Herons Fly High In Honduras Defeating Olimpia 5-0

San Pedro Sula, Honduras- Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF took their show on the road to Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano and gave the home crowd their money’s worth. The Herons thrashed local Club Olimpia Deportivo 5-0 with five players scoring a goal for Miami, including Lionel Messi who had a goal and two assists in the match. Miami’s final preseason match outside of the United States allows us to make observations about Head Coach Javier Mascherano and some of the players in the game.

Javier Mascherano

Mascherano’s starting XI against Olimpia was a bit surprising, to say the least. Ian Fray and David Martinez were an unexpected pairing at center-back for the Herons. Fray and Martinez are returning from injuries and trying to work their way back up to their best form.  What was even more surprising was the fact that Toto Aviles was not even rostered for the match. The Coach is taking the opportunity to get a good look at the players on his squad during the preseason tour, and they are showing him that he has options.

Jordi Alba did not suit up, but Noah Allen did a good job at left-back and later Tyler Hall made his First-Team debut there. David Ruiz got the start in his homecoming and birthday versus Olimpia. Ruiz is a part of a big group of young midfielders competing for playing time for Miami.  Javier Mascherano similar to Tata Martino, is unafraid to give significant playing time to the academy alums. Mascherano seems to favor the speed and mobility of his younger players to promote his more vertical attacking style. Mascherano, a young coach himself has a clear idea of what he wants from his team and wants an ample roster to execute his plan during the long 2025 campaign.

Federico Redondo

Federico Redondo is the odds-on favorite to have a starting role in the midfield next to Sergio Busquets. Redondo didn’t have much of an impact on the two previous preseason games but against Olimpia, he was more of a factor. He scored a goal off a Messi assist after initiating the play with a defensive tackle to steal the ball away. Redondo looked more fit and in the flow of the match in Honduras, playing like the box-to-box player he is expected to be for Miami.

Redondo wins the ball ⚽️ defensively, gives it off to #Messi who sends him a dime that Federico buries into the Olimpia net for the 0-2 lead…#MLS #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/4woTOTrkKB

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 9, 2025

Marcelo Weigandt

Marcelo has been the target of criticism by a boisterous group of Inter Miami fans, perhaps old DeAndre Yedlin faithful. Weigandt does the job at a fraction of the price of Yedlin without much of a difference in production. He needs to continue to develop his game and become a better all-around player at right-back. Both defensively and when attacking up the flank, he has room for improvement which is something all young professional players must do.

Against Olimpia, Marcelo was caught out of position and had to commit a foul that cost him a yellow card, but he also provided a phenomenal pass to Luis Suarez which led to a Messi goal. The competition for Weigandt will be tough this season with Ian Fray and Gonzalo Lujan biting at his heels.

Weigandt gives the line busting pass to Suarez who lays it off for #Messi for the GOAT 🐐 goal 0-1 #InterMiamiCF #MLS https://t.co/bqeJPA6s0q

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 9, 2025

Ian Fray & David Martinez

Fray and Martinez are analyzed as a duo due to their pairing at center-back for the Olimpia match. Both players are trying to return to their best form after suffering significant injuries last season. Neither was spectacular but both were solid for Inter Miami against Olimpia.  If both Fray and Martinez can find their form and remain healthy, the Herons have immediate upgrades over Kryvtsov and Freire, the pair they replaced.

Oscar Ustari

The veteran goalkeeper once again had a good match. Ustari displays all his experience and quality in goal each time he suits up as a starter for Inter Miami. Drake Callender’s extended time out due to injury has at this point very likely cost him his starting job. That doesn’t mean he won’t have an opportunity to win it back during the season, but it does mean that he will have the toughest competition of his career so far in Ustari.

Óscar Ustari is winning the starting job due to injury from Drake Callender, similar to how Drake won the job from Nick Marsman …Marsman never got it back, can Callender? #MLS #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/41UfFbqfrg

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 9, 2025

Santiago Morales

Santiago Morales has steadily seen an increase in his minutes during the preseason tour. The young attacking midfielder has looked more and more comfortable in the role and has played without any fear or hesitation. Morales looks like the real deal and with a mentor like Lionel Messi, the sky is the limit for him.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has looked fantastic during the preseason tour, and the only surprise is that he looks like he is in midseason shape already. Messi had a goal and a couple of assists by halftime of the Olimpia match. He has been so great in his career that even at age 37 we expect extraordinary stats from him. If the GOAT can stay healthy for Inter Miami, he could be in for another mindblowing season, a season that hopefully brings more trophies to Miami.

Lionel #Messi looks in mid season form providing the assist to Noah Allen for the 0-3 lead … Noah does his best Jordi Alba impression & scores for #InterMiamiCF …#MLS

pic.twitter.com/JA0BVJeW9p

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 9, 2025

Javier Mascherano and his Inter Miami CF squad are nearing the end of their preseason tour with their final match next Friday, February 14th at 7:30 pm at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.