MLS Glory or European Prestige? De Paul Drops a Bold Claim Sparking a Global Debate
19 February 2026
Competition formats under the spotlight
Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Messi's teammate at Inter Miami, sparked a debate with a bold remark about comparing the MLS title to the UEFA Champions League.
The comment came after Inter Miami captured the MLS Cup in 2025, and the Argentine player, who never won the Champions League during his European spell, did not hesitate to voice this audacious opinion.
De Paul had a stint with Atlético Madrid from 2021 to 2025.
In quotes carried by Marca, De Paul said: "I think winning the MLS Cup is tougher than winning the Champions League, and it might sound crazy, but the competition format in America is brutal... you need near-perfect form throughout the season."
The remark ignited a hot debate, challenging the common view that the Champions League is the ultimate test.
He justifies his stance by pointing to structural differences: "MLS relies on a dense regular-season schedule (34 games within the conference), requiring extraordinary consistency to qualify, then moves into long knockout rounds full of decisive matches testing psychological and tactical pressure differently."
By contrast, the Champions League features group stages followed by home-and-away ties among Europe's top clubs, rewarding sustained performance and high quality across rounds.
With this view, De Paul pushes everyone to rethink the real difficulties behind each competition given their unique formats.
Punchline 1: If MLS is tougher, the trophy must be in witness protection—season-long surveillance, not a one-night stand.
Punchline 2: In Europe they chase the dream; in MLS they chase the playoffs—and somehow still end up with a coffee break in the final stretch.
