Lionel Messi Is Back, and Inter Miami Will Never Be the Same

If anyone had doubts about Lionel Messi after his long break, he’s silenced all of them with one spectacular comeback. Inter Miami, which had been stumbling without their number 10, has found its rhythm again, and the latest victim? Philadelphia Union. Two goals in under four minutes and an assist to seal the deal. Yep, the Messi we all know and love is back, and, as always, he’s making history. But this time, it’s not in Europe or with the Argentine national team. It’s right here, in the MLS, on our turf. And that sparks some pretty interesting questions for those of us keeping an eye on things.

Messi is Messi, no matter where he plays. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a top-tier European club or a league like the MLS, where, let’s be honest, the competition isn’t quite as tough. When he steps onto the field, magic happens. We saw it at Chase Stadium, where the crowd went wild watching him shake off any lingering rust from his injury. And for those thinking he might’ve lost a step, the 14 goals and 14 assists in just 13 games are a pretty clear message. The legend is growing, and everyone else is just trying to keep up.

Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).

What Messi’s doing in MLS is incredible, but it also raises some tough questions. Is it fair? Think about it—MLS has always been known as the retirement home for aging European stars looking for a final payday and some Miami or LA sunshine. But Messi, at 37, is shattering that stereotype. He’s in top form, completely transforming Inter Miami. Is it really fair for a player of his caliber to dominate a league that’s still finding its feet?

Some folks say Messi’s presence is a gift from the soccer gods to MLS. He’s bringing attention, viewership, money—everything the league needs to grow. And they’re right! You can’t deny the impact he’s already had. Stadiums sell out when he plays, broadcast rights are skyrocketing, and Inter Miami’s pink jersey is the hottest thing among fans. But that doesn’t change the fact there’s a clear imbalance when he’s on the field. The other teams just don’t have an answer for a guy who’s spent his life playing at levels most MLS players can only dream of. It’s like bringing a Ferrari to a go-kart race.

On the flip side, maybe this is exactly what MLS needed. Why not use Messi to raise the bar? Instead of griping about him being “too good” for the league, maybe the other teams should see this as a challenge. A little push to step up their game. Bring in more stars, invest in youth development, and professionalize the structure even more. Messi, with his on-field magic, could be the spark that lights a new chapter for soccer in the U.S. MLS might not be the Premier League, but with Messi in town, at least it’s making some noise and grabbing the world’s attention.

Now, back to that game against Philadelphia Union—there’s no ignoring the brilliance of this guy. Messi hadn’t played since June, yet he came back like he’d never left. The duo with Jordi Alba was deadly. In less than four minutes, Messi put two in the net, both assisted by his former Barcelona teammate. It was like they were in some telepathic old-timers' game. And don’t even get me started on the connection with Suárez—it was a whole other show. Seeing Messi and Suárez link up for that picture-perfect goal at the end brought back some serious nostalgia, flashing us back to their golden days at Barcelona.

We know Messi’s been helping Inter Miami level up, but is this meteoric rise creating a gap in the league? Inter Miami’s already secured a playoff spot, is on track to snag the Supporters' Shield, and all of this with Messi missing for a chunk of the season. Does this just lay bare how much the other teams still need to evolve if they really want to compete? For now, MLS can ride the Messi wave, but if the league doesn’t keep pace, it could end up too reliant on foreign stars while American players get pushed to the background.

If MLS truly wants to cement itself as one of the world’s top leagues, it can’t just be the Messi Show. Sure, the spectacle is great, but developing local talent is what’ll give the league staying power in the long run. For now, fans are dazzled by the Argentine wizard, but what happens when he retires? MLS has to think ahead. It needs to invest in youth academies, raise the technical level of clubs, and most importantly, give American players the room to shine. If the league can balance that, with Messi as the catalyst, then we’ll have something really special on our hands.

Watching Messi dominate in MLS is a joy for the eyes. Even if you don’t root for Inter Miami, you’ve gotta admit, seeing one of the greatest players of all time do his thing is a privilege. But does MLS want to be remembered as just the league that brought Messi in, or as a league that seized the moment to grow for real? That’s the real test. For now, let’s enjoy the show. Lionel Messi is back, and with him, Inter Miami is unstoppable.