Lionel Messi looks to the future after Inter Miami wins MLS Supporters Shield

This was how 2024 began for Inter Miami: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, all former Barcelona teammates who received a number of titles collectively, sitting side-by-side after the primary official coaching session of the brand new season.

And here is the most recent scene: Messi, Suarez, Alba and Busquets have been sitting collectively once more Wednesday evening, holding their latest prize — the Supporters Defend, the trophy given to the highest regular-season workforce in Main League Soccer.

Inter Miami would be the No. 1 seed for the MLS Cup playoffs, the workforce wrapping up that spot with a 3-2 victory on the Columbus Crew on Wednesday evening. It was the league’s most-hyped common season match of this season, possibly the most-hyped in a very long time.

“I am completely happy,” Messi stated. “Completely happy for this group.”

Messi scored twice to push his whole to 17 targets in 17 MLS matches this season, Suarez scored the eventual winner for Inter Miami on Wednesday, and goalkeeper Drake Callender made 4 saves — together with one on a penalty kick late within the second half.

“We nonetheless have extra targets to go after within the playoffs,” Callender stated.

True, what was awarded Wednesday shouldn’t be the prize Inter Miami needs most — the MLS Cup continues to be the biggie — however the protect represents the largest step but for the franchise that sputtered via the vast majority of its first three seasons, then noticed all the pieces change on June 7, 2023, when Messi surprised many within the soccer world by saying he was coming to South Florida to proceed his profession.

Messi’s arrival, which was shortly adopted by Busquets and Alba becoming a member of Inter Miami, helped the workforce win the Leagues Cup final yr for its first trophy. And when Suarez made his long-rumored transfer to the membership official by signing a one-year deal again in December, Inter Miami’s spot because the MLS Cup favourite was additional solidified.

To date, so good.

“The thought was clear from the start: to be protagonists, to need to management possession, and to problem opponents via our fashion of play,” Messi stated. “Then key gamers arrived, which made the workforce develop much more by way of gameplay, character and competitiveness.”

At 20-4-8, Inter Miami has 68 factors with two matches left within the MLS season. When it comes to playoff seed, these matches are meaningless. When it comes to league historical past, they aren’t.

With two wins — Saturday at Toronto after which Oct. 19 towards New England — Inter Miami may end with 74 factors. That will break New England’s document of 73, set in 2021.

It is unclear how a lot Messi will play in both of these two remaining matches. Messi is predicted to play for Argentina in World Cup qualifying matches on Oct. 10 (at Venezuela) and Oct. 15 (in Argentina towards Bolivia). Then having to fly again to the U.S. and play once more on Oct. 19, even when the factors document is at stake, may appear a bit a lot to ask every week earlier than the MLS postseason begins.

“I imagine surpassing the factors document is secondary,” Messi stated. “Whereas we now have a pleasant alternative to make historical past in that regard as properly, I feel it issues much less.”