Inter Miami fans name Supporters’ Shield decider as the best game of the season – Lionel Messi is in total agreement

Inter Miami had a somewhat bittersweet 2024 season, and fans have already reflected on the best and worst moments of the year.

The Herons lived up to expectations and gave plenty to talk about during the regular season, as Inter Miami won the 2024 MLS Supporters Shield decisively with a significant points difference.

However, it wasn’t all good news, as the team, then coached by Tata Martino, fell short in other competitions like the Leagues Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

On top of that, the most evident and important failure of the season was Inter Miami’s early exit from the MLS Playoffs against Atlanta United.

Now, the club’s fans have conducted a retrospective analysis of the season and have chosen a match that Lionel Messi himself considered ‘very tough’ as the best game of the season.

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Inter Miami fans choose Columbus Crew decider as best game of the year

Battered Herons, a podcast about Inter Miami hosted by fans, held a poll on the best and worst moments of the year.

The supporters chose Inter Miami’s clash against Columbus Crew, which was won 3-2 and decided the 2024 MLS Supporters Shield, as the best game of the year.

Certainly, there are arguments to support this award, as Lionel Messi himself considered this match one ‘very tough’, as he made clear in post-match statements at the time.

The Herons’ match against Columbus was a very close one, with Inter Miami having 53% possession compared to 47% for the home team.

Both teams recorded two significant scoring opportunities, according to SofaScore’s statistical engine.

Inter Miami was largely saved by their goalkeeper Drake Callender, who made four crucial saves from shots on target.

Lionel Messi scored a brace in this match, both in the 45th minute and during added time in the first half. The other goal came courtesy of Luis Suárez in the 48th minute.

Inter Miami’s goal-scoring flurry with three or more goals

This crucial match against Columbus wasn’t the only one where Inter Miami scored three or more goals.

For instance, on October 19, they won 6-2 against New England. On September 14, they won 3-1 against Philadelphia. On August 31, they won 4-1 against Chicago, and so on during other matches.

In fact, Inter Miami is one of the teams with the best offense, having scored 84 goals during the 2024 MLS season.

The team’s top scorers are clearly Luis Suárez with 21 goals, Lionel Messi with 21 goals, and Leonardo Campana with 8 goals.