Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, midfielder Diego Gómez and captain Lionel Messi have been named in the Team of the Matchday for Matchday 28 of the MLS 2023 regular season. The trio earned Team of the Matchday honors for the first time since their summer arrivals, following their influential roles in Inter Miami’s 0-2 win over the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena to extend the team’s Club-record winning streak to nine.
Since joining the Club, Martino has led the team to a nine-game winning streak, including the MLS regular season victory over New York, as well as a win in the U.S. Open cup semifinals, and winning all seven matches en route to securing the historic 2023 Leagues Cup title.
Gómez secured his place in the Team of the Matchday starting XI after scoring his first goal for Inter Miami in the win on the road over the Red Bulls. In the 37th minute, the Paraguayan midfielder settled a pass before finishing with a low, left-footed strike to the far post to open the scoring. Gómez also registered his first MLS start on the night to make his league debut in the first regular season match since he joined Inter Miami.
Messi, meanwhile, features on the bench of the Team of the Matchday after coming on in the 60th minute against New York and marking his first MLS goal in his first MLS appearance. He hit the back of the net in the 87th minute after spectacular play in the buildup, creating the opportunity with a threaded pass to Benjamin Cremaschi before the young midfielder set him up in front of goal.
The goal marked Messi's 11th this season, and has been nominated for the AT&T 5G Goal of the Matchday. The Argentine has now scored or assisted in all nine appearances he’s made for Inter Miami.
2023 Inter Miami Team of the Matchday Honorees:
- Matchday 1: Drake Callender and Sergii Kryvtsov
- Matchday 2: Phil Neville, Rodolfo Pizarro and Jean Mota
- Matchday 3: Drake Callender
- Matchday 5: Franco Negri
- Matchday 7: Drake Callender
- Matchday 10: Phil Neville, Franco Negri, and Leonardo Campana
- Matchday 11: Josef Martínez
- Matchday 23: Benjamin Cremaschi, Leonardo Campana, Josef Martinez
- Matchday 24: Drake Callender and Benjamin Cremaschi
- Matchday 28: Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, Diego Gómez and Lionel Messi
