Messi and Inter Miami’s next challenge is already taking shape

After a season packed with major commitments – one that happily for their cause ended with the 2025 MLS Cup title against Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are ready to go again. The Herons will report for preseason on Saturday, January 17, marking the start of a year with fresh demands.

Following their triumph in the North American league, the pink-clad franchise faces the task of defending its status as the leading organization in the United States and Canada, while also taking on a major new challenge in the Concacaf Champions Cup. In that competition, their main rivals will once again be Liga MX clubs, Major League Soccer’s perennial nemesis in the region.

To kick off preseason, Inter Miami has planned media appearances for two of its new signings. Spanish left back Sergio Reguilón and Argentine midfielder David Ayala will give their first press conferences in South Florida, formally beginning their time with The Herons.

The opening day will also see the return of several high-profile players, including Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez, who are set to assume greater leadership roles alongside Messi following the official retirements of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. It will likewise be the first day with the group for Dayne St. Clair, Micael, and Facundo Mura, all additions from the current transfer window.

Inter Miami in the transfer market

After completing a series of intriguing moves, The Herons now find themselves at a pivotal moment in the transfer window. Their focus has shifted to finalizing the returns of players who featured last season but went back to their parent clubs after loan spells in South Florida: Tadeo Allende, Baltasar Rodríguez, and Rocco Ríos Novo.

At the same time, the club is involved in an ongoing saga. According to multiple reports, Inter Miami is interested in Tristan Blackmon, and the American center back did not report to Vancouver Whitecaps for the start of preseason amid negotiations with the Canadian club, with no agreement yet in place. Information from Tom Bogert.