Mic'd Up: Better than most, the father-son broadcasters understand the complexities of the American soccer landscape
"The two most famous Argentines in the United States: my dad and Messi!"
Nico Cantor is beaming with pride. So, too, is his father, the legendary Andres Cantor, who is conveniently sitting right next to him. While Lionel Messi may be the man who created so many iconic moments, Andres Cantor has been the soundtrack for so many of them.
For every memorable Messi goal, there's an iconic Cantor call of it coming in right behind.
Messi's footprint is secure. So, too, is Cantor's. The elder Cantor, though, isn't writing the story alone. Famous for the legacy he's built with Telemundo and beyond, Andres is now watching on as his son, Nico, builds on it with his work with CBS, continuing to carry the Cantor torch in his own way. This wasn't always the plan, but it surely is cool, and it's something that both can now take so much pride in.
"Believe me, I didn't push him into this," the elder Cantortells GOAL with a laugh. "He just naturally fell into it. Watching him grow professionally has been tremendous. I think, and I know I'm biased, I think he's doing a terrific job."
Better than most, the Cantors understand the complexities of the American soccer landscape. They can also understand Messi's impact on it – generally for good.
The Cantors discussed Messi's legacy, fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino's World Cup path for the USMNT and the culture of soccer in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
GettyON MESSI'S IMPACT
GOAL: You both have such different views of Messi. Andres, you've been around for his whole career. Nico, you probably don't remember what the sport was like without him. Now, he's here in the U.S. and, while you may not feel his impact for another 10-15 years, there's still that impact. What do you think that will look like when this is all said and done?
Andres Cantor: We knew he was going to make an impact when he signed, but I didn't expect the type of impact nationwide. You see the different teams and their home games at bigger stadiums, and they sell them out. Every time he takes a corner, if this were anywhere else in the world, visiting fans would be yelling and cussing and throwing things at him. Here, it's cell phones out capturing video, yelling "Messi, Messi, Messi!" Half the people in the stands have Messi jerseys. He's the most recognizable soccer star that has ever played in this country. You ask a kid who's playing the game and who is the first name that comes to mind? They will all unequivocally say Messi. That's the impact, both culturally and business-wise. We will have withdrawals when he does retire or when he's no longer in the league. We will then see the impact he has left behind when he calls it quits.
Nico Cantor: I think having Messi in the league has forced Major League Soccer to think about a few things that they've had in place there. The latest example is the All-Star Game. Him not going, MLS was forced to suspend him because that was a rule in place – and there would have been a massive uproar around the league if they didn't. Inter Miami is really pushing the envelope with rule changes and roster changes because they have shown to be ambitious, especially since Messi's arrival. This is a big moment for the U.S. There's going to be a before and after, just like there was a before and after David Beckham. I think this is magnified much more than Beckham. The impact is going to be much more lasting than the years that he's played in the United States.
AdvertisementGoal Ar / SocialON THE END OF AN ERA
GOAL: Andres, you mentioned the end there and there's no doubt that the end of Messi's career is coming. Father time is undefeated, even when you're Messi. Knowing that, what else is there left for him to do? He's won everything, achieved everything. What else is there that you want to see him do before he inevitably calls it quits?
Andres Cantor: Maybe winning the MLS title? There's this big debate I'm having with a lot of people regarding the next World Cup. I think he'll play, but we know he's not particularly fond of records. Cristiano will probably play in his sixth World Cup. Memo Ochoa will probably play his sixth. Messi will not be alone in that because I think a few other players will have that sixth World Cup. I don't think he's chasing that. It took him five to win it, and I think he might be realizing that this Argentina team has a chance to do it again. I think he senses that he can contribute, either as a starter or even if there's just a free kick you can put him in for. I always use the same analogy. There is a scene after the match was over in Qatar and Messi's family was still up in the box. He looked up and said, "That's it" in Spanish. It was him completing football, basically.
Nico Cantor: There's nothing Messi can do sports-wise to tarnish his legacy. It's permanent ink. It's the longevity that's the most incredible. Other than Ronaldo, there isn't another footballer with this kind of longevity. My childhood was the two best footballers that I have ever seen going head to head, pushing each other to the limits in ways that, for many years, were unimaginable. We were privileged to witness those two go head to head and, obviously, from an Argentine perspective, seeing Messi was a gift that I could never have imagined receiving.
GettyON ASSOCIATION WITH MESSI
GOAL: Andres, you, in particular, have been around for so many of Messi's best moments, including the World Cup in 2022. Nico, you grew up watching those moments and now, as a broadcaster, get to cover the man you grew up watching. Now you are both part of a Lowe's campaign with him, Cantors and Messi. What's that like? What does that say about where your name fits in all of this?
Andres Cantor: I've been around for more than 40 years now, and I've tried to convey this to Nico. I pinch myself literally every time I get to call a big match. I've been privileged enough to have the best seat in the house to the biggest games in soccer for the last four decades. It's no small thing. I'm privileged and blessed, and to be a part of the Lowe's team in our own way, to be associated with all of the things that Messi has in store until the World Cup, it's great to be in that same boat. It's amazing.
Nico Cantor: Waking up every day and getting to talk soccer is great. I've lived this my entire life and, as you get older and realize what other people do for a living, I have friends who work 9-5 jobs and I don't think I could ever see myself doing that. I know that this is a privilege and I'm in awe of it sometimes. It drives me, it motivates me and it defines me. Bringing that all together with Lowe's, I think it's an awesome thing.
Getty Images SportON USMNT CULTURE
GOAL: So much of the talk around the USMNT this summer was about culture and, in many ways, about how Mauricio Pochettino, a fellow Argentine, is looking to shape it. In Argentina, Messi doesn't miss a game, whether it's a World Cup final or a meaningless trip to Bolivia. But this summer, the U.S. had to navigate a tournament without its biggest star, Christian Pulisic, and several other big names. That must have been entirely foreign to Pochettino. You add in MLS with salary caps and All-Star Games and everything, and there's just such a different culture. Could the U.S. learn from Argentina, or vice versa?
Nico Cantor: I think there were a couple of moments where Pochettino was probably struck by differences in mindset, culturally, with soccer in the U.S. vs what he's used to. It's a different demand, but I hope he's able to at least plant a certain seed with this team. What we saw this summer, I think, is a fallout of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and everything that has followed since that moment. The USMNT was sent down a certain path after not qualifying for the World Cup in Russia. There are certain remnants that we've seen with the current generation, where there wasn't an older generation to instill certain values that were, honestly, similar to the culture we're all citing right now. I do think in 2014, 2010, '06, '02, '98, '94 and '90, there was a certain culture instilled that I think was more representative of a global football identity of most national teams. Hopefully, in a year's time, I'm proven wrong and there's this shift in mentality, one that we're all waiting for.
Andres Cantor: I have to say that there's only one culture in soccer, the culture of winning. In Thailand, in Mongolia, and it has to be here. Just because one player decided to listen to his body during the summer doesn't mean that others didn't want to be here trying to earn a spot for next year's World Cup. It's more of a mentality question of the player's frame of mind when it comes to teh Gold Cup. For a young American player that's been abroad for so many years – Pulisic has won the Champions League, has played for the biggest clubs in the world, playing 50-60 games – and then having to play Haiti and five more games just to get to a final, which is the only game that matters. I can understand where he's coming from. But unfortunately, the USMNT belongs to CONCACAF and this is the most important tournament they have. It's unheard of, in my view, that a player wouldn't want to play for a national team. Ask around and every other player around the world wants to play, especially when called up. I think the culture of winning has to change, and I think that's what Pochettino is trying to instill.