MLS

Inter Miami climbed the mountain. Now comes the hard part. Doing it again.

Lionel Messi and Miami enter the new MLS season with the one thing every other club wants—the Cup, the spotlight and the giant target that comes with being champions.

Last season, Miami finally finished the job. Messi delivered when it mattered, the supporting cast stepped up, and a club built to make headlines turned all that attention into a championship.

But MLS has never been a league that politely allows a champion to rule. Travel. Injuries. Parity. Hot streaks. Cold streaks. Crazy finishes. Welcome to the title defense.

Can Messi & Miami Do It Again?

Everything still revolves around Messi. Even at this stage of his career, one touch can change a match. One pass can split a defense. One free kick can turn a stadium upside down. And Miami isn't simply Messi anymore. The roster around him has learned how to win big matches, handle pressure and survive the postseason. That's exactly why everybody wants to knock them off.

Who Wants the Crown?

Take a number. LAFC has the firepower and an environment nobody wants to walk into during the playoffs. Seattle understands postseason soccer and has made a habit of making talented opponents miserable. FC Cincinnati has established itself among the East's serious threats. Columbus brings the kind of tactical discipline that can turn one playoff match into 90 minutes of frustration. And Vancouver has already shown it belongs in the championship conversation.

That’s before the inevitable MLS surprise team comes flying out of nowhere. Because there is always one.

Messi Isn't the Only Show

Messi remains the league's biggest attraction. But MLS has reached the point where the supporting cast of stars matters almost as much as the headliner. Established scorers, young international talent and emerging American stars can turn a contender into a champion—or destroy somebody else's season with one moment of brilliance.

One Cup. A Lot of Hungry Teams.

Miami has the crown. Everybody else has a reason to take it. No favorite gets a free pass. No playoff matchup is safe. And no amount of regular-season hype matters once elimination soccer begins.

Messi has already changed MLS. Now the question becomes: Can he conquer it again? Or will somebody else rip the Cup from Miami's hands? The chase is on.