Inter Miami capped off an incredible year in MLS by securing the record points total in a regular-season.
A 6-2 win capped off by a Lionel Messi hat-trick ensured the Florida franchise ended the 2024 regular campaign with a flourish, with Luis Suarez also announcing his intention to stay with Inter Miami beyond this year.
With the MLS play-offs on the horizon, Inter Miami have the quality to go all the way in the post-season and to win MLS Cup for the first time in their history, an achievement that Messi and company will be eager to secure having come this far and set so many records.
And MLS expert Matt Doyle has now shared what one thing Inter Miami need to do if they’re to win MLS Cup.
Inter Miami need to keep Lionel Messi as fit as possible
Writing for MLS’s official website, the pundit noted how Messi being fit could be enough for Inter Miami to go all the way in the play-offs, with the Argentine international in his best form of 2024 after back-to-back hat-tricks for club and country.
Doyle wrote about Inter Miami’s chances in the play-offs: “None of what I wrote above might matter a damn because Inter Miami have Lionel Messi. He is not all they are – there are lots of good-to-great players on this roster, including a match-winner in goal.
“But the Herons can be terrible for 85 minutes and win 3-2 against anybody because Messi, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba will dominate the high-leverage moments, and Sergio Busquets et al will do just enough to cover for that error-prone central defense.
“Add in the occasional dose of set-piece dominance, and you’ve got a recipe for a record-setting, 74-point season. As great as I think the Crew are, I am not stupid enough to pick against a fully fit Messi. If that’s what the play-offs present, then Miami are the favorites.”
Inter Miami can win MLS Cup even if Messi is injured
A big reason why Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield was due to how Tata Martino managed to formulate a winning system with Messi out during the Copa America and on the sideline through injury.
| Inter Miami with Lionel Messi in 2024 | Inter Miami without Lionel Messi in 2024 | |
| Games played | 22 | 20 |
| Games won | 13 | 12 |
| Games drawn | 7 | 2 |
| Games lost | 2 | 6 |
As per the numbers above, Inter Miami were phenomenal without their star attacker this summer, with the Herons throughout the year coping much better with Messi out of the squad compared to last year.
And if Messi were to pick up an injury during the play-offs, Inter Miami can call upon their incredible squad depth to get the job done, with Martino’s side more than good enough to go all the way in the post-season.