Messi and Jordi Alba are the two Inter Miami players voted into the 2024 MLS (American professional soccer) best squad. At the same time, FIFA announced the seeding groups for the Club World Cup.
Messi and Jordi Alba won the MLS Supporters’ Shield with Inter Miami with a record 74 points (MLS qualifying round). However, they were unsuccessful in the MLS Cup playoffs. However, these two players were selected in the 2024 best team thanks to their impressive performances on the field.
Messi played a total of 19 matches in MLS 2024, scoring 20 goals and providing 10 assists. In the 3 first-round playoffs, he also scored 1 goal and provided 1 assist. Meanwhile, Jordi Alba played as a left-back in 28 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 10 assists. In the playoffs, he also scored 1 goal.
The regrettable absence from the 2024 MLS Best XI was striker Luis Suarez, who scored 20 goals and had 9 assists in 27 games. The Uruguayan had to make way for DC United striker Christian Benteke, who scored 23 goals and won the 2024 MLS Golden Boot. On the same day, Inter Miami also announced Messi as the club’s best player of the season, and Jordi Alba as the best defender of the year.
The 2024 MLS Team of the Year also includes standout players like Riqui Puig from LA Galaxy, Cucho Hernandez from Columbus Crew and Denis Bouanga from Los Angeles FC.
The remaining positions include Charlotte FC’s Kristijan Kahlina in goal, defenders Steven Moreira of Columbus Crew and Yeimar GomezAndrade of Seattle Sounders. Up front, in addition to Messi and Riqui Puig, there are also Evander da Silva of Portland Timbers and Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati…
Before the 2025 Club World Cup draw took place in the US, FIFA announced 4 seeding groups with 32 clubs from around the world officially participating in the competition. Accordingly, Messi’s Inter Miami club, seeded in group 4, will face many disadvantages because of the possibility of falling into a group with many very strong opponents.
Pot 1 includes strong European clubs and high-ranking South American teams, including Man City, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich. In addition, there are Brazilian and Argentine teams, including Flamengo, Palmeiras, Fluminense and River Plate, respectively.
Pot 2 includes European clubs such as Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Juventus and Salzburg. Pot 3: Al Hilal, Ulsan HD, Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Monterrey, Leon, Boca Juniors and Botafogo. Pot 4 with Uwara Red Diamonds, Al Ain, Esperance, Mamelodi Sundowns, Pachuca, Seattle Sounders, Auckland City and Inter Miami is the fixed host team in Group A and will play the opening match.
The Club World Cup will take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, at 12 stadiums across the United States. The draw will take place in Miami on December 5.
