From hell in MLS to heaven in the Leagues Cup: this is how Messi revived Inter Miami

On July 15, the between miami lived an unforgettable day at the official announcement of the signing of Leo Messi. However, after some time he returned to his terrible football reality, losing 3-0 against St. Louis City, which is the eleventh consecutive game without a win in the league (eight losses and three draws).

Bottom of the Eastern Conference in MLSthe pink set created all its illusions Messiupon the arrival of his former teammates in Barcelona Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba and what he can contribute from the bank Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.

But even the most optimistic, dreamy or deluded in Miami could not have imagined that only a month later the Florida team would lift the first trophy in its history, ending an incredible metamorphosis with seven wins in seven games at League Cup.

by the hand of a Messi huge, with inexhaustible ambition and not going to the United States for vacations or early retirement, the between miami won this Saturday the League Cup by losing the final Nashville on penalties after an exciting game (1-1, 9-10 in the shootout).

Rosario’s talent, chosen best player of League Cupis leading scorer of the tournament with a surprising note of ten goals in seven gamesincluding some important and impressive goals within the impressive catalog of Barça’s old ’10’.

Very happy in Miami and fully adapted to his new life, Messi he didn’t just give the first title to the group he belonged to David Beckham together with siblings More but, incidentally, he sealed his 44th trophy, which he surpassed Daniel Alves as the footballer with the most cups in history.

A perfect premiere and a perfect icing

If it weren’t for the fact that US writers have been on strike for months against the film and television giants, one might think that the venture of Messi within between miami It is written like a Hollywood movie. It seems incredible but not a month has passed since the unforgettable July 21 where Messi stepped onto the DRV PNK Stadium field for the first time wearing the pink jersey of between miami.

On that day with many celebrities and stars in the stands (LeBron James, Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian, Becky G, Gloria Estefan…) saw the Argentine come on as a substitute in the second half. The normal thing is that his appearance on the field is the stellar moment of the night, but Messi took a delicious free-kick goal from his hat in the 94th minute where the between miami lost 2-1 to Blue Cross.

There is already ‘Messimania’ shaking in every corner of Miami (and in a good part of the country), the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner dedicated himself to chaining doubles while his team never stopped growing and winning. So, Messi only needed 22 minutes to sign two goals against him atlanta is united of his countrymen Thiago Almadawhich ended up being 4-0.

the magic of Messi It infected the entire team in an amazing way, so that players who used to roam the green without shame or glory suddenly found themselves capable of anything. There they stood, for example, the Finnish robert taylor and the Venezuelan Joseph Martinezwell greased in the attack ordered by Messior young talents like the Argentine-American Benjamin Cremaschi.

Even so, its backbone between miami champion they formed it sunrise -who debuted in the knockout rounds-, Busquets -which also premiered against Cruz Azul- and Messi.

With two new targets for his star, the between miami took the Florida derby in the round of 32 3-1 against an Orlando City whose coach, the Colombian Oscar coupleensured that Messi should be expelled.

Still more difficult is his rivalry against the Dallasa match where the between miami he walked on one foot and was blindfolded on the very edge of the cliff. Down 4-2 in the 80th minute against a Dallas led by the Argentine Alan Velascohe between miami was saved from elimination thanks to an own goal from Marco Farfan and another major goal from a free kick Messihis second of the night.

Already in the last 4-4, the between miami the ticket for the quarterfinals was secured from the penalty spot in a miraculous outcome (3-5). After such a scare, his quarterfinal match against Charlotte (4-0) and semifinals match Philadelphia Union (1-4) is more peaceful.

But on the way Messi and the between miami they continued to add victories, as the Argentinean scored in Philadelphia the farthest goal of his career (more than 32 meters) as his team destroyed Subaru Park by Philadelphia Unionone of MLS’s theoretically impregnable fields, with a devastating 0-3 at halftime.

There is only one obstacle to overcome -at home- for glory: the Nashville of Hany Mukhtar (MVP and leading scorer in MLS in 2022). Messi struck in the final with a very good goal in the first half but the Nashville equalized in the second half with an own goal from Drake Callender after a corner with some rebounds.

With opportunities for both teams at the end and penalties at the end as judges, the title could also go to the team from the nation’s capital. But fate seems to be written and nothing stands in the way of the -so far- perfect story of Messi in Miami.