I don't disagree with that, but I still think that's because soccer is at least a decade behind on athletic training. For example, guys like Ronaldo and Bale are certainly superior athletes and they look like Barry Sanders did playing college football in 1988. Soccer has certainly become more and more athletic through the decades, right? The players with the best skills certainly still dominate, but the base level of athleticism increases with each passing year. I also think you don't understand what I'm saying about athleticism either, as Messi and Rooney are certainly very athletic guys and their skills coupled with their athleticism make them world class. Messi's skills wouldn't be so amazing if he was slow and plodding. Remember that F3cone drill is very important to me and Messi probably would have a world class time in that drill. They both run circles around poor athletes.
So in a country like America where our player skills are always going to be capped by our lackluster development, athleticism is the answer.