Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and recently crowned World Cup-winning Argentine captain, has made a significant impact on Inter Miami, both on and off the field. Since his arrival, the team has seen a sudden upturn in form, with Messi contributing three goals and an assist in just 120 minutes of play. However, his influence extends beyond the pitch, with his teammates lauding his behind-the-scenes impact.
Messi's transition to Major League Soccer (MLS) was not without potential pitfalls. After spending his entire career with world-class players at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Messi joined Inter Miami, a club that was last in the league. The locker room was filled with mostly unrecognizable faces, and Messi was earning significantly more than his teammates. Despite these challenges, Messi, along with another former Barcelona star and World Cup winner, Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, have seamlessly integrated into the team.
American full-back DeAndre Yedlin praised the duo's character, saying, "They've come in and they haven't boasted or been like, oh, we're the big guys here or anything like that. They've tried to meld right into the group." Yedlin, who gave up his captain's armband to Messi, also noted that there has been no special treatment for the pair at the training ground. "They eat the same things we eat and train the same way we train and use the same trainers that we use. There's nothing different," he said.
Messi's commitment to the team is evident in his actions. After Tuesday's 4-0 win over Atlanta, Yedlin revealed that Messi had gifted the entire team new headphones in the team's pink and black colors. This gesture, along with Messi's supportive response to teammates' mistakes, has helped to prevent any 'us and them' divide from forming at the club.
The transformation of Inter Miami from a struggling side into a team playing with swagger and style is not just due to Messi and Busquets' technical abilities. The duo is committed to helping the rest of the team improve. Nineteen-year-old full-back Noah Allen said, "He really makes us all enjoy the game and he gives us extra space. So we also have more time on the ball and we have to make better decisions."
Finnish winger Robert Taylor, who has matched Messi with three goals in the last two games, said, "It's a dream come true to play with him." Busquets, who draws less attention than Messi but is instrumental in midfield, believes their experience under manager Tata Martino is helping guide their new teammates in the change of style.
Messi's arrival at Inter Miami has not only boosted the team's performance but has also fostered a positive team culture, proving that his influence extends far beyond his skills on the pitch.
