When Inter Miami first assembled its super team, led by the addition of Lionel Messi in 2023, the league rallied behind them, as they were bringing more eyes to the league.
This season has turned Inter Miami into the biggest villains in Major League Soccer. The Journey as antagonists isn’t straightforward; there have been multiple events and moments that have created this new role for the league’s southernmost squad.
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Inter Miami: Beloved Squad to the Enemies of the League
The Start of the Rule-breaking
Last season, fans across the league realized that Miami may have a longer leash compared to the rest of the teams across the league. Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba joined Inter Miami all within a month of each other in 2023.
These three were then established as the three Designated players for Inter Miami going forward. Messi’s deal was a record-breaking one; part of his deal gave him an ownership stake in Inter Miami as well as money from the MLS and Apple TV media deal.
Though the deal was hefty, fans and teams alike understood that obtaining Messi would bring more eyes to the league.
When Luis Suarez agreed to take less money when joining the team, it raised eyebrows about what was actually going on in Miami. Suarez essentially became the fourth Designated Player while fans are told that one of the world’s best players took less money.
Suarez joining the club is just a small example of how this team became villains. Everything since his arrival with the club has entered a period of rule-breaking and bending, as well as on-field scrums that have bled over.
It took over a year since the addition of Suarez until Miami became known as the rule breakers that they are now viewed as across the league.
The Full Heel Turn
The All-Star break is when the heel fully turned over, revealing the lack of respect for league rules and structure. Messi and Alba were selected and announced to play for the MLS team in the All-Star game against Liga MX.
Messi and Alba announced that day that they would not be representing the MLS and opted out of the festivities. Inter Miami just got out of the Club World Cup a week later than the other two teams in the MLS that participated.
Despite most fans understanding the desire to rest after the competition, it was agreed upon that it was done the wrong way. It took days until the match ban was announced, which is a long-standing rule that we have seen used before.
If a player refuses to play in the star game, they will be suspended for the following MLS game.
Miami’s next violation of the transfer rules was when they obtained Rodrigo De Paul from Athletico for virtually free. They sent him on a loan for the rest of the MLS season with an option to buy at the end of the season.
This allows them to wait for Busquets to retire after the season and fill that Designated Player spot that would be vacant.
DePaul added some youth compared to the rest of their core as they increased their chances of making a run in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The next rule violation came in the form of spitting in violence during the Leagues Cup final against the Seattle Sounders. Suarez got into the face of a Seattle staffer, stepped on his feet, and then spat into his face,
The altercation only started after that as both teams cleared their sides and got face-to-face in what can only be described as a scrum at what should have been a time of celebration for Seattle and their fans.
Miami has helped bring eyes to the league, especially in the Latin American community that loves the beautiful game. For the first time, those eyes are now on the MLS; the only problem is that the rest of the league has been left behind, fighting for a chance to have a seat at the table.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire
Recording Date 30.08.2025