Mascherano ‘blessed’ to work with Messi at Inter Miami

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said "it is a blessing" to be working alongside Lionel Messi.

Messi continued to make headlines in MLS after scoring another brace, this time against Nashville SC, to extend his record to five consecutive league games with multiple goals.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s best scoring run of this nature came back in 2012, when he scored a brace in six straight LaLiga games for Barcelona.

The Argentina forward has also scored in six successive MLS matches, is tied with Sam Surridge at the top of the scoring charts with 16 goals, and has seven assists.

Those statistics could put him on course to become the first player to win back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP awards.

Messi has also scored 11 times over his last six matches, matching Josef Martinez’s record (July to August 2018) for the most goals in a single six-game span in MLS history.

Mascherano, previously Messi’s team-mate for both Barcelona and Argentina, is grateful to be working with the forward, who is the "leader" of his team.

"There aren't very many words. It's incredible what he continues to do," Mascherano told reporters after the Nashville game.

"To break great records now every three days... I've said it a thousand times today; he is the flag for our team.

"He is the one. He's the leader. He shows us the way to compete.

"The truth is it is a blessing in my case, at least to be able to come with him in this area at this time of his career, to be with him."

Miami are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference after five consecutive wins and have three games in hand over all the teams above them in the table.

One of those teams is second-placed FC Cincinnati, who Miami will face in their next match.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Cincinnati – Evander

Evander is Cincinnati’s top scorer with 13 goals, which is tied for the third-most in the league this year. Five of those goals have been the crucial first of the match.

He has scored in four straight regular-season matches, becoming the third Cincinnati player to reach that mark after Luciano Acosta (twice) and Brandon Vazquez.

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi failed to score in his first two meetings with Cincinnati, though he did provide two assists in the first of those matches.

The forward has scored at least one goal against all 12 MLS opponents he’s faced at least three times in his career.

He will be confident of breaking his duck against the Orange and Blue.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Miami have lost only one of their last 14 regular-season away matches dating back to last August (W8 D5) and have suffered just two defeats in the 19 regular-season away matches in which Messi has appeared.

Cincinnati suffered their second home loss in three matches with a 4-2 defeat to the Columbus Crew last time out, after going unbeaten in their previous 11 at TQL Stadium in all competitions.

Cincinnati have also allowed multiple goals in three of their last four at home, something they only did once in their previous 10 home matches.

Miami ended a six-match winless run against Cincinnati with a 2-0 home win in the last meeting between the sides in August 2024.

However, Miami have not won in Cincinnati since a 1-0 victory in September 2021.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Cincinnati – 38.9%

Draw – 26.5%

Inter Miami – 34.6%