 "Lionel Messi has helped Inter Miami top the Eastern Conference standings and also win the Supporters' Shield in just his second season with the club. Reuters")
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has proved to be quite the hit at the American top division Major League Soccer (MLS) ever since he joined Inter Miami as a free agent in July last year following a two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain. The Barcelona legend’s arrival has transformed Inter Miami from a club that struggled to finish among the top-10 clubs in their own conference to a genuine title contender.
Messi, however, has also admitted that he has had to “reinvent” himself and change his playing style ever since he joined the American league in the twilight of his storied career.
“I’ve changed my style of play because of the moment, the situation and my age. I am adapting a little bit to everything. I started reinventing myself and adapting to the league, which for me was new. I felt very comfortable from the beginning,” Messi told transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano for 433.
Within a month of his arrival, the club that is co-owned by England and Manchester United legend David Beckham won the the 2023 Leagues Cup by defeating Nashville SC in the final.
And in the 2024 season, Inter Miami not only finished atop the Eastern Conference standings, they ended up winning the Suppoters Shield by finishing with 74 points – five more than Western Conference toppers Los Angeles FC.
“To build a club you need to win titles. The club was coming off a bad year in MLS (in 2023) and a little bit after my arrival we won the Leagues Cup, the first trophy for the club,” added Messi, whose dream of winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina came true in 2022 in Qatar.
After a stellar regular season, Inter Miami are focused on excelling in the playoffs. The Herons defeated Atlanta United 2-1 in the opening game of the best-of-three series on 26 October and another victory on Saturday will ensure Inter Miami clinch Round One of the playoffs and advance to the semi-finals.