FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi’s trip to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans was a family affair as he watched the game with longtime friends Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and their children earlier this month.
One former Messi teammate, however, was noticeably missing.
Javier Mascherano, who played with all four stars at Barcelona and with Messi on the Argentine national team before their World Cup win in 2022, was unable to join his old pals for the biggest event in American football.
“I’m not a player anymore. I had to work,” Mascherano, the first-year Inter Miami coach, told USA TODAY Sports.
It’s not hard to notice the elephant in the room as Inter Miami begins the 2025 MLS season Saturday against New York City FC (7:30 p.m., ET).
Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba will be coached by their former teammate. A first-time coach, at that, outside of some recent experience with Argentina’s youth national teams.
Suarez admitted “it’s weird” having Mascherano as coach during MLS media day last month, but said the former Barcelona standouts must view him as “someone who’s makes the decisions for the guys that still play on this side of the ball.”
“Now, he’s the boss,” Inter Miami midfielder David Ruiz lightheartedly said earlier this preseason. “I see the relationship and just thinking about it, it’s different. Imagine your boy being your boss.”
Mascherano, 40, must learn on the fly in his attempt to lead Inter Miami to new heights. The club will compete on a world stage during this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, and likely contend for the MLS title again.
He must also help the club rebound from an upset loss in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs last December, despite setting the best regular-season record in league history and winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield under former coach Tata Martino.
Time isn’t on Inter Miami’s side, either. Messi will be 38 years old in June. Busquets will be 37 in July. Suarez turned 38 last month. Alba turns 36 next month.
Anything short of raising trophies in the twilights of their careers – especially Messi’s – will be a failure, like last season’s premature playoff exit.
“I’m not under pressure. I’m here, trying to do my best, trying to help the players to have success,” Mascherano said during Inter Miami’s preseason, which featured four wins and a draw. “We are happy because we are doing the right things. We see on the pitch that we are working (well). It’s important going forward, keeping the same mentality we have now.”
This isn’t the first time Messi will be coached by a former teammate. Inter Miami can only hope Mascherano’s hire turns out like it did for the Argentine national team. Along with the Qatar World Cup in 2022, Argentina also has won the last two Copa America tournaments with Lionel Scaloni calling the shots.
Of course, the one thing in common is Messi. The reigning MLS MVP led the league with 36 goal contributions (20 goals, 16 assists) while playing in just 19 of 34 MLS games last year due to an ankle injury he suffered during last summer’s Copa America run.
Messi scored the only goal in Inter Miami’s 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday, marking Mascherano’s first official victory as coach. Messi also scored two goals during the preseason.
Inter Miami beat reigning Mexican champions Club America in Las Vegas on Jan. 18 and Peru’s back-to-back champions Universitario on Jan. 29 on penalty kicks. They beat Panama’s Sporting San Miguelito 3-1 in Panama City on Feb. 2. They toppled Honduran giants Club Olimpia Deportivo 5-0 in Honduras on Feb. 8. And they played to a 2-2 draw with their MLS rival Orlando City on Feb. 14.
Mascherano already is off to a good start, and his players have fallen in line.
Along with rekindling his friendships, Mascherano has placed an emphasis on getting to know other players on the team while trying to implement his style of play during his first few months on the job.
“He’s very passionate when it comes down to soccer. He’s a center back and they always have that emotion in every duel, in everything,” Ruiz said. “He’s a great person. He tries to get along with young players, especially. That’s something great for us and we’re happy that he’s here and we’re learning every day.”
Inter Miami will compete for as many as five titles ‒ from the MLS regular season and postseason to the Champions Cup, Club World Cup and Leagues Cup tournament.
And there’s even more pressure after last season’s playoff collapse. As much as Mascherano will feel it, the burden still falls on Inter Miami’s stars and slew of young talent.
At least Mascherano knows he has some old friends he can count on.
“I can’t predict the future. Whether I tell you now that we will win or lose, I don’t know. What I do know is that we’re going to compete, we’re going to try to do our best. And well, hopefully we’ll win some titles,” Alba said Friday. “I understand the excitement around us, but as I’ve always said, we have to prove ourselves on the pitch and try to do things right there.”
How to watch Inter Miami vs. New York City FC
The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina), and will be streamed on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Inter Miami announces UNICEF partnership
On Friday, Inter Miami CF Foundation and UNICEF announced a three-year global partnership to support education programs for children in Argentina, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Mexico.
Fans at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium can round up on their purchases as donations to IMCF Foundation. Additional fundraising efforts will be announced.
Messi has been an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for over 15 years, while Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham has been an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for more than 20 years.