Inter Miami slump takes Messi to unfamiliar territory

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are struggling, really struggling and following recent elimination from the Concacaf Champions Cup, the crisis has now spread to their domestic form in Major League Soccer and alarm bells are ringing loudly as the FIFA Club World Cup looms on the horizon.

A week ago, Messi suffered his most resounding defeat since joining the Fort Lauderdale franchise, as Minnesota United hammered the ‘Herons’ 4-1 at Allianz Field.

Last weekend, the team were hoping to bounce back in front of their home fans in the Florida derby but were outclassed 0-3 in the ‘Clásico del Sol’ against Orlando City.

In all his 313 league games in Spain, France or the United States, this was the first time that Messi had suffered a home defeat by this margin as the word ‘crisis’ starts to hover over the MLS franchise.

Javier Mascherano’s squad looks to address the malaise as they next head to Subaru Park to face Bradley Carnell’s Philadelphia Union, a team that looks fully oiled and leads the Eastern Conference with 29 points.

Messi despairs over MLS refereeing

Messi has also shown signs of frustration with refereeing in the last two matches. In the visit to SJ Earthquakes (3-3), the Inter Miami captain was visibly angry and approached referee Joe Dickerson at the end of the match which resulted in a booking for the Argentine.

Then last Sunday in the Orlando City game, Messi was unhappy with a passage of play that led to Muriel making it 0-1 for Orlando. He was later booked for asking referee Guido Gonzales Jr. to award a card for a rival player.

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