Messi changed Inter Miami. |
Lionel Messi bowed his head silently in the middle of the Hard Rock Stadium. Not because of defeat, but because of a strangely painful draw. He handed his sweaty No. 10 shirt to his opponent, then stood alone in the center of the stadium, his eyes on the big screen - where Palmeiras fans were celebrating.
A brief private moment, before Messi smiled his familiar smile, shaking hands with his opponent like a football gentleman. But everyone understood. Inside Messi was not at peace at that moment.
Inter Miami is on the verge of a second historic win in just one week, going from a five-year-old team to the MLS flagship at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup™.
Leading 2-0 thanks to beautiful goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez, but then let Palmeiras equalize in the last 7 minutes of the match. An ending that could not be more bitter - on the eve of Messi's 38th birthday.
But, after all, Inter Miami still went on. They reached the round of 16. And even though they didn't win, they won.
The victory here is not on the scoreboard, but on the fact that an American team - once suspected of being "more media than professional" - was able to draw with the Brazilian champions, beat Porto (who also defeated Arsenal in the Champions League this season), and advance in a tournament with 32 of the strongest clubs on the planet. No one could have imagined this two months ago, when they were struggling in the top 5 of the MLS East, winning only 3 out of 10 games.
Messi is a great inspiration for Inter Miami. |
Messi’s presence was clearly pivotal. Not just because of his decisive free-kick against Porto, but because of the invisible influence: from the dressing room to the eyes of opponents. Messi brought confidence to Inter Miami – and also brought respect from the rest of the world .
But this is not the end of the dream. The next challenge - Paris Saint-Germain - will be fiercer than all. It will be a Messi facing the very team he once left. It will be Javier Mascherano on the coaching bench against a team he has never played for, but knows all too well the mountain they have to climb. And it will be an Inter Miami facing the chance to do the unthinkable: knock the European champions out of the Club World Cup.
In theory, they missed out on an easier opportunity - a match against Botafogo, who had just upset PSG. But football isn't that simple. Inter Miami can look to Botafogo for inspiration, but they shouldn't expect PSG to stumble again. They have to play like there's no tomorrow - because really, this is the only time MLS can play Europe in a meaningful game.
Messi, Alba, Suarez, Busquets, Mascherano - they are the survivors of the legendary Barcelona of 2015. Now they are reunited, no longer in the red and blue jersey, but in the strange pink of Inter Miami. They are no longer at the top, but it is their experience that is inspiring a new generation.
Noah Allen, a name few had heard before, now uttered: “A little sweet, a little bitter.” The simple words, but contained everything that Inter Miami is going through.
Messi's FIFA Club World Cup run continues. |
The draw against Palmeiras may have been a disappointment. But in the grand scheme of things, it was a triumph. A milestone MLS can be proud of. Because for the first time, people stopped laughing when they heard about an American club at the Club World Cup. Instead, they started to wonder, started to pay attention—and who knows, started to dream.
Messi dr5 celebrated his 38th birthday by going through the "head pat tunnel" of his teammates - a strange but lovely tradition of football players. The gentle pats, sometimes a bit strong, from Suarez or Alba will be the message: "Keep fighting".
Because from now on, every Inter Miami game is not just a game, but part of a journey to rewrite MLS history. And why not dream? In football, 90 minutes is enough to shake up any order. With Messi in the squad, that dream is no longer far-fetched.
Source: https://znews.vn/the-gioi-dang-nguoc-nhin-messi-voi-anh-mat-khac-post1563442.html
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