Even though the 2023 season is coming to an end, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi still have two important dates.
Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are looking to add three more trophies this season after winning the Carabao Cup in a thrilling penalty shootout (10-9). On July 21, Messi made his first appearance for Inter Miami in the first game of the League Cup group stage against Cruz Azul. He came on in the 54th minute and scored from a free kick in overtime to seal the victory for his new team.
Before Messi’s arrival, the team had already reached the semifinals of the US Open, and after a thrilling 5-4 victory over FC Cincinnati in a penalty shootout, they advanced to the final against the Houston Dynamo.
In the MLS Cup, Messi made his debut against the New York Red Bulls on August 26 and helped end Inter Miami’s 11-game winless streak in the league. His goal in the 89th minute helped the team secure an important 2-0 victory after coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute.
On September 16, Messi was absent for the first time since joining in July, when Inter Miami lost 2-5 to Atlanta United.
In the same tournament, the team is currently ranked 14th among the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. To qualify for the playoffs, they need to finish at least 9th. Currently, they have played 27 games, with 8 wins and 15 losses.
Messi has scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists in 11 games so far.
Here are the next games he can play for Inter Miami:
US Open Cup final
September 27: Houston Dynamo
MLS Cup
September 20: Toronto FC (home)
September 24: Orlando City (away)
September 30: NYCFC (home)
October 4: Chicago Fire (away)
October 7: FC Cincinnati (home)
Oct. 21: Charlotte FC (away)