Messi, 37, joins Inter Miami as a free agent in July 2023.
"I changed my style of play because of the moment, the situation and my age. I'm adapting a little bit to everything. I'm starting to reinvent myself and adapt to the league, which is new to me. I felt very comfortable from the start," Messi said in an interview with Fabrizio Romano.
Messi made an immediate impact for the South Florida side, scoring just minutes into his debut against Cruz Azul in his first Leagues Cup, before going on to lead the club to the title.
Despite leading the club to its first title, Miami struggled in the 2023 MLS (Major League Soccer) regular season. The team finished the campaign in 14th place in the Eastern Conference standings and failed to qualify for the playoffs to compete for the championship.
However, this season, Inter Miami has made significant progress. The team won the MLS Supporters' Shield with a record number of points.
Messi played only 19/34 maximum matches but scored 20 goals, 16 assists. Thanks to that, he is 1 of 5 players for the MLS MVP award at the end of the season.
Messi - the 8-time Ballon d'Or winner - emphasized that his and his teammates' goal is to win the MLS Cup - the most prestigious title in American football.
“To build a club, you need to win trophies,” he said. “Inter Miami had a bad year in MLS in 2023 and shortly after I arrived, we won the Leagues Cup, the club’s first trophy.
“It’s been incredible for the team. Now we’re looking forward to playing in the MLS playoffs and winning the championship. The club and the individuals have worked very hard to achieve this goal.”
Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 2-1 in the first playoff match to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals. However, Messi said there is still room for improvement to avoid "silly mistakes" that could cost Miami their chance at winning the MLS Cup.
With the 2024 MLS season coming to a close and the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, the Argentine star has faced constant questions about his future and has previously hinted that his career is coming to an end. With Inter Miami, his contract with the team expires after the 2025 MLS season.
"I don't know if I will play at the 2026 World Cup. People have asked me a lot about that, especially in Argentina. I hope to end this year well and start the new year with a good pre-season, which I didn't have last year. From there, I will see how I am doing and how I feel. There is still a long time, anything can happen," Messi stressed.
