Major League Soccer season, Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi played in a mere 55% of available games. Still, despite his limited participation in a pink jersey, Messi led the club to the Supporters' Shield and an MLS points record,

A video emerged of Messi touching his left leg in training, but Mascherano confirmed the veteran forward was ready for Miami’s second Group A match.

Of the many, many contentions around the Club World Cup, few have quite matched the qualification process for one team in particular. Joining a field of continental champions and some of the best performing teams from around the planet is a side who have never won their domestic league nor a top-level international trophy in their brief history.