2024 was an extraordinary year for MLS, with numerous records set. According to the end-of-season report, 11.5 million people attended MLS matches, up 5% from 2023 and up 14% from the previous year. The average attendance per game was 23,234, helping 10 clubs break attendance records, while season ticket sales increased 12% from 2023.

MLS also added 18 new partners, driving a 13% increase in sponsorship revenue. In addition, MLSStore set records for both jersey sales and revenue, and opened more than 800 new retail stores across Europe. In addition, social media engagement and followership grew at a rapid pace, posting the highest growth rate of any North American sports league.

All of this, of course, involves Lionel Messi. Since joining MLS and playing for Inter Miami, an unprecedented wave has swept across the United States, overwhelming everyone, to the point that the league’s economists and policy makers are holding board-level discussions about getting ready for the next phase of growth.

Lionel Messi has only won two trophies with Inter Miami, and neither of them are the most important.

But while MLS and Inter Miami are celebrating their good fortune, Messi has a problem to worry about. The Argentine superstar isn’t here to sell shirts and do commercials. He wants to win, win trophies and leave a legacy in America through his sporting achievements. Sadly, the trophies are just out of reach.

In the two years since joining Inter Miami, Messi has had the chance to win seven trophies. However, he has only won two, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the most points in the season, and the 2023 Leagues Cup, an annual competition between MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX teams.

Meanwhile, Messi and his teammates failed to conquer the 2024 MLS Cup and were recently eliminated from the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup after a 1-5 aggregate defeat to Canada’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC. More bitterly, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano admitted that his team was not good enough, and that their opponents deserved better because they were better.

Now, their sights are set on the 2025 Supporters’ Shield and the 2025 MLS Cup. Inter Miami will also compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the US in June, but it will be difficult to compete with the big names in Europe and South America, including Messi.

The reality is that Inter Miami are not the same team as last season. There have been signs of decline in a team with so many aging stars. Since the beginning of April, David Beckham’s team (and the Mas brothers) have won just 3 out of 9 matches in all competitions (losing 4 and drawing 2).

As for Messi, before scoring against New York RB recently, he had gone 4 games without a goal. And this was only his 4th goal in MLS 2025. Luis Suarez is even worse. Last season, despite his age of 38 and a knee injury, the Uruguayan striker still scored 20 goals and 9 assists. This season, he has only 2 goals after 9 appearances.

Inter Miami is showing signs of decline compared to last season.

In addition, Inter Miami also has 37-year-old Sergio Busquets and 36-year-old Jordi Alba, along with 38-year-old goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and 34-year-old striker Fafa Picault. Alba, Busquets and Suarez are all out of contract at the end of the season and are occupying designated player slots, a limited list of 3 players who are allowed to receive additional compensation beyond their basic salary according to league regulations.

Will Inter Miami continue to stick with them or move on to younger players? It’s hard to say, especially since these are all close friends of Messi and were also present at Beckham’s 50th birthday party held at Cipriani, an Italian restaurant in Miami.

As for Messi, Inter Miami reached an agreement to extend his contract last month. This means the Argentine superstar has more time to win more titles and establish his professional position in MLS. But for this to become a reality, the 7-year-old team must also upgrade its squad to match Messi’s stature.