Lionel Messi changing how world sees MLS, Mascherano says

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano credited Lionel Messi for impacting the growth of Major League Soccer since signing with the club in 2023, but quickly added that more progress can be made.

Mascherano stated following the 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire, "In the summer, Messi will have been here for two years, and I think he's changing how the world sees MLS in one way or another." "There's no doubt about that. In the end, we're talking about a player who can do all of that and give a league like this the most exposure." Messi's influence on the league could be seen on Sunday as he led the Herons into Soldier Field and helped make history at the iconic venue with an all-time attendance record for the Fire with 62,358 fans in attendance.

Messi made his debut in a match at Soldier Field on Sunday, despite the fact that Inter Miami and the Fire had previously played there. "We saw it today, and it's one of the many examples of everything he generates. "The reality is that people came to see him," Mascherano stated. It is not the first time that Inter Miami has assisted another club in exceeding their previous attendance record. The New England Revolution and Sporting KC both had record-breaking numbers in 2024 in games against Messi. The match against the revolution took place at Gillette Stadium, which is where the New England Patriots play, while the match against SKC took place at Arrowhead Stadium's GEHA Field. Other MLS clubs have also chosen to move their games against Inter Miami to larger venues to satisfy the demand for tickets, with the Columbus Crew, for example, moving their upcoming match against Inter Miami to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Nevertheless, the Miami manager stressed that the league is accountable for maximizing Messi's efforts on and off the field. Mascherano stated, "Now, MLS has the responsibility to continue advancing." "It has made progress, but it must continue to support my presence here to maintain soccer development in this nation. He is a one-of-a-kind, unrivaled player. Everywhere he's been, he's marked a before and after."

Inter Miami fell to third place in the Eastern Conference as a result of the 0-0 draw, but despite playing one fewer game, the team is still just one point behind leaders Charlotte FC. The Herons struggled to generate chances against the Fire, managing just 10 shots and three on goal in comparison to the opponent's 16 overall shots and seven on goal.

Mascherano emphasized the excessive number of games played in the last two months and mentioned his team's hectic schedule as a possible explanation for the lack of goals. Miami is competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals in addition to MLS play. "We have to remember that, in our case, we've been playing every three or four days for almost two months, and the wear and tear is very high," Mascherano said. "And the team continues to compete in spite of everything. There are days when the team performs better and other days when it doesn't, but in the end, the team competes."

After that, Mascherano praised his team for keeping a clean sheet and earning the hard-fought draw. The team will now get ready to play the Columbus Crew on Saturday night and the Vancouver Whitecaps on April 24 in a Champions Cup semifinal.