The Inter Miami team plane landed at 4 a.m. Thursday after a brutal 1-0 road victory against Sporting KC in sub-zero temperatures in Kansas City. Coach Javier Mascherano gave players the day off, saying they deserved it after playing in conditions he described as “inhumane”, so they had only Friday to prepare for Saturday’s big home game.

Inter Miami approach the 2025 season with one goal in their sights, to lift MLS Cup for the first time. This is the final guaranteed year of Lionel Messi’s two-and-a-half-year deal and, although he may choose to extend, it represents the team’s best chance at success.

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami. This is a boring pick, I get it. But looking at things, if Lionel Messi was already able to secure an MVP trophy while only playin