February 24, 2025

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Inter Miami 2025 Season Player Projections & Expectations

Xavier Guerrero February 24, 2025 11 min read
Inter Miami Season Preview

Photo: IMCF

 

A revamped Inter Miami CF squad prepares to begin their 2025 campaign, a season filled to the brim with CONCACAF Champions, Leagues Cup, Club World Cup, and MLS games on the schedule. We’ll take a look at the players currently on the roster and attempt to make projections while setting expectations for each one. Here is my 2025 Inter Miami season preview.

Leo Afonso

Leo Afonso was making strides in 2024 until he suffered an injury. The MLS Super Draft gem provided speed and 1v1 ability on the wings. Afonso can also play the role of striker, possibly getting some minutes there this season. Leo could be a 5-goals  3-assists contributor this season for Miami, and if he reaches those numbers it would be great.

Jordi Alba

Jordi Alba is still among the best left-backs in the world, and he made the MLS Best XI for the 2024 season. His stats were amazing scoring 4-goals and serving an unreal 14 assists. Jordi is expected to be a game-changer for Miami, and he should be a major contributor to any trophies the Herons win this season. He could net another 4-goals and 9 assists for Miami in 2025.

Noah Allen

Allen’s stock has risen with every passing season. Last year he showed his versatility by playing left center-back and left-back. Noah was steady and reliable for Miami. He’s expected to continue to cement himself as a gritty, reliable defender who can be called upon at any time. Noah should get quality playing time this season given Miami’s hectic schedule.

Tadeo Allende

Much is expected from Tadeo Allende while on loan from Celta de Vigo for the 2025 season. He’s tasked with helping fans forget about Leonardo Campana, a fan-favorite, and important goal scorer for Miami. Allende flashed during the preseason, showing a good burst of speed and a score-first mentality. He should be a starter for Miami, and 10-goals and 5-assists in all competitions should be attainable numbers for the talented attacker.

Tomas Aviles

Aviles had an up-and-down season in 2024 as an unquestioned starter for Tata Martino. At times Aviles showed his potential as a young center-back, and other times he left you scratching your head at the silly mistakes he would make. 2025 brings stiffer competition for a starting role, with Javier Mascherano having more options for the position.  Tomas is expected to be the starter for Miami given his combination of height, speed, and technical ability. This season is the one where he has to demonstrate growth and maturity as a player if he wants to stay as a starting center-back.

Israel Boatwright 

Boatwright missed the 2024 season due to injury and is the third option at best, at right-back. Israel has some fancy footwork and a little sauce to his game when on the attack. If given an opportunity, he could show a different skill set than the other right-backs on the team, as he is good on the 1v1 breaking down defenders.

Yannick Bright

Yannick Bright was the biggest and most pleasant surprise of 2024 for Miami. Mascherano has tough decisions to make regarding the Miami midfield. Who will flank Sergio Busquets? If Bright is given the chance to be a starter, he could consolidate himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in MLS.

Sergio Busquets

Busquets had an exceptional 2024, in the midfield or at center-back he was the master of his zone. In 2025 Sergio should continue to be a pivotal part of Inter Miami CF’s fortunes. It’s imperative that he be available late in the season and into the playoffs if Miami is to compete for the MLS Cup. Busquets is the glue that holds this team together on the pitch.

Drake Callender

Drake took a step back last season compared to his spectacular 2023 campaign. The adductor injury he suffered in the USMNT Camp kept him out of all of Inter Miami’s preseason matches causing him to lose his starting spot to Oscar Ustari. Drake must put together stellar performances when he is given a chance to play to try and win the starting role back. It is in Miami’s best interest for Drake to regain his best form and consolidate himself as the starting keeper for the team.

Benjamin Cremaschi

Benja had a good 2024 season, scoring 4-goals & serving up 3-assists, improved numbers from 2023 when he played more minutes. He did a better job with fewer minutes in 2024. He’s still young and developing, but Cremaschi could aim for 6-goals & 4-assists in 2025. Several teams in Europe have their eyes on him, and the talented midfielder needs to continue to improve and perform to make the jump overseas.

Maximiliano Falcon

Falcon comes to Miami in the prime of his career at age twenty-seven. He plays with great passion and should fight for a starting center-back spot early in the season. He’s expected to cement himself as a starter and solidify Miami’s backline.

Ian Fray

Fray’s talent is undeniable, the question is whether he can complete a season injury-free. His role will likely be as a backup at right-back and center-back, with an occasional start. If the team suffers injuries on the defensive line, Ian could see more minutes as a starter.

Julian Gressel

Gressel’s role under Mascherano is not completely clear. Last season Julian did a good job of filling in for Messi when he was not available to play. Julian can fill multiple roles on the pitch for Miami off the bench and is still one of the best on set-pieces in MLS. If he is not traded, he can be a valuable contributor.

Tyler Hall

Tyler received his initial minutes with the First Team during the pre-season “America’s Tour.” He has predominantly played center-back during his young career but was used as a left-back by Mascherano for the brief time he was on the pitch. Tyler will probably be learning from the bench unless injuries dramatically change his circumstances.

Gonzalo Lujan 

Lujan was brought in to compete immediately for a starting spot on Miami’s backline. Gonzalo has played at right-back and center-back and should see plenty of minutes on the pitch this season. He is expected to be an upgrade over the departed Sergeii Kryvtsov and Nicolas Freire.

David Martinez

David Martinez was the incumbent at left center-back last season until he suffered a serious injury. This season David should be in a constant battle for a starting spot. David will still see plenty of minutes for Miami this season whether as a starter or a player off the bench. When healthy, David should be a quality left-footed center-back option for Miami.

Lionel Messi

The greatest player of all time had a staggering 19-goals and 16-assists in just 19 MLS games in 2024.  A year older but still the best in the world, Messi can shatter MLS records if he remains healthy.  As Messi goes, so will Inter Miami. A glorious season for Lionel will mean trophies for Miami.

Santiago Morales 

Santiago Morales showed an interesting skillset during the preseason tour. Morales will learn on the bench for most of the 2025 season but I’m sure that when he is given the chance to play, he will seize the moment.

Fafa Picault

Picault is a proven veteran who scored 9-goals and had 5-assists in 29 MLS games in 2024. Likely a backup and spot starter in 2025 for the Herons. If Fafa can get close to last year’s stats with Miami, it would be a big boost on the wings.

Federico Redondo

Redondo is the “Golden Boy” of Miami’s midfield, the heir apparent to Sergio Busquets. Federico has to have a huge season for Miami in 2025 as a box-to-box midfielder if he intends to play in Europe one day. Federico must be highly rated on attack and when defending. 8-goals and 4-assists would be good numbers for him.

David Ruiz

David will likely be a spot starter in various roles for Miami. Ruiz is talented and his game has gradually matured. The expectations from David are 4-goals and 3 assists.

Rocco Rios Novo

Rocco should be the third-string keeper for Miami. Oscar Ustari and Drake Callender will be ahead of him, and his only chance to get minutes would be an injury to either keeper ahead of him.

Ryan Sailor

Ryan will be one of the last central defenders off the bench in 2025, just like he was in 2024. Sailor is a steady and reliable defender but Inter Miami has invested heavily in both Gonzalo Lujan and Maximiliano Falcon and they will be ahead of him on the depth chart.

Telasco Segovia

Telasco is tasked with helping the fans forget about Diego Gomez. It’s a huge mission given the excellent season Gomez had in 2024 where Diego had 3-goals and 7-assists. Beyond the numbers, Gomez had an endless motor that helped the squad defensively in a big way. Segovia can have better offensive numbers than Gomez because of his superior technique, but he must work to be a high-level box-to-box midfielder. 5-goals and 5-assists in his rookie season are reasonable for a talent like Segovia.

Luis Suarez

The legendary striker had a monumental first season for Inter Miami with 20-goals and 9-assists in 2024. He is the unquestioned starter at striker as long as his health allows. A season anywhere close to 2024 would be considered a success for the veteran forward.  15-goals and 8-assist seems reasonable from the legend.

Robert Taylor

Taylor is always battling for playing time with incoming hotshot prospects and somehow is always overlooked. Robert will likely be one of the first substitutes off the bench in 2025 with some scattered starts. If he is not traded, 5-goals and 3-assists would be decent numbers for Taylor.

Oscar Ustari

Oscar Ustari won the starting goalkeeper role with solid performances during the preseason tour while Drake Callender was out injured. Oscar’s calming influence and vast experience give him the ability to hold on to the job barring any injuries.

Marcelo Weigandt

Marcelo isn’t the most technical at right-back, but he does the job. Weigandt will have plenty of competition this season from Ian Fray, Gonzalo Lujan, and Israel Boatwright. To remain the starter in 2025, Marcelo will have to improve his overall game.

Season Expectations

Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 with a record 74 points but the much-expected MLS Cup faded away in the first round of the playoffs. In 2025 the Herons are once again among the favorites to win the MLS Cup but a revamped roster will need to gel for that to happen. Leagues Cup, Club World Cup, CONCACAF Champions are all important tournaments on Miami’s schedule. Messi and the Fantastics are all a year older and the window to win trophies in Miami is closing fast. Given the urgency and the quality of the team, I will say that Inter Miami will win the CONCACAF Champions and MLS Cup in 2025.

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