Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are making noise again — this time off the pitch. The South Florida club has reclaimed its position as the top-ranked MLS side in the latest CONCACAF club rankings, a notable achievement that underscores just how far the franchise has come in a relatively short period of time.
However, despite leading all Major League Soccer clubs in the standings, Inter Miami still finds itself sitting just outside the overall top three in the CONCACAF rankings. That means clubs from Liga MX — historically the dominant force in CONCACAF competition — continue to hold firm at the top of the continental pecking order.
For American soccer fans, this is a story worth paying close attention to. CONCACAF rankings aren't just a prestige metric — they have real implications for seeding and placement in competitions like the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where MLS clubs have long been fighting to close the gap on their Mexican counterparts.
Inter Miami's rise to the top of the MLS heap in these rankings is largely tied to the transformative effect of Messi's arrival, along with fellow designated players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The club went from a mid-table franchise to a genuine continental contender almost overnight, and the rankings are beginning to reflect that sustained momentum.
Still, the fact that Inter Miami can't yet crack the overall top three is a reminder of the work still ahead — not just for the Herons, but for MLS as a whole. Liga MX clubs like Club América, Monterrey, and Pachuca have decades of continental experience and infrastructure that MLS sides are still working to match.
For the broader American soccer community, Inter Miami's ranking is both a source of pride and a measuring stick. It signals that MLS is growing in CONCACAF relevance, but the ceiling hasn't been broken just yet.
What does this mean going forward? As the CONCACAF Champions Cup continues to evolve and grow in prestige, Inter Miami's ranking puts them in a strong position for favorable seeding. If Messi and company can translate their domestic and continental standing into a deep Champions Cup run, it could be a watershed moment for American club soccer on the continental stage.
Whether Inter Miami can eventually crack that top three overall remains one of the most compelling storylines in North American soccer heading into the next competitive cycle.