MLS with Messi’s Inter Miami as the rival to beat
New York, US, Feb 20 (EFE). –
MLS kicks off its 2025 season with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami as the rival to beat.
On Saturday, the league’s 30th season will begin with 13 matches, including Inter Miami’s home debut against New York City.
On Sunday, there are just two matches, one of which is very special: LA Galaxy, the reigning MLS Cup champions, takes on San Diego FC, the league’s newest team, featuring Mexico’s Hirving Lozano.
With the debut of San Diego, MLS will grow to a total of 30 teams, 15 per conference, with two trophies to be shared: the MLS Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season team and the MLS Cup for the playoff winner.
2025 will be Messi’s second full season in MLS, having landed midway in 2023. Inter Miami will have a major change on the bench this year, as Argentine Javier Mascherano replaces fellow Argentine coach Gerardo Martino.
The backbone of the team will be Messi, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, and Spaniards Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, after the team made history in 2024 by winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a record number of points, but crashed in the first round of the playoffs against Atlanta United.
Inter Miami will be competing in MLS, as well as in the Leagues Cup (which they won in 2023), the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in the US during the summer.
The other MLS representative in this new FIFA tournament will be the Seattle Sounders, who are hoping for a breakthrough season with young Argentinean Pedro de la Vega and bolstered their attack with the addition of Colombian-born US international Jesús Ferreira, who played for Dallas.
Los Angeles and Atlanta are looking for a breakthorugh
Without leaving the West, MLS attention will once again turn to Los Angeles.
Galaxy will have to deal with the long-term absence of Spaniard Riqui Puig, who tore his ACL in the penultimate week of last season.
Without the ex-Barça man, the most successful team in MLS history will need the best versions of Brazilians Gabriel Pec and Marco Reus, as well as striker Christian Ramirez, recently signed from Columbus Crew, to replace Dejan Joveljic up front, who left for Sporting Kansas City.
Los Angeles FC (LAFC), the 2024 US Open Cup champions, have retained a strong squad with big names such as Denis Bouanga, Hugo Lloris, and Olivier Giroud, and have just signed Cengiz Ünder.
One of the teams making headlines in the off-season was Atlanta United, who went all out to sign Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath.
US media have reported the deal at over 22 million dollars, the most expensive signing in MLS history.
Atlanta sealed the impressive return of Paraguayan Miguel Almirón, an integral part of their 2018 MLS Cup title run.
In recent months, several high-profile Latinos have left MLS, including Colombian Juan Camilo “Cucho” Hernández, who left the Columbus Crew for Real Betis, and Uruguayan Facundo Torres, who left Orlando City for Palmeiras.
Other Latin American stars have also made significant club moves, such as Brazil’s Evander, who went from the Portland Timbers to Cincinnati, and Argentina’s Luciano Acosta, who left Cincinnati for Dallas.
In addition, Ecuadorian Leonardo Campana joined the New England Revolution from Inter Miami, and the San Jose Earthquakes acquired Colombian Cristian Arango (Real Salt Lake) and Venezuelan Josef Martinez (Montreal). EFE
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