‘Spoiled us’ - Lionel Messi brilliance is ‘contagious’ at Inter Miami as Javier Mascherano admits Argentine GOAT makes MLS masterclasses look ‘easy’

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was back to his dazzling best when inspiring the Herons to a 4-2 victory over Montreal. He bagged a stunning brace in that contest, including a trademark long-range strike, while teeing up one of Luis Suarez’s two goals.

Messi is the reigning MVP of MLS and looking to enhance a record-breaking collection of 46 major honours. Inter Miami will need him, and their other ex-Barcelona icons, to deliver on a consistent basis if they are to remain competitive on multiple fronts.

Mascherano has no doubt that Messi will continue to lead by example, with Inter Miami’s head coach saying of his iconic countryman: “Well, Leo is a player who has us so spoiled that it looks like all he does is easy to do, and at this stage of his career and the reality is it is not only his play but how he competes, it is contagious, and we all follow his lead.

“As for Luis, I am very happy for him. A player who has scored so many goals over his career, I am sure it was tough and strange to go through a stretch of games without scoring. But his effort and desire were always there.”

Suarez had netted just twice through 11 MLS appearances prior to bagging a brace against Montreal. Mascherano added on the veteran Uruguayan, who found the target on 25 occasions last season: “I’m not here to single anyone out. You can do whatever analysis you want, you have that right, that is your job. We try to analyse different situations. We know how important Luis is for the club, in general. The club a year-and-a-half ago decided to go with this project and we have to adapt to that.”

Messi and Suarez will be back in action against Columbus on Saturday, with Inter Miami then set to turn their attention to the FIFA Club World Cup - which will be taking place in the United States from June 14.