The number 10 has shown his magic in the cups, but Tata Martino’s side are starting far behind in the league. Capable of?
Lionel Messi has only been with Inter Miami for just over a month, but he has already established himself as Miami’s wonderman. Since he arrived, it has been moment after moment. He already has a trophy in hand and, after another heroic performance in the late game, Messi has Miami in a position to challenge for a second silver medal in the very near future following an Open Cup semi-final win of the United States at FC Cincinnati.
However, cup competitions are a thing of the past for the time being. Messi has dominated those competitions, scoring at least one goal in every game so far. This weekend, however, Messi begins his life in the MLS and the situation he finds himself in is not pretty.
Messi may be Miami’s wonder man, but even for him, saving the club’s MLS season could be a mission impossible.
As they prepare to face the New York Red Bulls this weekend, Inter Miami are in last place in the MLS. With just 18 points and 22 goals in 22 games, Inter Miami is nothing like a team capable of clinching a playoff spot throughout the entire MLS season.
Obviously a lot has changed since they last played in the MLS. Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Tata Martino, among others, have arrived and almost immediately rebuilt this team. The team that existed before the League Cup break is no more, and the one built in its place looks like a behemoth ready to be unleashed on the rest of MLS.
But time could play against Miami this MLS season, and getting them into the postseason looks like Messi’s most impossible challenge yet.
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Source: Goal
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.