North American football has once again been transformed after another huge signing this summer with the arrival of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi.
The Argentine has completely turned around the form at Inter Miami and took them from one of the worst sides in MLS to a potential playoff contender.
Contrary to discussions online, Messi has not actually played an MLS game just yet. The former Barcelona star left Paris Saint-Germain and joined Miami at a time where MLS had taken a break for the Leagues Cup.
The Leagues Cup is an annual tournament that sees Liga MX and MLS teams meet and Messi has managed to take Miami all the way to the final when they were one of the teams expected to not make it out of the group stages.
In fact, prior to his arrival, Miami had stunningly lost 14 of their 22 games in MLS with the club managing to score only 22 goals in 22 games and let in 36 - only Charlotte has let in more in the Eastern Conference and only Toronto has scored fewer.
Miami was also on an 11-game winless run in MLS which dated back to May, and Miami's only success has been in the U.S. Open Cup. In fact, they are also in the U.S. Open Cup semi-finals and Messi could get his hands on two trophies as a result.
After such a dreadful run of form in MLS, Miami has now won all six games at the Leagues Cup with him scoring in all of them.
After a magical shot from distance rattled the back of the Philadelphia Union goal in the first half from Messi, the Argentine has now scored in every game and made it nine goals in six games for the Florida side.
As Messi scored in the first half once more that day, this now also means he has scored six of his goals inside the first 45 minutes, while the World Cup winner has also secured three braces in six games too.
GOL numero 9️⃣ para nuestro 🔟#PHIvMIA | 0-2 pic.twitter.com/W6w0Th4pzZ— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 15, 2023
GOL numero 9️⃣ para nuestro 🔟#PHIvMIA | 0-2 pic.twitter.com/W6w0Th4pzZ
Messi has also put together one assist for his new side too after creating a goal in the 4-0 win over Atlanta United where he also managed to score twice.
Messi’s arrival has been the most impressive we’ve ever seen on the North American scene, and he will no doubt go on to push Miami closer to the playoffs.