FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Pascal Jansen may have summed up one of the biggest challenges that New York City FC will face Saturday against Inter Miami as succinctly as possible.

“[Lionel] Messi is a league of its own, that’s clear,” he said.

That has never felt more true than this postseason run for Messi and Inter Miami, which has rolled through the Chicago Fire and toppled No. 2 seed Cincinnati FC 4-0 to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

And Messi, widely considered one of soccer’s greatest players, has had six goals and six assists in four postseason matches, while contributing to 71 of Inter Miami’s goals in 2025 between the regular season and playoffs.

Inter Miami’s use of Messi as a false nine during the postseason has allowed Messi to seemingly be even more dangerous on the pitc

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