Mascherano lauds 'one of a kind' Busquets ahead of retirement
Inter Miami paid tribute to the retiring Sergio Busquets before Lionel Messi starred in a thumping 4-1 win over the New England Revolution.
Sergio Busquets was labelled as "one of a kind" by Javier Mascherano after Inter Miami paid tribute to their retiring midfielder.
The 2025 campaign will be the 37-year-old's last season, having announced he will call time on his playing career.
Busquets started Saturday's 4-1 win over the New England Revolution, as Miami climbed up to third in the Eastern Conference table with two regular-season games remaining.
Miami played a video tribute to Busquets on the Chase Stadium scoreboard featuring fellow Barcelona icons Pep Guardiola, Xavi and current team-mate Lionel Messi.
Mascherano, who also played with Busquets at Barca, credited the Spanish legend for transforming his midfield position.
"To learn how to play from Busi is difficult, because what he does is practically one of a kind,” Mascherano said. "It’s difficult to copy him.
"For this club, it’s been a privilege to have a player like Busquets."
Busquets joined Miami in July 2023 shortly after Messi’s arrival, and has won the Leagues Cup 2023 and the 2024 Supporters' Shield with the Herons.
He still has a chance to end his career with more silverware, if Mascherano can guide his side into and through the MLS Cup Playoffs.
"I have no words. A part of me, of my heart, will always be here with you," Busquets said.
"Hopefully it can end in the best way possible, which is being in the playoffs and going for the title."
Messi then stole the show in the Revs win, assisting three goals to move onto 41 direct goal contributions (24 goals, 17 assists) in MLS this year.
The Argentina star is just the second player in MLS history to reach at least 40 combined goals and assists in a regular-season campaign, after Carlos Vela's record 49 with Los Angeles FC in 2019.
Messi has two regular-season games, against Atlanta United and Nashville SC, to surpass Vela's tally after starring in a rout that included two goals each for Jordi Alba and Tadeo Allende.
"He gave us the possibility of opening the score and then securing [the result]," Mascherano said of Messi's latest standout performance. "Not only with the pass for Jordi, but when they [New England] made it 2-1, and in the next play with an assist that only he can give.
"He keeps showing the ability he has and, more than anything, the ambition and desire to go for more."
