Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi’s championship aspirations ended with a hard-fought but ultimately disappointing series loss to Atlanta United this month. But while the season didn’t end as everyone expected, there’s plenty to look forward to as the club begins preparing for next year.
Changes are underway, however. And as Inter Miami eyes a loaded schedule in which it will play in the Concacaf Championship Cup, the Club World Cup, in which they are going to host the first game, the Leagues Cup, and compete again for the MLS 2025 title, it will likely do so with a new coach on the sideline.
According to multiple reports on Tuesday, Gerard “Tata” Martino stepped down for personal reasons, less than two weeks after Inter Miami lost Game 3 to Atlanta in Ft. Lauderdale. It was a surprise that no one expected, as he was a finalist for the MLS Coach of the Year award, and led the club to a 74-point record regular season. For those efforts, the team won it’s first Supporters’ Shield as the season’s top team.
“When you are eliminated from the playoffs in the quarterfinals, the season cannot be considered a success,” Martino said after the loss. “We had good times and bad. When you think about where we were last November, we made a lot of progress. But if you think about our expectations for these playoffs, we fell short.”
Two names that have emerged as potential replacements at coach are Xavi Hernandez and Javier Mascherano, both former teammates of Messi. And regardless of the name, the new coach will inherit a loaded roster and plenty of opportunity next year.
(Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Inter Miami has five chances to win titles in the next year, and Messi’s contract runs through December 2025, so this could be a make-or-break season on the horizon. There is a renewal possibility of one more year for Messi, but 2025 is the only thing guaranteed at this point. A renewal would assure the team that its leader would carry the franchise into a new era, but at 37 years old, how much longer the international superstar will play, is anyone’s guess.
“The step I wanted to take here did not mean a retirement far from it,” Messi said, after the loss, regarding joining Inter Miami in 2023. “We came to continue making this club great, to help with the growth and winning titles.”
Messi’s presence has helped the younger generation of the club, such as Benjamin Cremaschi, David Ruiz and Facundo Farris. But he hasn’t been alone in that space. Stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who also have contracts through 2025, have mentored Inter Miami’s younger players, as well.
That said, the roster — perhaps with Messi’s influence — is bound to improve. And among some early offseason speculation, is Brazilian left winger Neymar da Silva Santos Junior.
Until new names are added to the fold, the club will be left to ponder what could have been this season. Inter Miami, after winning Game 1, and losing Game 2, ultimately saw their season end with a disheartening 3-2 loss at Chase Stadium on Nov. 9.
(Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Matias Rojas opened the scoring in the 17th minute, giving Miami fans hope they could pull out the victory, but it only lasted two minutes, as Jamal Thiare scored for Atlanta, before, at Minute No. 21, he scored again.
Inter Miami’s last goal was Messi’s, at Minute No. 65, but it wasn’t enough. Atlanta’s Bartosz Slisz notched the decisive goal in Minute No. 76. And Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan made that hold up, as his saves were critical in sealing the monumental upset.
“The expectation is to win and move on. And when that doesn’t happen, it hurts pretty bad,” Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender said. “I think that’s what we are experiencing.”
Inter Miami needs a greater emphasis on defense, moving forward, if it is to compete for the Club World Cup title, a more competitive championship than its ever been a part of. That event will take place from June 15-July 13.
Between now and then, there are a lot of questions for Inter Miami to answer. And in between all of that, the team will play a club friendly against Orlando City on Feb. 14 in Tampa.
