Javier Mascherano paid tribute to the soon-to-be-retired Jordi Alba, labelling the Inter Miami left-back as "one of the best in history".

Alba, who scored in Miami's 4-0 defeat of Atlanta United on Saturday, will bring the curtain down on his playing career at the end of Miami's MLS campaign.

The former Barcelona and Spain full-back has enjoyed a glittering swansong in the United States, playing alongside fellow greats Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, who is also set to retire.

Mascherano, who played alongside Alba at Barca and now coaches him at Miami, is sad to see the 36-year-old hang up his boots, but is privileged to have linked up with him in Florida. 

"It's a privilege for me, with him [Alba] and Busi, to be able to come back with them after seven years, to continue to live with them day to day, to share with them day to day," said Mascherano.

"Unfortunately, perhaps I am the last coach for them. That makes me a bit nostalgic.

"He's been one of the best in history."

Mascherano also reserved special praise for Messi, who elected to play for Miami despite having been called up for Argentina's squad.

Messi opened and closed the scoring during the rout at Chase Stadium, where the rest of Argentina's squad were also in attendance.

Argentina beat Venezuela 1-0 in Miami on Friday, but Messi did not feature.

"[On Friday], before the match, I talked to [Argentina coach Lionel] Scaloni, and he said no, that he was not going to use [Messi], that he was going to sit him down," Mascherano explained.

"I spoke to Leo to see if he could play.

"It was his decision, and clearly he saw the opportunity that if he wasn't going to play against Venezuela yesterday, we could use him. Leo, of course, was ready to do it.

"He is a very special player, he's an icon, and even though he didn't train last week with us, we saw what he did today. He has helped us to win, he managed to score. That, for him, was important."

Messi has now scored 26 goals in MLS this season, more than any other player, and with his 15 assists to boot, he also tops the rankings for goal contributions, with 41. 

The Herons have now won five of their last seven games in MLS, as they look to build momentum heading into their upcoming playoff campaign, with the retiring Busquets and Alba looking to conclude their careers with silverware.