3 things we learned about Inter Miami from the FIFA Club World Cup | OneFootball

After a captivating group stage that saw Inter Miami upset FC Porto and earn draws against Al-Ahly and Palmeiras, the Herons' FIFA Club World Cup campaign is over following a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's second-round clash in Atlanta.

Miami was never really in the game against the UEFA Champions League winners, who gave the impression of letting up considerably after halftime to show mercy to an overmatched opponent and one of the game's all-time greats.

But one game does not a tournament make. There was good and bad to take from Miami's performance over four matches. Here are three things we learned about the Herons.

Messi needs a break

The just-turned-38-year-old has been available for 13 consecutive matches between club and international competition and has played 90 minutes in 11 consecutive club games.

That's the longest run of continuous availability he's had since he first joined Miami in the summer of 2023. But in Miami's last two matches of the tournament, it was also clear he was wearing under the strain.

Messi barely touched the ball in the first half of their group finale against Palmeiras, and in the second appeared to be managing an issue with one of his legs. He was equally ineffective for much of the 90 minutes against PSG.

Miami has played only 16 of 34 league matches so far, fewer than every other MLS team after LAFC's return to action on Sunday against Vancouver, and three or four fewer than most.

But despite what will be a crowded schedule, manager Javier Mascherano is going to have to find a way to give his star some sort of break over the back half of the season if he doesn't want to risk another prolonged injury absence like the one Miami dealt with following the 2024 Copa America.

Suarez still has it (in moments)

Fellow 38-year-old Luis Suarez has also endured considerable dry spells, including a six-match league run without a goal this season. But after missing a couple of games in early May, he's been far more consistently dangerous of late.

Against Palmeiras, he was arguably the best player on the pitch, setting up Tadeo Allende with a wry single touch in the first half, then scoring a brilliant individual goal in the second that would've been right at home at the peak of his storied contributions to Liverpool, FC Barcelona and the Uruguay national team.

He's another player whose minutes may need to be managed more closely in the second half of the season. But the idea that he has nothing left to give is patently false.

Miami needs more athleticism

All the speculation around potential summer transfer additions has centered on more potential star veterans like Kevin De Bruyne or Angel Di Maria, both of whom have since committed their futures elsewhere.

But what Miami really needs is a couple more vertical threats in midfield and even defense. Without them, teams that aren't intimidated by the quality of Messi and Suarez can simply harass Miami with a high press without a credible threat of the Herons responding by sending the ball over the top.

This is what Palmeiras eventually figured out in the second half of their 2-2 draw and what PSG did at the start of their 4-0 romp. And it's an approach that was also successfully replicated by the Vancouver Whitecaps, Orlando City and Minnesota United in their wins in MLS and Concacaf play, though those sides were more selective about when they pressed.