Leagues Cup, the first of three big challenges for Messi and Inter Miami

The Argentine star has a tough job ahead of him as he steps into Major League Soccer, the first coming in the summer tournament.

Diego GorostietaDiegsGorostietaEstados UnidosUpdate: Jul 20th, 2023 01:50 EDT

MARCO BELLOREUTERS

The arrival of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami has brought a complete revolution to Major League Soccer. Despite the team’s current struggles in South Florida, there is great optimism that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will transform the fortunes of the club.

At present, the outlook for Miami in the MLS appears bleak. However, with the start of the Leagues Cup and a forced break in the regular season, the team led by Gerardo “Tata” Martino sees this as an opportunity for a fresh start, especially with Messi now part of their ranks. The team has undergone a significant shift in mindset and is now focused on putting forth their best performance on Friday at the DRV PNK Stadium, where they will face Cruz Azul. It is highly anticipated that their new star will make his debut as a Herons player in this match.

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Jordi Alba will be the next signing of Inter Miami as the agreement is being sealed — just waiting on final details then he’ll sign the contract as president Mas said, it’s imminent 👚🇪🇸🇺🇸Here we go ✔️ pic.twitter.com/0RUvQGrz99

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 18, 2023

Leagues Cup: an opportunity for Messi and Miami

The Leagues Cup holds great importance for Beckham’s franchise as it offers qualification to the next edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Achieving this objective will necessitate a collective improvement on the field of play, with their upcoming matches against Cruz Azul and Atlanta United being crucial.

Advancing to the round of 32 in the Leagues Cup is clearly the first step, and from there, Miami will have eyes on at least the semi-finals, and then maybe providing Messi with an opportunity to compete for his first title in the United States. There is optimism, but nobody yet knows the impact the new additions will make immediately.

𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋! Lionel Messi will make his debut in #LeaguesCup2023! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Wz9F2ZLlr8

— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) July 15, 2023

What other challenges does Messi have with Inter Miami?

After Inter Miami’s involvement in the Leagues Cup comes to an end, the team must then shift their attention entirely to the US Open Cup. They have a crucial semifinal approaching against Cincinnati, and victory in this match would lead them to the final at Hard Rock Stadium, provided the Houston Dynamo triumphs in their respective fixture.

pic.twitter.com/3X3vWFy2g2

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) July 14, 2023

MLS rebound is major challenge for Messi

Following the conclusion of the Leagues Cup, the MLS activity will resume, and this is where the greatest challenge lies ahead for Messi. Currently, Inter Miami finds itself at the bottom of the league standings, making the approaching playoffs a critical period with very little room for errors for Martino’s squad and the Argentine star himself. The seriousness of the situation is fully recognised by the coach and players.