The Unsung Heroes of Inter Miami’s Record-Breaking Season
Oct 25, 2024, 09:06 AM ET
As I stood on the grass at Lower.com Field, Jorge Mas couldn’t help but smile. His team, Inter Miami, had just clinched the Supporters’ Shield with a win against the Columbus Crew. The stars had shone bright, with a brace from Lionel Messi and a goal from his partner in crime, Luis Suárez. But it was goalkeeper Drake Callender who made the biggest play of the game, stopping Cucho Hernández’s potential game-tying penalty kick in the 84th minute.
It’s not just about the superstars. It’s about the team. This season has been about sacrifice and hard work. For a multitude of reasons, Inter Miami went through most of the season without some of its top stars. And yet, they’re top of the table.
Messi, who missed a ton of time due to international duty and an injury, only started 15 regular-season games and played just 1,489 minutes. But despite his limited time on the pitch, he still managed to lead the league in non-penalty goal contributions with 30, earning him a spot on the MVP shortlist, along with Suárez.
But it’s not just about Messi. It’s about the players who kept Inter Miami at a record points-per-game pace even without him. It’s high time we give the supporting cast some love.
The Barca Boys
While it’s natural to start with the superstars, it’s also important to recognize the supporting cast. And that’s where the Barca boys come in. Diego Martino, who coached Suárez and Messi at Barcelona, raved about Suárez’s performance, saying, "Luis Suárez has probably been the best player on the pitch, but I don’t want to focus on the goals, I focus on the game and everything he gives us."
Suárez didn’t just produce on the back of Messi’s playmaking – he scored nine goals when Messi wasn’t even on the field. Managing 45% of his goals without the best chance creator in the sport playing next to him? That’s how you keep a Supporters’ Shield and single-season points record going.
And it’s not just about the goals. According to American Soccer Analysis, Suárez finished the regular season among the top 10 strikers in expected assists and key passes. He’s the ultimate hybrid attacker.
Sergio Busquets, the former Barcelona midfielder, also shone on the ball for Inter Miami. According to American Soccer Analysis’ goals added metric, Busquets added more value with his passing than all but 14 players in MLS this season. He was the engine of Inter Miami’s midfield, breaking up play and distributing the ball with precision.
And don’t even get me started on Jordi Alba, the 35-year-old left-back who carved open defenses with his silky left foot and sharp off-the-ball movement. According to FBref, Alba landed in the 94th percentile in non-penalty expected goals plus expected assisted goals per 90 minutes among MLS full-backs.
The Clean-Up Crew
While the Barca boys get most of the praise, it’s the clean-up crew that often goes unnoticed. Diego Gómez, the 21-year-old Paraguayan, did plenty of defensive dirty work for Inter Miami. According to American Soccer Analysis, he finished the regular season in the 95th percentile in tackles per 90 minutes among MLS midfielders.
Gómez’s engine and developing skill on the ball have him heading to Brighton & Hove Albion next season. "Surely Diego will leave us and we will accompany this situation with gratitude," Martino said. "In just a year and a half, he showed all the good things he had already shown at Libertad and in pre-Olympic tournaments. He has improved and gotten the attention of Premier League teams."
Similarly, Rodrigo De Paul, the Argentine international who often plays as a hybrid right midfielder/central midfielder, put up elite chance-creation numbers. According to American Soccer Analysis, he finished the regular season ninth among wingers in key passes and 11th in expected assists.
The Unexpected Additions
Two players who didn’t have high expectations for the season but exceeded them are Yannick Bright and Federico Redondo. Bright, the 23-year-old Italian, began the season without a first-team contract but has since become a defensive force to be reckoned with. According to American Soccer Analysis, he’s added more value with his interrupting – think tackles, interceptions, and blocks – on a per-90-minute basis than all but eight players with at least 1,000 minutes this year.
Redondo, the 22-year-old Paraguayan, signed on the side of the season as a replacement for Facundo Farías. He’s shown real potential, with his big frame allowing him to glide across midfield, progress the ball, and arrive in the box at just the right moment to fire off a shot. According to FBref, he’s in the 80th percentile or higher among MLS midfielders in non-penalty goals per 90, successful take-ons per 90, carries per 90, through balls per 90, tackles per 90, and aerial win percentage.
The Bottom Line
Inter Miami’s 2024 season has been about more than just Messi. It’s about the 25 Capeles Stadium. It’s about the team. As Mas said, "This is a team."
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