Lionel Messi had a baptism of fire with Inter Miami in MLS 2024: he provided one assist and only missed one goal

Lionel Messi’s second season in Major League Soccer (MLS) begins.. And the first episode provided interesting but incomplete signals at Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium, the glamorous temporary home of InterMiami until the construction of Freedom Park. It was 2-0. The difference should have been much, much bigger. But it might as well have been a draw because Royal Salt Lakedirected by Mendoza Pablo Mastroeni, failed to eliminate some childish errors in the complement, when the host started irregularly and went out until the arrival of Diego Gómez’s reassuring goal. But this, for now, is a secondary question.

Because the first thing to note is that Lionel Messi has started 2024 very busy. He was seen at 220 – although here we have to say 110 because otherwise he will burn everything. He had 60 minutes of Messi’s best. And a couple of flashes when time was running out, including the play that sealed the story a court with American customs that perceives itself as Argentine. And that’s a lot.

But the most important thing is that there is a team. We see, for the first time since the beginning of this cycle, the hand of Gerardo Martino. This is not a collection of individuals close to retirement. It is far from the anarchist group it was at times in 2023. Very far.

The defense looked much more solid with the former Racing player Thomas Aviles as support. It should be noted that at times he also had to deal with the distractions of DeAndre Yedlin and the slowness of the Ukrainian Sergey Krivtsov. But we see a much more compact formation. And this it does Drake Callenderthe goalkeeper has much less work – he made a great save on a header from Brayan Vera -.

The midfield worked better. Especially in the first 45. Nothing is revealed when praising Sergio Busquets. The Catalan, who is the footballer who has played the most times with Messi as a partner with 571 games shared, is everything that is good. He starts as a central midfielder in front of a three-man line, but he always places himself in the right place. Sometimes he plays as a libero, other times he takes the place of the full-backs. However, it is best for the ball to be thrown round.

Busquets has strengthened thanks to Giuliano Gressel. The 30-year-old German is a very dynamic player with common sense, an old acquaintance of Tata Martino from his time at Atlanta United. The blonde who comes from the champion Columbus Crew is also smart and utilitarian. He returns, passes well and it was he who punctuated the moments of pressure, at times very high, which allowed Inter Miami to transform a football match into a monologue.

The Paraguayan is also good Diego Gomez, although sometimes imprecise. In the end it was fundamental with the conquest of the end. And she also got the pass Robert Taylorwho had the pleasure of scoring the first goal of the season in the 38th minute of the first half.

The restless Finn received the Assist by Messi, in the first direct attack, without too many touches, and ends crosswise to beat Zac Mac Math’s unconvincing shot. The curious thing is that by now Inter Miami had wasted countless opportunities. A free kick from Messi which Glad took on the line. An attempt – another – Olympic goal blocked by the goalkeeper. There were also soccer dad associations with Luis Suarez who ran out of petrol in the last few metres.

Captain Scaloneta did everything right in that opening part. It looked like Messi in full competition and not in his debut match after a long holiday. If you don’t have to see how he dodged Eneka Eneli, who was on the ground, hitting the ball over his body in a technical gesture that drove everyone crazy. The opposite image was given by the Uruguayan Gunslinger, welcomed with praise by the owners but who seemed far from being at his best. There’s time ahead, of course.

The second half wasn’t so good. The mistakes early on combined with Messi being a little more intermittent after an hour than the best version of him. It was enough for him to draw a slalom inside the wide area to leave Gressel alone, who missed the final shot. Also leading the attack for Gómez’s goal: central assist from Suárez, who came out at the end. And also in which he would give the final touch to the evening with a run to the right, a hook and a conclusion that MacMath covered with an arm.

Inter Miami can dream. Messi is there. The team begins to appear. You just need the good to last longer. Logical in a seasonal baptism.