Lionel Messi has given an honest assessment of his first season at Inter Miami after the club’s failure in the MLS playoffs.
Messi embarked on a new adventure in the United States after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in June, signing a two-and-a-half year contract with Inter Miami.
The 2022 World Cup winner made an immediate impact in Florida, scoring 11 goals in his first 14 appearances in all competitions, and even helped Miami win the first trophy in their history in the form of the Premier Leagues Cup . Miami, however, experienced a dip in form at the end of its 2023 MLS campaign, missing out on qualifying for the playoffs as Messi faced fitness issues. Even so, the 36-year-old wants to focus on the positives from his first months in the United States and predicts there will be plenty of “incredible moments” still to come in 2024.
“ I am proud of everything the team has accomplished this season,” Messi wrote in a message on Instagram. “ Thanks to everyone’s work and effort, we were able to win the Leagues Cup by winning the first title in the history of Inter Miami, we reached the final of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and we even fought to participate in the MLS Playoffs until the last moment. We leave with all the good things and above all with the desire to improve to be even more competitive next year. I would like to thank everyone at the club and the city of Miami for the support they have always given us. I am sure that we will continue to experience incredible moments together as has been the case in recent months. A hug for everyone! »
Messi has been tipped to return to Barcelona on loan during the MLS off-season, after coming close to joining the club during the summer transfer window. However, the Argentina international insisted he would only focus on his international commitments in the coming months and also planned to take a well-deserved vacation after his efforts in Miami.
