Lionel Messi is gearing up for his second season with Inter Miami, marking his first full season with the Florida-based club. The World Cup winner now has a strong squad after reuniting with one of his best friends and former Barcelona teammates, Luis Suarez, making him look forward to the upcoming MLS season.
Unfortunately, the club’s first international pre-season tour isn’t going well, with Inter Miami going winless in three matches after the 4-3 loss to Saudi Arabia’s powerhouse Al-Hilal, whose player did a Ronaldo-esque celebration to taunt Messi and his Inter Miami teammates.
Al-Hilal player hits the ‘Siuuu’ against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami
Things don’t seem to be going well with Inter Miami despite bringing in Luis Suarez from Gremio to help provide more balance in attack. The team’s poor finish in the last MLS season prompted the Florida-based club to make some moves in the current transfer window, acquiring key players for the squad.
![image 283](https://www.sportsknot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image-283-1024x683.png)
The club is also making efforts to keep the squad happy by engaging in fun activities, such as participating in naming Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas ship during the team’s kit unveiling. Sadly, these things haven’t impacted the team positively, as they’ve struggled in their current pre-season matches, losing two and drawing one to El Salvador a few weeks ago.
Inter Miami's preseason:
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 29, 2024
Three games
Zero wins
One draw
Two losses
😐 pic.twitter.com/5v7qumtulv
The latest loss for Inter Miami was a 4-3 loss to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where Michael Delgado scored the team’s second before hitting Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Siuuu’ celebration to spite Lionel Messi.
Al-Hilal's Michael Delgado hit the Ronaldo after scoring against Messi's Inter Miami 💀 pic.twitter.com/BsBKSWtiyf
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 29, 2024
Despite having four ex-Barcelona players, Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets, in the squad, Inter Miami couldn’t collect maximum points, no thanks to Malcolm’s late goal to help Al-Hilal get the win.
![image 284](https://www.sportsknot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image-284-1024x683.png)
Messi and Co. in winless run going into the Al-Nassr game
Yesterday’s 4-3 loss to Al-Hilal was Inter Miami’s second loss in a row to continue their winless run in three pre-season games so far. Lionel Messi and Co. played out a 0-0 draw with El Salvador about ten days ago before losing out to FC Dallas three days later.
![image 285](https://www.sportsknot.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image-285-1024x683.png)
Although Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez got their first goals of the pre-season yesterday, it wasn’t enough to help them avoid a loss to a star-studded Al-Hilal side, who had the likes of former Barcelona player Malcolm, Ruben Neves, and Mitrovic in their squad.
Inter Miami will now shift their attention to the showdown between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as the MLS club faces Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr on Thursday in an epic clash.