Messi lifts the trophy as Inter Miami celebrates their MLS Cup victory. Photo: Inter Miami

When Messi joined Inter Miami in the US in 7/2023 after leaving PSG, many viewed it as a luxurious retirement. Others believed a player of his caliber should remain in Europe's premier leagues. Yet, Messi had different plans. He aimed to continue writing history and solidify his legend in his own way.

This is exactly what he achieved with Inter Miami, leading the team to the MLS championship. As Argentina's Clarin newspaper commented, the player widely regarded as the greatest of all time "has conquered North America. With his magical feet, he is bringing new depth to a sport frequently overlooked here."

MLS does not yet possess the stature and quality of Europe's major national leagues. The US professional league is far from matching the frantic pace of the English Premier League or the technical skill of La Liga. It cannot compare with Serie A in Italy, Germany's Bundesliga, or even France's Ligue 1 – where Messi competed before arriving in the US. Nevertheless, according to Clarin, the Argentine superstar joined a league "that is constantly expanding and evolving, seeking to compete with the rest of the football world, and above all, is not easy to win."

Messi experienced this firsthand last season when Inter Miami was eliminated in the first playoff round. Under coach Gerardo Martino, Messi and his teammates played excellently in the group stage, enough to win the Supporters’ Shield. However, the harsh reality followed immediately – in the first stage towards the most prestigious MLS Cup of the season, they were knocked out by Atlanta United.

That defeat provided valuable lessons for both Messi and Inter Miami. The team parted ways with Martino to appoint another Argentine coach, a former close teammate of Messi – Javier Mascherano. The new coach is believed to know how to better support Messi, helping the 38-year-old forward rediscover his best form.

Messi consistently fills MLS stadiums he plays in – an unprecedented feat for any superstar before him. Photo: Inter Miami

This change was most evident in this season's Eastern Conference semifinals and final, where Inter Miami successively overcame Cincinnati and New York City. Mascherano decisively benched Luis Suarez – a long-time friend of Messi – giving opportunities to younger, faster players. Since the start of this season's playoff stage, Inter Miami has lost only one match against Nashville in the second leg of the Bo3 series (best of three series to determine the advancing team).

The key factor for this fairy-tale ending was Messi's stellar 2025 season, marked by incredible statistics at 38. He played 34 MLS matches, starting 32 times, and was the team's attacking linchpin: scoring 35 goals and providing 23 assists – including 6 goals and 7 assists in the playoff stage. In other words, he was directly involved in 58 of Inter Miami's 101 goals throughout the season. This level of contribution recalls Messi's peak years at Barca.

In total for 2025, across both club and national teams, Messi played 54 matches, scoring 46 goals and providing 26 assists. He has now reached milestones of 896 goals, 407 assists, and 47 titles in 1,137 professional matches. Messi's career includes at least three more seasons with Inter Miami, following a recently signed contract extension, and most importantly, looking forward to the 2026 World Cup on US soil.

There, even though the US is only a co-host with Canada and Mexico, Messi will still play on "home turf." Since the 38-year-old star debuted for American soccer fans on 22/7/2023, no one has wanted to miss the opportunity to witness his dribbling and endless magic. Messi filled the modest Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and also packed every stadium he visited – the massive concrete stands usually reserved for American football. At the end of October this year, MLS proudly announced a 29% increase in total weekly attendance for all matches.

While breaking the assist record of Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas and chasing Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for 1,000 goals, Messi is simultaneously bringing glory to American soccer.

Messi dribbles during Inter Miami's 5-1 victory over New York City in the MLS Cup 2025 Eastern Conference final on 29/11. Photo: Inter Miami

Clarin emphasized: "Without the need for Saudi Arabian petrodollars, the player born in Rosario, Argentina, continues to fill his bank vault – certainly enough to support several generations – with his unblemished talent. In return, alongside MLS and giants Apple and Adidas, Messi is gradually making 'soccer' – as Americans call football – taken seriously and placed on par with professional sports that dominate American athletic tastes, such as basketball, baseball, or American football."

In some respects, this is far more valuable than the recently won MLS Cup championship. "Messi is very close to realizing what Pele could not achieve when he joined the New York Cosmos from 1970-1977. And that has nothing to do with a luxurious retirement. At an age when most players have retired, Messi is still driving another revolution for soccer while dreaming of defending his World Cup 2026 throne," Clarin concluded.

By Hoang Thong (according to Clarin)