After an awful preseason tour that was more trouble than it was worth, Inter Miami have started the Major League Soccer season in fine form.
Of course, it was always thought that with the combination of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, along with Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, that Inter Miami would be the best club in MLS in 2024.
Inter Miami took 10 points from their opening five matches. Although the Herons suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat to CF Montreal, they have started the season well, sportsbooks have them as the favourites to win the MLS Cup.
3️⃣ TOTM Spots 3️⃣ Points 3️⃣ Goals Luis Suárez, Fede Redondo and Leo Campana have been named to this week’s Team of the Matchday, after their exceptional performance vs D.C. United in the 1-3 win. Details: https://t.co/DK3HefeIVT pic.twitter.com/Ted3aPckF4— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 18, 2024
3️⃣ TOTM Spots 3️⃣ Points 3️⃣ Goals Luis Suárez, Fede Redondo and Leo Campana have been named to this week’s Team of the Matchday, after their exceptional performance vs D.C. United in the 1-3 win. Details: https://t.co/DK3HefeIVT pic.twitter.com/Ted3aPckF4
No MLS club has scored more goals than Inter Miami’s 13. They average 2.6 goals per MLS game.
Four of their 13 goals were scored by Suarez, who is joint-top scorer in MLS. The striker scored 31% of Miami’s goals.
But it isn’t just Suarez doing the damage for Inter Miami. Messi has added three goals. The former Barcelona duo has scored over 50% of Inter Miami’s goals, which means if both were sidelined with long-term injuries, then the goals could dry up.
For now, the goals are flowing. Even when Suarez doesn’t start, he is scoring goals. In round No. 4, he came off the bench to score twice in a 3-1 win away to DC United.
The win versus DC United came with Messi out injured. The Argentine missed Miami’s last two games, the loss to Montreal and win over United.
Prior to missing matches with a muscle issue, Messi had scored or assisted a goal in Miami’s three matches.
The impact of Suarez and Messi has been apparent. Last season, with just Messi in the team, Miami were good, but not this good.
Messi didn’t have a sidekick to finish off the chances he created. Suarez isn’t just any striker. He was one of the best forwards in Europe for Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid. Suarez scored 311 goals for the trio of clubs.
The biggest question is: Can Inter Miami win the MLS Cup this season? It is a difficult question to answer due to the nature of MLS. It is a very unpredictable league due to its playoff format.
The Herons are favourites currently at odds of 9/4. Yet, looking at the list of recent MLS Cup winners, it is difficult to argue that the winner was the best team from the regular season.
Only once in the last six seasons was the MLS Cup winner the best team during the regular season.
The only thing on paper that will prevent Miami from winning the league title this season is Suarez and Messi’s fitness. The club will need both players to lift the trophy.
While Alba and Busquets provide a great backbone to the team, they aren’t the goal scoring dangermen that Suarez and Messi are.
Although Messi missed the last two Miami games, the good news is that those games were played in March and not October. As long as Suarez and Messi are fit for the long season, Inter Miami can win the MLS Cup.