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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Herons have captured Supporters' Shield</li><li>Could post single season points record</li><li>Sights locked on lifting the MLS Cup</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n" rel="sponsored"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Best team ever? ‘MLS Cup or bust’ for Lionel Messi & Inter Miami as Argentine superstar was signed by David Beckham & Co to deliver ultimate glory

<p>The Herons have assembled a star-studded cast at Chase Stadium, with co-owner David Beckham – courtesy of his standing as a Manchester United and England legend – <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/secret-meetings-10-year-project-how-david-beckham-signed-lionel-messi-inter-miami-co-owner/bltcc28a521e2bdff22 " target="_blank">able to attract top talent to Florida</a>. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has been joined by the likes of Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Inter Miami claimed a historic first trophy shortly after Messi’s arrival in the summer of 2023, as they <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/unplayable-lionel-messi-ultimate-first-impression-nashville-boss-inspiring-inter-miami-leagues-cup-glory/blt2dc124fc5defc69a " target="_blank">lifted the Leagues Cup</a>, but failed to make the playoffs in said campaign. They <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-lifts-trophy-46-inter-miami-superstar-most-decorated-player-all-time-inter-miami-supporters-shield-mls-2024/blta5661435124b5e01" target="_blank">are now Supporters’ Shield winners</a> and could <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-want-mls-record-inter-miami-rewrite-history-books/blt148d13230ec4e72d" target="_blank">post the highest single season points tally in MLS history</a> – with one more outing against the New England Revolution left to take in.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi and Co will then <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-25000-square-foot-screen-times-square-inter-miami-playoff-game-mls-new-york/blt6b56eb671baa9e47" target="_blank">open their quest for MLS Cup glory</a>, with former USMNT star Herculez Gomez telling <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v5_2EGKvn8&amp;list=TLPQMTAxMDIwMjTsk3KCOBt53A&amp;index=2&amp;ab_channel=herculezgomez " target="_blank"><em>Futbol Americas</em></a> when asked if the Herons are heading towards a standing as the best side MLS has ever seen: “If Inter Miami can win MLS Cup, it will be difficult for me to say there’s another team who has been better than them, because of the players they have, because of the staff, because of how they did it and how they continue to do it when nobody thought they could.</p><p>“I raise my hand, I sat here and said: ‘There’s going to be a day where Messi is going to get injured, he won’t play all these games, the summer schedule this the summer schedule that,’ and I was right. But I was wrong with how the rest of Inter Miami under Tata Martino picked up the slack.</p><p>“They didn’t miss a beat, and because of that, when Messi was back, they were Inter Miami again with Messi doing Messi things. So, MLS Cup or bust for them to become the best team ever, because that’s what he was brought here to do.”</p>

WHAT EX-USMNT STAR SAID

<p>Messi has delivered on his remit when it comes to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-inter-miami-mls-super-bowl-taylor-swift-nfl/blt39d85cdceedca32c" target="_blank">raising the profile of soccer in the United States</a>, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-mls-allowing-lionel-messi-inter-miami-break-rules-herons-snapping-tradition-united-states/blt835e4a8c36107b15" target="_blank">big money and household names flooding into</a> the division. He <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/luis-suarez-extend-last-dance-lionel-messi-mls-new-inter-miami-contract-rubbish-fitness-concerns/bltb7eda8b7449c9611" target="_blank">remains under contract for at least one more year</a>, so is not in all or nothing territory just yet when it comes to MLS Cup honours.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI & INTER MIAMI?

Best team ever? ‘MLS Cup or bust’ for Lionel Messi & Inter Miami as Argentine superstar was signed by David Beckham & Co to deliver ultimate glory | Goal.com US

Lionel Messi has been told it is a case of “MLS Cup or bust” for Inter Miami if they want to be considered the “best team ever” in American soccer.

Best team ever? ‘MLS Cup or bust’ for Lionel Messi &amp; Inter Miami as Argentine superstar was signed by David Beckham &amp; Co to deliver ultimate glory