Hot streak halted? Messi, Inter Miami momentum interrupted by player departures
Just as things are heating up, Miami's sea of pink will slowly recede — at least for now.
Saturday night's 5-1 victory against Columbus Crew was the type of play Inter Miami fans have been craving all season: dominant, dynamic and exuding confidence. The win vaulted Miami from sixth to third in MLS standings and felt like a turning point— not just a singular game, but a season statement after a miserable May.
But now, some of Inter Miami's biggest stars are scattering like seeds in the wind, trading the Fort Lauderdale training pitch for international duty on fields across the world.
Lionel Messi rejoins Argentina. Fafa Picault heads to Aruba to regroup with the Haitian national team. Telasco Segovia flies to Venezuela. Benja Cremaschi joins the U20 U.S. team in Egypt and 18-year-old Santiago Morales was called up to Switzerland, joining the U18 U.S. team.
Meanwhile, the rest of the squad stays behind. Regrouping at home, preparing for a looming milestone: the Club World Cup debut on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium versus Egyptian club Al Ahly.
But with key players gone and the countdown to the Club World Cup on, will the squad be able to pick up where they've left off?
'It's obviously not easy, but we know coach will handle it,' Tadeo Allende, who scored Saturday's opening goal in the twelfth minute, said of the team's hiatus.
On Saturday night, Messi lit up Columbus with two goals and three assists, igniting a sea of No. 10 pink jerseys. He looked every bit the World Cup champion — just in time to jet off and lead Argentina in 2026 FIFA qualifiers. If Saturday was any indication, he's more than ready.
A 0–0 draw between Bolivia and Uruguay in March guaranteed Argentina a top-six finish, securing its spot in the tournament and the opportunity to defend its World Cup title. However, the CONMEBOL qualifying schedule continues, with Argentina facing Chile on Thursday and Colombia on June 10.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said the time away could bring a new wave of energy to Messi and the others. 'When players go to their national teams, it happened to me, they come back with a new mentality and more confidence. I wish them all the best, especially Leo, because I'm from Argentina,' he said after Saturday's game, smiling.
Picault, who scored the game's final goal in the 88th minute, will also turn his sights on the World Cup qualifiers with the Haitian national team.
Picault will travel for matches versus Aruba and Curacao on June 7 and 10, respectively. Both Haiti and Curacao sit with two wins and six points in their CONCACAF group, making their game especially crucial for who comes out on top.
Picault has already been pulled from the pitch twice this season due to injury, so if Miami's offense wants to continue the push they're on, it'll be crucial for him to stay healthy in these national team matches.
'We will wait for the players to return from their national teams and hope they come back without injuries and will be ready to play,' Mascherano said.
Miami already has four key players recovering from injuries: Jordi Alba, Gonzalo Lujan, Yannick Bright, and Tomas Aviles.
'We need to recover [injured] players,' Mascherano continued.
Midfielder Telasco Segovia, who notched one assist in Saturday's game, is the final Miami member heading to World Cup Qualifiers for Venezuela.
The Venezuelan team is in seventh in the CONMEBOL standings, meaning that Segovia's performance with the team over their next two games against Uruguay, which sits in third, and Bolivia, which sits in eighth, could make or break their chances of joining the tournament next summer.
Even with these national team obligations, the team's goal is set — and the challenge is clear.
'We know, and we have to be honest, that the level of opponents we will face is much higher than what we have faced in CONCACAF [Champions Cup] and in MLS,' Mascherano said. 'If we are at their level or not, we will show on June 14… It's not only the quality of a team, but the desire. It is a big challenge.'
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