IInter Miami got off to a great start in 2026, this time with an important 2-1 win against DC United, with another great goal from Leo Messi. Despite the importance of number 10, there is another player in this team who has performed well. That person is Javier Mascherano, who received praise from a former U.S. national team player. Former U.S. national team star and league analyst Sasha Krizestan spoke about Mascherano. According to Kljestan, the presence of star players such as Messi and Busquets, as well as the additions of Rodrigo de Paul and German Belterrame, can sometimes cloud the perception that the team is making great technical and strategic efforts.
Sasha Kljestan praises Javier Mascherano
Leading a star-studded team is no easy task for a former U.S. national team player, which is why we wanted to give 2025 champion Javier Mascherano the recognition he deserves.
No, I don’t think we rate him enough. Because he has shown that he can also solve things tactically on the fly. That’s what the best coaches in the world do.
“Last week they lost 2-0 away to Orlando and it was against the crowd. He changed things at half-time, took one defender down, brought on another attacker and had a completely dominant performance in the second half. He’s doing a really good job,” added the former international.
Mascherano’s great management at Inter Miami
Kljestan flatly rejects the argument that “no one can win with Messi.” The former player emphasizes that Inter Miami’s current success lies in the balance between the ranks and the integration of young talent.
“We took it a little bit for granted because he’s coaching Messi… but you still have to manage personalities, manage expectations, young players and experienced players and put them in the right positions,” Kljestan explained.
With this victory, the Herons not only strengthened their leadership, but also began to project the image of a team that, in addition to individual magic, had a tactical brain capable of moving the pieces with the necessary precision.
