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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Argentine icon moved to America in 2023</li><li>Has already delivered on trophy triumph</li><li>Demands the best of himself &amp; team-mates</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Explained: Why ‘frustrated’ Lionel Messi is a good thing for MLS & Inter Miami – with frowns & smiles embraced in United States

Major League Soccer

Inter Miami CF

New York Red Bulls

<p>Argentine icon Messi <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/secret-meetings-10-year-project-how-david-beckham-signed-lionel-messi-inter-miami-co-owner/bltcc28a521e2bdff22 " target="_blank">completed a stunning move to the United States in 2023</a>, with the decision taken to chase the American dream after reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. Any questions of his desire to compete were quickly answered when <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/44-trophies-lionel-messi-all-time-record-very-good-hands-inter-miami-tata-martino-historic-leagues-cup/blt4c0a84c28d5bf241 " target="_blank">inspiring a historic Leagues Cup triumph for Inter Miami</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to star for the Herons in 2024, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-have-fun-patrick-mahomes-meeting-soccer-nfl-royalty-inter-miami-mls/blt5fc40e24fcbc042b" target="_blank">A-list guests attracted to every fixture</a> that he graces, and the plan is to add more major honours to a record-breaking collection. Messi, like eternal rival <a href="https://www.goal.com/lists/score-break-all-records-always-win-what-cristiano-ronaldo-like-team-mate-juventus-giorgio-chiellini-goat-debate/bltd13f548ae4f0674e" target="_blank">Cristiano Ronaldo, has never been a man to settle for second best</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>He is proving that across every outing for Inter Miami, with former New York Red Bulls star Wright-Phillips telling <a href="https://tv.apple.com/gb/sporting-event/mls-wrap-up/umc.cse.yqfkbgdkl0c1ae2nep6efu91 " target="_blank"><em>MLS Wrap-Up</em></a> after seeing the all-time great <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-inter-miami-sixth-goal-of-season-nashville-sc/blt43c82319073e7199" target="_blank">score two and make another in the Herons’ 3-1 win over Nashville</a>: “We spoke about that, that smile you’re talking about, it’s great. When you see a big player come over here and really take on the league and enjoy it, even getting frustrated in the moments they want more from their team-mates, it tells me that Messi has bought in, and we can’t ask for nothing more than that.”</p>

WHAT WRIGHT-PHILLIPS SAID

<p>Messi has registered nine goals through as many appearances this season, helping Inter Miami to the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. He is having to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-inter-miami-tata-martino-transfer-injury-crisis-free-agent-matias-rojas/bltd37f5d9ac1d3f4af" target="_blank">counter an injury crisis at Chase Stadium</a>, with more smiles and frowns to be expected as Tata Martino’s side <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mls-watch-out-inter-miami-lionel-messi-win-everything-2024-crazy-eighth-ballon-d-or/blt8adde7fc64f6ebb3 " target="_blank">compete for major honours on multiple fronts</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Explained: Why ‘frustrated’ Lionel Messi is a good thing for MLS & Inter Miami – with frowns & smiles embraced in United States | Goal.com US

A “frustrated” Lionel Messi is a good thing, says Bradley Wright-Phillips, with emotion proving how much the all-time great has “bought in” to MLS.

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