Coach Javier Mascherano makes a surprising statement about Messi

Coach Javier Mascherano highly praised Lionel Messi following his outstanding display against Nashville.

Inter Miami secured their place in the MLS Cup quarterfinals with a victory in the third match against Nashville.

During the 90 minutes at Chase Stadium, Lionel Messi once again stood out by scoring twice and providing two assists, playing a crucial role in helping Inter Miami overcome challenges. After the match, Coach Javier Mascherano congratulated his pupil, who is also his teammate at Barcelona and the Argentina national team.

Specifically, Mascherano stated: "I want to congratulate Leo for his amazing performance today. He was the one who inspired and led the entire team. Seeing him still running and pressing relentlessly at 38 years old truly amazes me. Everyone knows how extraordinary he is with the ball at his feet, but what he showed when he didn’t have the ball today impressed me even more."

With the above performance, Messi set many impressive records, notably achieving 400 career assists and surpassing his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo to become the highest goal scorer excluding penalties. Even at 38, El Pulga maintains peak form, continuing to be the "beacon" guiding Inter Miami toward the MLS Cup title.

Regarding Inter Miami’s performance, Mascherano also complimented his players but emphasized that the team still needs to improve to achieve better results moving forward.

The Argentine strategist added: "I think the team played almost perfectly. I’m not saying perfect—there are always areas to improve—but we were at a very, very high level in every aspect, very intense from the first minute, well organized, and excellent at high pressing.

The truth is, I am very grateful to these players because we understand the threats we faced today, the importance of putting the club in a position and phase it has never experienced before, and they really did very well."

In the quarterfinals, Messi and his teammates will face the challenge of Cincinnati FC.

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