Lionel Messi and Inter Miami return to MLS action

Inter Miami have gone 11 games without a win and sit bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Kieran Quailekquaile90Update: Aug 26th, 2023 03:25 EDT

Inter MiamiEFE / Inter Miami

Lionel Messi has had a major impact in just 33 days with Inter Miami. With a stunning debut goal against Cruz Azul, he hit the ground running, going on to help the club win the Leagues Cup.

He failed to score for the first time in an Inter Miami shirt on Wednesday, but he did provide two assists against FC Cincinnati before Tata Martino’s side advanced to the final of the US Open Cup on penalties.

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Lionel Messi against FC Cincinnati in the semi-finals of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023.ANDY LYONSAFP

Messi’s MLS debut

Messi is now set for his first MLS match. What has made the man from Rosario’s record with the Florida club to date even more remarkable is just how bad they had been before his arrival. Inter Miami currently sit last in the Eastern Conference due to a poor run before Messi made the move across the Atlantic.

The World Cup-winning captain, alongside experienced Spanish team-mates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, has 12 games to help the team co-owned by David Beckham move up the table and reach a possible playoff spot.

On Saturday, Inter take on New York Red Bulls away from home. They will be looking to improve their poor record which has seen them pick up just 18 points from 22 MLS games, going 11 games without a win.

Checkin in from NY 📌 pic.twitter.com/JdEjZGZwRN

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 26, 2023

Eight games in 33 days for Messi