Inter Miami have booked their place in the MLS play-offs, a feat made even more impressive given how many games Lionel Messi has missed.
Saturday’s 2-0 win against FC Cincinnati made it 12 consecutive games the Argentine has missed for the Herons, with Messi injuring his ankle in the Copa America final that has kept the 37-year-old attacker out action ever since.
Yet despite this, Inter Miami have thrived without their captain, with the Florida franchise winning seven of their last eight MLS games without Messi and qualifying for the post-season play-offs as a result.
And former defender Kieran Gibbs has been impressed with what Inter Miami have done without Messi.
Inter Miami are now proving they’re more than just the Messi team
Speaking on the Inter Miami Weekly Show, Gibbs made the point that Inter Miami are now proving that they’re more than just a one-man team given how good the Herons have been this summer without Messi.
Last year and the start of this season saw Inter Miami become too reliant on the Argentine international, yet this campaign has been a different story, with the Florida franchise making the play-offs more or less without Messi’s help.
Gibbs said on Inter Miami’s form: “It’s 12 consecutive games Messi hasn’t featured in and that run has been incredible, and long may it continue. No one likes it when you’re tarnished with that brush of ‘you’re only good because you have that one player,’ so it’s been great for them to get rid of that.
“12 games is a significant portion of the season, so for them to not only get those results but put on the performances they’ve shown, they’ve been good, more than good, and they deserve to be where they are at the top of the table.”
Messi return will only make the Herons stronger
Inter Miami might have improved without Messi available, but that’s not to say the Herons will revert to previous form one the reigning Ballon d’Or holder is back on the pitch.
Indeed, Inter Miami are likely to only get better once Messi is back from his latest injury, with the Argentine a player who could be the difference between Tata Martino’s side winning MLS Cup or missing out on silverware yet again.
And with the forward close to returning, Inter Miami could become the best version of themselves once Messi is back in the team, with the 37-year-old coming back at the ideal time ahead of the play-offs.