When Inter Miami obtained international superstar Lionel Messi after his legendary World Cup run, fans assumed Miami would be a championship contender. They would be right in a lot of their assumptions.
If you mentioned they would win a League Cup and a Supporters Shield while failing to make a playoff run and appearing to be three steps behind on the pitch, fans would be shocked.
Any year could mark the final season for Messi at the age of 37, The question is, can Inter Miami capitalize on their chances and earn the coveted MLS Cup?
Recent Performance
Miami’s recent performance has been lackluster when you look at the talent on the pitch. The combined talent of Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets gives Miami a huge edge over most teams.
These three may be the most talented on the pitch, which also makes them one of if not the oldest trio in the league.
They have gone seven of their last eight games without a win, two of those games being Champions Cup games. Their only win in that stretch was when they faced off against the Columbus Crew, who are ahead of them on the schedule.
On Sunday, the 18th they will face off against cross state rival Orlando City who is just one point behind Miami. Inter could potential drop to seventh place with a loss to Orlando and a win from Charlette.
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How they have fallen behind
It’s easy to question how they have fallen behind recent teams when you look at the talent in Miami. When watching the games it’s easy to find out the answer, it’s so apparent that this has become a key focal point to all their recent losses and draws.
The age of this team is the root problem, their stars have won the biggest competitions in the world as the MLS is one final stop before retirement.
Teams like Vancouver, which have young players like Seb Berhalter and Brian White, whose primes are spent in the MLS, are trying to win titles and earn a promotion to their country’s first team.
Miami’s core is also not going to do the dirty work to win games. Dropping back deep to defend after a long offensive possession, making an overlap run to open up a passing lane, or even pressing to get a kick counter.
Other teams have stronger tactics and players willing to do the dirty, difficult stuff you don’t see on the stat sheet. Miami’s Champions Cup Semi-Final defeat could be credited to this exact reason.
Miami failed to keep possession long and when they did it usually led to bad shots with no runs from the wingers. Vancouver won ever 50/50 and regained possession after losing it in the offensive end.
Can they regain control of their Season?
Yes, we learned last season that the east is so close together that anyone has a chance no matter the seeding of the team. The top two seeds in the East fell in the first round, seventh seed New York Red Bulls made a run.
Miami’s talent can overcome the effort and youthfulness from the middle-tier teams in the league. They showed in Cleveland when they faced Columbus that they can beat a top tier team in the league with their talent.
Columbus is one of the teams that has overcome the loss of talent in the winter transfer window due to a strong tactical strategy and a team that gives high effort in executing the game plan given.
Columbus is the standard in the current state of the MLS, Competing with teams and earning hard fought wins against a team of that caliber proves Miami isn’t over the hill quite yet.
Credit IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Recording Date 13.05.2025