Inter Miami tonight kick off the 2024 MLS season at home against Real Salt Lake, with Lionel Messi set for his first competitive match of the year.
The Herons head into the new campaign as the strong favorites to win MLS Cup, with Tata Martino adding the likes of Luis Suarez and Julian Gressel to his squad during the off-season.
Whilst pre-season wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for Inter Miami, the Florida franchise enter the MLS season fighting fit and ready to take on the best the land has to offer.
And here is how Inter Miami could line up tonight heading into the MLS opener against Real Salt Lake…
New signing Nicolas Freire leads Inter Miami’s defense
Inter Miami’s backline were last season one of the leakiest in all of MLS, despite the heroics of Drake Callender and the arrival of FC Barcelona fullback Jordi Alba.
The Herons have added to the defense this winter in the form of Argentine defender Nicolas Freire joining on loan from Pumas, with a potential second signing needed if Inter Miami are to really shore up their options.
Starting alongside the 30-year-old will be Argentine youth international Tomas Aviles, who this pre-season showed that he has a lot to learn if he is to thrive at a club as big as Inter Miami.
Sergio Busquets returns to face Real Salt Lake
Martino himself said Sergio Busquets could be a doubt for this match having not featured at all in Inter Miami’s final pre-season match against Newell’s Old Boys, yet the legendary midfielder is now reportedly cleared to play.
With Gressel impressing in central midfield last week, the former Columbus Crew and Atlanta United star looks like a sure bet to start alongside Busquets, a pair that could bring a lot of quality to Inter Miami’s system.
Finally, youngster David Ruiz starts in the midfield after a brilliant pre-season with Inter Miami, with the 20-year-old scoring arguably the goal of the tour for the Herons against Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Lionel Messi starts alongside Luis Suarez in exciting attack
Finally we come to the part of the XI that every soccer fan in America is excited to watch, with Messi and Suarez reuniting for the first time since their Barcelona days.
Whilst the duo are yet to fully click at Inter Miami, signs are there that the veteran attackers could be ready to make MLS their new playground, especially if the pair can stay fit.
With Paraguay youngster Diego Gomez expected to start in a deeper attacking role, Messi and Suarez will have the runners needed to allow the forwards to do what they do best, putting the ball at the back of the net.