MLS defender Emeka Eneli has admitted he is still thinking about facing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami nearly three months after encountering the Florida franchise.
The Real Salt Lake right-back was named in the starting XI for the MLS opener against Inter Miami, with Messi paired alongside Luis Suarez for the first for the Herons in a competitive match after the Uruguayan forward joined Tata Martino’s side in January.
With Inter Miami winning 2-0 on the night with Messi assisting both goals, it was a dream start to the season for the Florida side, who three months on from the result sit top of the MLS standings with the Argentine no. 10 leading the goalscoring and assist charts.
And Eneli has admitted that he still thinks about that game against Inter Miami
Emeka Eneli shares Inter Miami ‘fever dream’ three months after facing Messi
Speaking to MLS’s official Twitter account, the 24-year-old fullback revealed that he still dreams about his encounter with Inter Miami and Messi, with the defender going toe-to-toe with the reigning Ballon d’Or holder that night.
Indeed, MLS defenders can’t be blamed for still looking back on their encounters with Messi, who with eight Ballon d’Ors is rightly considered the greatest soccer player to ever play the game.
Eneli said when asked if he still looks back on his clash against Messi and the Herons: “Like a fever dream honestly. Even looking back at it right now, I still really can’t believe it.
“It’s almost been two or three months since it happened. I still think about it, you know, when I go to sleep at night. And so it felt surreal, and I’m just glad I had the chance to experience that.”
MLS defenders won’t beat Inter Miami if they’re starstruck by Messi
As one of the most famous people on the planet and one of the most decorated athletes in all of sport, it’s no real surprise why some MLS players and defenders are starstruck by facing Messi.
Yet if rivals teams are to stand with a chance of beating Inter Miami, they need to get over the fact of who Messi is and the greatness the attacker exudes, with the Herons finding it too easy at the moment in MLS.
If opposing clubs don’t clock on, Inter Miami could waltz to MLS Cup with little opposition, with Messi giving off the talismanic aura that has made the Argentine the best the sport has ever seen.