See Trump spark Pelé or Messi debate
President Donald Trump jokingly asked Inter Miami if Lionel Messi was better than Pelé, the legendary Brazilian forward.
The new leader of Inter Miami made a bold statement about the club’s standing on the global soccer stage.
For Guillermo Hoyos, he has just become the head coach of one of the best clubs in the world.
“Today Inter, I believe, and this is a personal opinion, is within the best 10 clubs in the world. Not (just) in MLS,” Hoyos told reporters Wednesday. “Why? Because it has it all, above all the stadium it just opened. It’s something extraordinary. It’s a club with a very, very high potential.”
Inter Miami opened the gleaming 26,700-seat Nu Stadium earlier this month with Lionel Messi leading the team in matches against Austin FC and the New York Red Bulls.
Who will replace Javier Mascherano at Inter Miami?
Mascherano’s abrupt departure Tuesday saw Hoyos take over coaching duties. A veteran coach who won titles with clubs in Bolivia and Chile, Hoyos was serving as Inter Miami’s Director of Player Development before leading training sessions this week as the manager.
Like Mascherano, a former Argentina midfielder who played with Messi, Hoyos has strong ties to the Argentine “astro,” having coached him in the Barcelona youth system. But Hoyos said the decades-long relationship won’t change how he leads a team that has Messi as its centerpiece.
“There’s a friendship there … but there’s a friendship we’ve had with a lot of players because we’ve worked in different countries,” Hoyos said. “This friendship doesn’t mean that every day we’re going to be on top of him. I think you have to respect everything, privacy, everything he has. You have to be very wise. Above all, you’ve got to move in silence and try to grow and develop the way. All this is new.
“But I’m thankful.”
Still, Messi’s simple presence hasn’t led to immediate results on the field for Inter Miami in the 2026 campaign. The Herons were bounced from the Concacaf Champions Cup – the region’s top club championship – in the Round of 16 and have won just one of their last six contests in all competitions – settling for a pair of draws in the first MLS matches taking place at Nu Stadium.
There also is no guarantee Hoyos will continue in the role long-term. Miami has shown a willingness to pursue top coaches, signing ex-Argentina boss Tata Martino before Mascherano and Manchester United legend Phil Neville before him.
Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez hasn’t taken on a full-time role since departing the Blaugrana in 2024. His name immediately circulated as a potential candidate.
What trophies has Inter Miami won?
Despite a rough start to 2026, Hoyos is able to point to some silverware. Mascherano was criticized for poor results early in 2025, his first season coaching a professional team – but was able to guide Inter Miami to the MLS title.
“They’re personal decisions, and you can’t get into personal decisions. I think Mache gave a lot here. He’s champion of MLS, he gave us a title and there’s respect and value toward his entire coaching staff,” he said. “They’re decisions. I don’t intervene in that sense, but we’re thankful for his time here and the lessons he gave us.”
Inter Miami also won Leagues Cup in 2023, with a recently arrived Messi teaming with fellow legends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to deliver near-immediate success to South Florida after their arrival.
Yet, the world stage proved to be more difficult. After being granted the host spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami got out of the group stage with a win and two draws. A knockout round match against Paris Saint-Germain, then the reigning UEFA Champions League winners, proved to be a challenge Miami couldn’t overcome, with the French side winning 4-0.
Hoyos makes his debut as head coach Saturday with a trip to meet the Colorado Rapids, then a road tilt against Real Salt Lake before a home contest against the New England Revolution on April 25.
