Major MLS disappointment for Messi: Is it time to return to FC Barcelona?

Lionel Messi's MLS adventure might be cut short after Inter Miami failed to qualify for the playoffs. The Argentine star is extremely disappointed with his situation and might find a short-term loan till the end of the season.

Barely three months after the high-profile signing of the Argentine star, after which other well-known names such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba would come, Inter Miami has not been able to overcome their poor form in the league and have found themselves in the exact spot as last season.

The current season started on February 25, five months before Messi's arrival to the team, and since the announcement of the brand new addition, the team has played a total of eleven games, with a balance of 4 wins, 4 losses and 3 ties.

Inter Miami took the victory before New York Red Bulls (0-2), Los Angeles FC (1-3), Sporting KC (3-2) and Toronto (4-0); fell defeated against St. Louis City SC (3-0), Atlanta United (5-2), Chicago Fire (4-1) and FC Cincinnati (0-1) and tied with Nashville (0-0), Orlando City ( 1-1) and New York City FC (1-1).

Of those 11 games, due to an injury, Lionel Messi has only been present in 5 of them, giving two assists and scoring a single goal for his team, which marked the 0-2 in the 89th minute against the New York Red Bulls.

Regardless of the arrival of Messi, Inter Miami has not been able to pick up enough points throughout the season. Inter Miami stands in 14th place out of 15 in the Easter Conference, with 33 points under their belt.

Messi fell injured on his seventh game of the season, against Toronto on September 21. The Argentine star left the pitch in the 37th minute of the first half.

The injury kept Messi off the field for three games, until he made his return against FC Cincinnati. He came in the second half, replacing Tomás Avilés, but could do little to save a point for his team.

Inter Miami came into the last match with horrible form, after four consecutive games without a win. The local Miami club also lost the final of the US Open Cup against Houston Dynamo.

This season's failure can't be pinned on Messi and the new signings. The newcomers had very little time to adapt and gain adequate form in an already uphill battle.

The only upside to Inter Miami's 2023/24 season was their impressive performance in the Leagues Cup. The local Florida team won the title after beating Nashville on penalties.

With that victory, Inter Miami won the first title in its short history (it was founded in 2018), in addition to becoming the first American team to win this tournament after in the two previous editions the victories came from the Mexican side with Cruz Azul (2019) and Club León (2021) as champions.

The Leagues Cup 2023 was played between the months of July and August 2023, which did not prevent Messi from becoming the great architect of Inter Miami's victory with his incredible goalscoring display (10 goals) and an assist in the 7 games.

One of his goals, in fact, along with another by Fafa Picault for Nashville FC, were the ones that took the final to penalties, where the Florida team managed to win the trophy after a nailbiting penalty shootout (10-9).

With those 10 goals, in addition, the Argentine striker is placed on the table as the tournament's all-time top scorer, ahead of the South African Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who scored 7, also in this 2023 edition, for Minnesota United FC.

Messi has shown the world he still has it! Now 36, the Argentine veteran is a natural leader on the pitch. His tactical football genius is present in every play.

The next MLS season will begin in January 2024, a very long break for Leo Messi, unless the Concacaf Champions Cup, for which his team is qualified, is played before, something that seems complicated, since this 2023 was held between the months of March and June.

So much waiting time between the end of this season and the next has sparked rumors that Messi could go on loan, as other European players have done before, spending a few months at another club to avoid losing form. Will he return to FC Barcelona?

Be that as it may, Inter Miami has many issues to amend for the up and upcoming season. The squad under 'Tata' Martino must produce better results that equate to their talents. Inter Miami has until 2025 to flip the situation, or the Argentine will most likely find another destination.

Inter Miami has one of the most talented squads in the MLS. With big names like Jordi Alba and Busquests, the Florida team must stay focused on their objectives. The 2024 season looks promising and might be a major turning point for Inter Miami's history.