Messi has had a tremendous impact, propelling Inter Miami to the top of the MLS.

Messi's appeal remains undiminished.

The MLS club power ranking index is based on research and published by RBC Wealth. Thanks to Messi's immense impact over the past two seasons, Inter Miami has made remarkable progress, reaching the number one position ahead of the 2025 season, ahead of the reigning MLS Cup champions, LA Galaxy.

The MLS club power rankings ahead of the 2025 season show Messi's Inter Miami in first place.

Image: Screenshot from MLS/X

"Inter Miami are the reigning Supporters' Shield champions (MLS points-based tournament). Messi is still here, Suarez is still here. The same goes for Busquets and Jordi Alba."

Ahead of the 2025 season, they added quality players, including midfielder Telasco Segovia and defenders Gonzalo Lujan and Maximiliano Falcon, plus the return of center-back David Martinez, and the addition of experienced goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo. These players will help address the defensive problems that plagued Inter Miami last season, which led to their early exit from the MLS Cup in the first round.

In attack, strikers Fafa Picault and Tadeo Allende are two promising additions. They will significantly help share the goal-scoring burden with Messi and Suarez. In addition, the emergence of young players like Cremaschi, Tomas Aviles, Noah Allen, Israel Boatwright (all 19 and 20 years old), and Santiago Morales (18 years old) gives Inter Miami a formidable squad.

"The fact that they were ranked number 1 in terms of strength by RBC Wealth before this season is entirely appropriate," the official MLS website emphasized.

"For Inter Miami, simply defending their Supporters' Shield title in the 2025 season isn't enough. They must aim for the MLS Cup; achieving that would be the true success," the MLS website stated.

Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will compete in a total of five official tournaments in 2025.

In the 2025 season, Messi and Inter Miami will compete in a total of five official competitions, including the MLS qualifying rounds, the MLS Cup play-offs, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Leagues Cup (featuring Mexican and American clubs), and the FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 of the world's top clubs from across the continents, held in the United States (in mid-June).

Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will play their first official match of the 2025 season against Sporting Kansas City away from home in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round 1 at 8:00 AM on February 20th.

After that, they will play their MLS season opener against New York City FC at 7:30 AM on February 23rd (the match time was changed because their game against Sporting Kansas City was postponed from February 19th to February 20th due to bad weather in Kansas City). The return match against Sporting Kansas City will take place at 8:00 AM on February 26th (both times are Vietnam time).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/messi-tao-anh-huong-cuc-khung-dua-inter-miami-len-top-clb-manh-nhat-mls-185250219120646822.htm