Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have got their 2024 MLS season off to a great start. They started the campaign as betting favorites to win the MLS Cup, and after four matches, they are now just +225 to lift the trophy for the first time in their short history. In our latest MLS betting futures, we look at their prospects and tell you if Messi and Co. are worth betting on.
When Lionel Messi announced to the world last June that he intended to sign for Inter Miami, it was a game-changing moment for the MLS.
Almost overnight, Inter Miami had become a household name across the globe. The signing shocked the world. Barcelona were rumored to have been in the hunt to bring the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner back to what they regarded as his Nou Camp home. But the Spanish giants missed out, and here we are, with Messi now playing his first full season in the MLS.
With such a signing comes an expectation of success. Messi has already brought silverware to Miami, with the franchise winning the 2023 Leagues Cup. But this year, there will be serious pressure on head coach Gerardo Martino to deliver the big one, the MLS Cup.
At the start of the 2023 season, Inter Miami was not anywhere near the favorites to win the 2023 MLS Cup. They barely got on the page. Coached by co-owner David Beckham’s long-time pal, Phil Neville, Inter were merely looking to improve on the previous season.
Fast forward 12 months, and the best MLS betting sites have Inter Miami as their +225 betting favorites to win the MLS Cup in 2024.
To put those odds into perspective, the current MLS Cup holders, the Columbus Crew, are second betting favorites at +900, just ahead of FC Cincinnati at +1100, and LA Galaxy, LAFC, and the New York Red Bulls, who are all at +1200. Also in the running are the Philadelphia Union at +1400 and the Seattle Sounders at +2000.
It’s like there are two betting markets. There is Miami and then the best of the rest. LAFC have been in the last two MLS Cup finals. And the Philadelphia Union were runners-up in 2022. Yet both are miles behind Miami in the eyes of the best soccer betting sites.
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| 2024 MLS Cup Winner Betting |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami | +225 | +225 | +225 |
| Columbus Crew | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| FC Cincinnati | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| LAFC | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| LA Galaxy | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| New York Red Bulls | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Philadelphia Union | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Seattle Sounders | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Atlanta United | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| St. Louis City | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Nashville SC | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Portland Timbers | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| CF Montreal | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
When Miami hired Gerardo Martino, they did so for a reason. The former Argentina manager is also a former manager of FC Barcelona, making him well-connected in soccer.
He may not have had the best of times in Spain, but he got to know the likes of Messi and Sergio Busquets during his tenure at the club. And it’s pretty much the case that without Martino, there would be no Messi in Miami.
Signing players of this quality has a knock-on effect, as shown by the off-season purchase of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan joined Barcelona in 2014, just after the departure of Martino, so their paths didn’t cross in Europe.
But everyone in the soccer world knows how well Messi and Suarez linked up at the Nou Camp. And even with the two players approaching the end of their careers, they are still going to be a handful for MLS defenses across North America.
The Columbus Crew are the current MLS Cup holders.
They defeated LAFC in the final, in what was LA’s second appearance in the showpiece match in two years. Both teams will feel they have a chance of competing with Miami this season.
Los Angeles FC has had a solid couple of seasons now. They did lose the services of Giorgio Chiellini at the end of last season after the legendary Italian retired, but they still have the goal threat of Denis Bouanga. And with Bouanga in the team, they know they have a puncher’s chance at the very least.
As for the Columbus Crew, it is widely believed they over-achieved in 2023. In the regular season, Wilfried Nancy’s team finished third in the Eastern Conference, 12 points behind table-topping Cincinnati.
But what Columbus did do was score plenty of goals and entertain the fans. We expect them to do better in the regular season this year, especially if they retain their attacking flair. Whether that will be enough to see off the threat of Miami and retain the MLS Cup is another thing. But one we do know is that they will give it a go.
It’s a long way off, but it would be madness not to go for Inter Miami. They will qualify for the postseason, and although they will be at their most vulnerable in the one-off knockout matches, they are the team to beat this season. They just have too many top-quality attacking players.
Back Inter Miami to win the MLS Cup in 2024.
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About the Author
Over the last 10 years, Dean has sharpened his expertise in crafting and revising content for his soccer and cricket betting platforms. Driven by his passion for sports betting and writing, he embarked on a journey of writing about sports wagering. Although Dean's preferred areas of focus are the English Premier League and cricket, his extensive sports knowledge enables him to tackle nearly any sport. Gone are the days of traveling the world to witness events like FIFA World Cups and Ashes cricket, as Dean now prefers the comfort of his own home while enjoying sports.
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