Inside Inter Miami MLS playoff race: Tracking Lionel Messi's climb up Eastern Conference standings

Kyle Bonn

Inside Inter Miami MLS playoff race: Tracking Lionel Messi's climb up Eastern Conference standings image

Lionel Messi has been sensational with Inter Miami, but beyond dazzling fans and media in his start to club life in the United States, he has also been critical to the team's competitive revival.

Messi's arrival immediately coincided with Inter Miami's first-ever trophy in the Leagues Cup

For his next trick, Messi is helping Inter Miami dig out a deep hole with his sights on the MLS postseason. It's no small feat as Inter Miami sat in dead last in the Eastern Conference.

Incredibly, it seems they have a real chance to chase down a playoff spot. Having secured 10 points through their first four games of the stretch run, Inter Miami now looks like a real contender set to jet up the standings.

Here's a closer look inside how they've managed to climb back into the MLS playoff race.

MORE: Lionel Messi goals, stats, and more for 2023/24 season with Inter Miami and Argentina

Current MLS Eastern Conference table, standings

Inter Miami currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference, having gained considerable ground in the playoff race.

While there are a number of teams they must still overtake to reach a playoff position, they sit just six points out of ninth place, which secures the final postseason berth.

NOTE: The first tiebreaker in Major League Soccer is not goal differential, but instead total number of wins, while goal differential is the second overall tiebreaker.

Table last updated entering Sunday, September 17

Pos. Team GP Pts W-D-L GD
1. FC Cincinnati 28 58 17-7-4 +14
3. New England 28 48 14-9-6 +13
2. Orlando City 28 50 14-8-6 +11
4. Philadelphia 27 47 14-5-8 +16
5. Columbus Crew 28 45 13-6-9 +16
6. Atlanta United 29 45 13-9-8 +11
7. Nashville SC 27 40 11-7-9 +5
8. FC Montreal 28 36 11-3-13 -10
9. D.C. United 29 35 9-8-12 -1
---- --------------------- --- --- ------ ---
10. Chicago Fire 28 33 8-9-11 -10
11. Charlotte FC 27 32 7-11-9 -9
12. NYCFC 29 31 6-13-10 -8
13. NY Red Bulls 28 30 7-9-12 -9
14. Inter Miami 27 28 8-4-15 -12
15. Toronto FC 28 22 4-10-14 -17

Eastern Conference standings when Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami

When Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, the club sat bottom of the MLS standings, having failed to win a single game for 11 straight matches.

They sat 12 points clear of a playoff spot with 12 games remaining on their league schedule, a massive gulf between themselves and a postseason berth.

Pos. Team GP Pts W-D-L GD
11. Charlotte FC 23 26 6-8-9 -10
12. NY Red Bulls 23 26 6-8-9 -14
13. NYCFC 24 26 5-11-8 -11
14. Toronto FC 24 19 3-10-11 -17
15. Inter Miami 22 18 5-3-14 -14

Inter Miami MLS record since Lionel Messi joined

Lionel Messi's introduction at Inter Miami has been nothing short of a resounding success.

Here's a breakdown of each MLS game since Messi came aboard.

*Messi did not play (international team duty with Argentina)
** Messi did not play (rested)

Messi's arrival, along with that of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Facundo Farias, Kamal Miller, David Ruiz, Diego Gomez, and Tomas Aviles in the summer, plus the hire of manager Gerardo Martino, has brought new life to the struggling club.

  Before
Messi
Since
Messi
Diff
Games 22 5
Pos 15th 14th +1
Points 18 28 10
Points/Game 0.8 2.0 +1.2
Goals 22 10
Goals/Game 1.0 2.0 +1.0

Note: The "Since Messi" category includes all games following Messi's arrival at Inter Miami, including games in which Messi did not play.

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.