On June 19, 2023, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas ignited excitement across the internet with a tweet featuring the hashtag “#nocaptionneeded” alongside a photo of three unnamed pink jerseys and the words “Coming Soon” and “Si.”
While Lionel Messi had already declared his move to Major League Soccer, the additions of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, his former teammate at Barcelona, took everyone by surprise. Within just five days, Inter Miami officially welcomed the three Barcelona icons, marking the dawn of an exciting new era for the club.
By August 2, they were back on the field together for the first time since their days at Camp Nou, steering Inter Miami to a 3-1 win against Orlando City in the inaugural Leagues Cup tournament. In December, legendary striker Luis Suárez reunited with his fellow Blaugrana stars at Chase Stadium, and the newly formed Fantastic Four quickly became a formidable force.
Though the team clinched the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, and set a record for the most points in a single MLS season, Miami has yet to achieve its ultimate goal: the MLS Cup.
With Alba and Busquets signaling their intent to retire at the conclusion of the 2025 season, and Messi’s Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul recently acquired from Atlético Madrid, the Fantastic Four now face one last chance to secure the coveted trophy that has evaded them thus far.
“We definitely want to win [MLS Cup] for them,” stated defender Noah Allen.
Big Talents, Bigger Expectations
Before donning Miami’s pink, the Fantastic Four carved their names into football history with Barcelona. With Alba on the left, Busquets orchestrating play in midfield, Messi roaming the final third, and Suárez finishing shifts, they secured four LaLiga titles, four Copas del Rey, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
“The first assist I gave him was at Osasuna‘s stadium when we won [2-1 in October 2012], and since then, our understanding has been incredible,” Alba shared about his connection with Messi. “His playing style suits me perfectly—he cuts inside and finds me. That pass from behind is something we’ve recreated many times, and our timing is still spot on.”
By 2020, the quartet began to disperse: Suárez departed for Atlético, and Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain the following year. Mas, determined to reunite them one last time, brought them back together in South Florida.
Inter Miami 2.0, featuring Messi and bolstered by Alba, Busquets, and Suárez, has been unleashed in a league striving to reach the heights of the global game.
In addition to rekindling memories for fans and players alike, Mas aimed to replicate their success from Barcelona in the distinctive pink jerseys. His efforts resulted in record attendance throughout MLS (with the Herons’ visit to Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium in 2024 drawing the fourth-largest crowd in league history), soaring revenue (estimated to have quadrupled between 2022 and 2024), and building the club into a global brand. However, on the pitch, the team has not matched that impressive growth.
The arrivals of Messi, Busquets, and Alba came too late in the 2023 MLS season for the club to breach the playoffs, despite their triumph in the Leagues Cup energizing them. After winning four of their first six regular-season matches, they also reached the U.S. Open Cup final, but three draws and three defeats in their last six matches relegated them to a disappointing 14th place in the Eastern Conference, nine points short of a playoff spot.
When the Fantastic Four finally entered the MLS playoffs, the pressure proved overwhelming. Atlanta United, who finished 34 points behind the Herons in the 2024 regular season, stunned everyone by knocking them out in Round 1 with a 2-1 victory at home followed by a dramatic 3-2 comeback win on the road.
“We had a solid season, but our primary goal was to win this. I find the current playoff structure somewhat unfair,” noted Alba in 2024.
The 2025 season presented Inter with unprecedented opportunities to pursue silverware: they were active in the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and MLS. On the financial front, ownership led the league with an expenditure of $48.97 million—$18.87 million more than second-place LAFC.
Although the Herons were yet to pose a serious challenge to the European giants like PSG, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, they were the only MLS squad to reach the knockout stages of the Club World Cup. Domestically, they fell short in the Leagues Cup final against the Seattle Sounders and were eliminated in the Champions Cup semifinals by the Vancouver Whitecaps in equally disappointing fashion.
Fifty-six games into the season—the most by any MLS team in a single year—Inter Miami was left without a significant trophy, finishing in third place in the Eastern Conference. While Messi captured the Golden Boot and secured an MVP nomination, he alone could not shape the legacy of Miami’s Fantastic Four.
Time is running out, and history—good or bad—is being crafted.
After winning the opening match of their Round 1 playoff series against Nashville SC, the series is now tied following a 2-1 defeat at GEODIS Park last Saturday. As they faced a do-or-die match at Chase Stadium, the 2020 expansion companions would seek to earn a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
As previous seasons loom in the backdrop, the Fantastic Four have one last chance to fulfill their promise: to lift the MLS Cup. With the retirement of the two iconic Spanish internationals on the horizon, Inter Miami has a pivotal opportunity to shape the legacy of this era featuring Messi, Alba, Suárez, and Busquets.
The importance of the final Round 1 game transcends not only the current season but also embodies years of expectations surrounding these momentous signings.
“If we don’t win the MLS Cup, it would feel like a failure,” Allen remarked. “We hold ourselves to high standards. There’s no panic, but rather motivation. Our playoff format may not agree with everyone, but we know what we must do: win two games.”
Miami’s Legacy Beyond the Fantastic Four
It’s not just Messi and Suárez wishing to bid farewell to Alba and Busquets with one last trophy; the whole roster is unified by this singular objective. Players such as Allen and Yannick Bright may not have a longstanding history with Alba and Busquets, but many younger team members feel indebted to the veterans for their guidance and inspiration.
Choosing to spend their final careers rekindling old glories with teammates, Alba and Busquets also aim to uplift a new generation of Herons.
“Throughout my career, what lingers are the great teammates I’ve had and the support they’ve given me. As a newcomer, I wanted to offer the same help,” Alba explained. “Younger players like Noah [Allen], who plays my position, give me hope because I see myself in them; they have tremendous potential.”
Allen, who climbed the ranks from the academy to a key position in the Inter Miami defense, recalled that he has a special story for every day they share the field, expressing immense gratitude for Alba’s influence.
“Jordi [Alba] has been one of the most pivotal teammates in my career, and I’m incredibly thankful to learn from him,” Allen noted. “We definitely want to win [MLS Cup] for them.”
Bright, a midfielder who joined the squad through the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, never imagined he would share the field with a player he regards as among the greatest midfielders in history. After moving to the U.S. from Italy to pursue his academic and athletic ambitions, he seized the chance to train and play alongside some of football’s elite.
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Is Javier Mascherano doing a good job at Inter Miami?
The ‘Futbol Americas’ crew react to Javier Mascherano’s post-match press conference after Inter Miami’s 2-1 loss to Nashville SC in MLS.
“I’m just a regular guy. I came to the U.S. to study, but with hard work and determination, I’ve made it here. I never expected to play soccer for Inter Miami alongside some of the best in the game,” Bright reflected. “Busquets embodies professionalism; he excels at every aspect of the game. His excellence can’t be replicated. We’re committed to winning this for them.”
Each player is united by a desire to ensure that Alba and Busquets leave the game with one more trophy in their hands. While motivations may vary, the shared goal binds them.
“I hope this serves as an additional motivation to help Busquets end his career on a high note,” manager Javier Mascherano said. “Let’s strive for a successful conclusion to his journey in professional football, ideally extending until December, and in the best possible manner.”
The impending chance for one last trophy marks the closing of this phase for Inter Miami. Although the Herons are considered one of the strongest teams in MLS based on their roster, the true measure of this chapter will hinge on their successes and disappointments.
As De Paul stated, the best do not always prevail.
“I have faith in my team—we have the greatest player ever—and we’re all eager to succeed, but football doesn’t always reward the deserving,” he noted. “We must minimize luck’s role and deliver all we’ve got to ensure the playoffs unfold in our favor.”
Inter Miami is aligned and driven to send Alba and Busquets into retirement with at least one last piece of silverware. However, failing to break through the playoff barrier would lead not only to an underwhelming conclusion to their illustrious careers but also raise questions about the squad-building strategy of one of MLS’s most renowned and resource-rich teams.