MLS
Messi and Mascherano’s incredible success with Barcelona and Argentina in numbers
The former Barça duo are expected to link up again at Inter Miami, with Mascherano set to coach former teammate Messi.
It’s official. Javier Mascherano has replaced Gerardo “Tata” Martino as the new head coach of MLS team Inter Miami, which will see him take charge of a number of his former Barcelona teammates, including Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
Mascherano joined Barça from Liverpool in the summer of 2010, by which time a 23-year-old Messi had already inspired the club to a whole host of trophies, and had won his first Ballon d’Or (in 2009).
The incoming Herons coach spent eight seasons in Catalonia and played a key role at the base of the midfield as Pep Guardiola, Tito Villanova, Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde all led Barcelona to success after success.
Ironically, the one coach who didn’t during that period was Martino, who “only” won a Spanish Super Cup in his single season in charge (2013/14).
How many trophies did Messi and Mascherano win together with Barcelona?
Mascherano, on the other hand, lifted silverware on a regular basis alongside Messi during his time at Spotify Camp Nou. Between 2010 and 2018, when the midfielder left for China, Barça won 19 trophies, including five LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues.
Multiple victories in the Copa del Rey (five), Spanish Super Cup (three), UEFA Super Cup (two) and FIFA Club World Cup (two) make up the rest.
World Cup disappointment for Argentina duo
Messi and Mascherano were, of course, also international teammates between 2004 and 2018, which means the latter missed Argentina’s recent World Cup and Copa América successes.
The duo won an Olympic gold medal together at the 2008 Games in Beijing but later suffered a number of disappointments together, losing the 2014 FIFA World Cup final to Germany, as well as three Copa América finals (2007, 2015 and 2016).
Inter Miami will be hoping the pair can replicate their club, rather than country, connection as they look to bounce back from the huge blow of losing in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.
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