Messi scored one and assisted three as Miami brushed aside FC Cincinnati 4-0 in the semi-finals, setting up a meeting with New York City FC next Sunday.

The winner of that match will then play for the MLS Cup, a title the Herons have made no secret of their desire to win.

Messi has been leading their charge, with 12 goal involvements (six goals, six assists) – the most contributions in MLS Cup playoffs history.

The Argentine also has the most goals (35) and assists (26) of any player across the whole of MLS this season, and Mascherano praised his talisman’s influence once more.

"Weekend after weekend, he is incredible," Mascherano said. "We know how incredible he is with a ball, but he's the first man to do the pressure, directing the team.

"It's a privilege to coach Leo. He's leading the team in defense, pressing high, so when the team-mates see Leo in this way, it's impossible [not to] follow him. It's unbelievable."

Last season, Miami won the Supporters’ Shield, only to fall at the first hurdle in the playoffs, losing the First Round, best-of-three series 2-1 to Atlanta United.

It has improved on that result this time around, with NYCFC, which shocked Philadelphia Union, next up at Chase Stadium.

The Herons have only won two of their 12 matches against NYCFC, though one of those was a 4-0 win in their last meeting in September, and they are unbeaten in five against it (four consecutive draws before that win).

Mascherano acknowledged just how much is at stake, but did not want his players getting ahead of themselves.

"We will concentrate and understand that we haven't gotten anywhere," he said. "We are in the position that we wanted, but being so close, it's not worth distracting ourselves with other things.

"We have to do what we're doing, which is working, trying to prepare the next match, and be ready for Saturday to do the best match possible and to go to the MLS final."