How did Inter Miami perform without Lionel Messi during Copa America?

Lionel Messi has been an instrumental player in Inter Miami’s success this season.

Following a convincing 3-1 win against Toronto FC, David Beckham’s Inter Miami have gone to the top of the Eastern Conference table in the MLS. They have a two-point lead over second-placed FC Cincinnati, who dropped points in a shock 1-0 defeat to Chicago Fire.

In the dying minutes of the first half, Inter Miami broke the deadlock courtesy Diego Gomez’s opener. In the second half, Federico Redondo’s quick-fire double all but sealed the contest for the new table-toppers. Toronto tried to attempt a late resurgence in the match. However, Derick Etienne’s goal in the 80th minute proved to be nothing more than a consolation for his side. Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami continued their battle at the top of the table even in the absence of their star player.

Due to Lionel Messi’s participation at the Copa America 2024 with Argentina, Miami were without his services for a total of five matches during that period. Even in his absence, the team maintained their impressive form in the MLS, winning an impressive four out of the five games and scoring nine goals in the process. However, that one loss was a heavy 6-1 thumping at the hands of league rivals FC Cincinnati, who absolutely blew them off the park with their dominant display.

In this Messi-less run, Inter Miami recorded four consecutive 2-1 wins over the likes of Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, Nashville SC and Charlotte FC, with players such as Ian Fray, Robert Taylor and Jordi Alba stepping up to the occasion to deliver standout performances. During the decisive top-of-the-table clash with Cincinnati, Miami failed to carry the positive momentum of their previous triumphs, as they suffered an embarrassing 6-1 humiliation in what proved to be a one-sided affair.

Following the conclusion of the Copa America, the 37-year-old forward was expected to be a part of the squad for the match against Toronto. But, after sustaining a severe ankle injury during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa America 2024 final, he was ruled out for the fixture, with no exact time-frame set for his potential return.

Prior to leaving for national duty, Lionel Messi was an instrumental player for Inter Miami, recording an incredible 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. His last game for them was in a thrilling 3-3 draw against St. Louis City SC, where he captained the side and also got on the scoresheet.

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