Just a few months after being crowned MLS Cup champions, Javier Mascherano decided to step aside and step down as Inter Miami’s head coach.
This change in the club’s roster has not gone unnoticed, nor has the lack of a public reaction from the team’s captain, Lionel Messi.
Messi’s silence raises more questions about Masche
It should be noted that Leo is under no obligation to speak out or post a message on social media. However, his silence has sparked some curiosity, mainly due to the close relationship he shares with Mascherano.
The connection between Leo and Masche is one of the longest-standing and most successful in soccer, as they shared a locker room for years both on the Argentina national team and at Barcelona. Furthermore, when Javier took over as coach, he led the club to its first league title in the 2025 season, with Messi as the central figure.
While Messi isn’t known for being particularly active on social media, he has made public gestures in similar situations, such as when he mentioned Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in a post after winning the MLS Cup. There, Leo thanked his family, the fans, the team, and his two teammates:
“Thank you, Busi and Jordi, for joining me on this adventure and wrapping it up in the best possible way. It also makes me very happy to share this with you,” he wrote alongside 16 other photos of the moment.
However, his reserved nature means he doesn’t always respond in the same way, especially when decisions stem from personal matters. Furthermore, Leo also did not make a post when the previous coach, Tata Martino, left the club for the same reasons as Masche.
Mascherano himself explained that his departure was due to “personal reasons” and expressed his gratitude to the club, the players, and the fans.
The truth is that the Argentine coach had moments of glory, such as his first MLS Cup, the Eastern Conference title, and his participation in the Club World Cup. However, following the title won in December 2025, the “Herons” had a poor start to the season compared to the previous one, as the team has managed only as many wins as draws: 3-3-1 in 7 MLS matches, and they were eliminated early from the CONCACAF Champions League, one of Inter Miami’s main objectives.
Meanwhile, Mascherano ended his tenure of his own accord after a total of 67 games in charge, with 38 wins, 15 draws, and 14 losses, marking the end of his time coaching his friend and former teammate Lionel Messi.
Following Masche’s departure, Argentine Ángel Guillermo Hoyos has been named interim head coach for the team’s upcoming matches.
Inter Miami will face Colorado Rapids this Saturday the 18th at 4:30 PM ET at Empower Field at Mile High.
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