Messi wants to win MLS
On September 4, Messi gave his first post-match interview in MLS - an obligation for all MLS players. Previously, the Argentine star was in trouble for not responding to the media after the game - a violation of MLS policy.
Inter Miami currently has 25 points, three points ahead of bottom team Toronto FC in the East, and behind ninth place D.C. United - the last place with tickets to the MLS Play-offs - eight points, but are playing two fewer games. Messi is confident that he can close this gap in the remaining nine matches to enter the title round.
"Miami is getting better and better," emphasized the owner of seven Golden Balls. "We've said that from day one. We're lucky to win the 2023 Leagues Cup and reach the final of the America's Cup. Now, Miami wants to get to the play-offs to try to win the MLS championship. Obviously winning helps us feel a lot more confident."
MLS divided 28 teams equally into two groups East - West, each team played 34 matches according to different schedules. The top nine teams in each group after the regular season will qualify for the play-offs. Essentially, these 18 clubs participate in a small tournament, with the top two teams clashing in the MLS Cup for the full season championship. That's how New York City FC ended the 2021 season in fourth place in the Eastern rankings, but won the MLS championship. In the 2022 season, Los Angeles FC ranked first in the Western group and entered the play-off stage before being crowned champion by winning the final against Philadelphia Union in a penalty shootout.
In the 37th round of MLS, on the BMO field of Los Angeles FC on September 3, Inter Miami played jubilantly and won 3-1. Messi's team got off to a perfect start as they went ahead in the 14th minute thanks to Facundo Farias. In the second half, the captain striker contributed two assists for Jordi Alba and Leonardo Campana to score, before Ryan Hollingshead scored the only goal for the host.
"We said before the match that this would be a great test to see where Miami is and what its capabilities are," Messi continued, expressing satisfaction with the team's performance. "We had a tough game against a very strong opponent, the defending champion, and had an important result."
Messi played in the last two matches, a 3-1 win over Los Angeles FC and a 0-0 draw with Nashville, after being a substitute and entering the field in the second half of his MLS debut against New York Red Bulls 2-0. The 2022 World Cup champion said he feels physically well and can continue playing, helping the team in any way possible.
In all competitions, Messi has played 11 matches for Miami, scored 11 goals and assisted 5 times. In addition to three MLS games, he made seven appearances, scoring 10 goals, assisting one in the Leagues Cup, and one in the US Cup semi-finals, where he also had two assists.
After the win against Los Angeles FC, Messi will return to join the Argentina team for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador on September 7 and Bolivia on September 12. The 36-year-old striker will definitely miss Inter Miami's match against Sporting Kansas City on the evening of September 9, and will only return for the Atlanta United match on September 16.
