Four Key Takeaways from Inter Miami’s Dire Leagues Cup Campaign

Inter Miami’s 3–2 defeat to Liga MX’s Club León on Wednesday night means the club won’t be playing in the knockout stages of Leagues Cup for the first time since Lionel Messi’s arrivail in 2023.

While Messi played just days after losing his father, Jorge Messi, the Herons couldn’t muster enough to find a much-needed result, bowing out of the competition with just a single win against Atlético de San Luis and losses to CF Monterrey and Club León.

With the Leagues Cup dream gone, Miami turn their attention towards the Supporters’ Shield and a pivotal clash this weekend against Nashville SC, with the potential victor set to sit atop the table after the match. After that, defending MLS Cup becomes the priority.

Even without a trophy this summer, there was plenty of takeaways for interim manager Guillermo Hoyos and his group to digest.

Lionel Messi’s Drive

Less than a week after the passing of his father, Messi was back on the pitch for Inter Miami against León

The 39-year-old came into the game as a second-half substitute after returning to Argentina for his father’s funeral, and his return to the lineup came as a surprise to some who expected that he might take more time off after posting an emotional message on Instagram.

While he wasn’t able to get on the scoresheet, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner played with energetic vigor and came close to bringing Miami a needed win to stay alive in the competition. Through the 45 minutes, he created four chances and put three shots on target, leading Miami’s attacking push in the later stages.

It wasn’t the dream return Messi may have imagined, but the fact he was even in the match was surprising enough, and it showcased how competitive he can still be after winning everything there is to win in the sport—and knowing that Miami’s chances of advancing were slim, even with a victory.

Casemiro’s Silkiness

The results didn’t favor Miami against Liga MX opposition, but Casemiro’s ability to influence in midfield stood out through the brief Leagues Cup campaign. The Brazilian midfielder, who made his MLS debut against CF Montréal without participating in a full training session, got three largely pressure-free games to get up to speed with his new teammates in the Leagues Cup.

The 34-year-old played every minute of the tournament and continued to become more comfortable in each performance, playing in a midfield pivot with MLS All-Star Yannick Bright. He dropped deep and pulled strings to allow more freedom for those players around him, including fullbacks Ian Fray and Noah Allen, as well as Bright—who scored in Wednesday’s loss.

When Miami aren’t having to push forward and fight for results, and when they get Messi back into full form and Suárez out of his Leagues Cup suspension, Casemiro’s skills should be able to show more as well. He’s up to speed, and the chase for the Supporters’ Shield is on.

Ian Fray and Noah Allen Reach New Levels

The addition of Casemiro has changed how Miami are able to command possession and take on attacks. At the same time, the Brazilian’s presence allows the fullbacks, notably Ian Fray and Noah Allen, to drive forward and cut inside in a way they weren’t able to previously. In some ways, it’s marked the return of the style Messi and the entire team thrived in with Jordi Alba through 2024 and 2025.

Allen, still just 22, stood out with three assists in the first half of the tournament-opening win over Atlético de San Luis, and was threatening in the other two matches with a combined three shots. Meanwhile, Fray had the most touches in the attacking area of any player against León, while also picking up an assist.

With the duo thriving, there’s little reason for Hoyos to switch things up. That likely means Sergio Reguilón, one of the team’s marquee offseason signings, could be out of the starting lineup, potentially joining fellow winter signing Dayne St. Clair among the substitutes.

Pinter Shows How Valuable Suarez Really Is

Dániel Pintér is a bright prospect, but isn’t a solution behind Luis Suárez this season. | Rich Storry/Getty Images

If there’s one “winner” of the Leagues Cup for Miami, it might be Luis Suárez—who has now served three games of his seven-game suspension from the tournament due to his actions in the 2025 final against the Seattle Sounders.

Without the 39-year-old Uruguayan to draw on and without Messi for a game and a half, Miami struggled in attack. The team has some younger academy products showing glimpses, like Dániel Pintér, but none that have proven to be a reliable source of goals. Suárez, comparatively, has 10 goals in 883 minutes this MLS season, showcasing form many thought had passed him long ago.

It’s become clear just how important Suárez is to Miami’s attack through his absence. Yet, it also highlighted the need for the Herons to find some proven and experienced striker depth, even if it’s not a player who would break headlines like many of the team’s signings in recent years.

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