Spain legend Andres Iniesta mentioned he believes Inter Miami is the precise match for former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.
In his first full season at Inter Miami, Messi, 37, has helped the membership break the Main League Soccer report for many factors in a single season.
Miami concluded the MLS common season with 74 factors in 34 video games and a 22-4-8 (W-L-D) report, beating the New England Revolution‘s 2021 mark of 73 factors.
“I might say he has discovered an setting the place he feels snug, the place he feels relaxed,” Iniesta mentioned of Messi to ESPN. “He’s in a undertaking that excites him, a undertaking with an ambition to develop and he’s surrounded by nice gamers.
“I might say that what’s mirrored on the sector is the happiness with which he’s residing that undertaking, till the day he decides to cease.”
An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi got here on as an alternative and scored a hat-trick in Miami’s 6-2 overcome the Revolution on Sunday, the ultimate day of the common season.
In doing so, Messi grew to become Inter Miami’s all-time main scorer with 33 objectives. Since his arrival in the summertime of 2023, Miami have claimed the 2024 Supporters’ Defend, received the 2023 Leagues Cup, and reached the ultimate of the 2023 US Open Cup.
Iniesta, who received 4 Champions League crowns at Barça with Messi, applauded the Argentina captain.
“Leo is soccer in its purest type,” Iniesta mentioned. “What Leo represents as a footballer is soccer, which is what he does finest. He is aware of how you can interpret all the pieces to perfection.”
A 2010 World Cup winner, Iniesta, who retired from soccer final week, additionally spoke about Barça teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Yamal, 17, has drawn comparisons with Messi.
The Spain worldwide has damaged quite a few information for membership and nation since making his Barça debut aged 15 in 2023.
“He’s a participant that makes a distinction, he’s particular,” Iniesta mentioned. “He scores, he units up objectives, he attracts the opponents’ consideration. He’s a singular and particular participant due to his age and what he has already proven.
“What stands out is the benefit with which he performs, as if he had been enjoying in his residence. That’s putting.”
Iniesta believes that Yamal have to be protected and guided to proceed excelling.
“I believe we have to accompany his improvement,” Iniesta mentioned. “We won’t overlook he’s 17 and 12 months after 12 months, we have to be alongside him in order that the very excessive degree he has proven at 17, he retains rising it as a result of that is the demand of being within the elite, of enjoying for Barca and the nationwide workforce. It is an exquisite problem.”
Yamal, who has remodeled 60 appearances for Barça, performed a key position as Spain received the European Championship this previous summer time.
There are issues that Yamal and plenty of different high gamers have too many video games.
“It is regular that as a younger participant he can play virtually all of the video games,” Iniesta mentioned. “Now there are a lot of video games, whether or not it is for membership or nation.
“Tournaments have been added, matches have elevated and all of this, evidently, causes the damage and tear of the gamers.”
High gamers have criticised the ever-increasing fixture schedule, with some speaking of strike motion.
“Organisations have to consider carefully concerning the well being of the gamers and mix it with the spectacle,” Iniesta mentioned. “That typically will not be straightforward.
“Clearly a consensus must be reached as a result of including video games in the long run it takes its toll as a result of we’re not machines.
“And the demand that you’re underneath, during which every match you must be higher and you must win. That not solely impacts you bodily.”