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October 2, 2024
Inter Miami is pivotal as it prepares to face the Columbus Crew. They need a victory to secure the prestigious MLS Supporters’ Shield. This accolade, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record, would mark a significant milestone for the club, highlighting their growth and consistency throughout the season. The match carries high stakes, as winning would boost confidence heading into the playoffs and affirm Inter Miami’s dominance in the league.
In Lionel Messi’s first season with Inter Miami, the Argentine superstar has already made a remarkable impact by leading the team to victory in the Leagues Cup. His arrival has transformed the club’s fortunes, and now Messi stands on the brink of securing a second piece of silverware with “Las Garzas.” With just three points needed to clinch the MLS Supporters’ Shield, Messi and his teammates are poised to claim the top spot in the MLS playoffs. This achievement would position them as the favorites for the postseason and further solidify Messi’s legacy in American soccer.
Messi’s first opportunity to bring Inter Miami closer to the MLS Supporters’ Shield is when they face the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field Stadium. This is a crucial matchup, as the Crew, currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference, are one of the few teams within striking distance of Miami. Though Inter Miami holds an eight-point lead, Columbus has a game in hand, meaning they could narrow the gap if they win their remaining fixtures. A win tonight for Messi and his team would eliminate that possibility and bring them one step closer to securing the regular-season title, which rewards the team with the best overall record.
Should Inter Miami be unable to clinch first place and claim the Supporters’ Shield tonight, Messi and his teammates will still have two additional opportunities to achieve their goal. Their next challenge will be an away game against Toronto FC, followed by a final home match against the New England Revolution. However, if tonight’s result does not go their way, Inter Miami must watch the Crew’s performance in their remaining matches. The Crew’s results could directly influence whether or not Inter Miami holds onto its lead at the top, making each remaining game of the season critical for both teams.
If Lionel Messi wins this title, he will boost his already remarkable career total to 46 trophies, putting him 11 titles ahead of his closest active rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo remains the only current player with a realistic chance of catching Messi, though the gap between them is significant.
Messi and Ronaldo dominate the conversation regarding active players with the most titles, but several retired legends still rank highly. Brazilian Dani Alves holds 43 titles, while Spanish stars Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Piqué have 38. Another Brazilian, Maxwell, follows closely with 37. Though these players have left the pitch, their impressive trophy hauls still contribute to the historical context of Messi’s remarkable achievements.
Beyond the potential addition of another title to Lionel Messi’s impressive collection, his arrival at Inter Miami has undeniably transformed the club. Under Messi’s leadership, the team is on the verge of reaching the MLS playoffs for only the second time in its history.
Before Messi joined the squad, Inter Miami, which began competing in 2020, struggled to find its footing in the league. In their inaugural season, they finished 19th out of 26 teams, and in 2021, they ranked 20th out of 27. The following year, they made their first playoff appearance but were eliminated in the first round by Orlando City.
However, Messi’s arrival in 2023 marked a turning point. Despite finishing 27th out of 29 teams in the regular season, Messi guided Inter Miami to their first major trophy with a Leagues Cup victory, demonstrating his immense influence both on and off the field.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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