'It's unacceptable...' Lionel Messi's Inter-Miami teammate reveals his 'No-Draw' mentality

Lionel Messi has a strong belief in striving for victory, as highlighted by Julian Gressel, who noted that his Inter Miami teammate finds draws to be unsatisfactory.

Having won the Ballon d'Or a record Eight times, Messi's commitment to excellence is evident; he holds himself to high standards and approaches each game with the determination to win. At 37 years old, his passion for the sport remains as powerful as ever.

Messi led Inter Miami to a monumental victory, clinching the Supporters’ Shield in 2024, as they set a new regular season record for points. However, the ultimate MLS Cup title remained out of reach. The South American GOAT held himself and his teammates to an exceptionally high standard, with Gressel highlighting the distinct mindset that sets Messi apart from others.

Gressel reveals about Messi's mentality 

USMNT star Gressel made a point in a podcast about the high expectations in the locker room with Messi. We're talking about the player with the most wins in the history of the game. When Messi enters the team, he expects the same level of commitment from everyone. As teammates, they must adapt to this mentality, alongside legends like Suarez, Busquets, and Alba. It's simply unacceptable to accept a tie; that's the standard the team has to uphold. He remembered earlier this year when Herons drew a game—Messi was visibly upset afterwards.

“It's demanding [in the locker room with Messi]. You're talking about the player with the most wins in the history of the game. They're coming in and they're expecting the same, and you as a teammate, you kind of have to get accustomed to that and get used to that with Messi, [Luis] Suarez, [Sergio] Busquets and [Jordi] Alba. It's unacceptable to tie a game, as simple as that. We tied a game earlier in the year and I remember him being really, really upset in the locker room, he's like, ‘We shouldn't tie, we can't tie’.” Gressel said.

Messi is set to make a powerful bid for MLS Cup glory in 2025, as he has a full 12 months remaining on his contract at Chase Stadium. He will also lead the Herons in the Leagues Cup, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.