Inter Miami Head Coach Javier Mascherano is convinced that Lionel Messi will sign a new deal with the club, despite their struggles on the field this season.
Mascherano watched while his team was defeated 3-0 by Orlando City SC in their last competition meeting, making them sixth in the classification of the Eastern Conference.
Since the arrival in Miami in July 2023, Messi 56 has made performances in all competitions, delivered 44 goals and offer another 21 assists for his teammates.
The current deal of Messi will expire at the end of the year, but with the herons who recently expanded the Jordi Alba contract with the club until 2027, Mascherano is hopeful that the eight times Ballon d'Or winner will also follow the example.
“Signing Jordi for the next two years is important to show stability, and we hope to have something new about Leo in the coming weeks,” said Mascherano.
“The sustainability of Messi would be very important for the club, for the fans and also for the MLS.”
Miami was fired under fire in the early stages of his career without a victory in their last three MLS competitions and Mascherano.
“We have to keep working, adjusting things. I know it doesn't make sense to describe the moment, but that you have to act and return to the positive dynamics we had at the start of the competition,” Mascherano added.
“We all have to go out together. In that sense, I take full responsibility for the moment and circumstances. Nobody comes into the field to suffer or to have a bad time.
“The player always tries to do his best. We will have to insist to get the best out of each of the boys and move forward.”
Eyes in Philly pic.twitter.com/uengwyauha
– Inter Miami CF (@intermiamicf) 21 May 2025
Miami hopes to be on the right track again this weekend against the Philadelphia Union, but is confronted with a strict test against the early leaders of the Eastern Conference.
The trade union followed their 1-0 win over Atlanta United in their latest MLS meeting with a victory over Pittsburgh Riverhounds to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.
But Philadelphia head coach Bradley Carnell did not underestimate Miamis with stars, but revealed what he is planning to do to remember the Mascherano team.
“We can't underestimate an opponent,” said Carnell. “If we play here in Subaru Park, we have control over what we do here.
“Sometimes we let the opponent slow the game and what you have, and it is easy for us to fall into that fall. It is important for us to stay on the gas.
“That is the only way we can play. Forcing mistakes and the more we do that, the more opportunities we create, the more the opponent is emphasized. The more they become, the more joy we can have in the attacking transitions.”
Players to watch
Philadelphia Union – Tai Baribo
Bararibo's winning goal from the penalty spot On Saturday was his MLS donating 11th of the season.
He also scored for the second time this season in three straight matches (also in February-March).
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Messi scored four goals in three career matches against Philadelphia in all competitions and scored at least once in all three games.
He has had a series of four or more consecutive games with a goal against 19 different teams in his career, all while playing for Barcelona.
Match forecast: Win in Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia continued their best start in club history with a 1-0 win in Atlanta and now has 29 points through 14 games, a more than the previous club record from 28 to 14 games in their supporters' Shield-winning 2020 campaign.
However, Inter Miami has won four consecutive meetings with the Union, starting with the arrival of Messi in August 2023. Philadelphia had won four of the first eight meetings between the parties (D2 L2).
However, the herons have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions (W1 D1), starting with the first stage of the Concacaf Champions Cup Semi-Finals in April. Miami had only sustained three defeats in their previous 26 games in all games since the return of the Leagues Cup in August.
Opta wins probability
Philadelphia Union – 44.1%
Drawing – 26.8%
Inter Miami – 29%