Listen, let’s be clear about Lionel Messi: On the field, the guy is amazing. He’s been the star of stars for what seems like forever.

He’s done massive things for Major League Soccer since arriving in 2023. His signing by the league was massive — and it included a cut of the then-new Apple TV deal, with incentives around new fan recruitment.

He was brought in to push MLS even further beyond the somewhat quaint little league that David Beckham joined in 2007, followed later by the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2011. In the decade-plus since those days, the league has become one where money talks — but if you’re smart in how you build your team, you can still make waves.

That’s what the Whitecaps have done this season. Head coach Jesper Sorensen took a team that played a fun style under Vanni Sa

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