Inter Miami’s 2024 season is over, with Lionel Messi’s club year over after Saturday’s 3-2 loss against Atlanta United.
The Five Stripes pulled off one of the biggest upsets in MLS play-off history as the lowest-seeded team in the Eastern Conference beat Inter Miami in a best-of-three series, with Messi ending the year with just the Supporters’ Shield.
With Alexi Lalas slamming Tomas Aviles for his play-acting for Atlanta’s winning goal, a lot of lessons will need to be learned at Inter Miami heading into 2025, where expectations will be high for the Herons to go all the way in the play-offs.
And Messi has now shared his first public message since Inter Miami’s play-off elimination.
Messi vows to come back ‘stronger’ for Inter Miami next year
Taking to Instagram, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner made a public promise to return to Inter Miami next year ‘stronger’ than ever, with the Argentine seemingly set on winning MLS Cup in 2025 having missed out this season.
Messi posted: “A season ended in which we continued to grow as a club and, although we achieved some goals, we wanted more. Thanks to all the people who joined and supported us. Now let’s get ready to come back stronger next year.”
With Messi ending the year with 23 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, the 37-year-old attacker will feel pleased with his individual accomplishments having only played 25 games for Inter Miami in 2024.
And next year, Messi will hope to be more available for the Herons having missed nearly half the available games due to injuries and international commitments, with 2025 set to be a huge year for Inter Miami.
Messi will want to make history next season in MLS
With Inter Miami competing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup once again and taking part in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, 2025 is going to be a special one for the Florida franchise.
And for Messi, the former FC Barcelona superstar will want to make history once again with Inter Miami in MLS having this year guided the Herons to a regular-season points record and winning the Supporters’ Shield.
Indeed, winning MLS Cup will be the key objective for Messi at Inter Miami, and if the forward can stay fit, the Florida giants can do just that, especially if important lessons are learned from the entire squad.