Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami trigger option to keep former Barcelona teammate: Reports
Inter Miami have reportedly decided to keep defender Jordi Alba at the club alongside Lionel Messi after triggering the option to extend his stay. The Spanish left-back joined the club in 2023 after leaving Barcelona and was an ever-present in Tata Martino's team.
Following the official conclusion of the MLS season, which saw LA Galaxy emerge as MLS Cup winners, Inter Miami carried out an audit of their playing department. The club decided to cut some players loose at the end of their contracts with them while negotiating with others to remain at the club.
The official announcement from the club has indicated that former Spain international Jordi Alba is among the players whom they have decided to keep. The Herons have exercised a club option to keep the 35-year-old for the 2025 season alongside the likes of Marcelo Weigandt, Yannick Bright, and Ian Fray.
Unlike Alba, the duo of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, who signed for the club at the same time, had their 2025 contracts in place. Luis Suarez, another of the players who played together at Barcelona, was handed a new contract by the club last month.
Jordi Alba was immense for the Herons in the 2024 season, appearing 31 times in the MLS under Martino. The Spaniard scored five goals and provided 11 assists from left-back, helping them set a new MLS points record and win the Supporters' Shield for the first time.
The quartet of Alba, Lionel Messi, Busquets, and Suarez have been reunited with former teammate Javier Mascherano in Florida. The Argentine has taken over from compatriot Martino to become the new manager of the club, starting from the 2025 season.
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi misses out on FIFPro World XI
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has missed out on a place in the 2024 FIFPro World XI. The 37-year-old had been included in the 26-man shortlist for the honor after a characteristically impressive year for club and country.
Despite scoring 21 goals and providing 11 assists in 22 MLS regular season games for Inter Miami and helping Argentina lift the 2024 Copa America, the Argentine missed out. This has ended his 17-year run of always making the FIFPro World XI, indicating a changing of guard.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah have also missed out on the official world XI, which is dominated by Real Madrid and Manchester City players. Ederson, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri have made the list for City. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and Toni Kroos all feature for Los Blancos. Virgil Van Dijk is the only player not from either club to make the XI.