How do you stop Messi? Limit his touches? His service? MLS teams search for answers

The Lionel Messi Effect: How Miami Became the Team to Beat in MLS

Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami has sent shockwaves throughout Major League Soccer. Since joining the league in July 2023, the Argentine superstar has turned the Herons into a force to be reckoned with. With Messi at the helm, Inter Miami have become the most difficult team to figure out in the league, making them the team to beat in the MLS.

Opponents know that stopping Messi is the key to defeating Inter Miami. But despite the best efforts of opposing teams, Messi continues to wreak havoc on the league. His ability to control the game and create scoring opportunities for his teammates has left coaches and players alike struggling to find a way to stop him.

Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes summed up the challenge of facing Messi’s Inter Miami: "How do you actually prepare for the team that has Messi, Suárez, Busquets, and Alba? It’s a difficult question." Vermes’ team faced Inter Miami earlier this season, and despite a solid performance, they were unable to contain Messi’s influence. "We had the least amount of touches [from Messi] in our game than any other MLS game that he played in, and he assisted in and scored in a 3-2 victory," Vermes said.

New England Revolution head coach Caleb Porter adopted a similar approach, focusing on limiting Messi’s touches and denying service into the box. "You don’t stop Messi, but you can limit his touches in key areas. Because when he’s in key areas around the box, he’s lethal," Porter said.

But Messi’s ability to create chaos in the box is a key part of his game. His understanding of spatial awareness and reading the situation perfectly allows him to time his runs and find open spaces. As Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin put it, "The second goal, for sure, a little bit soft and goes down the middle. We could maybe get a block before that instance as well, but good players punish you."

So, what’s the key to stopping Messi? As Robin Jansson, defender for Orlando City, pointed out, "You have to be aware of these guys — you respect them. They are world-class players. The mentality in the game — you have to be more aware."

Messi’s partnership with Suárez has also been a key factor in Inter Miami’s success. The two have a chemistry that is unmatched in the league, and their ability to read each other’s movements has led to a string of record-breaking performances. In their 6-2 win over the New York Red Bulls, Messi recorded one goal and five assists, breaking the league record for most goal contributions in a single match.

As the playoffs approach, it’s clear that Inter Miami are the team to beat in MLS. But will anyone be able to stop Messi and his team? Only time will tell.

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