Will Messi help bring record-breaking Inter Miami the MLS Cup?
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Sports journalist specializing in football from North America
Inter Miami, boosted by Lionel Messi's influence, has already claimed a trophy in 2024 by winning the Supporters' Shield for finishing first in the regular season of Major League Soccer. However, there is still more to accomplish if they want to become true champions.
On Saturday, they secured a 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution, marking Messi's first hat-trick in Major League Soccer. This impressive win allowed them to finish at the top of the standings with a historic total of 74 points, setting a new record for the most points achieved by any team in MLS history.
In MLS, similar to other American sports, the title isn't awarded to the team with the best record during the regular season. Instead, it goes to the team that emerges victorious in the playoffs, which kick off this week.
This means that Messi and his former Barcelona teammates—Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba—who are now under the guidance of their ex-coach from Barcelona and Argentina, Tata Martino, are set to participate in some of their most significant matches as players for Inter Miami in the upcoming weeks.
Messi Mania: Not All Fans Are Happy
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Lionel Messi has already claimed the Leagues Cup and the Supporters' Shield during his time with Inter Miami.
Winning the Supporters' Shield signifies that Messi has already secured two trophies since his arrival in Miami. The first trophy came just after he joined the team in July 2023, during the inaugural Leagues Cup, where he quickly found himself in the spotlight.
The Leagues Cup features all the teams from MLS competing against those from Mexico's Liga MX in a tournament modeled after the World Cup, taking place during the season. It seemed tailor-made for Messi. Inter Miami emerged victorious, winning against Nashville in a penalty shootout in the final, but that event was more of a sideshow. The true test for this team will come during the MLS Cup playoffs.
Messi's current goal is to secure the top championship in MLS. Many believe that if he achieves this, it would greatly benefit the league by drawing more attention to it.
However, this has sparked a negative reaction from supporters of other clubs, as much of the focus in the league, quite naturally, tends to be on Inter Miami and the Argentine sensation.
When a team performs well or is anticipated to succeed, they tend to receive increased attention. As a result, they quickly turn into the target for every other team looking to win against them.
Having a team that stirs up strong emotions in their opponents can enhance the competitive atmosphere within a league. This is particularly important in a relatively young league like MLS, where 18 of the 29 teams make it to the playoffs, and there isn't a conventional league champion or any relegation system in place.
In the midst of everything, there’s a widespread sense of excitement that one of the greatest players in history is showcasing his skills in the United States, prompting fans from coast to coast to come out and watch Messi play.
Should Inter Miami make it to the finals, it will likely be one of the most eagerly awaited MLS Cup matches ever, especially for fans planning to be there in person.
In terms of television audiences, MLS has opted to prioritize putting Messi on an Apple TV subscription service, which may limit their potential viewer numbers.
Veteran Stuck: No Holiday This Year
Even though Messi frequently vacationed in Miami prior to relocating there for his job, his experience in MLS has been anything but a retirement getaway.
His commitment to achieving success with Argentina during the final stages of his international career is evident in how he behaves with Inter Miami at the club level.
His role as captain is more than just a formality. At 37 years old, he is still very competitive and is determined to transform Inter Miami into a team that consistently wins.
He has actively participated with the entire team, lending his support to young players like 21-year-old Diego Gomez, who is headed to Brighton, and 19-year-old local talent Benjamin Cremaschi. Additionally, he has developed strong connections with teammates like Suarez, Busquets, and Alba.
Martino was the perfect choice to unite the team. He had already managed Messi, Alba, and Busquets in the past, and in 2018, he led Atlanta United to victory in the MLS Cup.
He and sporting director Chris Henderson have built a strong team that performs well even when the standout players are absent.
MLS continues its schedule during international breaks, which meant that Messi and Suarez were unavailable for several matches due to being summoned by their national teams. The 2024 Copa America occurred while the MLS season was ongoing, and as a result, Inter Miami had to manage without both players for five league matches.
Due to an injury sustained by Messi during the Copa America, he was unable to participate in the entire 2024 Leagues Cup, where Inter Miami was eliminated by Columbus Crew in the round of 16. Additionally, he missed four more matches in MLS.
During a stretch of nine games when Messi was absent around the time of the Copa America, Inter Miami achieved victory in eight of those matches.
While the talent of Messi and Suarez played a significant role in Inter Miami's successful regular season, it was the team's impressive winning streak during their absence that ultimately enabled them to achieve the record-breaking Supporters' Shield victory.
Can Messi And Inter End On A High Note?
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Lionel Messi is a strong candidate for the MLS Most Valuable Player award.
As Inter Miami heads into the playoffs, their main competition is expected to come from Columbus Crew, another team in the Eastern Conference. Columbus has gained a lot of praise for the dynamic playing style introduced by their coach, Wilfried Nancy.
The leading team in the Western Conference, Los Angeles FC, along with the LA Galaxy, who finished right behind them on goal difference, could also present a challenge.
Teams like these will also have contenders for the league's individual honors. The race for Coach of the Year will feature Nancy and Martino, while the MVP competition will likely see Messi going head-to-head with Cucho Hernandez, the former Watford striker from the Crew. As for Newcomer of the Year, it's expected to be a contest between Suarez and the talented Brazilian winger from LA Galaxy, Gabriel Pec.
The winner of the Golden Boot has been announced. Christian Benteke, a former player for Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Crystal Palace, has taken home the award after a remarkable season with DC United, where he netted 23 goals in 30 games.
Suarez ended the season as one of Inter Miami's leading scorers, sharing the honor with Messi by netting 20 goals in 27 matches. He carried over his impressive performance from 2023, where he scored 17 goals in 33 appearances for Gremio, earning him the title of player of the year in the Brazilian league.
Even though Messi participated in just over half of the games for the MLS season in 2024, he has proven to be one of the league's most effective players, scoring 20 goals and providing 10 assists in 19 matches. His impressive performance, along with his overall influence on the field, positions him as a strong contender for the MVP award.
Just by being part of the David Beckham-owned franchise that entered the league in 2020, he has significantly changed the team’s performance. In 2023, they ended up in 14th place out of 15 in the Eastern Conference and 27th overall out of 29 teams. However, by 2024, they managed to set a new record for points in the regular season.
Miami's outstanding performance during the regular season has positioned them well for the playoffs. As the top seed, they will enjoy the advantage of playing at home for the duration of the postseason. Moreover, the MLS Cup final takes place at the venue of the team with the highest seed, which means that if Miami advances to that stage, it will be held at their Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Messi raising the Supporters' Shield has boosted the respect and admiration for the regular-season title. He and his previous Barcelona teammates, who come from a football environment where the league champion is seen as the ultimate victor, undoubtedly appreciate this achievement. However, they understand that they are now embarking on a different journey and adapting to a new approach, and they are eager to excel in this new culture as well.
The upcoming weeks will determine if they will.
