Lionel Messi is poised to lead Inter Miami to its first major title as the visiting club Nashville SC are also looking for their first hardware on Saturday night in the Leagues Cup final.
Miami and Nashville both enter Major League Soccer in 2020 as expansion teams, but have very different approaches to league life.
Inter Miami has been looking for stars from the start, with French World Cup champion Blaise Matuidi and Argentinian World Cup finalist Gonzalo Higuain among those in the past wearing the distinctive pink Herons uniform.
ALSO READ | Lionel Messi: FIFA World Cup is the most important trophy for me, don’t think Ballon d’Or
They then made the most publicized signing in MLS history this summer to sign Messi just nine months after he led Argentina to the World Cup. And the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has done it, scoring nine league goals since his debut in the group stage opening match and assisting four more.
Messi’s most recent goal came in a 4-1 semi-final win over Philadelphia Union on Tuesday, and his 10th goal could help Miami make history.
“It was amazing, unbelievable for me, for the fans and for the club itself,” Messi said of the possibility of lifting the Leagues Cup, as translated by Sporting News. “It is a very young club. Trying to get the first title would be a good thing for everyone.”
ALSO READ: Lionel Messi Buries PSG Nightmare Under Inter Miami’s American Dream
Miami will have to win the hard way against Nashville, a club that has taken a more cautious but equally successful approach in its early stages in the MLS.
The Men in Gold has focused on signing junior, senior talent from abroad and combining it with a veteran core.
The best of those international signings is Hany Mukhtar, a German-born player who is again a top contender for the MLS MVP title after winning the award last season.
And England summer addition Sam Surridge has scored in his last three appearances, including the final goal in an impressive 2-0 home win in the semi-final against Mexican giants CF. Monterrey.
“It’s such a great feeling to beat such a good team,” Nashville quarterback Dax McCarty said of the most recent win, “knowing we’re going to have a final at home against a team. Other great balls will do the same thing as Monterrey. try to complete possession.
Leave a Reply