“Sometimes I feel uncomfortable talking about him,” says Inter Miami coach about the Argentine legend.
When Inter Miami were trailing by two goals on aggregate, all eyes turned to Lionel Messi. Coach Javier Mascherano was waiting for the magic he’s known for years — and Messi didn’t disappoint. With a brilliant brace, he led his team to a comeback victory and into the semi-finals.
After the match, Mascherano reflected on his 20-year relationship with Messi and shared why it sometimes feels awkward to talk about him.
In the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final, Inter Miami had lost the first leg 1-0 to Los Angeles. They went behind again early in the second leg, but fought back fiercely to win 3-1, progressing with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Messi, with two goals, was the hero of the night. After the final whistle, Mascherano, overcome with emotion, embraced the team’s biggest star during a wild celebration.
Mascherano and Messi go way back. They debuted for Argentina in 2005 and later became club teammates at Barcelona when Mascherano joined in 2010. He stayed there until 2018, and now, years later, they’ve reunited in Miami — one as coach, the other as player, and still, as friends.
“Leo is the heart of this team,” Mascherano said. “Sometimes it feels awkward to talk about him because I’ve known him for 20 years, and now I get to be here with him at this stage of his career.”
“He’s someone who has everything football can offer. He’s the greatest in history, and even now, he keeps paving new paths and guiding the next generation. Even after winning it all, he’ll keep doing this until his final day on the pitch.”
Messi turns 38 soon, but his form shows little sign of decline. While his prime may have passed, he still produces flashes of brilliance — often enough to make the difference for club and country. Mascherano sees that hunger still burning inside him.
“He always wants to win and will keep doing the impossible. That’s what football is about — drive, and the ability to back it up. He has that ability because he’s the greatest of all time.”
Even after falling behind by two goals on aggregate, Messi and Jordi Alba urged the team to stay calm and keep fighting. After the match, teammate Luis Suárez shared what went on behind the scenes.
“During the match, Leo and Jordi told us we had to stay composed even if they scored. We needed three goals. Thanks to our experience, discipline, and performance, we made it happen,” said Suárez.
