Miami, FL
Lionel Messi’s Mission Impossible: Carrying lowly Inter Miami to the playoffs would be an MLS miracle | Goal.com
The No.10 has worked his magic in the cups but Tata Martino’s side may be in a hole so big that even the GOAT won’t be able to dig them out of it
Lionel Messi has only been with Inter Miami for a little over a month but he’s already established himself as Miami’s miracle man. Since he arrived, it’s been moment after moment. He already has a trophy in hand and, after yet another display of late-game heroics, Messi has Miami in position to compete for a second piece of silverware in the very near future after a U.S. Open Cup semifinal triumph over FC Cincinnati.
However, for now, the cup competitions are in the past. Messi has dominated those competitions, creating at least one goal in each game so far. This weekend, though, Messi begins life in MLS, and the situation he’s walking into isn’t pretty.
Messi may be Miami’s miracle man, but, even for him, salvaging the club’s MLS season may just be mission impossible.
As they prepare to face the New York Red Bulls this weekend, Inter Miami sit dead last in MLS. With just 18 points and 22 goals from 22 games, Inter Miami have looked nothing like a team capable of earning a playoff spot throughout the MLS season.
Much has changed since they last played in MLS, obviously. Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Tata Martino, among others, have arrived, rebuilding this team almost instantly. The team that existed before the Leagues Cup break is long gone, and the one built in its place seems like a juggernaut ready to be unleashed on the rest of MLS.
But time might be against Miami for this MLS season, and getting them into the postseason looks like it might be Messi’s most impossible challenge yet.
Sign up here for MLS Season Pass through Apple TV and watch every MLS match, including Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami!
Miami, FL
Miami Marlins acquire top prospects INF Starlyn Caba and OF Emaarion Boyd from Philadelphia Phillies
Caba, 19, hit .228 (61×268) with a .385 on-base percentage, 10 extra-base
Miami, FL
South Florida 11 p.m. Weather Forecast 12/21/2024
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Miami, FL
Penn State transfer portal target, Pa. native commits to Miami
Penn State had a successful Saturday, beating SMU in the College Football Playoff first round in convincing fashion. But not everything went the Nittany Lions’ way.
David Blay, one of Penn State’s top targets in the transfer portal, committed to Miami. The news was reported by on3 on Saturday afternoon.
In addition to Penn State and Miami, Blay was also being pursued by Florida State, Illinois, Oklahoma, USC, Wisconsin, Mississippi State and Arkansas.
Blay, a standout at Louisiana Tech who visited last weekend, was a top target for the Nittany Lions as they look to add depth and talent to their defensive line for the 2025 season.
Blay is a Levittown native who played at Harry S. Truman High School outside Philadelphia before going to West Chester to play at the Division II level in 2021 and 2022. Blay transferred to Louisiana Tech, where he was a first-team All-Conference USA selection this year.
Blay finished the 2024 season with 46 tackles, 10 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks.
Penn State has addressed a couple needs in the portal so far in the winter window, earning commitments from USC wide receiver Kyron Hudson and Texas A&M defensive end Enai White. But the Nittany Lions would love to add a defensive tackle or two.
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