International superstar Lionel Messi took Major League Soccer by storm when he signed with Inter Miami in July.
Messi Mania shows no signs of slowing, despite Messi and the Herons missing the playoffs and finishing 27th out of 29 teams with 34 points.
RELATED: All eyes on Messi as MLS season begins
Want an indicator of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's impact with Inter Miami?
Despite last season's showing, his team was the preseason betting favorite to capture the MLS Cup and is still atop the board after going 1-0-1 in the first week of the season.
Next is last year's MLS Cup runner-up LAFC, followed by the defending champion Columbus Crew.
Let's take a look at the odds for North America's top men's soccer league at FanDuel Sportsbook, with insights from FOX Sports soccer writer Doug McIntyre.
ODDS TO WIN MLS CUP: *
Inter Miami CF, +270 (bet $10 to win $37 total)
Los Angeles FC, +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Columbus Crew, +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Philadelphia Union, +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
FC Cincinnati, +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)
New York Red Bulls, +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Orlando City SC, +2300 (bet $10 to win $240 total)
Seattle Sounders, +2400 (bet $10 to win $250 total)
Houston Dynamo, +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
LA Galaxy, +2600 (bet $10 to win $270 total)
NYCFC, +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Nashville SC, +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Atlanta United, +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Sporting Kansas City, +3700 (bet $10 to win $380 total)
Saint Louis City SC, +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Minnesota United, +4100 (bet $10 to win $420 total)
Portland Timbers, +4100 (bet $10 to win $420 total)
D.C. United, +4100 (bet $10 to win $420 total)
Vancouver Whitecaps, +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Charlotte FC, +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
CF Montreal, +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
FC Dallas, +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
New England Revolution, +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Austin FC, +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Real Salt Lake, +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
San Jose Earthquakes, +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)
Chicago Fire, +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total)
Colorado Rapids, +9500 (bet $10 to win $960 total)
Toronto FC, +9500 (bet $10 to win $960 total)
* odds as of 2/28/24
Messi and Inter Miami will visit Orlando City for their next match at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, available on FOX and the FOX Sports app.
McIntyre said Messi staying healthy will be crucial.
"Miami's status as MLS Cup favorites this season is also somewhat understandable," McIntyre said. "In addition to having the best player ever, Tara Martino's team added Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez this winter to a squad that already featured two other former FC Barcelona standouts in Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets."
Some other matches of note:
- The LA Galaxy and LAFC will contest El Trafico at the Rose Bowl on July 4. Last year’s match set an all-time MLS attendance record of 82,110.
- The 2024 MLS All-Star Game will be July 24 in Columbus, Ohio.
- MLS Cup 2024 will be Dec. 7 at the site of the finalist with the better regular-season record.
Follow along on FOX Sports for the latest on MLS and other soccer news.
