‘I think [MLS] a very good league, way more than people think,’ he later added when asked about his experience of playing in America since last year. ‘The level of the league is not equal to the Spanish league (La Liga), but it’s similar.’

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino, who previously managed all four players at Barca, sent a warning to his squad ahead of preseason, saying that Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba should be available if they are healthy, just like the remainder of the group.

Busquets revealed that he and Messi’s family often hang out outside of games and practices

Inter Miami signed former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to add to their ex-Barcelona contingent

‘The idea for this preseason is that every player on the roster is available for every game,’ Martino told reporters.

Messi, 36, wasn’t seen at MLS media day on Thursday. He is entering his first full season with Inter Miami, which creates an obvious storyline that seems to be on everyone’s mind as MLS teams enter their preseason training camps.

And a franchise that hasn’t come close to winning an MLS Cup – and didn’t even make the playoffs last season, even with Messi around for the last few months – suddenly seems like a frontrunner entering 2024. So, yes, Messimania continues, with no signs of slowing down.

‘Even as an opposition coach, everyone’s looking in the calendar for the Miami game,’ Toronto coach John Herdman said. ‘I mean, it’s a really exciting time for MLS to have the best player, in my opinion, who ever played the game in this league.

‘… The league has got some of the best facilities, some of the best fan bases, and now we’ve got the best player ever playing the game, so it’s the place to be.’

Inter Miami will now start the 2024-25 season with four ex-Barca players, including Jordi Alba

Busquets (L), Alba (C), and Messi celebrate a goal scored against Philadelphia in August 2023

Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup for its first-ever trophy last season despite injuries taking a toll on the squad in the MLS regular season

Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup for its first-ever trophy last season, but injuries – including one sidelining Messi – took a toll and the Herons didn’t make the playoffs. Now, Inter Miami gets a full season of Messi, Busquets, Alba and Suarez together, and it’s reasonable to expect far more success.

‘He’s obviously one of the greatest to ever do it,’ midfielder Darlington Nagbe of the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew said of Messi. ‘He’s got a great coach in Tata, who I worked with in Atlanta. Definitely looking forward to big things from them and how they’re going to impact the league.

‘I definitely expect them to be in the running for MLS Cup and all the competitions that they’re in. It just makes the league better, makes the players better, draws more players that want to come to the league and be a part of it.’

Miami will play El Salvador in a preseason friendly on January 19 before facing old rival Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Riyad, 10 days later. The Herons will then play FC Dallas in yet another friendly on January 22 before travelling to Saudi Arabia to take on Al-Hillal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. Both games are respectively on Jan. 29 and and February 1.

Inter Miami will then travel to Asia to face Hong Kong XI, four days later, and Vissel Kobe, of Japan, on February 7. Messi and Co. will play one last friendly against his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, in Miami before facing Real Salt Lake City in their MLS 2024-25 season opener at home on February 21.