Home » Mascherano: Lionel Messi is the “soul” of Inter Miami 

Mascherano: Lionel Messi is the “soul” of Inter Miami 

Javier Mascherano called Lionel Messi the “soul” of Inter Miami after the team secured a draw against the New York City FC.

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Valiant effort by Inter Miami

Tomas Aviles kicked off Miami’s MLS season with a perfect start, scoring in the fifth minute from Lionel Messi’s pass.

However, the Herons faced their first challenge just five minutes later when new signing Fafa Picault suffered an injury 10 minutes into the game and had to be substituted.

Moments later, Aviles fouled NYCFC’s Alonso Martínez just outside the box and received a red card.

Mascherano pressed on with 10 men until an injury to Marcelo Weigandt forced more tactical changes for Inter Miami.

NYCFC took advantage, as Mitja Ilenic and Alonso Martinez put them ahead 2-1, a lead that seemed to hold on until the final whistle.

Miami fought back in the final moments, with Messi setting up Telasco Segovia’s equalizer in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

“In the end, the team ends up scoring because it’s a team that has soul, that has heart,” Mascherano said.

“I think we have to stay with that, with the positive. Less than 72 hours ago we played at minus 24 degrees and today they ran like horses. We have to keep jumping through obstacles that we will have on the way.”

“But I am one of those who stay with the positive things. And today, beyond the result, which I think was clearly a result that we deserved, or we deserved victory, I stay with a lot of positive things and with the team. The team has soul, the team has life and we are going to fight.”

Messi is the “soul” of Inter Miami

Messi’s relentless passion for winning was evident throughout the game, even to his own detriment.

The superstar forward ended up with a yellow card for cursing at the referee.

He even went as far as grabbing the neck of the opposing coach’s assistant.

Nonetheless, Mascherano said that his former Barcelona teammate and compatriot Messi remains the “soul” for Miami.

“Messi is the soul of this team. You saw this on the pitch. He is a kid playing and he doesn’t want to lose,” Mascherano said.

“So for us it’s a big big advantage. So we just need to keep him with this spirit. Because it’s not just what he does on the pitch.”

“It’s what he translates to his teammates and all that he does with his 37 years. He’s not just playing in attack, he helps us in defense, running the centre-back, running the whole midfield. So he’s magnificent.”