Tag: Lionel Messi

Superstar Lionel Messi scored two superb goals and created another as Inter Miami beat DC United 3-2 on Saturday to inch closer to an MLS Cup playoff berth.

Amid indications this week from sources close to the club that Messi is poised to sign a contract extension that would keep him in Miami at least through next year, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner showed just why the club and Major League Soccer are so keen to see him stay.

The 38-year-old now has 22 goals in 22 matches played this season. With his seventh double of the MLS season, he moved to the top of the league scoring list, passing England’s Sam Surridge, who has 21 for Nashville.

“It was another ordinary night for him, which is totally extraordinary for any other football player,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.

“His ability not only to score but to make the team play, to find situations, and to carry the team on his shoulders when we needed him most and faced difficulties, that is the advantage of having him, and today we were able to take advantage of it.”

Miami dominated from the outset on a rainy night at their Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, against a team already eliminated from playoff contention.

They took the lead in the 35th minute when Messi produced a well-judged through ball forward to Tadeo Allende, who beat United goalkeeper Luis Barraza with his first touch and smoothly fired into the right corner of the net.

Christian Benteke headed the visitors’ level in the 52nd minute.

Messi forced a pair of quick saves from Barraza before he fired Inter back into the lead in the 66th minute, collecting a pass from Jordi Alba in the box and turning to slot a left-footed shot past Barraza.

Two minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute, Argentine Mateo Silvetti was fouled in the box by Barraza.

The referee pointed to the spot, and the 19-year-old stepped up to take the kick, but he smashed the attempt off the crossbar.

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“Leo gave it to Toto (Silvetti) surely as a gesture to let him have his first goal, which I think is something very good, unfortunately, he couldn’t score it,” Mascherano said, adding that the gesture was one Messi had made often in his career to “involve someone who needs it more than him.”

But Messi pushed Miami’s lead to 3-1 with a bit of trademark magic in the 85th, picking up a pass just outside the area and eluding his defender to loft a shot out of the reach of Barraza.

It proved invaluable, as Jacob Murrell struck for DC United in the seventh minute of stoppage time to trim the deficit to one.

With the win, Mascherano called “very important,” Miami climbed one spot to fifth in the Eastern Conference with 52 points, but will have to wait to secure their playoff berth after the New York Red Bulls produced a 2-0 victory over Montreal.

New York City FC clinched their ninth playoff spot in 11 seasons with a 2-0 victory over playoff-bound Charlotte.

Alonso Martinez converted two penalties, and Matt Freese saved a Wilfried Zaha spot kick as City stretched their unbeaten run to three matches.

Philadelphia Union maintained their grip on first place in the East and bolstered their bid for the Supporters’ Shield awarded to the top team overall with a 1-0 victory over New England.

Bruno Damiani broke the scoreless deadlock in the 71st minute with a crisp finish from a perfectly placed pass from Frankie Westfield.

Orlando denied Nashville’s chance to clinch a playoff berth with a 3-2 victory.

Martin Ojeda scored two goals and Duncan McGuire added another for Orlando, who are also in pursuit of a post-season spot. Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg scored for Nashville.

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Inter Miami and Lionel Messi have agreed to extend the Argentine star’s contract to remain in Major League Soccer (MLS) beyond the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to a source close to the matter.

The contract extension would ensure that 38-year-old Messi remains active through next year’s FIFA showpiece hosted by the United States of America (USA), Canada, and Mexico.

An official announcement is expected to take place within the next two weeks, said the source contacted by AFP late Wednesday.

Lionel Messi, 38, joined Inter Miami during the 2023 season, and his contract runs through the end of the 2025 campaign.

This season, he ranks second in MLS with 20 goals in 21 league games and is tied for sixth with 11 assists. Last season, he also scored 20 goals (tied for second in the league) and provided 16 assists (tied for third).

In a total of 46 league games for Inter Miami, Messi has recorded 41 goals and 27 assists. Across all competitions, he has scored 54 goals in 62 games.

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An eight-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the world player of the year, Messi played for Barcelona from 2004 to 2021 and for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) from 2021 to 2023.

During his career, he was part of 10 league-title-winning teams in Spain and two in France, and he helped Barcelona secure the UEFA Champions League trophy four times.

Upon joining MLS, Messi immediately contributed to Inter Miami’s victory in the 2023 Leagues Cup.

The team also won the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the club with the best regular-season record, although they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

As of now, Inter Miami (with a record of 14 wins, 6 losses, and 7 draws for a total of 49 points) is in sixth place in the MLS Eastern Conference, entering a Saturday home match against DC United.

Messi is currently Inter Miami’s leading goal scorer, ranking second in MLS with 20 goals. He is also the club’s all-time leader with 62 goals and 29 assists since joining in 2023.

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Lionel Messi scored twice for Argentina in emotional scenes in his farewell game at Buenos Aires on Thursday, while Uruguay, Colombia, and Paraguay qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

In his last home qualifier for his country and with Argentina having already booked their place in North America, Messi struck in the 39th and 80th minutes to bag a 3-0 win over Venezuela.

Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, sparkled in front of an adoring crowd of 80,000 at the Mas Monumental stadium to underline his enduring quality.

The Argentine legend will turn 39 during next year’s World Cup, but despite his advanced years he looks set to play another pivotal role as Lionel Scaloni’s side defend their crown.

Scaloni will rest his skipper for next week’s dead-rubber at Ecuador.

“He made an enormous effort and deserves a rest and to be with his family,” said the coach.

“He ended up very tired and physically exhausted. He should have come off, but he didn’t because of the emotional nature of the match.”

Lionel Messi had his three sons with him before kickoff and his father, Jorge, was also in attendance to mark the occasion.

Uruguay sealed their berth in the United States, Canada, and Mexico by beating Peru 3-0 at home, while Colombia saw off Bolivia by the same scoreline.

Paraguay also reached the 2026 finals after a 0-0 home draw against already qualified Ecuador.

Brazil, who had also already qualified, swept Chile aside 3-0 at the Maracana with the English Premier League trio of Estevao, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes getting the goals.

It was the 18-year-old Chelsea winger Estevao’s first goal for his country.

In front of 60,000 at a packed-out Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Rodrigo Aguirre put Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay on their way in 14 minutes.

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The Club America forward leapt highest to place a thumping header into the top corner past Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

The Uruguayans, winners of the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, had needed just a point to qualify and send their charismatic veteran coach Bielsa to the tournament once again.

The 70-year-old has now taken a third team to World Cup qualification.

Bielsa’s appointment as Uruguay coach in 2023 was greeted with excitement, even euphoria, but an underwhelming qualification campaign has dampened that enthusiasm.

Qualification was always likely in a system that sees six of the 10 CONMEBOL sides qualify automatically for 2026, with one more heading into an inter-continental play-off.

Venezuela currently hold seventh place with one more qualifier to go.

Giorgian de Arrascaeta doubled Uruguay’s lead just before the hour, lashing home from close range to ensure a party atmosphere in the Uruguayan capital.

Federico Vinas scored a third 10 minutes from time.

Colombia also sealed their place in next summer’s extravaganza thanks to a comfortable victory over Bolivia.

The 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich attacker James Rodriguez, the breakout star of the 2014 World Cup, pounced just after the half-hour mark.

Jhon Cordoba made sure there were no late scares with his goal in the 74th minute, before Juan Fernando Quintero made it three.

Like Uruguay, Paraguay needed only a draw to qualify when they hosted Ecuador.

They got the job done as they ground out a goalless stalemate and will be at their ninth World Cup – but first since 2010.

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Lionel Messi scored twice late on as Inter Miami fought back to beat Orlando City 3-1 and reach the final of the Leagues Cup on Wednesday.

After missing two straight matches with a right thigh injury, Messi converted a penalty in the 77th minute to pull Inter level at 1-1, then combined with Jordi Alba to put the hosts ahead in the 88th.

Telasco Segovia added a third in injury time as Inter Miami returned to the final of the Leagues Cup, the cross-border competition featuring teams from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga-MX.

For the unversed, Inter Milan won it in 2023, Messi’s first season in MLS.

“We are at a loss for words when it comes to discussing Leo (Messi),” said Javier Morales, the Inter assistant coach who was at the helm as Javier Mascherano watched from the stands serving a red card suspension.

“He trained only two or three days, and then he played 90 minutes, and the way he played created situations, scoring goals.”

Messi, who had played once since he was injured on August 2, admitted he felt some trepidation.

“I prepared to be in this match because I knew how important it was, against a very tough opponent who had beaten us in both games we faced this year,” he said.

“The truth is in the first half I felt a little scared, but in the second I loosened up a bit more.”

Miami will travel to Seattle for Sunday’s final after the Sounders beat reigning MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 in California.

Goals from Pedro de la Vega in the seventh minute and Osaze Rosario in the 57th lifted the Sounders, who held on with 10 men after Nouhou Tolo was sent off in the 83rd minute for a sliding tackle on Gabriel Pec.

The finalists are both assured of berths in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winner of the third-place playoff between Orlando and Los Angeles also punching their ticket to the regional tournament.

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In a high-energy first half in Fort Lauderdale, Croatia’s Marco Pasalic silenced the crowd at Inter’s Chase Stadium with a goal in first-half added time.

Luis Muriel slipped a pass into the area, and Maximiliano Falcon’s attempt to clear it instead saw the ball deflect back to Pasalic, who rifled a left-footed shot into the net.

Inter players appealed, saying the ball hit Pasalic’s arm, but VAR confirmed the goal.

Orlando City, who had twice humbled their cross-state rivals this season, continued to stymie Inter in the second half.

Luis Suarez forced a save from Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese while Messi twice threatened in the area only to find himself swamped in a sea of defenders.

Orlando lost some momentum in the 59th minute when Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez denied them a penalty after Sergio Busquets’ foul on Ivan Angulo.

And the momentum shifted irrevocably Miami’s way in the 74th minute when substitute Tadeo Allende drew a foul in the box.

David Brekalo’s challenge included a tug on Allende’s jersey and earned him a second yellow card.

He departed as Lionel Messi went to the spot, the Argentine great firing past Gallese into the lower right corner of the net.

Eleven minutes later, he sparked joyous celebrations with his second goal.

Orlando coach Oscar Pareja was irked by the second-half officiating, notably the second yellow card for Brekalo, which he insisted “wasn’t a yellow.”

But Morales said it was “clear that the defender grabbed Tadeo,” who the coach said could have scored had he not been held.

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Inter Miami team management has revealed that the status of Lionel Messi for the Leagues Cup semi-final against Orlando City will be determined on game day, following his practice with teammates on Tuesday.

Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales said the Herons will monitor both Messi and Jordi Alba before deciding whether they will be available for Wednesday’s home showdown against Orlando City.

“Jordi and Leo trained with us, they completed training. We’ll see how they feel as the day progresses, and tomorrow we’ll make a decision,” Morales said.

Morales called Messi completing his training workout “super positive” and added, “I imagine he’ll be in the squad at least.”

The Miami-Orlando winner will face the winner of Wednesday’s other semi-final between the reigning MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s title game of the event, which included MLS and Mexican league clubs.

Messi, 38, sparked Miami to the 2023 Leagues Cup crown in his early days in South Florida.

But Lionel Messi missed Miami’s quarter-final victory a week ago over Tigres with a “minor” right leg muscle injury and did not play Saturday in Miami’s MLS draw at DC United.

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Alba suffered a knee injury and departed in the second half against Tigres, but both he and Messi handled practice with teammates on Monday and Tuesday.

Lionel Messi last played for the Herons in a reserve role against the Galaxy on August 16, scoring one goal and setting up another in Miami’s triumph.

“Whether Messi is or is not playing, I feel like we’ll have the same mentality — just to go out there and be the best and try and win,” Orlando back Alex Freeman said.

One guaranteed absentee for the Orlando-Miami showdown is Inter head coach Javier Mascherano, who was issued a red card in the Tigres match.

Orlando have won both matches against Inter Miami this season by a combined 7-1 margin, including a 4-1 rout earlier this month.

“We know there’s a different setting prior to this match,” Orlando coach Oscar Pareja said. “But we have the same energy, the same strength, the same desire that has always characterized us in previous derbies.”

Morales said: “It’s probably the most important clasico that we’re going to play so far.”

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Lionel Messi returned from injury as a reserve and scored in the 84th minute to spark Inter Miami over the defending MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Saturday.

The iconic 38-year-old Argentine striker was back on the field for Miami after suffering what Inter coach Javier Mascherano had called a “minor muscle injury” — an apparent hamstring strain — in Inter’s August 2 Leagues Cup victory over Mexican side Necaxa.

“It had been something very small,” Mascherano said of his injury after the match. “The three training sessions we had were good. The important thing is that the match ended. As the minutes went by, I saw him better. We have to see how he feels tomorrow.”

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who missed a Leagues Cup win over Pumas UNAM and last weekend’s MLS loss at Orlando City, was on the bench as a reserve before entering in the second half, replacing Telasco Segovia.

“We had planned the match to give minutes to Leo. The idea was to give him 45 minutes so that he can find sensations,” Mascherano said. “I didn’t see him after the game. Tomorrow we’ll see what feelings he had.

“He’s an extraordinary player. I saw that he was clearly not 100 percent comfortable but as the minutes went by he was loosening up more and more. We will have to see how he ended with the fatigue.”

Jordi Alba scored for Miami in the 43rd minute but Joseph Paintsil equalized for the Galaxy in the 59th minute.

Lionel Messi scored in the 84th and Luis Suarez added an insurance tally in the 89th off an assist from Messi to produce the final victory margin.

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Messi, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player, has 19 goals and 10 assists in 19 MLS appearances for Miami this season.

He also has the Herons into the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup, which they won in 2023 just after Messi’s arrival. Miami will play Tigres in a Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.

“He wants to play every single game,” Mascherano said. “You have to understand why Leo is Leo. He always wants to be on the pitch. He’s happy there. Sometimes we try to explain him that we have to go slowly but when he feels good he knows himself like no one. In the end we tried to give him some minutes today to start having good feelings for Wednesday.”

Inter Miami rank fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference, six points behind MLS leaders Philadelphia but with three matches in hand.

South Korean international and former Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min picked up his first MLS victory in his first MLS start as LAFC won 2-0 at New England.

Son, who helped LAFC take a draw in Chicago last week as a reserve in his league debut, assisted on the LAFC win-clinching goal by Mathieu Choiniere in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time.

Marco Delgado scored LAFC’s first goal in the 51st minute.

LAFC rank fifth in the Western Conference, nine points adrift of pace-setting San Diego with two matches in hand.

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Lionel Messi is ready to return for Inter Miami when they host the Los Angeles Galaxy in a Major League Soccer clash that will launch a key stretch for the Florida club, coach Javier Mascherano said Friday.

Following Saturday’s Galaxy match, Miami plays Mexican club Tigres UANL on Wednesday in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals.

“Leo is doing well,” Mascherano told reporters on Friday before training. “He has been training with the team since Wednesday. Unless something strange happens during today’s training session, we think he’ll be available for tomorrow’s game.”

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi suffered a “minor muscle injury,” apparently a hamstring strain, in the 11th minute of Inter’s August 2 Leagues Cup match against Necaxa.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar returns as the Herons vie to bounce back from a humbling 4-1 loss to Orlando City last weekend.

Inter have slipped to sixth in the MLS Eastern Conference with 42 points — nine behind leaders Philadelphia but with three matches in hand.

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Lionel Messi, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player, leads the Golden Boot race with 18 goals and nine assists in 18 games.

Inter Miami will be favored at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy, who are the defending MLS Cup champions but have sunk to last place with the league’s worst record.

The Galaxy, however, did qualify for the Leagues Cup quarter-finals, and Mascherano cautioned that Miami can’t afford to take them lightly.

“For me, they’re a team in which the MLS standings don’t reflect their quality, especially the quality of their players,” Mascherano said.

“The reality is that maybe they didn’t start the season well because of injuries and different situations. But they’ve improved a lot over the last few months.”

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Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi will miss the crucial Leagues Cup match against Pumas UNAM due to a muscle issue, coach Javier Mascherano said on Tuesday.

The Argentinian striker suffered what Mascherano called a “minor muscle injury” in his upper right leg in Miami’s win over Necaxa last Saturday.

While there is no timetable for Messi’s return, Mascherano was hopeful the star would soon be back on the field.

“Within the bad news, it’s good news,” Mascherano told reporters.

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“He usually recovers very well from injuries and, above all, normally does with speed, so we will see. But clearly, for tomorrow, he is unavailable. But then we will see how he feels, how he progresses.”

Lionel Messi, who has a league-best 18 goals in Major League Soccer (MLS) matches this season, led Miami to the Leagues Cup crown in 2023 shortly after his arrival at the Herons.

Inter Miami likely need a victory over Pumas in their group stage finale to reach the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup, which features MLS and Mexican league squads.

Should Miami reach the knockout stages, Messi would have two weeks to recover before the quarter-finals. Miami’s next MLS match is set for Sunday against Orlando.

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Lionel Messi suffered an injury and was removed in the 11th minute of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup penalty kicks victory over Mexico’s Necaxa on Saturday at Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar forward appeared to be having treatment on his upper right leg or groin before making his exit under his own power and walking to the locker room.

But after a 5-4 triumph in penalties after a 2-2 draw, Miami coach Javier Mascherano said it would be Sunday before the exact details of the injury and the severity of the setback would be known.

“Well, he felt discomfort, and we will not be able to know until tomorrow how severe the injury is,” Mascherano said after the match.

“There’s probably something there. Maybe not as important, because he was really not in pain. But he did feel a pull.”

Messi took the ball and dribbled into the Necaxa back line, but he stumbled at the top of the box and ran into Necaxa defender Alexis Pena then tumbled to the ground, pounding the pitch in frustration as the ball was cleared away.

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Moments later, Herons’s captain Messi was alone near midfield on the left wing by himself when he went to the ground in a seated position, lying on his back briefly until trainers arrived.

Mascherano elected to send in Federico Redondo to replace Messi.

Inter Miami won 5-4 on penalties after the 10-man teams played to a 2-2 draw after full time.

Argentine striker Tomas Badaloni was denied on the decisive penalty kick in the third round of the shootout while Rodrigo De Paul, Ben Cremaschi, Jordi Alba, Redondo, and Luis Suarez hit penalties for Miami, Uruguayan striker Suarez getting the decider on the last kick.

Inter Miami Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia scored in the 12th minute, but Herons defender Maximiliano Falcon of Uruguay was shown a red card in the 17th minute.

Badaloni netted the equalizer for Necaxa in the 33rd minute to lift the visitors level at half-time, and Necaxa was cut to 10 men as well when Cristian Calderon received a red card in the 60th minute.

Ricardo Monreal, who came off the Necaxa bench in the 74th minute, scored in the 81st to put the Mexican side ahead only for Spain’s Alba to net the equalizer for Miami in the second minute of stoppage time.

During Argentine World Cup qualifiers in March, Messi was nagged by thigh strain issues.

Messi has scored 18 goals and assisted on nine others in 18 MLS appearances this season.

He assisted on both Inter Miami goals in a 2-1 victory over Atlas on Wednesday in their opener in the Leagues Cup, a tournament involving MLS and Mexican League squads.

Miami concludes group stage play in the event on Wednesday against Pumas.

Messi led Inter Miami to the inaugural Leagues Cup crown in 2023 just after his arrival with the MLS club.

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An Inter Miami team missing the suspended Lionel Messi missed the chance to gain ground on Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati after being held to a 0-0 draw in Major League Soccer on Saturday.

Messi and teammate Jordi Alba were both barred from playing the home game against Cincinnati after controversially withdrawing from this week’s MLS All-Star Game in Texas.

That meant Lionel Messi and Alba could only watch on from the sidelines in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday as Inter were frustrated by a well-organised Cincinnati team.

Miami were given a huge let off in the dying seconds of stoppage time, when Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson had a goal ruled out after harshly being adjudged to have fouled Inter’s Noah Allen as he leapt for a header.

The result leaves Miami seven points adrift of Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings.

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Miami, meanwhile, used the pre-game festivities to formally unveil new star signing Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s World Cup-winning Argentina team-mate.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who joins the club from Spain’s Atletico Madrid, is expected to make his debut during Miami’s upcoming Leagues Cup campaign.

“What brings me to Inter Miami is the desire to compete, win titles, to write the pages in the club’s history,” De Paul said after his transfer was announced by the club late Friday.

“It’s a club that is shaping up to be great, to have a long history, so that many people follow this incredible team.”

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said De Paul’s signing would bring “experience, passion and quality” to the Herons.

“Rodrigo is a player I’ve admired for many years,” Beckham said. “As a leader, he has brought so much to the teams he has played for — especially with his national team Argentina.

“I’m excited to welcome another World Cup-winning player not just to Inter Miami, but also to MLS.”

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