Lionel Messi’s relentless drive, much like that of his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo, has enabled the Argentine icon to dominate global soccer throughout his extraordinary career. Even in MLS, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to set new records in the United States.
Ben Young, Inter Miami’s head of strength and conditioning, works with Messi daily and shared with The Mirror what sets Messi apart: “Messi is always the first to arrive and the last to leave, exemplifying true professionalism. He performs his own activation and strength sessions and even participates in training immediately after returning from international duty in Argentina. His dedication to his routine and rhythm is why he remains at the top. He checks all the boxes, pushes himself, and diligently follows his recovery protocols.
“We aim to ensure players thrive in the most intense moments of the game through systematic exposure to various training stimuli that mimic and exceed game demands, ensuring they are fully prepared. Alongside this, we continuously educate players on the importance of recovery, nutrition, and proper sleep to maintain their training intensity. Messi’s individual treatment, including massages and recovery sessions, highlights the importance of having a reliable support team.”
Messi has undeniably become the star of MLS, significantly raising the profile of soccer in the U.S. Young reflected on being part of this journey: “With the World Cup coming up in 2026, it’s incredibly exciting to be involved. Soccer here is booming, and I personally love America. After traveling around North America post-2015 World Cup, I grew fond of the country’s diverse states and cultures, and the spectacular show they put on for every sport.”
Currently, Messi has temporarily paused his club duties but remains in the U.S. for the Copa America tournament, starting on June 20, where world champions Argentina will defend their title.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
This season he played in total 12 times for 1034 minutes for Major League Soccer.
Lionel Messi scored 12 goals for Inter Miami. He procured 10 assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 1st in Major League Soccer. In the last match Inter Miami drew 3-3 against St. Louis City.
Inter Miami performance and stats
Inter Miami is currently 1st in the Major League Soccer with 27 points.
In the last 18 games, it has won 10 times, drawn 5 times, and lost 3 times. In its last match, Inter Miami drawn 3-3 against St. Louis City.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 35 goals and conceding 20.