Messi and Jordi Alba's remarkable journey in MLS has been a tale of both glory and disappointment. They led Inter Miami to the prestigious MLS Supporters’ Shield with an astonishing 74 points in the regular season. However, their quest for the MLS Cup ended in failure during the playoff stage. Despite this, both players were selected for the 2024 All-Star team due to their outstanding performances on the field.

Messi and Alba's MLS Legacy - From Shield to Playoff Struggle

Messi's Leadership in Winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield

Messi played a crucial role in guiding Inter Miami to the MLS Supporters’ Shield. In the 2024 MLS season, he participated in a total of 19 matches, scoring 20 goals and providing 10 assists. During the first round of the playoffs with 3 matches, he also scored 1 goal and had 1 assist. His exceptional skills and leadership on the field were evident throughout the season.In addition to his goal-scoring and assist abilities, Messi's presence on the team had a significant impact on the morale and performance of his teammates. His ability to create scoring opportunities and control the game from the midfield was truly remarkable. His leadership qualities inspired the entire team to strive for excellence and achieve great results.

Jordi Alba's Defensive and Offensive Contributions

Jordi Alba played as a left-back and made 28 appearances on the field. He scored 4 goals and provided an impressive 10 assists. During the playoffs, he also scored 1 goal. His defensive skills were solid, providing stability to the team's defense. At the same time, his offensive contributions were crucial in creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.Alba's ability to overlap and provide width on the left side of the field was a key factor in Inter Miami's attacking play. His accurate crosses and timely runs into the box often led to goal-scoring opportunities. His defensive work was also commendable, as he was able to effectively mark his opponents and prevent them from creating dangerous attacks.

The Absence of Luis Suarez and the Rise of Christian Benteke

The absence of Luis Suarez was a significant loss for the MLS 2024 team. In 27 matches, he scored 20 goals and provided 9 assists. His goal-scoring and creative abilities were highly valued by the team. However, he had to make way for Christian Benteke of DC United, who scored 23 goals and won the MLS Golden Boot in 2024.Benteke's arrival brought a new dimension to the team's attack. His physical presence and goal-scoring ability complemented the existing players well. His presence in the penalty area often created chaos for the opposing defenses and led to many goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Other Outstanding Players in the MLS 2024 Team

In addition to Messi and Jordi Alba, the MLS 2024 team also had other outstanding players. Riqui Puig from LA Galaxy, Cucho Hernandez from Columbus Crew, and Denis Bouanga from Los Angeles FC were among the notable players.Kristijan Kahlina from Charlotte FC played as the goalkeeper, providing reliable saves and organizing the defense. Steven Moreira from Columbus Crew and Yeimar GomezAndrade from Seattle Sounders were solid defenders, adding stability to the team's backline. On the attacking front, Evander da Silva from Portland Timbers and Luciano Acosta from FC Cincinnati also made significant contributions.

Messi and Inter Miami's Position in the Club World Cup

Before the draw for the 2025 Club World Cup in the USA, FIFA announced the 4 seeded groups with 32 clubs from around the world participating. Inter Miami, led by Messi, was placed in Seed Group 4 and faced some challenges as they were likely to encounter strong opponents in the group stage.Seed Group 1 consisted of strong European clubs and high-ranking South American teams such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG, and Bayern Munich. Seed Group 2 included European clubs like Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Juventus, and Salzburg. Seed Group 3 had Al Hilal, Ulsan HD, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Monterrey, Leon, Boca Juniors, and Botafogo. Seed Group 4 with Uwara Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Esperance, Mamelodi Sundowns, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders, Auckland City, and Inter Miami was the home team's fixed group and would play the opening match.The Club World Cup will be held from June 15 to July 13, 2025, at 12 stadiums across the USA. The draw ceremony will take place in Miami on December 5.