In the midst of all the buzz surrounding Lionel Messi’s extraordinary performance, scoring five goals in his first three games with Inter Miami, soccer enthusiasts found solace in knowing that statistical norms would eventually catch up to him. And while it did to some extent, the Argentine superstar continued to excel. In his subsequent three games, Messi managed to score four goals, bringing his total to nine goals in six games. Remarkably, Inter Miami, who were lackluster before Messi’s arrival, secured six consecutive wins in the Leagues Cup tournament and advanced to the final.
Let’s recap Messi’s journey so far. He made his presence known in Game 1 against Cruz Azul of Mexico, entering early in the second half and scoring a decisive goal in injury time, resulting in a 2-1 victory. He followed that up with a stellar performance, scoring two goals in a 4-0 win against Atlanta and another two goals in a 3-1 triumph over Orlando.
The first true test came in his inaugural away game against Dallas on August 6th. Although Messi opened the scoring with a remarkable shot from outside the box, Miami found themselves trailing 3-1 after an hour and 4-2 with only 10 minutes left on the clock. However, Messi exhibited his prowess by curling in a free kick that ended up as an own goal, and effortlessly executing another free kick over a leaping wall to level the score. The game eventually went to penalties, where Messi successfully converted the first of five perfect shots, securing the victory for Miami.
In the quarterfinals against Charlotte on Friday, Messi went on to score the final goal with a precise one-touch shot from close range, contributing to a resounding 4-0 win. The semifinals took place in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, where Messi scored a breathtaking goal from over 35 yards out. He executed the shot before anyone in the stands or the Philly defense could even fathom the possibility. Despite a last-minute dive from goalkeeper Andre Blake, it was too late to stop Messi’s brilliance. The game ended in yet another resounding victory, with a scoreline of 4-1.
What was initially a small sample size of three games has now expanded to include a total of six games. It’s hard to resist calculating Messi’s goal-per-game ratio of 1.5 by dividing his nine goals by six games. Can he sustain such a high rate? It seems implausible, especially considering that last year’s top scorer in M.L.S., Hany Mukhtar, averaged 0.7 goals per game, and even the remarkable Erling Haaland had a ratio of 1.0 in the Premier League last season.
However, Messi has defied logic in the past. During his time with Barcelona in La Liga, he maintained an average of 1.35 goals per game in 2011-12 and an astounding 1.44 in 2012-13. Now, a decade later, he is surpassing those records.
While Messi grabs the headlines, it’s essential to recognize the truly remarkable story unfolding: a formerly struggling team suddenly finds itself winning consistently. Miami’s league record of 5-14-3 prior to Messi’s arrival painted a bleak picture, making it highly unlikely for them to secure six consecutive wins. In the Leagues Cup, they have scored 21 goals while conceding only seven. This results in a remarkable goal difference of +14, which would place them second in the M.L.S. table if compared to teams that have played over 20 games each.
In addition to Messi, Inter Miami has also welcomed two former Barcelona teammates, midfielder Sergio Busquets and defender Jordi Alba, who has already contributed with a goal and two assists. Finnish wingback Robert Taylor seems revitalized by Messi’s presence, producing four goals and three assists in the Leagues Cup. Nonetheless, it is undeniable that Messi is the driving force behind this transformation.
Up next for Inter Miami is a clash against Nashville, featuring their attacking star, Hany Mukhtar, on Saturday night. Miami enters the game as the favorite, although there are even more surprising odds currently being offered.
Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, Messi and Miami will return to the M.L.S. regular season on August 26th. By any conventional logic, they are deemed as down and out. They currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, 12 points adrift and six places away from the final playoff spot, with only 12 games remaining. Even if they manage to rally, winning the M.L.S. playoffs is no easy feat. Teams securing the bottom two spots must triumph in five rounds, with four of them being single-elimination games.
Surely, even Messi wouldn’t be able to pull off such a seemingly impossible feat? Or could he? Oddsmakers currently position Miami as the third favorite to win M.L.S., with odds of just 7-1.
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