Spanish soccer was fine without Cristiano Ronaldo, and it will be fine without Lionel Messi, says a La Liga captain

"I think that La Liga is stronger than a single player," Pulido told Insider when asked how Messi's potential departure from FC Barcelona this summer would impact the Spanish top division.

Messi, who is La Liga's all-time top scorer with 467 goals, requested to leave Barca last year and is yet to put pen to paper on a new contract, meaning he is free to leave at the end of the season. 

If Messi does leave, it would be the most seismic move in world soccer history, and would only really be comparable to Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018.

At the time many speculated that Ronaldo leaving Spain after almost a decade, and thus ending his intense rivalry with Messi, would push La Liga into a downward spiral and lower the league's overall quality.

However, this term, with only eight (or in some cases nine or 10) games left to play, the fate of the championship remains very much up in the air.

Madrid lead the way as it stands, though the side is only ahead of Atletico Madrid on goal difference while also having played one game more. 

Read full article here