Could Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami play in the Copa Libertadores?
Already in the final of the 2023 Leagues Cup, reports now suggest that Conmebol have invited the Herons to the continent’s biggest club competition.
With the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, everything is changing around one of the youngest franchises in Major League Soccer. The culture of the team had been one that was used to losing but now, with the Argentine superstar and a refreshed supporting cast, they will play the first final in their history with the Leagues Cup 2023.
Reaching that final provides the Miami outfit with a ticket to the Concacaf Champions Cup, but it has now emerged that David Beckham’s team may also have a surprise invitation to the famous Copa Libertadores.
According to information from Hugo Balassone of TyC Sports, Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and a very important person within Conmebol, has invited The Herons to play in the most important club competition on the continent, so the number ‘10′ from the Albiceleste could be making his debut in the tournament that most closely resembles the UEFA Champions League.
This is not the first time this story has surfaced, mind you. Since Miami’s headline-grabbing capture of the world champion, rumours have skimmed across various media outlets in Argentina over the idea of having Messi included in the Copa Libertadores given the excitement, interest and additional revenue it could generate.
When could Messi and Miami appear in Copa Libertadores?
In the event that Inter Miami receives official Concacaf authorization to play in the Copa Libertadores, this would have to happen in 2024, as the tournament is currently about to start the quarterfinal round, which includes Boca Juniors, Racing de Avellaneda, Internacional de Porto Alegre, Palmeiras and Fluminense.
What other competitions is Inter Miami involved in?
In what is clearly a transition period in which Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are transforming the team’s fortunes and future ambitions at the DRV PNK Stadium, the competitions are coming hard and fast.
With this new invite on the cards, the fixture list next year could see the players involved in the regular MLS 2024, Concacaf Champions Cup 2024 and Copa Libertadores 2024, as well as the US Open Cup. What a year it could be for the Florida fans.