Xavi, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and the top coaching candidates to replace Tata Martino for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi

A Barcelona legend as a player, Xavi played alongside Messi until his departure from the club in 2015. The duo played nearly 300 matches together at the club level, including the 2015 UEFA Champions League final, that also saw Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets feature in the XI.

He feels like the most logical choice for a hire, as he knows his ex-Barcelona teammates like no other, and has proved he is a capable and elite manager at the highest level. He led the Blaugrana to a La Liga title in 2022-23, and a Spanish SuperCup title in 2023, as well. He also helped develop a young Lamine Yamal, who has emerged as one of the most impressive wingers in the world at the moment.

In addition to his accolades in Spain as a manager, Xavi won seven trophies as manager of Qatari side Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League over the course of three seasons from 2019-2021.

With Miami, he could come in and establish an identity, while using familiar relationships to create a baseline for what is expected under him as a manager, and what is to come.

Former teammate of club co-owner David Beckham, Zidane is the fever dream on this wishlist. The ex-Real Madrid star and Los Blancos manager would be the biggest coup possible for the South Beach MLS side.

The 52-year-old, however, has not returned to the touchline since his decision to resign from Real Madrid in 2021. He managed the club in two stints from 2016-2018 and 2019-2021, winning three UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, two SuperCup titles and two FIFA Club World Cup titles. He established a dynasty with the heavyweight Spanish club, but after his departure nearly four years ago, he has yet to pick up another coaching job.

Of course, it would not be the same level as coaching Los Blancos, but if Zidane were to take the South Beach job he would be the only coach to ever coach both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - the two individuals regarded as the best footballers of all time.

In 2023, he attended a Herons US Open Cup match as a special guest of Beckham's, meaning he is already vaguely familiar with the club and has seen them in action.

Could the Englishman and Miami's front office lure him to MLS? The odds would say no, but the believers? They will believe.

The former MLS star has been handed the reigns to the Herons MLS NEXT Pro team, Inter Miami II, and he's found success there, too.

He led the club to a sixth-place finish in 2024, with a record of 14-8-6 (WLD), while earning a postseason spot in his second year as the club's manager. The Argentine and the club missed out on postseason contention in 2023 after an up-and-down season, but they bounced back in 2024 with an impressive display. However, just like their senior team, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Higuain's candidacy, however, should still be recognized. From 2012-2021, the attacker made over 200 appearances in MLS with the Columbus Crew, D.C. United and Inter Miami. He was well-known across the league as a dangerous forward in the final-third of the pitch, and well-respected, too.

If the club were to promote internally, he would be an intriguing hire. He likely already has relationships with most of the first-team members, can speak both English and Spanish and is well-versed in how the league works and operates.

The Argentine played alongside Messi at Barcelona from 2010-2018, and represented Argentina from 2003-2018, as well. They have a close-knit relationship, and during his playing days, Mascherano was one of the most well-respected individuals in the game.

In terms of coaching, though, the 40-year-old is still relatively new to the scene, but he does have experience coaching in the youth international level.

He led the Argentina U23 national team in the Paris Olympics, where La Albiceleste, made it to the quarterfinals before suffering elimination. In the buildup to the Games, he even held a conversation with Inter Miami's Benjamin Cremaschi, a dual national of Argentina and the U.S., offering a suggestion to the teenager to try his chances with the USMNT, rather than his own squad.

He's impressed at the youth levels with Argentina, and now may be looking to take the next step in his coaching career. An opportunity to reunite with Messi and friends in South Beach may just be an ideal scenario for them.

After leading France's U23 side to the Gold Medal match at the Paris Olympics, Henry has yet to take a new coaching job, rather, he's returned to his broadcast duties with CBS Soccer.

During his playing days the Frenchman lined up alongside Messi for three years at Barcelona, meaning they already have an established relationship due to their time on the pitch together. However, he's taken a stab at a managerial career following his professional retirement, including a stint with CF Montreal (formerly Montreal Impact) on the touchline. One of the few candidates with a relationship with Messi who has MLS experience, Henry ticks all the boxes for the Herons in terms of a qualified individual who knows the league, and is knowledgeable about American soccer at the same time.

The only note about the Frenchman, though, is that he has never held a coaching job for more than one season. With Montreal, he lasted just one year before moving back to Europe to be closer to his family, and with Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, he only remained on the touchline for 20 matches before being sacked. With his native federation, France, he led their U23 squad from August 2023 to August 2024.