Messi Turns World Cup Heartbreak Into MLS Brilliance

For Lionel Messi, this summer brought with it a mix of success and heartbreak. Argentina reached the FIFA World Cup final, carrying the hopes of a nation and a shot at another trophy, only to lose 1-0 to Spain in extra time.

For Messi, it was a painful end to a tournament that had offered one last chance to lift the game’s greatest prize.

The Argentine has found a different stage on which to make history. At Inter Miami CF over the last three months, Messi has continued to score, provide assists and influence the outcome of games. Rather than allowing the disappointment of that lost final to define the closing stages of his career, Messi has returned to the club game with performances that underline his enduring value to Major League Soccer.

Heading into this weekend, Messi had amassed 25 goals and 15 assists in MLS this season, putting him first in both categories. In the process, Messi has become the first player in league history to record at least 15 assists in three straight seasons. It also raised Messi’s career tally for both club and country in official matches to 942 with the target of reaching 1,000 in sight.

Messi scored two goals and had an assist on Oct. 17 against Atlanta United, a performance which brought a smile to Inter Miami coach Christian “Kily” Gonzalez.

“He never stops surprising the world,” Gonzalez told reporters. “I can’t believe that this guy, Leo, does what he does when he’s 39 years old. What makes me the most happy is that he’s happy. So, with him being happy, he performs, he enjoys, he’s happy where he’s at and as I always say he makes us be better every day.”

In the process, Messi became the first player in league history to record 15 assists in three straight seasons. It also raised Messi’s career goal tally for both club and country in official games is 942 with the target of 1,000 not out of sight. In fact, Messi is currently in one of his most-productive career runs.

The World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was a reminder that even Messi’s extraordinary career cannot guarantee a perfect ending. Spain’s Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute, denying Argentina the chance to defend the 2022 title it had captured in Qatar. Messi’s international journey subsequently reached its conclusion when he recently announced his retirement from the international game.

Post-World Cup success

For Messi and the defending MLS Cup champions, the quest for silverware is far from over. Messi has long possessed the ability to change a game with a single touch, whether through a precisely weighted pass, a burst past defenders or a finish that appears to leave goalkeepers flummoxed. In MLS, that ability has become central to Miami’s attacking identity.

His influence is not restricted to goals. Messi often drops into midfield to collect possession, draws opponents away from their defensive positions and creates space for his teammates to exploit. The combination of goals and creativity is particularly significant at 39. Rather than relying only on pace and physical intensity associated with his younger years, Messi continues to influence games through positioning, anticipation and technical precision.

When Messi, ranked No. 2 on the Forbes list of highest-paid soccer players, arrived in South Florida in 2023, his arrival represented a landmark moment for Inter Miami and U.S. soccer as a whole. His presence brought worldwide attention to a club that was still establishing its identity and raised expectations of what MLS could offer international audiences.

Messi’s subsequent performances have helped turn that attention into a sustained sporting story. Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami in September, opening the scoring in a 2-0 win against Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup. The result added another trophy to his growing collection with the club and demonstrated that his influence extends beyond the league itself.

At the same time, there’s also a growing sense that Miami’s project is about more than the two-time MLS MVP. Teammates such as Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul provide familiar combinations and attacking options, while Messi’s ability to attract defenders can open opportunities for his teammates. Messi’s role is both individual and collective.

On Saturday night, Messi returned to the New York region, the league’s biggest media market, to take on the Red Bulls. The team has averaged 18,829 fans this season (25th out of 30 teams) at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Against Inter Miami, 25,000 spectators showed up, many of them wearing the Inter Miami or Argentina No. 10 jerseys in honor of a player many consider the GOAT. League attendance has consistently spiked during Inter Miami’s away games.

There’s no doubt Messi is committed to Inter Miami. The day before the Red Bulls game, Messi had been in Spain to receive the Princess of Asturias Award, the country’s most prestigious sports prize, in recognition of his career and work with disadvantaged children. Within 24 hours, Messi was back in the U.S. and in a Inter Miami uniform, albeit on the bench.

After just 19 minutes, the crowd began chanting “Messi, Messi” as Inter Miami struggled early after going down 1-0. The chants continued at the start of the second half when Messi and the other bench players began warm-ups near the corner kick flag. Messi entered the game in the 56th minute to loud cheers.

The Red Bulls, in a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive, had several chances to put the game away. In the end, New York was able to neutralize Messi and survive a frantic finale for the 2-0 win.

“This was something that had already been agreed upon,” Gonzalez said of Messi playing as a sub. “Obviously, he’s been through quite a journey, time zone changes, temperature shifts and a whole host of other factors. … We reached an agreement that this was the best approach to ensure he didn’t suffer any issues.”

Messi did not speak to reporters after the game, which is normal for him but a source of much frustration for reporters who regularly cover MLS.

What’s next for Messi and MLS?

Messi’s statistics tell an impressive story, but the final measure of Inter Miami’s season will be what the club achieves in the next few weeks and the upcoming MLS Cup Playoffs. Individual excellence does not automatically translate into a championship, particularly in a league where a short run of tough games can a cause a momentum shift.

For the league, meanwhile, Messi’s continued success offers something more lasting than a headline signing. It gives the league a global presence (also due to its Apple TV deal) and provides a compelling reason for audiences to follow the competition on sporting merit as well as star power. Indeed, Messi’s future will inevitably prompt questions about how long he can maintain this level and what comes after his playing career.

While MLS has kept viewership figures private, Apple TV reportedly has more than 45 million subscribers worldwide, all of whom now have access to every minute of MLS action on the same platform as Formula 1 in the U.S. Meanwhile, Messi’s Inter Miami contract expires at the end of the 2028 season (when he would be 41), meaning there’s still time to market games around him to audiences in North America and beyond.

MLS is already experiencing a World Cup bump. Nielsen’s Fan Insights data puts U.S. soccer fandom at 75.2 million people as of this July, up from 66.8 million a year earlier. MLS viewership on Fox and Fox Sports 1 rose 55% among men 18-34 and 29% among all adults 18-34 compared with pre-World Cup games this season.

“Our attendances are up, ratings are up, social media is up, merchandise is up — it helps to have Leo Messi — but the future of soccer is super bright because of all the things our stakeholders have done and a World Cup that will be remembered as the best of all time,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said earlier this month.

Messi’s national team retirement has closed one extraordinary chapter. The next one could include new milestones, more trophies with Miami and an expanding role in American soccerthat reaches beyond the playing field.

“Messi isn’t from here,” Gonzalez said. “To me, he’s an alien.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com