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| Mascherano Confident Lionel Messi Will Sign New Inter Miami Contract Despite Struggles. |
Hey there, soccer fans! There’s a big update coming out of Inter Miami. The team has been going through a bit of a rough patch in MLS recently, and now they’re preparing for a tough showdown against Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union this weekend. But despite the challenges on the field, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano is staying positive — especially when it comes to the future of their superstar, Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami recently suffered a tough 3-0 loss to Orlando City SC, which dropped them to sixth place in the Eastern Conference. But Mascherano isn’t letting that bring him down. He’s confident that Messi, whose current contract runs out at the end of this year, will be sticking around for the long haul.
Since arriving in Miami in July 2023, Messi has made 56 appearances across all competitions, racking up an impressive 44 goals and 21 assists. That’s the kind of impact you just can’t ignore. And with the club recently locking in Jordi Alba until 2027, Mascherano hopes Messi will be next to commit his future.
“Extending Jordi’s contract was important for showing stability,” Mascherano said. “We hope to have good news about Leo in the coming weeks. Keeping Messi would be huge for the club, for the fans, and for MLS as a whole.”
Of course, the pressure’s been building on Mascherano too. Inter Miami hasn’t won in their last three MLS matches, and fans are beginning to question the direction of the team. But the coach is owning the moment and focused on finding solutions.
“We have to keep working and fix what’s not working,” Mascherano added. “I know talking doesn’t mean much — we need to act. We have to get back to the positive momentum we had earlier in the season.”
“I take full responsibility for where we are right now. No one goes out there wanting to lose or have a bad day. Every player wants to give their best, and it’s my job to help them do that.”
This weekend’s clash with Philadelphia Union won’t be easy. The Union are flying high, coming off a 1-0 win over Atlanta United in MLS and a solid victory against Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the U.S. Open Cup. But even with all that momentum, Union head coach Bradley Carnell knows not to take Messi and Co. lightly.
“We can’t underestimate any opponent,” Carnell said. “When we play at Subaru Park, we control what happens. But we’ve got to stay aggressive — we can’t let the game slow down. The more we press, the more mistakes we force, and the better chances we get.”
Players to Watch
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Philadelphia Union – Tai Baribo
Baribo is on fire! His penalty goal last weekend brought him to an MLS-leading 11 goals this season. He’s now scored in three straight games for the second time this year. -
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Messi has scored four goals in three games against Philadelphia in all competitions — scoring in every single match. He’s had streaks of four or more games with goals against 19 different teams in his legendary career.
Match Prediction: Philadelphia Union Win
Philadelphia are enjoying the best start in club history, with 29 points from 14 matches — one more than their 2020 Supporters’ Shield season. That said, Inter Miami has had the Union’s number lately, winning their last four meetings since Messi arrived.
Still, the Herons are struggling, with five losses in their last seven matches in all competitions. That includes their first-leg loss in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semis. Before that, they had only lost three of their previous 26 games.
OPTA Win Probability:
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Philadelphia Union – 44.1%
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Draw – 26.8%
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Inter Miami – 29%
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