Inter Miami CF goalkeeper Drake Callender and captain Lionel Messi have been named in the Team of the Matchday for Matchday 1 and 2 of the MLS 2024 regular season. The pair earn Team of the Matchday honors after helping Inter Miami collect four points from its first two matches of the season with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake in the team’s 2024 home opener, and a hardfought 1-1 draw on the road against LA Galaxy.
Callender features as a starter in the first Team of the Matchday for the 2024 regular season after his influential performances to start off the campaign. The 26 year-old California-born first led the line and registered a clean sheet in the 2-0 win at home at Chase Stadium over RSL on Wednesday, Feb. 21, before having a stellar performance in goal on the road in the 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy on Sunday, Feb. 25. Notably, he saved a penalty attempt from Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig in the 13th minute, before once again denying Puig in the 29th minute, stretching out to the fullest extent to stop the shot heading towards the top left corner of the goal.
In the end Callender finished the game at Dignity Health Sports Park with nine saves to his name to take his total tally for the season to 10.
Messi, meanwhile, earns a spot in the Team of the Matchday starting XI after leading the team’s efforts in attack throughout the team’s first two fixtures of the 2024 regular season. First, he was involved in both goals in the 2-0 win over RSL, assisting Robert Taylor with an inch-perfect through ball for the opener and in the first half, and subsequently kickstarting the play for the definitive second by dribbling at speed towards the box before passing the ball to Suárez on the edge of the box.
The Argentine maestro’s heroics then secured the team’s point on the road against the LA Galaxy, bagging a late equalizer in stoppage time after a sublime sequence of passes in combination with left back Jordi Alba.
2024 Inter Miami Team of the Matchday Honorees:
- Matchday 1 and 2: Drake Callender and Lionel Messi
