Betting Odds: Messi Brings Excitement To MLS

Lionel Messi’s arrival to Major League Soccer has been full of fan enthusiasm, game action and soccer betting, with Messi lighting up the scoreboard.

So far he’s had 11 goals and three assists.

However, the Inter Miami CF star didn’t score during Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Nashville SC. He led all players with seven shots, but that was just the second time in 10 matches with Miami – they haven’t lost yet – that Messi didn’t score. 

Messi To Miss MLS Play For Cup Qualifiers

Messi’s impact on North American soccer has been immeasurable, despite European press coverage criticizing the calibre of defenders in the MLS, compared to leagues overseas. Messi-led Miami has won the Leagues Cup and is set to play Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 27.

Meanwhile, the Miami star is expected to miss a few upcoming games, as he will be with the Argentina national team for World Cup qualifiers. Argentina is set to face Ecuador on Sept. 7 and Bolivia on Sept. 12.

Team Betting Odds

Currently, Inter Miami is in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference after 24 matches. Miami is tied with Toronto FC in the conference cellar, each with 22 points. (Miami has played three fewer games, however, leaving Toronto at the very bottom.) 

The MLS schedule, with each team playing 34 matches, runs through Oct. 21. The top nine teams qualify for the playoffs.

Despite where Messi’s teams sits in the standings, BetMGM Sportsbook has Miami’s futures at 6.50 to win the MLS league championship. Miami is only behind FC Cincinnati (5.00) in that category. 

Odds On Messi

The futures betting odds are moving around on which MLS player will score the most goals this season. 

Currently, BetMGM has Hany Mukhtar of Nashville at 4.50, followed by Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati at 5.00, Georgios Giakoumakis of Atlanta United FC at 6.50, Denis Bouanga of LAFC at 7.00 and then Messi at 8.00. 

Last week Messi topped that list at 4.50. Still, bets on Messi are taking 52.4% of tickets and 56.1% of the handle. 

Messi will join the Argentinian national team after Inter Miami faces LAFC on Sunday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, according to the Miami team website.

For Sunday’s match, BetMGM has LAFC at 2.00 to win, 3.70 for a tie and Miami at 3.25 to win.

Also, PointsBet Canada has the match with LAFC to win at 2.0, 3.8 for a draw, and Miami at 3.4.

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