In mid-2023, Lionel Messi shook up Major League Soccer (MLS) by announcing his move to Inter Miami after departing PSG as a free agent. With David Beckham as one of the team’s co-owners, Messi’s decision to join the squad brought unprecedented attention to the club and the league.
Josef Martínez, who was Messi’s teammate for six months during the Argentine’s first MLS season, reflected on how the team changed overnight. Speaking on the Vinotinto Podcast, Martínez didn’t hold back about the stark contrast between Inter Miami before and after Messi’s arrival.
“When I first joined Inter Miami, it felt like ‘Combat FC.’ It wasn’t even Inter,” said Martínez, now playing for the San Jose Earthquakes. “Messi, Busquets, and Jordi Alba weren’t there yet, and we had lost about 15 games in a row”.
He continued, “Before Messi’s first training session, nobody even knew who we were—not even on Instagram. Journalists didn’t show up. Suddenly, after Messi arrived, I was getting messages from people I didn’t even know, including a godfather I’d never met. There were 1,000 reporters outside the training ground when we were used to seeing just one. For Messi’s first practice, 50,000 people showed up”.
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF celebrates with Josef Martínez #17 after a first half goal during the Leagues Cup 2023 Round of 32 match against Orlando City SC. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Inter Miami transformed into ‘Real Madrid of the MLS’ with Messi’s arrival
Martínez noted the monumental shift Messi brought to the club, likening it to turning Inter Miami into the “Real Madrid of the MLS”. “With Messi’s arrival, everything changed. We went from being the worst team to becoming the Real Madrid of the MLS,” Martínez explained. “On the day Messi debuted, there were stars like Serena Williams and that ‘kid’ LeBron James in the stands”.
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He also highlighted how Messi’s influence elevated the entire team’s performance, pointing to Robert Taylor, who is now with Austin FC, as an example. “I don’t want to speak ill of him, but Taylor couldn’t score a goal to save his life. With Messi, he became the team’s top scorer,” Martínez said. “Players who couldn’t even make simple passes were suddenly improving. Nobody used to watch us, but when Messi arrived, even God was watching”.
Josef Martínez’s tenure at Inter Miami
During his lone season with Inter Miami, Martínez made 40 appearances, scoring 12 goals and providing three assists. He received only one yellow card all season and helped the team secure the 2023 Leagues Cup title.
Martínez shared the field with Messi in 11 matches, assisting the Argentine on two of his goals. Reflecting on his time with the legendary forward, Martinez emphasized how Messi’s presence reshaped not only the team but also the perception of Inter Miami and MLS as a whole.
