All eyes on Lionel Messi ahead of first full MLS season
ARGENTINE legend Lionel Messi is set to begin his first full season with Inter Miami on Wednesday, joining familiar faces from his Barcelona days.
His new team is considered the favorite to clinch their first Major League Soccer title in 2024.
Messi made an immediate impact when he joined Miami midseason last July, leading them to a League Cup title.
However, he couldn’t work his magic to help the team overcome their early-season results and secure a playoff spot.
Miami has since added Luis Suarez, further strengthening an already talented and deep squad. This move reunites the 37-yearold Uruguayan striker with former Barcelona teammates Messi (36), Sergio Busquets (35) and Jordi Alba (34).
Amid the hype and constant headlines, Miami will aim to capitalize on their talented quartet by formulating the right strategies to maximize their potential.
“Superteams also find it difficult to win,” Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said in January. “Only if we prepare well and separate ourselves from believing that just by bringing together footballers, stories, pasts, we are going to do it. The teams that win are the ones that come together.”
Miami’s opening match will be at home against Real Salt Lake as the 2024 MLS season gets underway with replacement referees amid a labor dispute.
It will mark a welcome return home for Miami following a preseason tour during which they were booed after a last-minute decision saw record eight-time Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner Messi sit out a Hong Kong friendly due to injury.
Despite all their talent, there will be plenty of hurdles in Miami’s way, as defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew and reigning Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati will both try to fend off Messi in the Eastern Conference.
Columbus, under French coach Wilfried Nancy, opens their season against Atlanta on Saturday at home with their sights set on becoming the fourth MLS team to repeat as champions and the first since David Beckham and LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012.
Columbus returns with a loaded squad featuring 2023 MLS Cup Most Valuable Player Cucho Hernandez, four-time MLS Cup winner Darlington Nagbe and All-Star Aidan Morris. In the Western Conference, St. Louis City SC will be eager to build on their groundbreaking 2023 season when they became the first MLS team to clinch the top seed in their conference during a debut campaign.