Messi Takes Control of Inter Miami
Image credits: New York Post
Lionel Messi’s transformation of Inter Miami was instantaneous, with his arrival in 2023 bringing unprecedented attention and talent to the club. He attracted new levels of security and professionalism, turning average players into goal creators and a cellar-dweller into a trophy winner in less than two months. However, his takeover of Inter Miami was gradual, and largely unseen, until now. In Year 3, it seems complete, with Messi aiming for multiple titles in 2025 with a longtime teammate as his head coach, and his former academy coach overseeing the roster.
Messi will be coached by Javier Mascherano, his former Barcelona and Argentina teammate, during Inter Miami's 2025 season. Despite the inherent pressure to help the club reach new heights, Mascherano is taking his new job in stride, with Messi and three other teammates, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, by his side. The question is whether they are better for it, with Messi's influence now all over the club. He has earned his influence, and will eventually be an Inter minority owner, essentially molding the club to his liking, whenever and however he wants. The MLS season has begun, and Inter Miami will compete on the world stage in the FIFA Club World Cup, in addition to playing matches in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Leagues Cup.
In their first match of the season, Inter Miami drew 2-2 with NYCFC, with Messi scoring an assist in the fifth minute and another in the 100th minute to help his team escape with a draw. The match was played with Inter Miami having only 10 men on the field, after an early ejection, and trailing 2-1 since the 55th minute. Messi's heroics were on full display, with his second assist of the game helping Inter Miami to a draw. The team has played seven matches in 35 days to start the year, and will have another game in three days, hosting SKC in the second leg of their Champions Cup series on Tuesday.
The 2025 MLS season marks the league's 30th season, and will be a pivotal stretch for soccer in the United States, with the FIFA Club World Cup being played later this summer in the United States, and the FIFA World Cup next year being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber believes that the next two years will be epic for soccer in the United States, with the World Cup raising the attention of the sport in ways that nobody ever dreamed of. Inter Miami's match against NYCFC was streamed live on Apple TV+, and fans can access MLS games through various providers, including DirecTV, Xfinity, and T-Mobile.
Inter Miami's roster has been bolstered by new signings, including Argentine forward Tadeo Allende, Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia, Argentine fullback Gonzalo Luján, and Uruguayan center back Maxi Falcón. The team will look to build on their success from last season, when they won the Supporters' Shield with a record number of regular-season points. With Messi's influence and talent, Inter Miami will be a team to watch in the 2025 MLS season. Here are the match scores for Inter Miami's recent games:
- Inter Miami 2, NYCFC 2
- Inter Miami 1, Sporting Kansas City 0
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