Player Ratings: Inter Miami Starts Season vs. NYCFC

Players Ratings are back!

photo credit: Inter Miami CF

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Inter Miami kicked off the 2025 season with a point at home against NYCFC.

Down 10 men early, the Herons were on the back foot for the majority of the match. Thanks to a moment of Messi magic, and some nifty skill from new signing Teslasco Segovia, the men in pink managed to salvage an otherwise off night.

Here are player ratings from Miami’s opening-day match versus NYCFC.

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Goalkeeping, Defense:

• 🧤 Oscar Ustari - 7: Really great with his feet playing the sweeper-keeper role.

• 💨 Jordi Alba - 6.3: Had a massive giveaway that put Miami in a 2-1 hole for most of the match. Probably the last time you’ll see a player of his caliber make an ‘oopsie’ like that.

• 🐥 Noah Allen - 9: One of the better defenders on the field tonight. His growth has been immense.

• 🦒 Tomas Avilés - 6: It was a harsh red card. Thankfully, Miami now has depth at center-back, so his absences don’t hurt the team as much.

• 🎻 Marcelo Weigandt - 6: Didn’t do anything significant to stand out.

Midfield:

• 💪 Benjamin Cremaschi - 6.8: Mostly relegated to a defensive role during the match. Didn’t quite find the game.

• 🧮 Sergio Busquets - 7: Had a couple of sloppy touches that were unlike him. Fatigue?

Attack:

• 💈 David Ruiz - 6.5: Much like Cremaschi, was pulled early due to Aviles’ red card.

• 🐐 Lionel Messi - 9.5: Unreal performance, but that’s typical for him. Curious to see if he’ll be rotated this Tuesday when Miami plays their second Champions Cup match vs. Sporting KC. (I reckon he’ll play.)

• 🔫 Luis Suárez - 6.7: Off night for him. Could’ve been a game where he rested if Miami had a backup striker. Although that transfer may happen sooner rather than later.

  

• 🦌 Fafa Picault - N/A - Get well soon!

Substitutes:

• 🪽 Robert Taylor - 9: I’m giving him a nine because he left it all on the field. Incredible passion for the club.

• 🧔‍♂️ Gonzalo Lujan - 7: Solid, again!

• 🐞 Federico Redondo - 7.6: Did well during his cameo, missed a clear chance, but eh.

• 💣 Telasco Segovia - 9: Scoring a goal like that deserves a high rating, honestly.

• 🍳 Ian Fray - 8: Can you believe this is a player who injured his knee for the fourth time a few months ago? A true Iron Man.

Coaching:

• 🔢 Javier Mascherano - First MLS match for Mascherano. Already, there are some differences between him and Tata Martino. For once, Mascherano isn’t afraid to use his substitutes. Second, we could see more of Messi playing a false nine as the season continues. And lastly, he takes rotation quite seriously.

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  Thoughts on the match? Let me know in the comments!