INTER Miami are not just one of the world’s most fashionable clubs, they’re becoming a success story too.
Over the weekend, the club beat New England Revolution 6-2 – with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick.
The thrashing saw them finish the season with 74 points – the most an MLS team has ever recorded, which ironically edged out New England’s total from 2021.
David Beckham’s side have smashed a number of records this season on their way to landing the Eastern Conference title.
They won 22 games of their 34, meaning they had the highest winning percentage of any team.
Inter Miami also equalled eight other franchises in losing only four games during a regular MLS campaign.
Their talisman, without doubt, has been World Cup winner Messi – who managed 20 goals in 19 league games.
Not to be outdone, Suarez joined him on the same tally, but from 27 games.
Inter Miami have come a long way since they were founded in 2018, and are now followed by celebrities like Leo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian.
While there early seasons were a disaster, since signing Messi they have only looked up – recently adding the MLS Supporters’ Shield to their trophy cabinet that joined their Leagues Cup trophy from 2023.
Becks had to make some ruthless decision, like sacking his best mate as manager.
However, it was a move that paid off – with Argie boss Gerrardo Martino now turning the club into a powerhouse.
Ruthless ownership
With the club struggling in its infancy under Uruguay manager Diego Alonso, Beckham turned to an old pal.
Phil Neville coached England Women during a three-year spell from 2018, until taking up Inter Miami’s offer.
Becks and Neville famously grew up together, from boys in Manchester United’s famed youth team and Class of ’92, to men in the first team scoring staggering success.
Neville’s first season was a difficult one. In his first 12 games, they won just two games and had the worst record in the MLS.
Feeling the pressure, he was then fined by the MLS after blasting the quality of referees and demanding an investigation into their decisions against his team.
Inter Miami finished 11th out of 14 teams in his first season.
Things improved in his second season, as the club reached the MLS Cup’s play offs, before losing 3-0 to New York City FC.
But they couldn’t capitalise on those foundations, and after a horrific start in Neville’s third season saw Miami rock bottom of the Eastern Conference, Beckham had to do the unthinkable.
Neville was relieved of his duties, with the owner saying in a statement at the time: “Phil has made a real contribution to the culture of our club with his qualities as a leader and knowledge as a coach.
“Sometimes in this game we have to make the toughest decisions and sadly we feel the time is right to make a change. I want to personally thank Phil for his hard work, his passion for our club and for his integrity as a person.”
Neville would later reveal in an episode of It’s Called Soccer! about the day he was sacked, and how it was probably harder for Beckham than him.
He said: “The day I actually got fired was probably actually harder for David than it was for me. He really didn’t want to do it, he was really emotional. I was emotional too but I knew it was coming so it was probably easier for me.”
Beckham, himself, recently relived that moment on podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents.
He said: “I think it was one of the most difficult things I’d had to do, even though me and Phil had spoke about it when he first came on as Miami coach, I knew that if it came to this moment, it was going to be difficult no matter what time it happened and when it happened.
“I’d called him and said, ‘we’re going to meet,’ and he said “I know.”
“We walked in the room and we hugged. It was quite emotional on my side just purely because I didn’t want to sack a friend.”
The Messiah arrives
It’s no surprise that an upturn in Inter Miami’s fortune came when Messi arrived.
Shortly after inking a contract reportedly worth £50million-per-year, the highest in MLS history, he was presented to fans in a damp squid of a unveiling ceremony interrupted by thunder and lightning.
Messi’s debut against Cruz Azul provided the Hollywood factor US football fans crave.
The star attraction entered the fray in the second half, admittedly very short of match-fitness.
That didn’t matter. Not for a man of Messi’s class who had to entertain fans who had paid over £1,000 for a ticket to see him in action.
Deep into stoppage time, Inter Miami were awarded a free kick outside the area.
Up stepped Messi to whip the ball into the top corner and give his new side the win, sending fans delirious.
It was a taste of what was to come.
A month later, the club lifted the Leagues Cup after beating Nashville on penalties. It gave them their first trophy and a winning feeling.
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Joined by an old pal
This season, Messi has shared striking duties with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.
The two have been instrumental in leading Inter Miami to the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference.
For Messi’s goals against New England, Suarez was the foil providing his assists.
First, the two exchanged like they were Harlem Globetrotters, until Messi curled the ball from the edge of the area into the corner of the net.
His hat-trick strike came from a volleyed pass from a stretching Suarez on the right was met by Messi to catch the ball on the volley, himself, and side foot home.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has selected Inter Miami to play in the Club World Cup in 2025, partly because of their success and the Messi factor.
The revolution will, most probably, be televised.
