After just three games played in the domestic league, Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami are currently top of the league, which is exactly where most people predicted they might be by now.
Co-owners David Beckham, Jorge Mas, and Jose Mas have spent millions of dollars trying to build a title-winning team by bringing in some of football’s biggest names, including Argentinian World Cup winner Lionel Messi.
The question being asked here is, can Messi lead Inter Miami to their first-ever MLS Cup title? Let’s dive in to find out.
What are the chances of Inter Miami winning the 2024 MLS Cup?
The chances of Inter Miami winning their first-ever MLS Cup this year have massively improved since the arrival of Lionel Messi (aka The GOAT) and other world-class players.
They finished 14th (out of 15 teams) in the Eastern Conference last year but are looking to do much better this year. At the top of the table, Columbus finished in third place, Orlando City in second place, and Cincinnati in first place.
To find out just how likely Inter Miami’s chances are of qualifying for the playoffs and then winning the MLS Cup, the quickest, easiest, and most reliable thing to do would be to check the latest odds currently being offered by globally renowned online bookmakers.
For example, 10bet SA, which is well-known for having some of the best sports betting odds in South Africa, currently has Inter Miami as the odds-on favourite team to win the MLS Cup this year. Let’s take a quick closer look at the latest odds:
- MLS Team: Inter Miami (odds-on favourites to win the MLS Cup 2024). Decimal odds: 4.00. American/moneyline odds: +300. Fractional odds: 3/1. IPR (implied probability rate): 25.00%.
- MLS Team: Columbus Crew (second odds-on favourites to win the MLS Cup 2024). Decimal odds: 11.00. American/moneyline odds: +1000. Fractional odds: 10/1. IPR (implied probability rate): 9.10%.
- MLS Team: Los Angeles FC. Decimal odds: 12.00. American/moneyline odds: +1100. Fractional odds: 11/1. IPR (implied probability rate): 8.30%.
As you can see from these competitive odds, Inter Miami has a good chance of coming out on top this year and winning the MLS Cup outright.
However, always try to remember that anything can happen in the world of sports betting and football to shake up the odds, meaning that even when you bet on the favourites, you aren’t always guaranteed to win. Inter Miami fans will be happy with these odds, but so too will Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC fans with their odds.
Who are the key players in the Inter Miami squad who can help make the difference this season?
Lionel Messi cannot win the MLS Cup alone, which is why the owners splashed the cash and brought in plenty of new players this year. Messi’s goals will help up front, but old Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez will also be able to score plenty of goals.
Their formidable strike partnership has once again been reignited. On March 2, 2024, the duo both scored braces in the 5-0 home win against Orlando City. Luis Suarez scored the first two goals. The first one came in the 4th minute, followed by another in the 11th minute.
Robert Taylor added a third in the 29th minute, and then Messi’s two goals came in the 57th and 62nd minutes. Some of the other key players who can also help Inter Miami win the MLS Cup this year if all goes to plan are Jordi Alba (defender), Sergio Busquets (midfielder), Benjamin Cremaschi (midfielder), Leonardo Campana (forward), and Drake Callender (goalkeeper).
That’s not forgetting Serhiy Kryvstov, David Ruiz, Julian Gressel, DeAndre Yedlin, Noah Allen, Facundo Farias, Gregore, CJ dos Santo, Jean Mota, and Kamal Miller, to name a few.
Upcoming fixtures
The next game for Inter Miami is the second leg in the round of 16 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on March 8 when they travel away to play Nashville.
They return for league action on March 11 when they host Montreal, and then on March 14, they play the second leg against Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions Cup competition.
Final thoughts
Football fans worldwide, especially Itner Miami fans, will be hoping this is the year they can win the MLS Cup, especially with names like Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba in the squad.
It will be interesting to see how the season pans out, but it’s still far too early in the season to say if Inter Miami can do the unthinkable this season. Until then, all eyes in the football world will be focusing on the MLS more than ever.
