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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Graham Ruthven

How Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami struggles mirror his time with PSG

MLS Inter Miami Minnesota SoccerInter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) stands on the field during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Minnesota United.
Inter Miami has struggled defensively, especially in losses to Minnesota and Vancouver. Photograph: Abbie Parr/AP

Inter Miami are used to having a target on their back by now, but no opponent has hit them harder than Minnesota United did on Saturday in a 4-1 rout. As if inflicting Lionel Messi’s heaviest-ever defeat in Major League Soccer wasn’t enough, the Loons took the opportunity to rub it in on social media, labelling South Florida’s Galacticos a “Pink Phony Club” – a jibe that irked David Beckham.

Beckham’s frustration, along with everyone else’s at Inter Miami, has built over a number of weeks. The Herons are experiencing an early-season reckoning. Their Concacaf Champions Cup challenge was ended by a rampant Vancouver Whitecaps who ran up a 5-1 aggregate scoreline to make the final despite Inter Miami making the competition a big priority.

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