Messi & Mascherano’s incredible success with Barcelona and Argentina in numbers

The former Barca duo are expected to rejoin Inter Miami, with Mascherano set to coach former teammate Messi.

Javier Mascherano is expected to replace Gerardo “Tata” Martino as the new head coach of Inter Miami, where he will take charge of several of his former Barcelona teammates, including Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.

Mascherano joined Barça from Liverpool in the summer of 2010, when 23-year-old Messi had already inspired the club to a string of trophies and won his first Ballon d'Or (in 2009).

Herons' new coach spent eight seasons in Catalonia, playing a key role at the base of midfield as Pep Guardiola, Tito Villanova, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde led Barcelona to success after success.

Ironically, the only coach not to do so during that period was Martino, who “only” won a Spanish Super Cup in his only season in charge (2013/14).

How many trophies have Messi and Mascherano won together with Barcelona?

Mascherano, on the other hand, regularly picked up silverware alongside Messi during his time at Spotify Camp Nou. Between 2010 and 2018, when the midfielder left for China, Barca won 19 trophies, including five LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues.

Multiple wins in the Copa del Rey (five), the Spanish Super Cup (three), the UEFA Super Cup (two) and the FIFA Club World Cup (two) make up the rest.

World Cup disappointment for Argentinian duo

Messi and Mascherano were of course also international teammates between 2004 and 2018, meaning the latter missed Argentina's recent World Cup and Copa América successes.

The duo won an Olympic gold medal together at the 2008 Beijing Games, but later suffered a number of disappointments together, losing the 2014 FIFA World Cup final to Germany, as well as three Copa América finals (2007, 2015 and 2016).

Inter Miami will be hoping the pair can replicate their bond with the club, rather than their country, as they look to bounce back from the huge blow of losing in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup play-offs.