Application of the Moser–Trudinger inequality in the construction of global solutions to a strongly degenerate migration model

<jats:p> A no-flux initial-boundary value problem for the cross-diffusion system [Formula: see text] is considered in smoothly bounded domains [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]. It is shown that whenever [Formula: see text] is positive on [Formula: see text] and such that [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text], for all suitably regular positive initial data a global very weak solution, particularly preserving mass in its first component, can be constructed. This extends previous results which either concentrate on non-degenerate analogs, or are restricted to the special case [Formula: see text]. </jats:p><jats:p> To appropriately cope with the considerably stronger cross-degeneracies thus allowed through [Formula: see text] when [Formula: see text] is large, in its core part the analysis relies on the use of the Moser–Trudinger inequality in controlling the respective diffusion rates [Formula: see text] from below. </jats:p>