Inter Miami can't afford not to win MLS Cup as Lionel Messi and friends kick-off the 2024 season

It feels so long ago, Messi's arrival. So much has happened in the months since he showed up on that rain-soaked night at DRV-PNK Stadium.

His initial run was storybook, to say the least. At the time, Inter Miami were the last-place team in MLS, but Messi dragged them all the way to a Leagues Cup trophy anyway. It was a heroic run, one with fabulous free-kicks, incredible passes and, more importantly, wins.

Messi did the heavy lifting, but he didn't do it alone. Busquets and Alba were there to add guile and experience; Robert Taylor morphed into a superstar for a time, scoring goal after goal; youngsters like Benjamin Cremaschi took a massive leap forward, no doubt lifted by the confidence Messi instilled in them.

The wheels fell off by the end. An injury to Messi saw him miss key MLS matches, and by the time he returned, it was too late. A chance at the MLS Playoffs was gone. Next year, they said, will be the year.

It's now next year. The 2024 season kicks-off on Wednesday, and as it begins, Inter Miami remain the talking point of MLS.

With the foundation laid by Messi's arrival, the club went into the offseason needing just a few minor tweaks to what was already one of the most star-studded squads in MLS history. Calling the signing of Suarez a 'minor tweak', though, feels like selling it a bit short.

Suarez's arrival has given Inter Miami a legendary No. 9 to go with the ex-Barcelona super-team they've already assembled. Now, there are questions about Suarez, notably about the health and durability of his knees, but if fit, the Uruguayan still has the guile and talent to tear apart any MLS defense.

He wasn't the only arrival, though. Julian Gressel, one of the best pure crossers and passers in MLS, was also brought in, reuniting him with Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, his ex-Atlanta United boss.

The club lost some key pieces, notably Kamal Miller, who was traded to the Portland Timbers. To replace him, Miami brought in Nicolas Freire on loan, seemingly a like-for-like centerback replacement. Midfield looks set for a shakeup, too, with ex-captain Gregore leaving to open up room for Federico Redondo, who may or may not be coming soon depending on whether Miami can circumvent MLS' spending rules to get a deal over the line.

Either way, it was a busy offseason for Miami, who added a bit more firepower to an already-loaded attacking team.

MLS has never seen a team this stacked. This team has four ex-Barcelona stars, including perhaps the best player of all time. That player is fresh off a Ballon d'Or win, and he's now playing alongside the No.9 that he lit up Europe with for so many years.

The roster also features several USMNT veterans and hopefuls, rising South American youth internationals and proven MLS winners. It's an unbelievable collection of talent, with Messi's gravitational pull convincing several players to put money on the backburner to sign up to play alongside him.

In terms of depth, there's plenty. Suarez's knees are a concern, but he can be spelled by Leo Campana, a double-digit goalscorer in each of his first two MLS seasons. Taylor, last year's revelation, likely won't be starting, while homegrown starlet Cremaschi may make an even bigger leap this year once he returns from injury. The bench has MLS experience, but also includes young talent that could be ready for a breakout at any point.

Overall, there's no team in MLS with a higher ceiling. If Messi is Messi and Suarez is Suarez, no opponent will be able to keep up with that. Even if they aren't, players like Campana, Gressel and Diego Gomez can pick up some slack.

Still, despite all of that talent, there are holes, and preseason exposed them...

MLS teams can get by with lesser defenders.; it happens all the time. Teams spend big in attack and just try and survive at the back. It leads to some shootouts and chaos, but that's relatively normal for this league.

But what we saw out of Inter Miami in preseason should scare those in charge. There's a difference between lackluster defending and disastrous defending. All preseason long, we saw the latter.

You can chalk some of that up to preseason fitness issues. Some you can also attribute to the competition, as Miami were facing some pretty good teams. Still, time and time again, we saw this backline carved up, and with the attacking talent in MLS, opponents will be salivating at the chance to attack this Miami backline.

It's not just the backline, either. Miami's front two of Messi and Suarez offer nothing defensively. Busquets, meanwhile, for all of his intelligence, isn't the most mobile, meaning he needs players around him to do a bit of running. Redondo could be that man, as could Creamschi once he's healthy, but the club's defensive issues start at the very front and are felt throughout the team.

Martino will almost certainly figure it out. The club has experimented with back fours and back threes, with Martino looking to find the best way to set his team up. The addition of Freire will help, as will the growth of youngster Tomas Aviles. Even so, though, preseason set off some alarm bells.

If there is one thing that will prevent Miami from contending atop MLS, it's their defense.

If we learned one thing from Inter Miami's disastrous preseason tour, it's that the world is watching. And, if this Inter Miami project does fall short, the world is more than ready to laugh at their expense.

Fans all over the world were quick to clown on Inter Miami for their performances in Saudi Arabia, which saw them suffer a narrow loss to Al-Hilal before being crushed by Al-Nassr. Social media had plenty of jokes and memes at the ready for those losses, even if they came without the Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo clash we all were promised.

The haters, particularly the Messi haters, will be waiting for this project to fail. The fact of the matter is that there is an entire section of social media obsessed with the Messi vs. Ronaldo debate. For those folks, the only thing better than their hero's success is the rival's failure, although it feels like that may be reversed for some.

If Messi and Miami do fail, fans from all over the world will be ready for it. It's not just local pressure Miami face; it's international.

Inter Miami won't just be competing on one front this season. In fact, they'll be competing on four.

MLS Cup is, obviously, the priority and, for Miami, it feels like the expectation. For many, they're the favorites this season, despite their defensive shortcomings. It wouldn't be wise to hand them anything just yet, particularly in a loaded Eastern Conference that features powerhouses like the Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union, but, when you have Messi in your team, you aren't targeting fifth-place.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup is around the corner, with Miami set to begin play in March. That'll give the Herons another chance to pit their talent against the very best CONCACAF have to offer. Same with the Leagues Cup later this year, as they look to defend their title. And then there's the U.S. Open Cup, although there's plenty of talk about what that'll look like this season.

For most clubs, one trophy would be a successful season. Not for Miami, though. The expectations will be multiple, with MLS Cup obviously being the most important. Anything less will feel like a letdown for a club like this.

It remains to be seen how Inter Miami will handle it all. They aren't the league's first super-team, even if they are the most high-profile. Some have lived up to, and even exceeded, expectations. Others have fallen flat on their face.

The tough part for Inter Miami is what would constitute 'falling flat on their face' for this particular team. A playoff spot won't be enough. A good run to build upon won't be enough. There are no moral victories when you have Messi in the team; trophies are all that matter.

No team in MLS has entered a season with that level of expectation, which is what makes this Miami team so fascinating. How do they handle going into a long, gruelling MLS season knowing that there's a target on their back? And, when the adversity does inevitably come, how do they react to it?

It's the most-anticipated season in MLS history, largely because this will be the most-watched team in MLS history. All eyes are on Inter Miami... so can they deliver? They can't afford not to.