HP Terbaru 2023 – Inter Miami look locked and reloaded for 2026 season start

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By Graham Ruthven

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By the time Lionel Messi and Inter Miami got their hands on the 2025 MLS Cup, nobody could doubt them as the most formidable force in Major League Soccer. They might not have won the Supporters’ Shield (handed out to the team that wins the regular season), but by blowing away every opponent in the post-season Inter Miami made a statement.

That statement wasn’t just that the South Floridians were MLS’s best in 2025, it was that Messi and co. were ready to dominate for years to come. The World Cup winner has lost some of his Catalonian contingent since the end of last season with Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets now retired. However, Miami have retooled over the off-season and could be even stronger in 2026.

Sergio Reguilón has arrived as the direct replacement for Alba at left back. While the former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur defender might not have the attacking ability of Alba, he is still only 29 and should give Inter Miami more coverage through his mobility. Their defence could benefit as a result.

David Ayala has joined from the Portland Timbers and is expected to fill Busquets’ position at the base of the midfield. The 23-year-old is a long way from being at the same level as the legend he is replacing, but Ayala’s youthfulness could help make Inter Miami a more aggressive team this season.

Until the playoffs, Miami had been vulnerable to the opposition counter-attack. This was exposed by Atlanta United in the 2024 playoffs, when Messi and co. suffered an early exit, and was a game plan copied by many other sides. There was a stretch last year during which Inter Miami conceded 18 goals in just six matches.

A suspension to Luis Suárez at the start of the 2025 playoffs, however, changed everything. With the Uruguayan unavailable, Javier Mascherano fielded Tadeo Allende on one side of the attack and Mateo Silvetti on the other. Almost overnight, Miami became a more proactive out-of-possession team capable of pressing from the front.

Suárez never regained his place in the lineup. In the MLS Cup final win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, the former Barcelona and Liverpool striker never even made it off the bench. Mascherano found a system that worked and most expect him to run it back for the 2026 season. 

Germán Berterame could be Inter Miami’s new focal point. Signed from Monterrey for a hefty transfer fee of $15m having proved himself as one of the best centre forwards in Liga MX, many expect him to make a profound impact on MLS this season even if it’s not immediately clear where he will fit into the lineup.

It’s easier to work out in defence where Micael will slot into the middle of the backline. The Brazilian is well-known to MLS fans who remember his time at Houston and should be a significant upgrade for an Inter Miami side that often struggled for a strong defensive presence last season.

Then there’s Dayne St Clair. Widely considered the best goalkeeper in MLS last year, the Canadian has taken a pay cut to join Inter Miami, hinting at the pull they have as a club. Everyone wants to play with Messi, even if it means being paid less. This is what the rest of the league is up against.

“I am satisfied with the signings we have made,” said Mascherano when asked about Miami’s off-season business. “I think it’s never easy when, in this type of MLS system, and especially in the specific case of the club, when you are champions and important players leave, as has happened to us, it’s never easy to replace them.

“I think the club has been very agile and very intelligent in its search for many players and in taking advantage of opportunities,” continued Mascherano, also highlighting the addition of Facundo Mura at right back. “The club looked for opportunities, and I think that by being so agile in that search, they were able to find solutions.”

MLS Cup might not be Inter Miami’s primary aim in 2026 as it was in 2025. The club wants to become continental champions by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Leagues Cup will also be a target with the Supporters’ Shield their bread and butter through the bulk of the campaign.

Inter Miami’s season won’t be defined by whether or not they win a trophy, but by how many trophies they win. There has never been a MLS franchise so determined to dominate. So determined to push the boundaries of what can be achieved within MLS’s restrictive roster rules. Glory in 2025 could lead to something even greater in 2026.

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(Images from IMAGO)

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