Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami almost 18 months ago, with the Herons undergoing a transformation few would have expected.
The Argentine international led the Florida franchise to this year’s Supporters’ Shield title and a regular-season MLS points tally just a year after Inter Miami failed completely to make the MLS post-season play-offs.
Although the Herons crashed out early in this year’s play-offs, Messi’s impact at Chase Stadium has been evident for all to see, with Leo Afonso recently sharing how the quality of Inter Miami on every level has increased massively in recent months.
And the Brazilian youngster also gave a humorous story on what it was like to train with Messi for the first time at Inter Miami.
Inter Miami’s Leo Afonso in awe by training with Messi for the first time
Speaking to Nosso Palestra, the Inter Miami forward shared how he was frozen with amazement during his first training session with Messi, with Afonso in shock that he now gets to play with arguably the greatest player of all-time.
Afonso said: “I remember the first day I watched these guys. It was the first day of pre-season and and the first time Messi passed the ball to me I just froze there, I stopped for about ten seconds. But now it is easy having seen them every day in training.”
Indeed, Afonso and Inter Miami’s other attackers have been blessed this year by getting to train daily with Messi and Luis Suarez, two attackers many would consider to be the best the world has ever seen.
And with Afonso also one of the youngest players in Inter Miami’s squad, the South American talent might have just set himself up for an incredible career having learned with the best in the business in Messi and Suarez.
How good was Messi for Inter Miami last year?
Even after missing nearly three months worth of action this year, Messi’s 2024 for Inter Miami was impressive, with the forward scooping up the MLS MVP award despite playing just over 20 league and play-off games combined.
| Lionel Messi’s 2024 Inter Miami stats | Games played | Goals | Assists |
| MLS/MLS play-offs | 22 | 22 | 12 |
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 25 | 23 | 13 |
Yet as per Messi’s stats, the 37-year-old attacker was nothing short of exceptional when fit and playing, with the Argentine international managing 35 goal contributions in 25 appearances for Inter Miami.
And heading into 2025, Messi will want to go one better by playing more games whilst also winning more silverware for the Herons, with Inter Miami only claiming the Supporters’ Shield under Tata Martino.