Inter Miami's inability to convert cup form into league consistency is becoming the defining story of their season. After lifting the Campeones Cup with a 2-0 win over Cruz Azul, a result that included Lionel Messi's historic 100th goal for the club, the Herons followed up with a frustrating 2-2 draw against San Diego FC in their next MLS outing. Messi added yet another milestone, scoring his 101st goal for the club with a trademark free-kick, but defensive errors cost the team two points they badly needed.

New head coach Kily Gonzalez was left visibly frustrated after the draw, and his reaction underlines a broader tension at the club. Miami have the attacking quality to beat anyone, as the 7-1 demolition of CF Montréal earlier this season showed, but they keep dropping points in games they should be winning. Three draws in their last four MLS matches tell that story clearly.

The competitive picture makes those dropped points costly. Miami sit third in the Eastern Conference on 46 points after 26 games, level with New England Revolution in second but behind the leaders. Charlotte FC are just three points back in fourth, meaning the playoff seeding race remains tight.

Off the pitch, Messi completed a takeover of Spanish second-tier club Eldense, adding another dimension to his growing football portfolio. The next challenge arrives on September 27 away at Columbus Crew, a fixture that could shape Miami's playoff positioning significantly.