‘Win the league’ – Lionel Messi sets Treble target for Inter Miami after keeping MLS Cup dreams alive in 11-game unbeaten run

The Argentine superstar has already inspired his new club to a historic Leagues Cup crown, with the 44th trophy of his record-breaking career captured within weeks of his arrival in the United States. He has since helped to book a place in the final of the U.S. Open Cup.

Securing the ultimate prize in MLS will be a little trickier, as Inter Miami remain eight points off the play-off pace, but Messi has shown before that anything is possible when he is involved. He told MLS Season Pass after registering two assists in a 3-1 win over LAFC: “The group is growing more. I’ve been saying it since the beginning of all of this, we were lucky to get in a tournament and get to a final. Now, we’re going to look to hit the objective of being among the best eight to try and win the league. This is the way. We continue growing and obviously winning provides a lot of confidence.”

Inter Miami are now unbeaten in 11 games across all competitions since Messi joined their ranks, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner delighted to see that run extended during a testing trip to California to face the MLS Cup holders. He added: “We had spoken about it before the game, that it would be a good test for us to see where we really are and what we’re capable of. It was a difficult place to play on against a very good rival, the current champions. We walk away with a very important result for what’s coming.”

Inter Miami will be back in action next Saturday evening when playing host to Sporting Kansas City. They have nine more MLS fixtures in total, with the challenge being to collect enough points from those contests in order to secure safe passage into the post-season.