Mascherano Breaks Silence on Explosive Messi Feud Claims: "Here's the Real Story"
Javier Mascherano dismissed any suggestions of tension with Lionel Messi, labeling recent rumors as "complete rubbish" before Inter Miami's upcoming match against New England Revolution.
The Herons' shocking 5–3 loss to Chicago Fire on Tuesday night made headlines for negative reasons. Inter Miami not only saw their Supporters' Shield hopes take a major hit, but they also remained trapped in fourth position within the Eastern Conference table.
The situation worsened when television footage captured what seemed like a heated discussion between Messi and Mascherano during the game. Speculation immediately emerged about potential discord between the former Argentina national team colleagues, fueled by Inter Miami's recent string of disappointing results.
Mascherano quickly addressed the rumors that had gained momentum in recent days, clarifying his relationship with Messi.
"There's no issue with Leo," the Argentine stated. "The media reported that he was confronting me, which is complete rubbish."
Mascherano: Strategic Discussions Dominated Mid-Game Exchange With Messi
Mascherano then revealed to reporters what he and Messi were genuinely discussing during their exchange at Chase Stadium.
"We were analyzing Chicago's defensive setup. If you watch the match, following their opening two goals, they adopted a very deep defensive block, leaving minimal space for us to exploit between their lines," Mascherano clarified.
"It was a spacing issue, as they had retreated effectively, making it extremely challenging to find gaps between their defensive lines. This was a tactical problem I identified and we attempted to address during our halftime discussion."
At the break, Inter Miami entered the locker room down 3–1 on home soil. Mascherano's squad eventually cracked their opponents' organized defense, fighting back to level the match at 3–3 by the 74th minute.
However, ultimately it was the Herons' backline that faltered, allowing two crucial late strikes to suffer their seventh league defeat in 2025. With only three regular season fixtures remaining, Messi and Mascherano will concentrate on returning Inter Miami to victorious form as they chase the franchise's inaugural MLS Cup triumph.