Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:46 p.m. / Updated Thursday, February 19, 2026 10:46 p.m.
Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul (31) recently gave a statement that set the internet on fire: the Argentine claimed that it is harder to win the MLS than to win the Champions League.
After conquering MLS in 2025 with the Florida team, at the very first attempt the world champion with Argentina in 2022 conveyed that MLS is more difficult to win because of the competitive format.
Rodrigo De Paul made the claim that set the internet on fire: “I think it's harder to win MLS than the Champions League”
“I think it's harder to win MLS than the Champions League. I know it sounds crazy, but the format in MLS is very difficult. You have to always play perfectly,” said Rodrigo de Paul, according to abola.pt.
The format in MLS is atypical for European soccer and is similar to that of the NBA: the thirty teams are divided into two conferences: one Western and one Eastern. In the regular season each team plays 34 games: 28 with teams from the conference they belong to (round trip) and another six games with teams from the other conference. 8 teams from each Conference enter the play-off: the first 7 directly, and the 8th and 9th places play a play-off each. Later in the play-off, it is played in the form of a tableau.
The controversial statement sparked a debate on social media, with some fans attacking him for failing to win the Champions League: “Where's your Champions League?”, “How can you compare to a trophy you haven't won?”, “The biggest comedian.”
Rodrigo De Paul, who never won the Champions League during his time in Europe, has moved permanently to Inter Miami after a loan spell from Atletico Madrid between July and December 2025. The deal, valued at €15 million, ties the player to the North American club until December 2029.
Rodrigo De Paul started his career at Racing Club in Argentina and reached Europe for the first time in Valencia. He also played at Udinese for 5 seasons, and then was transferred by Atletico Madrid. After 4 years spent at the formation in the capital of Spain, he took the road to the USA to play at Inter Miami with his colleague and good friend from the national team, Leo Messi. Rodrigo De Paul has never won the Champions League. but he is world champion and has two Copa America titles.
