Inter Miami’s season came to an abrupt conclusion after they fell short of a playoffs spot. Lionel Messi made a significant impact on the Herons when he first arrived, quickly turning their form around. However, Miami FC’s playoff aspirations took a hit due to his injury and eventual absence from regular season. Now, a soccer analyst has highlighted the ‘missed opportunity’ for both the MLS and the Herons.

Lionel Messi missed the five games out of the last six for Miami due to a muscle injury sustained during the international break. The Argentine also scored only one goal in the league. Before that, he guided Miami to their first Leagues Cup and subsequently the final of the US Open Cup. However, an ESPN host believes that the Argentine’s presence at the South Beach failed to live up to the promised fairytale ending.

 What did the journalist have to say about Lionel Messi?

La Pulga’s arrival in the States led to an increase in ticket sales, presenting a mouth-watering opportunity to generate revenue for both the league and clubs. And so, Sebastian Salazar expressed that Inter Miami’s failure to reach the playoffs is a missed opportunity for MLS.

The journalist remarked on ESPN FC, “If you are going to limit it to MLS regular season, just one goal and two assists. All the missed time, it’s a disappointment. It thinks it’s a missed opportunity. In the MLS playoff without Lionel Messi, we have to ask how interesting are they. Chicago just made 10 million dollars in revenue at a game he didn’t even show up for. So, it’s a big missed opportunity not to be in the MLS postseason”

Similarly, the commentator discussed how Messi transformed the Herons into a formidable contender in various competitions. The 7x Ballon d’Or winner elevated the performances and altered the fortunes of the South Beach side.

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Inter Miami shines despite shortened MLS season

Lionel Messi has outlined a comprehensive road map for Inter Miami with his illustrious performances this season. La Pulga netted 11 goals and provided five assists within his 13 appearances. However, Inter Miami could not gain momentum in the league like they did in other championships. Messi’s side will potentially finish in the 14 position after their final league game against Charlotte in the Eastern Conference.

Nevertheless, the Herons will have more opportunities to change their fate with many other competitions in their upcoming season. Sebastian Salazar remarked on this note, “They won the League’s Cup and they got to the final of the Open Cup. They are going to be in the Concacaf Cup, and Champions Cup next year. Inter Miami representing Major League Soccer next year is going to have a chance to play in the FIFA Club World. they played really good football as well so on the field huge success with a sad ending missing the postseason.”

How do you rate Inter Miami’s season with Lionel Messi?

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