Lionel Messi’s magic could guide Inter Miami to Major League Soccer glory despite his new club sitting bottom of the standings.
That’s according to iconic former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who believes the World Cup winner will turn Miami into title challengers.
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Messi kicked off his Inter Miami career in true superstar fashion by scoring a last minute winning free-kick in a 2-1 win over Cruz Azul.
It’s a victory that has taken them top of their Leagues Cup group but, back in the MLS standings, they sit rock bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Miami have won just five of their 22 games so far this season, with defeats coming in 14 other games.
However, they can still mathematically qualify for the play-offs that would take them one step closer to the MLS Cup.
When asked about their chances, Friedel told talkSPORT about how Messi could change their fortunes now that he’s joined.
“Ok so they’re in last position right now, but they still have points they can get to get up in the play-offs,” said the former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham glovesman.
“Once you get up into the play-offs, anything can happen over here, and you get a play-in game if you finish in eighth or ninth position.
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“When Wayne Rooney was still a player, I think this was in 2018 he came over, DC [United] was in last position. He signed for DC and they hardly lost a game and made the play-offs.
“So is it possible? Absolutely it’s possible. Players like Messi are going to come in and make everyone better and want to do better around them.
“The teams in this league are very close to one another in quality, and it’s those one, two or three pieces of the puzzle that separate the teams.
“They’ve just signed not too bad a player, so yes, they have a chance to make the play-offs and if they do make the play-offs, they’ll have the chance to lift the MLS Cup.”
Messi is not expected to make his MLS debut until the second half of August when Miami host Charlotte.
A seventh place finish after 34 games would take them into the post-season, with an eighth/ninth standing seeing them compete in a play-in game.
Should they get to that point, Messi could very well be set to show his true quality once again and help Miami win their first ever title.
