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The Daily Heron: Messi greatness inspires Mahomes; Federico Higuain to coach Crew 2; U.S. Open Cup

The Daily Heron is a roundup of Inter Miami news from a variety of sources.

ByKen Garner|
Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, had only praise for Lionel Messi when he learned the Inter Miami captain may attend Sunday’s Super Bowl showdown between the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, had only praise for Lionel Messi when he learned the Inter Miami captain may attend Sunday’s Super Bowl showdown between the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. | Jonathan Bachman/GettyImages

Super Bowl quarterback Mahomes says he’s inspired by Messi

One of American football’s greatest stars recently told reporters he’s inspired by the greatest association football (soccer) player of all time.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is in New Orleans preparing to play against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. If the Chiefs win, it will be their record-setting third-straight Super Bowl victory and fourth in six years. Mahomes, who already has three Super Bowl championships under his belt, has cemented his place as one of his generation’s best players. But the 29-year-old signal caller has his eyes set on Tom Brady’s record of eight Vince Lombardi trophies. That could help propel him into the same rare air occupied by all-time sports greats like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Willie Mays — and Lionel Messi.

Mahome’s comments about Messi have been reported in multiple publications; here’s what Marca.com had to say:

‘Pipa’ to coach Columbus Crew 2. Federico Higuain, who led Inter Miami II as coach the past three seasons, earlier this week was hired to manage Columbus Crew 2. The 40-year-old Argentine appeared in 29 matches and scored three goals for Inter Miami in 2020 and 2021 before beginning his coaching career with the Herons. The older brother of former Inter Miami star Gonzalo Higuain, Federico endeared himself to the Columbus organization, scoring 55 goals in 193 appearances for the Crew from 2012-2019.

Ivan Davis reported Pipa’s move for Four Four Crew, the FanSided site dedicated to the Black & Yellow.

Inter Miami II to host Miami United FC in Open Cup debut. The Herons sat out the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last year after losing to Houston in the 2023 finals, but will return to the nation’s oldest soccer competition this season — sort of. Inter Miami II, the club’s MLS Next Pro squad, will represent the Pink & Black in this year’s tournament. The Junior Herons will host Miami United FC at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 19. See Inter Miami’s media release announcing the matchup here.

According to U.S. Soccer, the Open Cup is “has crowned a champion since 1914 in every year except 2020 and 2021. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.” Except last year, Major League Soccer decided to limit how many of its squads could participate; it’s generally accepted that MLS would just as soon quit the Open Cup to concentrate on Leagues Cup, which pits MLS and Liga MX squads against one another. Inter Miami won the first edition of the Leagues Cup in 2023, thanks to outstanding goalkeeping by Drake Callender and the arrival of Leo Messi and friends. Inter Heron will have much more to say about the Open and Leagues cups in the near future.

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