Why Messi’s MLS legacy needs play-off triumph as he signs new deal

Lionel Messi has been the best MLS player so far, but unless he brings Miami home from the play-offs, the season will be regarded as a failure.

The Argentine forward, who has just won the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals and is reportedly vying for the title of the most valuable player award once more, signed a new deal until 2028.

In the event that that happens, Messi will become the first MLS player to win it twice in its 30-season run.

The 38-year-old and Inter Miami are aware that winning the MLS Cup for the first time in their history is a prerequisite for their ability to defend the league title, which the 38-year-old and Inter Miami have failed to do.

The franchise, which is owned by David Beckham and is led by Javier Mascherano, will take on Nashville SC on Friday in the first game of a best-of-three series. Sam Surridge is the English striker’s attacking partner.

The post-season play-offs are seen as the main piece of silverware in America, even though the league title may be regarded as the most important prize for clubs around the world.

Since Messi left Paris St-Germain for Inter Miami in 2023, the club has been pursuing this goal, but it has not yet been realized.

The 2023 Leagues Cup, a new tournament that pitted teams from the MLS and the Liga MX, was the only knockout competition he and the club have ever won.

Since then, they have lost seven cups and have only added one more trophy, besides the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, to their overall league standing.

If Inter Miami don’t win the MLS Cup, then defender Noah Allen, age 21, said: “Yeah, that’s a failure. We have high expectations of ourselves.

Messi has already had a significant impact at Inter Miami both on and off the field, despite not revealing whether he will participate in the World Cup in North America next summer.

To increase focus, increase fans, increase sales, increase profits, and increase chances of success, a higher calibre of player has been drawn to the club – renowned names like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

The club currently sells more shirts than Juventus, and Messi is in line to buy the franchise when he retires. Vogue magazine also features Messi’s shirts as a fashion item.

In terms of goals and assists, Messi almost broke the previous single-season record held by former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela.

In Los Angeles FC’s 2019 season, the Mexican recorded 49 goals and 16 assists, but Messi only managed 45.

After earning the MLS Player of the Month for the third time this year, earning the Golden Boot, and being on the verge of receiving another MVP award, he enters round one of the play-offs against Nashville.

Some people believe Messi and Inter must achieve MLS Cup success after committing his future to the organization.

The top nine teams from the Eastern Conference and the top nine from the Western Conference advance to the play-offs, which will see eighteen teams advance through the four rounds before the MLS Cup final.

Bradley Wright-Phillips, a two-time Golden Boot winner and former Manchester City forward, said to MLS Apple TV, “You can’t assemble The Avengers without winning the MLS Cup.”

We’re going to judge that against the fact that they won’t win a cup, as they say, and that their time will still be filled with success.

Dax McCarty, a fellow Apple TV analyst and former Atlanta player, said, “When I look back and reflect on Messi’s career, I don’t really think about whether or not he won an MLS Cup. However, whether or not he wins an MLS Cup will undoubtedly have an impact on his legacy.