2023 MLS Cup odds: Inter Miami stays unbeaten with Lionel Messi, skyrockets to third favorite for title despite Messi not playing Major League Soccer game yet

Before Lionel Messi signed with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, the franchise was frankly an utter mess on the field with the fewest points the league and +20000 odds to win the 2023 MLS Cup. However, Inter Miami is now 3-0 with Messi and has jumped all the way up to a +750 third favorite at PointsBet. The team is next in action Sunday at Dallas in Leagues Cup action.

There's no doubt Messi has had a transformative impact on Inter Miami and American soccer overall, but what is fascinating about this odds shift is that Messi still hasn't played an official MLS game. All three have been Leagues Cup matches (MLS and LIGA MX clubs).

The Argentine legend scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time on July 21 against Cruz Azul in his debut, had two goals on July 25 in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United, and then two more goals in his first Inter Miami road game on Wednesday, a 3-1 win at Orlando. Messi has scored a goal inside the first 10 minutes of a match in consecutive games for the first time since October 4-11, 2008 with Barcelona. 

He already is just two goals from tying Josef Martinez (seven goals in 27 games) for the most goals for Inter Miami in all competitions this season. Martinez also scored Wednesday, and that victory got Inter Miami to the Round of 16 in the Leagues Cup and the date at Dallas (in Frisco) on Sunday – the game sold out in less than an hour. Inter Miami is now the +400 favorite to win the Leagues Cup.

The only teams ahead of Inter Miami on the PointsBet odds board to win the MLS Cup are FC Cincinnati at +400 and Los Angeles FC at +600. Cincinnati leads the league with 51 points, while LA is second in the West with 37 points. They are going to the playoffs, and nine teams from each conference do.

Inter Miami would have to jump from 15th in the East to ninth with only 12 matches left on its MLS schedule to play extra soccer yet has received more money to win the MLS Cup than every other team combined. Its next MLS game and Messi's first is Aug. 20 vs. Charlotte.

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