By Taiwo Ibrahim
Inter Miami coach, Javier Mascherano has dedicated the Major League Soccer Cup triumph to Lionel Messi.
Messi played a key role in leading the club to their first-ever MLS Cup in the 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
He provided two sublime assists in the encounter to continue his impressive form for Inter Miami.
Messi finished the playoffs with a single postseason record of 15 goal contributions (six goals, nine assists), registering at least one goal or assist in all six of Miami’s playoff matches while easily posting an MLS record for goal contributions in one season.
Mascherano revealed that Messi deserved to win the MLS Cup following his stunning performances for the team in the regular season, and in the playoffs.
He said: “I’m very happy for him. I’m very happy because of the season that he played. … For him it was very, very special and very important to win this trophy. He came here to win this trophy.”
The former Barcelona midfielder showered encomiums on the players for winning the trophy.
Mascherano said: “I understand that since I arrived, there were always doubts. It was my first season as a senior team manager. I always told the truth, I never hid it: I hadn’t had very good results with the national youth team. It wasn’t working out for me.
“I found a group of players that understood the manner in which we work. I tried to help them in this process, and I’m happy. To finish the season this way, it’s incredible.”
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi revealed that he was delighted to achieve his personal objective of winning the MLS Cup.
He said: “Three years ago, I decided to come to MLS, and today we are MLS champions. We reached the semifinals of the (Concacaf) Champions Cup. Last year, we went out early in the league and were eliminated in the first round. This year, winning MLS was one of our main objectives.
“The team made a huge effort – it was a very long year, with many matches and we were up to the task all season. This is the moment I had been waiting for, and that we, as a team, were waiting for. It’s very beautiful for all of us. They deserved it.”
In a related development, Inter Miami’s Co-owner, David Beckham also praised Messi for guiding the team to their first-ever League title.
He said: “Thank God I signed the greatest player of all time. You give the ball to Lionel Messi, and he will create a goal for you.
“I’d love for Messi to live in Miami after he retires. But Leo told me he only thinks about living near Camp Nou. No player loves Barcelona as much as he does. You can see the Barça crest on his leg—even on his water bottle,”
Beckham became the first person to win the MLS Cup as both a player and an owner.
As a player, Beckham won the MLS Cup with LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012 and he has now made history, being one of Inter Miami’s co-owners.
He described the feat as one of the greatest moments of his career.
Beckham concluded: “It has to be one of the greatest moments in my career to have won it as a player and now to have won it as an owner.”
Lionel Messi has now extended his record as the most decorated footballer in history following the MLS Cup triumph. He has now won 46 trophies in his career.
