility to help take it further.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — André Gomes has experienced football at some of its highest levels. From representing Portugal on the international stage to playing alongside Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona and competing in some of Europe’s most demanding leagues, the Columbus Crew midfielder has seen firsthand what separates football cultures, competitions and clubs.

Now playing in Major League Soccer, Gomes is offering a perspective shaped by experience rather than reputation. His message is clear: MLS has made significant progress, and those who arrive from abroad should contribute to its continued development instead of simply benefiting from its growing visibility.

During a media availability, Gomes addressed the perception that MLS remains a level below European football, acknowledging that such questions are understandable while emphasizing how much the competition has evolved.

“Anyone who comes to MLS has to come with a sense of responsibility to improve what already exists,” Gomes explained.

For the Portuguese midfielder, that responsibility extends beyond individual performances. He believes the league’s progress depends on the collective contribution of its clubs, domestic players and international signings.

MLS, founded in 1996, has undergone a significant transformation. Gomes pointed to the difference between the league’s first two decades and the more recent period, describing the changes of the past 10 years as particularly noticeable.

He also recognized the role that increased international exposure has played in changing perceptions of American soccer.

“MLS is working very, very well when it comes to visibility and opening doors,” he said, noting that the league is increasingly being viewed abroad as a competition on the rise.

A different kind of competition

Despite the league’s growth, Gomes acknowledged that MLS operates under a different structure than the European competitions where he built much of his career.

One of the most obvious differences is the absence of promotion and relegation. In many European leagues, the threat of dropping into a lower division shapes clubs’ decisions, tactical approaches and attitudes toward individual matches.

In MLS, Gomes sees a different dynamic, one that can produce unpredictable and entertaining football.

Without the same consequences associated with relegation, teams can approach matches with a willingness to take risks. Gomes described how games can change dramatically in their closing stages, with a seemingly comfortable lead disappearing as teams continue to attack.

He admitted that this mentality was not something he was accustomed to after years in European football, where smaller teams often approach matches with a more controlled and cautious strategy.

“In the other leagues, there is always a much more controlled risk in what teams do, especially the smaller teams,” he explained.

In MLS, however, the feeling that any team can compete against another creates a different type of challenge.

For Gomes, that unpredictability is part of what makes the league distinctive. It also means players must adapt to a competition where matches can become complicated regardless of the opponent or the circumstances.

The challenge that comes with a country as large as the United States

Tactical differences are not the only adjustment Gomes has had to make.

The midfielder also highlighted the physical and logistical demands of competing across the United States, particularly the extensive travel and time-zone changes that can affect recovery between matches.

A team might play on the East Coast before facing a trip to Portland just days later, requiring hours on a plane and a significant adjustment in time zones, all without leaving the same country.

Gomes compared those challenges with the long journeys experienced by South American clubs competing in tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

For a player accustomed to the geographical scale of European football, MLS presents a different set of demands that can influence preparation, recovery and performance throughout a season.

Those factors, he suggested, are part of the complexity of playing in the league and maintaining consistency on the road.

Messi, memories and the privilege of sharing the game with legends

Gomes’ experience also gives his perspective a personal dimension.

Having played alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona, the Portuguese midfielder was asked about the Argentine star and the significance of his international career.

Rather than focusing on statistics or individual achievements, Gomes spoke about the privilege of sharing important moments with one of football’s greatest players.

“I have been fortunate to share many moments with him and to win trophies with him as well,” Gomes said.

He acknowledged the emotional weight of seeing a player who has dedicated so much of his life to representing his country approach the end of that chapter.

For Gomes, Messi’s legacy extends beyond his ability on the pitch. It is also defined by the way he represented Argentina and the respect he earned from teammates, supporters and the wider football community.

The Portuguese midfielder expressed gratitude for having been part of that journey, recognizing that football fans are fortunate to witness players of Messi’s caliber even as their careers eventually approach their final chapters.

His words carried the perspective of someone who has experienced elite football from inside the dressing room, where the personalities, daily work and shared sacrifices behind the trophies are just as meaningful as the moments celebrated by millions.

South American football remains close to his heart

The conversation also turned toward South American football and the possibility of Gomes one day competing in tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores or Copa Sudamericana.

The midfielder did not rule out that possibility.

He explained that South American football has always been a regular topic of conversation among teammates and friends, particularly because of the connections he has developed with Argentine, Brazilian and Uruguayan players throughout his career.

Clubs such as River Plate, Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Palmeiras, San Lorenzo and Peñarol frequently come up in those discussions.

Those conversations extend beyond the dressing room, with players following results, discussing performances and sometimes arranging to watch matches together.

Gomes also recalled facing Peñarol in a friendly while playing for Benfica, illustrating that his connection with South American football goes beyond simply following the competition from a distance.

Asked whether he could imagine playing in South America in the future, he left the door open.

As he explained, it is never wise to say never when it comes to football, particularly when opportunities arise through relationships, connections and projects that make sense for a player’s career.

More than a destination for established stars

Ultimately, Gomes’ comments offer a broader perspective on the role of international players in MLS.

The league’s ability to attract established names has helped raise its profile, but his argument is that reputation alone cannot determine its future. The real measure of progress will be the quality of the competition, the development of its existing talent and the willingness of every new arrival to contribute.

For Columbus Crew, Gomes brings experience gained alongside some of the most recognizable figures in world football. But his assessment of MLS is not simply a comparison between his former surroundings and his current one.

It is a recognition that the league is evolving, and that its next steps depend on the people who compete in it.

The challenge, as Gomes sees it, is not merely to bring more international stars to the United States. It is to ensure that those players leave the league better than they found it.

For MLS to continue earning respect around the world, growth must translate into a more competitive product on the field. And for André Gomes, every player who arrives has a responsibility to help make that happen.