Twenty years into his legendary profession, Lionel Messi is much from achieved.
Throughout a particular ceremony honoring his world-record 46 titles throughout membership and nation, Inter Miami‘s celebrity No. 10 pledged his dedication to maintain making historical past on the highest stage with the Herons and Argentina.
“I at all times attempt to be at my finest,” Messi advised MARCA newspaper CEO Juan Ignacio Gallardo and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas throughout Thursday’s occasion at Chase Stadium. “And the step I took in coming right here [Miami] wasn’t a retirement – removed from it. It was to attempt to hold making this membership nice, a membership with a brief historical past as a result of it’s very new.
“And assist with the expansion by successful titles. Fortunately we’ve achieved it and we’re near having the ability to win some extra.”
Messi’s Miami journey
Messi, who joined IMCF in the summertime of final yr, has helped ship a 2023 Leagues Cup title and the 2024 Supporters’ Defend to Miami’s trophy case. They’ll additionally break the MLS single-season factors document on Saturday with a Resolution Day win over the New England Revolution (6 pm ET | MLS Season Cross).
The hunt for a first-ever MLS Cup offered by Audi begins with Spherical One Finest-of-3 Collection motion within the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs with a standalone match on Friday, October 25 (8:30 pm ET | Apple TV – Free).
For Messi, crowning an eventful 2024 with an MLS Cup could be the right finish to a season that started with arguably the very best expectations in league historical past.
“It’s been a protracted yr. I needed to undergo accidents, an essential damage. I missed quite a lot of video games, I used to be out for nearly three months. It was very powerful, it’s arduous for me to coach alone or not to have the ability to do something, having to go to the health club,” he mentioned.
“Thankfully I used to be in a position to return for the ultimate stretch. I really feel good, I really feel sturdy, bodily I really feel good. And hopefully we end one of the simplest ways doable.”
Otro premio más para el Campeón de Campeones 🏆🐐✨ pic.twitter.com/flvdCc1lE2
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 17, 2024
MVP, MLS Cup in sight
Regardless of the setbacks, Messi has produced a exceptional 17g/15a in simply 18 appearances this season, firmly establishing himself within the Landon Donovan MLS MVP dialog. And with a superstar-studded supporting lineup together with fellow FC Barcelona legends Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, in addition to 22 Beneath 22 offered by BODYARMOR winner Diego Gómez, by his aspect, the Herons are odds-on favorites getting into the playoffs.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 FIFA World Cup champion needs nothing greater than so as to add an MLS Cup title to his unmatchable resumé.
“I used to be in a position to fulfill each participant’s dream, which is to win a World Cup. I feel it’s the trophy all of us need after we begin,” Messi mentioned. “I had the fortune of successful many titles on the membership of my life, which is Barcelona. I gained titles at Paris [PSG] and I’ve come right here and gained titles, so I can’t ask for extra.
“However properly, we’re near successful extra. So the target, as at all times, is to go for it and battle to maintain successful many extra issues.”
Another World Cup?
Messi is equally dedicated to the Argentina nationwide workforce, with which he gained a second straight Copa América title over the summer time. He is additionally coming off a masterful efficiency this week in World Cup qualifiers, scoring a hat trick and including two assists in a 6-0 demolition of Bolivia.
Nonetheless, the 37-year-old will not but verify whether or not he intends on serving to La Albiceleste defend their title lower than two years from now on the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
“I’ve at all times mentioned that every thing occurs for a motive, and I by no means look forward at what’s going to occur – much more so now,” Messi mentioned. “I attempt to benefit from the day-to-day, every thing that occurs in every second and we’ll see when the time comes.
“… Hopefully I can proceed taking part in at this stage so I can really feel good and be completely satisfied. As a result of once I really feel good and I can take pleasure in what I’m doing, I’m completely satisfied. I pay extra consideration to that than getting there [World Cup]. Actually, I haven’t set the objective of constructing it [to the World Cup], however relatively residing day-to-day and doing properly.”