5 Bold Predictions for Lionel Messi's 1st Full Season in MLS

Lionel Messi will officially begin his first full season in MLS with Inter Miami on Wednesday night as the Herons kick off the year against Real Salt Lake.

After declaring his intentions to sign with the Fort Lauderdale-based club last June before putting pen to paper in July, the World Cup winner has since helped skyrocket the club into the upper echelon of World Football.

Inter Miami not only had its home kit become one of the fastest-selling jerseys in North America, but the Argentine also led the side to the Leagues Cup title, the first trophy in club history.

As the 2024 season approaches, new challenges and potential glory await the 36-year-old. While Messi has the capabilities of leading Inter Miami to more silverware, there might be some challenges he will face.

Here are five bold predictions for Messi's first full season in Major League Soccer.

Luis Suárez has reunited with Messi after leaving Barcelona in 2020.

After six years, the 2011 Copa América winner departed the Catalan club, where he would then go on to play for Atletico Madrid, Nacional, and Gremio.

Now, the forward has teamed up once more with his attacking strike partner at Inter Miami.

While on paper this appears to be a solid move for the Herons, many fans and pundits question the ex-Liverpool attacker's physical state.

In an interview with local Uruguayan radio Sport890 back in December, Suárez spoke about his chronic knee pain.

"The days before each game I take three pills and hours before playing I get an injection. If not, I can't play. Hence the limp," he said.

The striker's comments were quite bold, especially considering he was on the verge of signing a one-year contract with Inter Miami

However, knee issues aside, the 37-year-old showed that he was still making an impact.

During his time with Gremio, Suárez was the second highest scored in the Campeonato Brasileiro, netting 28G/A in 33 league appearances.

The Uruguayan has enough in the tank to dominate the final third. With Messi by his side again, Suárez could very well re-kindle that fire that made the duo so lethal during their Barcelona days.

While it's fun to speculate how many trophies Inter Miami may win in 2024, realistically, the chances will be smaller than many people believe.

When Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba signed with the team in the summer of 2023, the trio almost immediately helped lead Miami to its first trophy in club history.

Though that particular triumph was spectacular to watch from the sidelines, in 2024, the Herons will find it far more difficult to achieve despite the talent on their roster.

The men in pink will play in at least three serious competitions this season: the Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the US Open Cup. Add in regular season duties, plus potentially making the MLS Cup playoffs, and it's easy to see how Miami's squad depth will be tested.

Last year, the main reasons why the Herons failed to make the playoffs were due to international duty, injuries and fatigue. This season, the South Florida side will be similarly pushed once more, thus making their hunt for silverware even more challenging.

It will be up to Miami manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino to rotate the squad to the best of his ability while putting out his best starting 11 when important games roll around.

Inter Miami has already made a splash in MLS by signing three ex-Barcelona stars.

There could be a strong possibility that they could continue that trend in the summer.

Just recently, the club announced the transfer of midfielder Gregore to Brazilian side Botafogo.

According to The Athletic, Gregore was one of Miami's three Designated Players. Should the club smartly maneuver their cap situation, it is theoretically possible that the Herons could add another high-profile European signing during the summer.

Sergi Roberto could fit the bill if Miami dared go after him.

The Barcelona captain is reportedly set to leave the Spanish giants at the end of the season, with his contract set to expire in June.

Roberto would be a welcome addition to Tata Martino's squad. The 32-year-old is versatile and would be able to play multiple positions in Miami's fluid 4-3-3.

Though reports of a move to MLS may be premature for the Barcelona B graduate, Miami will have the flexibility to make more incoming transfers in the summer.

Heading into the 2024 season, Inter Miami's defense has been a big talking point.

Last year, the Herons were prone to conceding silly goals and getting beat for pace during transition moments.

This preseason, the men in pink had similar struggles, losing 4-3 to Al Hilal and 6-0 to Al Nassr during their cross-country tour.

Many Miami fans are worried that these troubles will plague them through the year.

In MLS, it's difficult to find top level defenders due to the cap restrictions. For the Herons, their roster is top-heavy, opting to spend money on attacking talent and highly touted young midfielders.

Defensively, they're not as talented, but there is a chance that Miami may just outscore their opponents instead of limiting them at the back.

Though Miami does have the likes of Ex-Olympiacos defender Nicolás Freire who is a solid defender, with Messi, Suarez and Robert Taylor leading the line, the Herons will have enough attacking talent to make up for their defensive deficiencies.

Messi is undoubtedly one of, if not, the top player in MLS.

His impact on and off the field has been felt and will continue to have an influence even when he's done playing for Inter Miami.

With 2024 approaching, he's also the favorite to win league MVP. With Miami in several tournaments and a jam-packed schedule, the Argentine will have ample amount of opportunities to show just how valuable he is to not only Miami but MLS as a whole.

However, the only barrier stopping Messi from winning the coveted award won't be his play on the pitch, but his potential absences.

From June 20 to July 14, Messi will be away with Argentina for the Copa América. Should La Albiceleste make it to the final, the 36-year-old would miss approximately four regular season matches.

Additionally, if one includes FIFA international windows (a timeframe which MLS doesn't abide by), the ex-Barcelona star could miss up to three more matches.

Seven games may seem minimal, but last season there was controversy when Messi was nominated for league MVP despite his lack of playing time during regular season matches.

Although it may be a stretch to eliminate the World Cup winner based on commitments with Argentina, the committee that votes for these awards is notoriously strict and may see it that way.

Regardless of the hubbub, if the committee is willing to overlook these hiccups, there's no stopping the attacker from winning MVP.