Messi Delivers Magic as Inter Miami Clinches Crucial Fifth Victory in a Row Against Nashville
Inter Miami CF couldn't be in a better position at this moment.
Following their progression to the FIFA Club World Cup's round of 16 and their impressive showing against Paris Saint-Germain, the Herons have returned to MLS action in excellent shape, securing their fifth consecutive victory and third win in just eight days with a 2–1 triumph over Nashville SC on Saturday.
Lionel Messi remained the central figure once more, netting a free-kick and adding the decisive goal for his fifth consecutive double, taking his season tally to 16 goals and tying him in the MLS Golden Boot race with Nashville's striker Sam Surridge.
With the Eastern Conference summit within reach, Inter Miami now turn their attention to forthcoming matches against FC Cincinnati and New York Red Bulls in the next week.
However, before we look toward future challenges, here are three key observations from their latest triumph over Nashville.
Inter Miami's Continued Dependence on Messi
Messi has been an extraordinary force over the past two decades in global football, but rarely has he carried a team as heavily as he has for Inter Miami in recent times.
On Saturday, his most recent double puts him in position to potentially break the record for most goals in a single MLS campaign.
"Words are insufficient. What he continues to accomplish is remarkable, setting new records every three days rather than just weekends," Miami manager Javier Mascherano commented on this magnificent period of form. "He serves as our team's standard-bearer, showing us how to compete. He leads by example...It's a privilege for me to witness this phase of his career."
Nevertheless, while his recent performances have been exceptional, this could present concerns for the Herons. If the 38-year-old faces injury or exhaustion, Miami would lose the player responsible for 36% of their MLS goals this season. The Herons have few other players demonstrating the capability to contribute significant offensive output.
For the present, Miami can savor this moment. It represents a record-setting streak that dreams are made of for the Argentine, one they hope will extend through the remainder of the MLS regular season and into the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Demonstrating Their Worth Against Quality Opposition
Victories over the New England Revolution and CF Montreal following their Club World Cup return provided Inter Miami with a pleasant lift, but failed to persuade the rest of the league that the Herons are genuine title contenders this season.
The Nashville victory tells a different story, as they entered the match with a 15-game undefeated run across all competitions and featured two of the league's top attackers in Hany Mukhtar, who found the net, and Surridge, plus MLS All Star fullback Andy Najar, who recorded his eighth assist of the season.
Whether through Messi's brilliance or a Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis error, this match demonstrated that Miami can compete with the league's elite and create opportunities for positive results even without exceptional team-wide performances.
The victory not only provides them with a convincing benchmark in mid-July but also elevates them to third in the Eastern Conference, sitting just five points behind the Philadelphia Union for first place while maintaining three games in hand over several surrounding teams.
Despite early season concerns, Miami have definitively returned to form.
Luis Suárez's Ongoing Difficulties
While one Barcelona icon flourishes, another has faced challenges. Luis Suárez, despite a respectable Club World Cup performance, has fallen short of MLS expectations in recent weeks and appears a shadow of his previous self.
Early in the season, Mascherano showed strong commitment to a core group of 14 players and struggled to make adjustments when these regulars underperformed or showed fatigue. Although he has become more willing to utilize Miami's squad depth since then, he has rarely reduced Suárez's playing time.
After netting 20 goals last season—matching Messi for the team lead—the Uruguayan has managed only five goals this campaign and has provided minimal contribution to attacking development. Against Nashville, he created a single opportunity but remained largely ineffective.
For Miami to achieve greater success this season, they require another productive striker alongside Messi, and Suárez currently doesn't fulfill that role at this career stage, as Saturday's performance further illustrated. However, it will present a challenging discussion and decision for Mascherano should he consider giving players like Allan Obando and Fafa Picault increased opportunities.