Miami: Lionel Messi commenced training for the upcoming Major League Soccer (MLS) season on Tuesday, reuniting with former teammate Javier Mascherano, who has taken over as head coach of Inter Miami.
Messi and Mascherano share a storied history, having played together for years at Barcelona and on the Argentine national team, where Messi eventually succeeded Mascherano as captain.
Inter Miami appointed Mascherano, 40, as head coach in November, marking his first managerial role. He replaced Gerardo Tata Martino and expressed his coaching philosophy in a club statement: “I emphasize intensity in training and want my teams to play with courage and determination.”
The Inter Miami squad boasts other notable names like Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, and Jordi Alba, all of whom played alongside Messi during their time at Barcelona. While Miami finished at the top of the MLS regular season standings last year, they were eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Messi and Mascherano were pivotal figures in Argentina’s journey to the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, narrowly losing to Germany in extra time. While Mascherano retired from international football after Argentina’s 2018 World Cup exit, Messi achieved football’s highest honor by winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
The reunion of these football legends at Inter Miami has sparked excitement among fans, raising hopes for a successful MLS campaign.
