Lionel Messi wasn't seen at MLS media day. Doesn't matter, since everyone talked about him

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi was not visible at Major League Soccer's annual media day on Thursday. His shadow was.

Messi is entering his first full season with Inter Miami, which creates an obvious storyline that seems to be on everyone's mind as MLS teams enter their preseason training camps. And a franchise that hasn't come close to winning an MLS Cup — and didn't even make the playoffs last season, even with Messi around for the last few months — suddenly seems like a frontrunner entering 2024.

So, yes, Messimania continues, with no signs of slowing down.

“Even as an opposition coach, everyone’s looking in the calendar for the Miami game,” Toronto coach John Herdman said. “I mean, it’s a really exciting time for MLS to have the best player, in my opinion, who ever played the game in this league. ... The league has got some of the best facilities, some of the best fan bases, and now we’ve got the best player ever playing the game, so it’s the place to be.”