In Focus: Messi magic can inspire play-off Miracle in Miami

Lionel Messi has made an instant impact at Inter Miami by leading his new club into the Leagues Cup final against Nashville. 

The Argentine icon, 36, has been instrumental in an unlikely cup run, scoring in all six of his appearances to date.

Yet while the Florida-based team are enjoying knockout success, they currently sit bottom of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference. 

Ahead of Messi's first chance at silverware Stateside on Saturday night, we look at his remarkable achievements so far and whether an unlikely MLS revival is really possible.

Cup sensation

All six of Messi's appearances for Miami have so far come in the Leagues Cup. 

He made his debut for the US side in their group-stage game against Cruz Azul from Mexico, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory.

The Barcelona legend then scored a brace in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United, which booked the Herons a spot in the knockout rounds. 

But the goals kept flowing, with the World Cup winner scoring two more in a 3-1 win against Orlando City. 

He then found the net twice in a 4-4 draw with Dallas, before converting the first penalty kick to help Inter win a dramatic shootout. 

In the quarter-finals, Gerardo Martino's side beat Charlotte 4-0, with Messi scoring again. 

Then came another goal in the 4-1 semi-final victory over Philadelphia, which has given Miami the opportunity to win their first honours. 

Wide open

Messi has scored nine goals in his six games for his new club, making him the top scorer in the Leagues Cup. 

Having made a massive impact during his brief time spent in America, the 36-year-old opened up about the quality of US football. 

Messi told reporters: "The reality is all the matches were very close, very competitive. Anybody can beat anyone else. 

"I get the sense that the same happens in MLS. It's a competitive one where anybody can win. 

"One where the home team is strong and it's difficult to win away. I'll still be getting to know a little bit of that after my first match." 

Messi should make his MLS debut next week against Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati, where Miami will need their little magician to be at his very best to avoid defeat.

Play-off hopes

Currently bottom of the Eastern Conference, Miami require an eighth or ninth-place finish to enter the wild card round of the play-offs — or to place in the top seven to go straight into round one. 

After 22 games, they are currently 12 points away from DC United in ninth and trail Atlanta in seventh by 17. 

With each MLS team playing 34 matches, Inter have 12 clashes remaining and have at least one game in hand — and in some cases two — on the teams above them. 

With Messi in their ranks, they have shown themselves capable of producing the sort of run that would put them in contention. 

In the Leagues Cup, they have won five games and drawn one.

Though it remains an outside chance, nothing is impossible in the career of the majestic Messi.

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