Inter Miami’s 2023 was one for the history books.
With high hopes, Miami kicked off the year hoping to build on their successful 2022 season, which resulted in a sixth-place finish in the East and a playoff appearance.
Initially, the men in pink started off well, winning their first two games of the season, beating the Philadelphia Union and CF Montreal, two sides that finished above Miami in the standings the previous year.
Unfortunately, it went downhill from that point on.
Poor coaching and mounting injuries saw the Herons struggle, which ultimately led to former head coach Phil Neville being relieved of his duties. By the time the club got to the summer window, they were last in the Eastern Conference.
At that point in the season, Miami needed a change.
The change came from the summer acquisitions of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Since then, the trio has led Inter Miami to their first trophy in club history and also pushed the team into the stratosphere of world football.
Though the club didn’t make the playoffs, there were still plenty of memorable moments that happened throughout the year.
Here are the three best moments from Inter Miami’s 2023 season.
Inter Miami signs Messi, wins Leagues Cup and starts construction on Miami Freedom Park
Perhaps the most memorable moment of 2023 for Miami was the summer signing of Messi.
The endless rumors finally came true in early July, as Miami officially announced the Argentine as the newest Inter Miami player.
“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” the World Cup winner said at the time. “This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”
Messi would subsequently go on to lead Miami to their second-most memorable moment of the year, winning the Leagues Cup. The 36-year-old’s impact on the field for the Herons was immediate, as he led the team through a grueling tournament that saw them win their first bit of silverware in team history.
Finally, though it may not be as exciting or historic as winning a trophy or signing Messi, this year the club announced the start of construction on their new home, Miami Freedom Park
Following a nearly ten-year process, Inter Miami announced the start of construction on the site in late August.
Expected to be completed by 2025, Miami Freedom Park will be the permanent place of residence of the club after they leave their current grounds, DRV PNK Stadium.
All things considered, 2023 was a historic season for the Herons. Though they didn’t make the playoffs, 2024 will be a year when they remedy that mistake.