Carlos Vela knows the end of his football career is near. The LAFC star and Mexican international turned 34 this year, and Vela knows that footballers are not blessed with immorality, no matter how high their pedestal may be perceived to be.
“You get to an age when you can’t fool yourself anymore into thinking that you’re going to play five to 10 more years,” Vela tells The Athletic. “Now, each year I have to take stock of my body, my mind in order to keep playing.”
Vela is dubbed “the King of LA” by the LAFC faithful. His star rose further after LAFC’s MLS Cup winning campaign last season. Now Vela, one of Mexico’s most popular players, is playing for more trophies, as he ponders what his future may look like when he hangs up his boots.
“I want to end (my career) well. I don’t want to be let go because I can’t play anymore.” Vela says. “If my mind and body aren’t at 100 percent, I’ll step aside and let others step in. I’ve always been clear about that. I know it’s coming soon.”
Vela has scored 178 goals for club and country in a career that began at Chivas de Guadalajara in 2002. He played briefly for Arsenal and then bounced around in Europe, finally settling at Real Sociedad in 2011. In over 200 appearances for the Basque club, Vela was far and away the side’s star player, which is a rarity for Mexican footballers.
Hugo Sánchez played over 200 games for Real Madrid in the 1980s. Rafael Márquez was a standout center defender for seven seasons in Barcelona. Vela’s good friend and LA rival, the Galaxy’s Javier Hernández, had a fruitful spell in Europe with Manchester United and Real Madrid. And no Mexican player has had a longer career in Europe than Andrés Guardado, who has become an institution at Real Betis. Vela didn’t reach such heights at Sociedad, but his six seasons at the club made him one of La Liga’s more talented attackers, during the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Wearing a Coors Light scarf, as part of his role to promote the beer brand’s Leagues Cup sponsorship, Vela spoke openly with The Athletic about Messi’s impact on MLS, why players are motivated to play the inaugural Leagues Cup, and where Vela’s future lies.
After getting a bye from the Leagues Cup group stage, Vela and LAFC play FC Juarez in the Round of 32 on Aug. 2
Questions and answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
You know you’ve started a rivalry with Messi already, right? Messi’s a Budweiser guy.
Well, we’re off to a good start then.
You represent brands here and in Mexico. Any advice for Messi as he steps into this world in the U.S.?
In the end, Messi has to be ready for everything. Because he’s the best player in the world, he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to continue to grow his brand. But he’ll also help other companies like (Coors) that want our sport to grow. That’s the most important part. We know how the world works. MLS can’t make the jump that it wants without sponsors. And with players like Messi, the MLS brand will grow.
You’re quite the promoter now, huh?
It’s summer. The football fans get really passionate and a Coors Light can help you relax. To be chill. (Laughs) And with this scarf, you can hold your beers and keep them cool. That’s a big deal in hot weather so you can relax and enjoy the game. That’s the goal: for fans to enjoy the game.
You’re a great player but you’re bad salesman, Carlos. Let’s be honest. And let’s move on. Leagues Cup is a tournament that involves Mexican teams, but it’s being played solely in the U.S. How do you make it attractive to Mexican fans in Mexico?
There’s always some anxiety about something that’s new. They can say that people won’t watch at first because they’re not interested, but I think you have to watch the games to find out. The games have to be entertaining in order for people to watch. I’ve always said that. We have to play entertaining football. A 0-0 game won’t help.
Footballers are playing more and more games. How do you feel about this new summer tournament and its format?
Obviously we’re not used to something like this. It’s new for us, too. We won’t be as familiar with our opponents or how they play. We have our own doubts about how it’ll all play out, but once we start playing, we’ll give everything. This is what we love to do. This is why they pay us. We’ll be expected to entertain the fans.
Personally, I really like it. The more games the better. Staying healthy is key but I’ll give everything so that the fans are entertained when they watch me play. I’ll do it in Leagues Cup and in every game that I play moving forward. Even if it’s a new tournament, it matters to be able to say ‘The first (Leagues Cup) was won by LAFC.’ Once it kicks off, winning it will be all that matters.
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It’s an international competition and there’s a trophy on the line. But what is the chief incentive for the players? Is prize money the motivation?
A cash prize never hurts but that shouldn’t be the most important thing. It’s more about the opportunity to play against teams that you don’t typically face. That should give you extra motivation to show yourself against teams from other countries. Mexican teams will be motivated to come here. They’ll get a chance to play against Messi, against me. Players that you don’t have a weekly rivalry with. That’s a bonus.
How would you like to see Leagues Cup grow? Would you like to see MLS teams playing Leagues Cup games in Mexico?
That’s the most fair outcome for everyone. We should be able to enjoy all three countries. There are teams from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Ideally, matches would be played in all three countries. There shouldn’t be as much of an advantage for the home team. This will be the first edition. It should evolve over the years. They’ll find the right formula to make it enjoyable for all parties.
You’re already an MLS champion and clearly a big star in the U.S. and Mexico. How do you think Messi will like playing in MLS, in the U.S.?
He’s going to enjoy it. If there’s one thing that (footballers) have in this country is quality of life. The comfort in knowing that after you’ve played, you can have your time with your family and go to public places without as much stress as in other places. He’ll have that. Obviously Messi is well known all over the world, but based on what he’s used to, he’ll live a more peaceful life here.
What about on the pitch? You mentioned Inter Miami’s reality in the league standings.
He just has to enjoy his football and figure out what to do on the pitch in order to truly stand out. He’s coming from so many years of playing in Europe with Barcelona and PSG. The players on those teams serve up everything on a silver platter. All you have to do is finish the play. In MLS, you have to do a bit more. But you also have to avoid trying to do too much. That happened to me when I first got here – I’d get impatient because I wasn’t getting the ball the way I wanted, so I’d go up to the center backs to get the ball, dribble past everyone and score. You can’t do that. You’ll burn energy and then you’re not in the position you’re supposed to be in. You have to get used to what you have on your team and find the right spaces to make a difference. Messi, obviously, will have to choose his moments to do his magic and show why he is who he is.
Copa America will be played in the U.S. next summer, the Club World Cup in 2025 and the men’s World Cup in 2026. Seems like a great time to be playing here. Do you feel part of the growth of the sport in the U.S.?
I think so and I believe that I’ve helped the game to grow here. I feel part of everything that we’ve been able to build here. Is this the time? I believe so. When I decided to come to MLS I felt it was the best for me and for my family. There will always be people who agree and others who say you made a mistake.
What’s important is when you get to decide where you want to be. That was my case. I had options and I decided to come here. I don’t regret it at all. I’ve won individual awards and now a team trophy. We can see that the club is growing. It’s proof that I made the right decision.
When is that final chapter for you?
Honestly I’m thinking about it. I’ve always been clear about that. I know it’s coming soon.
I don’t know if it’ll be in one or two years but I know that this is the home stretch. I’m enjoying it all more than ever because I don’t know when my last game of my MLS career will be. I try to enjoy every game I play. There’s no time to lose.
You could end your career with more trophies in hand. LAFC will contend for MLS Cup and will be among the favorites to win Leagues Cup. Would you rather end your career with a trophy in the U.S. or play a final season in Mexico?
It’s complicated because right now I see myself in Los Angeles. I have a contract here and I’m not looking beyond that. I don’t have any other offers. I haven’t begun talks with LAFC about a contract extension.
We’re playing a lot of games and we want to win more titles. When the time comes, I’ll make those decisions about what’s best for my family and for myself and where I want to end my career. Right now I can’t tell you where I’m leaning. We’re in Los Angeles. We’ll see where we go from here.
(Photo: Melinda Meijer/ISI Photos/Getty Images)