Inter Miami wanted Mascherano as a player in 2020. Now, he's head coach of the club, Messi

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Javier Mascherano lived the joy and success Lionel Messi experienced in Barcelona, and the pain and heartbreak Messi experienced with Argentina before winning the 2022 World Cup.

Now, Mascherano is tasked with leading Messi — and their fellow former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — to new heights with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

"For me, it’s fantastic. The chance to coaching [Messi] is a great chance for me. It’s a privilege," Mascherano told USA TODAY Sports after his introduction as the new Inter Miami coach Tuesday. "I will do my best to help him and the team to compete in all the competitions and try to win titles. This is the main thing."

Mascherano’s coaching experience is limited. He led Argentine youth clubs in major tournaments, including Argentina’s quarterfinal finish at the Paris Olympics earlier this summer.

He’ll be a first-time MLS coach tasked with making Inter Miami an MLS Cup title contender; helping the club defend its Supporters’ Shield title won after finishing with the best regular-season record in league history; and competing in tournaments, such as the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and Club World Cup in 2025.

“I have the chance to coach Messi, to coach Inter Miami, with big competitions moving forward. For me, it was a fantastic chance to get," Mascherano said.

While Mascherano’s coaching experience is modest, his experience as a player is unquestioned. He was a Barcelona and Argentine captain, like Messi. He won Olympic gold twice with Argentina, in 2004 and with Messi in 2008. He won five LaLiga titles, two UEFA Champions League titles and two FIFA Club World Cup titles, among others with Messi, Suarez, Alba and Busquets in Barcelona.

And he hopes his overall experience is enough to raise more trophies alongside Messi in the first club coaching job of his career.

"You have to be brave. When you see an opportunity, you have to take it," Mascherano said. "I’m very optimistic things will go well."

Mascherano replaces former Inter Miami coach Tata Martino, who surprisingly resigned Nov. 19 for personal reasons.

Messi and Martino helped Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup title, the franchise’s first championship. Inter Miami was the favorite to win MLS Cup this season, after producing a record 74 points from 22 wins, eight draws and just four losses during the regular season.

But Inter Miami was bounced from the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs in upset fashion by Atlanta United Nov. 9.

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas said he quickly began his coaching search after Martino resigned, consulting with Messi about Mascherano and recalling his first meeting with Mascherano in August 2019.

Mas wanted to sign Mascherano as a player for the club’s inaugural season in 2020, then have him transition as a coach for Inter Miami’s academy.

"I always thought he would be an amazing mentor," Mas said. "Five years later, he’s here. It’s fate.”

One week after Martino resigned, Mascherano agreed to a two-year deal to be Inter Miami’s coach through the 2026 season.

Messi, under contract through 2025, is expected to extend his contract through 2026. Suarez and Busquets are under contract next season, while Inter Miami is expected to exercise next year’s contract option on Alba this week.

“We want to improve the club is every aspect. We had a regular season that was extraordinary. The playoffs were a great blow for the club. But we have to go forward,” Mas said. “That’s why for us, it was important to bring Javi in as soon as possible.”

Added Mascherano: “We need to be prepared. We need to be ready to compete at the best level we can, and try to help the club progress every single day. This is the mentality that we must have.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Javier Masherano's fateful path to head coach of Inter Miami, Messi