When Lionel Messi signed for Inter Miami CF in July 2023, many people saw it mainly as a commercial move for Major League Soccer. More than three years later, the results show something bigger. A club that had never won a trophy now has four, including its first MLS Cup.
So, how has Messi influenced Inter Miami CF’s performance? This article compares the club before and after his arrival, looks at his statistics and trophies, explains how he shapes the team on the pitch, and examines the limits of a team built around one superstar. All figures are correct as of early October 2026.
Inter Miami Before Messi
Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham, played its first MLS season in 2020. Its early years were difficult, and when Messi arrived in the middle of the 2023 season, the team was bottom of the overall MLS table. The club had reached the playoffs only once, in 2022, and had no silverware.
The Immediate Impact: Leagues Cup 2023
Messi’s effect was instant. He scored a stoppage-time free kick on his debut against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, a tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs. He went on to score 10 goals in seven games as Miami won the competition, the first trophy in the club’s history. Weeks later, Miami also reached the US Open Cup final, losing to Houston Dynamo.
However, the team had dropped too far behind in the league. Miami finished 14th in the Eastern Conference in 2023 and missed the playoffs, showing that one player could not fix an entire season alone.
Messi’s Inter Miami Record Year by Year
2024: Supporters’ Shield and MVP
In his first full season, Messi led Miami to the Supporters’ Shield, the trophy for the best regular-season record. The team collected 74 points from 34 games, an MLS record. Messi produced 20 goals and 16 assists in just 19 league matches and was named MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP).
2025: The First MLS Cup
Under new head coach Javier Mascherano, Messi had his best MLS season. He won the Golden Boot with 29 league goals and became the first player to win the MVP award twice in a row. Miami scored 101 goals across the regular season and playoffs, the most by any team in a single MLS season.
The season ended with Miami’s biggest achievement. On 6 December 2025, they beat Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the MLS Cup final, with Messi providing two assists and winning the MVP award for the match. Earlier that year, he also scored a free kick in a 2-1 win over Porto at the FIFA Club World Cup.
2026: Still the Main Man
Now 39, Messi remains Miami’s most important player. By late September 2026, he had 21 MLS goals and 11 assists in 24 league matches, according to FotMob, leading the team in both categories. Highlights included four goals and an assist in a club-record 7-1 win over CF Montréal on 29 August. In September, Miami also beat Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup, the club’s fourth trophy.
How Messi Shapes the Team on the Pitch
Messi’s influence goes beyond scoring. He usually plays in a free attacking role, dropping deep to receive the ball, then creating chances with through balls and switches of play. This is why his assist numbers are almost as impressive as his goals. He is also a major threat from free kicks, which gives Miami a way to win tight games.
His presence has also changed the squad. Former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez followed him to Miami, and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul arrived later. Coaches have built their tactics around Messi’s movement, with teammates running beyond him to use his passing.
The Limits of the Messi Effect
Messi has not made Miami unbeatable. Despite the record Shield in 2024, the team lost in the first round of the playoffs to Atlanta United. Miami have also struggled in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, losing to Nashville SC in the round of 16 in 2026.
The 2026 season has been unsettled off the pitch too. Mascherano resigned for personal reasons in April, just four months after winning the MLS Cup. Guillermo Hoyos took over as interim coach before Kily González was named permanent head coach in late August. Defence has been a weakness, with Miami conceding 50 goals in their first 27 league games while sitting third in the Eastern Conference.
The Verdict
The numbers make Messi’s influence clear. Before he arrived, Inter Miami had no trophies and sat bottom of MLS. Since then, they have won the Leagues Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, the MLS Cup and the Campeones Cup, while Messi has collected two MVP awards and a Golden Boot. As the defending champions head into the 2026 playoffs, their chances still depend heavily on the player who transformed the club.