How many points does Messi have to win for Inter Miami to challenge for the MLS playoffs?

Lionel Messi set social media abuzz when he announced that his next destination would be the MLS to play for Inter Miami and now the fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Argentine star. However, Messi and his new teammates will have a difficult task if he wants to play in the playoffs at the start of his adventure in the United States.

Although Messi will arrive in the coming days in Miami, as his debut with the club is scheduled for July 21 against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, his first game in the MLS would be on August 20, in front of his home fans at DRV PNK Stadium and against Charlotte, in what would be the beginning of an intense fight to reach the playoffs.

At this moment this is something that seems complicated to think about, as Inter Miami is ranked dead list in the MLS Western Conference.

The team to be coached by Gerardo Martino has 16 points from 19 games played and has three more games before Messi arrives and a break for the Leagues Cup. Cincinnati leads the table with 44 points, while Orlando City, the last team with a direct ticket to the playoffs, has 31 points. Montreal and DC United have 26 points in eighth and ninth place, which would now play in the wild card round.

So, pending what Inter Miami can add in the next three games, still without Messi, the former Barcelona and PSG player will have 12 games to push the club into the playoffs along with Sergio Busquets, another of the reinforcements, and Tata Martino.

From 20 August to 21 October Messi and Inter Miami will play 12 games, which equates to 36 points. And while the Argentinian will not arrive with the magic wand to win them all, it will be a strong boost to their playoff aspirations. At the moment the team is 15 points out of the playoff places and 10 points out of the wild card spots, so it looks difficult, but there is hope.

Among the games that Messi and company will have are the ones against Cincinnati and Nashville, now the first in the Western Conference, but there are also six games against clubs in the same situation, for now out of the playoffs.

Inter Miami's MLS schedule now with Lionel Messi:

• Miami vs Charlotte DRV PNK Stadium 08-20
• New York vs Miami Red Bull Arena 08-26
• Miami vs Nashville DRV PNK Stadium 08-30
• LAFC vs Miami BMO Stadium 09-03
• Miami vs Kansas City DRV PNK Stadium 09-09
• Atlanta vs Miami Mercedes Benz Stadium 09-16
• Miami vs Toronto DRV PNK PNK Stadium 09-20
• Orlando vs Miami Exploria Stadium 09-24
• Miami vs New York City DRV PNK Stadium 09-30
• Chicago vs Miami Soldier Field 10-04
• Miami vs Cincinnati DRV PNK Stadium 10-07
• Charlotte vs Miami Bank of America Stadium 10-21