This Saturday, Inter Miami will contest their first-ever MLS Cup final, the culmination of a meticulously planned journey that has always orbited around one central star: Lionel Messi. For co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas, this moment has been the target since the club's inception, a vision finally realised through strategic patience and seismic change.
The Dream and The Reality
The ambition was audacious from the start. Back in February 2020, just before Inter Miami's debut MLS season, the excitement from Beckham and Mas was palpable. The project, already seven years in the making after battles over trademarks and stadium politics, was finally alive. Yet, even then, the ultimate dream was clear: to bring the world's greatest footballer to Miami.
That dream materialised in the summer of 2023. Lionel Messi's arrival transformed the club and the city, his coronation as Miami's new sporting son felt everywhere from Chase Stadium to local Argentinian cafes. He instantly delivered the club's first trophy, the Leagues Cup, and found a profound personal happiness with his family, stating his move was a direct search for joy after a difficult spell at Paris Saint-Germain.
Building a Team, Not Just a Brand
However, last season's first-round playoff exit to Atlanta United exposed a harsh truth: even an MVP season from Messi wasn't enough. The club needed a deeper, more playoff-ready squad and a new footballing structure. The response was decisive.
In 2024, the club appointed Guillermo Hoyos, a trusted figure from Messi's Barcelona academy days, as sporting director. The managerial choice was even more symbolic: Javier Mascherano, Messi's former teammate for club and country. While a rookie club manager, Mascherano's connection and understanding of Messi were deemed paramount. The results have been transformative.
This is far from a mere marketing exercise. The club is cultivating local academy talent like Ian Fray and Benjamin Cremaschi, while the first team blends youth with immense experience. The playoff run has been dominant, scoring 17 goals in five games, but crucially, conceding only four—a testament to Mascherano's resilient, committed philosophy.
The Ultimate Test Against Vancouver
The final at Chase Stadium presents a classic narrative: Lionel Messi versus Thomas Müller, a rematch of the 2014 World Cup final. Yet, Vancouver Whitecaps are a formidable opponent in their own right, having secured a record 63 regular-season points and reaching the CONCACAF Champions Cup final under first-year manager Jesper Sørensen.
For Inter Miami, hosting the final is a key advantage. It will be the last game at Chase Stadium before the club's highly anticipated move to the new Miami Freedom Park next April. With Messi's contract recently extended to 2028, the hope is that he will enter that new era as a reigning MLS champion, finally fulfilling the grand design set in motion by Beckham and Mas so many years ago.
