Messi and Martino's challenge: Making Inter Miami playoff-ready

And while the Argentinian star was all smiles upon his introduction, he and coach Tata Martino have a lot to do if they intend to get Miami back into MLS's playoff conversation.

The team is last in MLS East and languishing through an 11-game winless streak. It's picked up just 18 points from its opening 22 games.

Here's what needs to change — quickly — for Miami and Messi to have a shot at the MLS playoffs.

Rebuild the midfield

Much has already been written about Messi's move to Miami, but it's Messi's former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets who could have the bigger impact on Miami's short-term fortunes. The team has struggled mightily in defense this season after losing its two Brazilian defensive midfielders, Gregore and Jean Mota, to injury in the spring. Their absence has unsettled Miami's defense and contributed to its woeful goal concession rate. 

Busquets may be 35, but he's a clear upgrade on Miami's backup defenders ... and when played effectively, he can be a literal game-changer. Just ask his Spain coach Luis Enrique. "People have been trying to retire Busquets for years," he said after the 2022 World Cup, "but I want to convince him to play another World Cup!"

Speed things up

Miami has struggled in attack this season, and it's not because it lacks goalscorers: it's because those goalscorers receive plodding, ineffective service. Miami are slow in transition, often giving opposing teams full minutes of time to return to their defensive and offensive shapes. And that's a problem in wild, physical MLS, where speed, intention and high presses tend to dominate. St. Louis City SC and the Columbus Crew have made huge waves in the league this year thanks to their quick transitions; Miami must target something similar if they hope to effectively service Messi and his striking partners.

Hope for a miracle

With just 12 games left to play in the regular season, making the playoffs isn't exclusively in Miami's hands. The team will have to hope that fellow MLS East bottom feeders Toronto, NYCFC and Charlotte continue to struggle — and that teams on the bubble, like the Chicago Fire and DC United, lose steam as the season ends.

Miami does have one advantage that could help them here: it's scheduled to face many of those teams directly in the fall. If Miami can snatch wins over them, those three points would feel like six.