Pundit details key Lionel Messi trait that is giving Inter Miami the edge over other MLS sides
MLS pundit Sacha Kljestan has highlighted a key Lionel Messi trait which has raised the standards of Inter Miami since the Argentine joined The Herons in the summer of 2023. Inter Miami are currently at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference table with 62 points from 28 games (19 wins, five draws, and four losses). FC Cincinnati are second with 52 points.
When Lionel Messi joined the club in 2023, Inter Miami were languishing at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference table, with just 15 points from 16 games. However, Lionel Messi's arrival caused a paradigm shift in the club's mentality.
The Argentine helped the Herons win their first-ever trophy, defeating Nashville on penalties to win the Leagues Cup 2023. Messi was the top scorer in the tournament, netting 10 goals and creating one more in seven games.
Speaking on MLS Wrap Up, Sacha Kljestan highlighted how Lionel Messi has catapulted Inter Miami to such unfathomable heights.
"Messi, emotionally, is never bothered, you never see much out of him one way or the other, but they’ve gone down and come back to win 27 points from losing positions this season," explained Kljestan.
“Even if they’re scored on, even if they’re down 2-0 in the second-half, Messi is just focused on getting a goal, getting an assist, setting up a play in the final-third, winning the game. We saw it at the World Cup with Argentina, that emotional maturity and intelligence is putting Inter Miami over the edge on every team in MLS,” he concluded.
Inter Miami have already booked a place in the post-season playoffs, giving the Argentine a chance to add more silverware to his illustrious repertoire.
"Messi cracked up" - When Sergio Aguero revealed Lionel Messi's reaction on learning Inter Miami's position on the MLS table before his transfer
Sergio Aguero once shared Lionel Messi's reaction when the latter learned that Inter Miami were at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference table before joining the club in 2023. Speaking to ESPN in 2023, the former Argentine striker discussed a hilarious exchange he had with Messi.
"I spoke to Messi yesterday, I sent him a message with a screenshot of the Eastern Conference standings and I said: ‘Your team is behind! You have to move up to 8th/9th! Messi cracked up. He said, ‘We have to make the play-offs!’" recalled Sergio Aguero.
Unfortunately, the Herons couldn't make it to the MLS playoffs last season. However, they have become a formidable outfit in 2024 after signing superstars like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba along with the Argentine.