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Lionel

‘All the pieces occurs for a motive’ – Spain boss has idea on picture of Lionel Messi and child Lamine Yamal

by Soccer-News June 8, 2026

written by Soccer-News

COMBO-FBL-ARG-ESP-FINALISSIMA2026

(COMBO) This mix of file footage created on November 14, 2025, reveals Spain’s ahead #19 Lamine Yamal (L) strolling onto the pitch previous to the UEFA Nations League semi-final soccer match between Spain and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, on June 5, 2025, and Argentina’s ahead #10 Lionel Messi wanting on throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers soccer match between Argentina and Colombia on the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on June 10, 2025. The Finalissima between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Lamine Yamal’s Spain will likely be performed in March on impartial floor, mentioned CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez on November 20, 2025, in Asuncion, talking to AFP and a Paraguayan media outlet. (Photograph by Luis ROBAYO and Franck FIFE / AFP through Getty Photographs) AFP through Getty Photographs

June 8, 2026 0 comments

Major League Soccer

How Lionel Messi modified every thing about soccer in America

by Soccer-News June 6, 2026

written by Soccer-News

When acclaimed soccer author Paul Tenorio adopted and his workforce to Dallas for one of many celebrity’s first street video games in America in 2023, the scene exterior the workforce’s Renaissance Plano lodge was unusually calm. A number of followers lingered behind limitations. Nothing uncommon. Nothing chaotic. Not but.

Then phrase unfold: Messi was inside.

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Inside hours, the lodge turned a frenzy. Crowds swarmed the foyer, packed the entrances and jammed each flooring. As Tenorio rode the elevator to his room, it stopped on each flooring, followers piling in every time — smashing each button in sight within the hope that, when the doorways slid open, Lionel Messi can be standing there ready for them.

The Messi impact: half athlete, half rock star, half non secular expertise. Getty Photos

That, says Tenorio in “The Messi Impact: How the International Legend Modified the Way forward for American Soccer” (St. Martin’s Press), is the Messi impact: half athlete, half rock star, half non secular expertise. “By most any measure, Messi in Main League Soccer (MLS) has been an amazing success,” he writes.

Born in June 1987, Lionel Messi grew up in Rosario, Argentina, a small child with an enormous expertise — and a severe development hormone deficiency that threatened his future in soccer.

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At 13, his household made a life-changing transfer to after agreed to cowl his medical therapy and improvement. From these humble, unsure beginnings, Messi rose to international superstardom, successful every thing within the sport and cementing a legacy that many take into account the best within the historical past of the game.

After 18 years at Barcelona, Messi joined in however left inside two years to one of many latest franchises in MLS and partly-owned by Brit celebrity David Beckham.

Messi in his Barcelona period: in the course of the 2017 UEFA Champions League match. Getty Photos

For a league determined for a lift, each by way of high quality and publicity, Messi was the dream recruit.

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“He’s so enormously in style globally and I additionally suppose he’s the best of all time, proper?” Tenorio tells The Put up. “And People need to be near athletes like that. They need the perfect they usually need that authenticity. And I feel that speaks to the rising soccer tradition on this nation.”

What made Messi’s impression all of the extra spectacular was that his was a character seemingly at odds with that wanted to hold a league or perhaps a sport. Introverted and really non-public, he not often offers interviews and also you nearly by no means hear him converse, not to mention in English. “His aversion to media obligations would finally turn out to be one of many defining options of his time in MLS,” writes Tenorio.

Distinction that with , the and Messi’s lifelong rival for the title of the world’s best participant.

The 2 males couldn’t be extra completely different.

Messi’s fundamental rival Cristiano Ronaldo (above) couldn’t be extra completely different; the place the previous shies from the highlight, the latter seeks it out at each flip. UEFA through Getty Photos

Ronaldo, now 41, is the preening celebrity with an ego to match whereas Messi prefers the quiet life when he’s not enjoying.

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As an alternative, Messi does all his speaking on the pitch, the place he has received every thing there may be to win within the skilled sport, from league titles, cups and Champions Leagues galore with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain to Copa Americas and, in fact, the World Cup with Argentina in 2022.

There’s additionally the small matter of eight Ballon d’Ors, awarded every year to the world’s best participant— three greater than Cristiano Ronaldo.

However whereas Ronaldo fled to in 2022, incomes a reported $230 million a 12 months with Al-Nassr, Messi selected to take his many abilities to america and MLS.

Messi poses with the Paris Saint-Germain jersey after signing onto the workforce in 2021. PSG through Getty Photos

He might have been what Tenorio calls an “odd hero” for MLS, however his presence within the league has given it a lift at a vital juncture. “It’s a bizarre dynamic between the League and Messi as a result of they actually wanted a spokesman, like David Beckham was, however he’s simply not that particular person,” says Tenorio.

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“And but his recognition continues to be so overwhelming that he’s been capable of pull them into conversations that they in any other case wouldn’t be in — and that’s all all the way down to his distinctive means on the sphere.”

In October 2025, in the meantime, Messi signed an extension to his deal and this time it assured him fairness within the membership too, very like Beckham obtained when he retired from enjoying. “I feel it’s an acknowledgement that Messi is a once-in-a-generation alternative in the best way Beckham was too,” says Tenorio.

“Once we take into consideration the impression David Beckham had on American soccer, it’s not the 2 MLS Cups he received with the , it’s Inter Miami, and Messi going there.

“That has modified the face of the league.”

Messi and his Inter Miami CF teammates hoist the Champions trophy after successful the Audi MLS Cup in 2025. Getty Photos

Beckham, alongside Inter Miami proprietor Jorge Mas, was instrumental in persuading Messi to maneuver to Florida, not least as he had been by means of the identical expertise when he left Spanish giants to affix Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

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The pair spent three years courting the participant, lastly convincing him to affix in the summertime of 2023. As MLS commissioner Don Garber stated in 2007: “There’s no Messi in MLS if David didn’t come into our league in 2007.”

Since he made the transfer, Inter Miami have performed all they will to make Messi’s life within the US as relaxed as attainable; they even stage Messi’s son’s video games at one in all their amenities so he can attend in peace, protected within the information that he received’t be mobbed.

However they’ve additionally made it price his whereas.

When Cristiano Ronaldo, now 40, joined Al-Nassr within the Saudi Professional League, he did so with a $230 million-a-year carrot dangling beneath his nostril.

David Beckham, alongside Inter Miami proprietor Jorge Mas, was instrumental in persuading Messi to maneuver to Florida. Getty Photos

Messi may have adopted him to the Center East and earned simply as a lot, if no more, however as a substitute selected to maneuver to america, signing a two-and-a-half 12 months deal in July 2023, price a reported $150 million over the lifetime of the contract, in addition to profitable revenue-sharing offers with Apple TV and Adidas.

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For years, MLS has taken on an array of high-profile imports from the worldwide sport, like English superstars Wayne Rooney and , European gamers corresponding to and and South People together with Kaká and Carlos Valderrama.

They had been all gamers of world renown, however the majority had been all some well beyond their greatest.

The distinction with Lionel Messi, though he’s now 38, is that he’s held to a better customary than any participant who’s gone earlier than him. “No disrespect to these gamers,” says Tenorio, “however the actuality is that if you’re Messi, you’re being measured in opposition to Maradona and Pelé, proper?

“You don’t have the posh of getting a foul season or not successful a trophy someplace.”

“The truth is that if you’re Messi, you’re being measured in opposition to Maradona and Pelé, proper? You don’t have the posh of getting a foul season or not successful a trophy someplace.” Getty Photos

Whereas Messi is contracted by means of 2028, he will likely be 41 when the deal runs out and the query of what he — and MLS — may do subsequent stays probably the most intriguing of all.

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Messi has already confirmed that he’s not excited about changing into a coach, nor would he like to enter tv commentary or evaluation.

MLS, in the meantime, might want to do one thing radical to interchange the person who has bought out stadiums throughout the nation and given the competitors a very international profile. “What’s conserving these followers there as soon as he’s gone?” asks Tenorio.

“I really really feel MLS is at this vital level in its historical past the place it has to decide about what it needs to be. If they will put extra high quality on the sphere it could possibly turn out to be the dominant league in North America.”

“MLS wants to alter its roster guidelines so it could possibly do extra than simply signal star gamers like Lionel Messi — it additionally has to construct stronger general squads round them. By spending extra effectively and enhancing the standard of play throughout the league, MLS can create extra aggressive video games, appeal to greater audiences and finally safe higher media offers that reinvest within the product on the sphere.”

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However as transformative as Messi’s American chapter has been, the highlight is starting to shift.

With the 2026 World Cup looming and Argentina getting ready to defend the crown Messi delivered in , the ultimate act of his profession is now not centered on constructing MLS — it’s about cementing a world legacy that will by no means be matched.

Gavin is an award-winning writer and journalist with over 20 years expertise. He has written many critically acclaimed books, together with a biography of the American golfer John Daly, “Letting The Massive Canine Eat,” and “As soon as In A Lifetime: The Unbelievable Story of the New York Cosmos.”

June 6, 2026 0 comments

LALIGA

Obvious leg damage sidelines Inter Miami star Lionel Messi

by Soccer-News May 25, 2026

written by Soccer-News

Inter Miami star captain Lionel Messi appeared to endure a leg damage after grabbing his left thigh, forcing him out within the 73rd minute of a 6-4 residence victory over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday night time.

Within the seventieth minute, the two-time reigning MLS MVP may very well be seen grabbing on the higher part of his left thigh following a free kick. The Argentine legend requested a substitution, then headed to the locker room after Mateo Silvetti changed him.

Messi, 28, who has a league-leading 20 objective contributions (12 targets, eight assists) in 14 matches this season, was in a position to rise up and depart the sphere below his personal energy. In his fourth season with Inter Miami, Messi has 107 objective contributions (62 targets, 45 assists) in 67 video games (59 begins).

MLS started a six-week break after Sunday’s matches with the FIFA World Cup set to start June 11 and run by means of July 19.

Messi is anticipated to play for Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, although this 12 months’s squad has but to be introduced. Argentina’s first match in Group J play is June 16 in opposition to Algeria in Kansas Metropolis. Argentina will prep for group stage play with friendlies in opposition to Honduras on June 6 at Texas A&M’s Kyle Subject and Iceland on June 9 at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.

–Subject Stage Media

May 25, 2026 0 comments

Major League Soccer

Lionel Messi is MLS’ highest-paid participant. See who else made the highest 25.

by Soccer-News May 12, 2026

written by Soccer-News

The MLS Gamers Affiliation has launched its , with famous person by far the league’s highest-paid participant.

In line with information revealed by the MLSPA, Messi will obtain assured compensation of $28.3 million in 2026.

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That determine is almost thrice the league’s second-highest earner, ahead , who will usher in $11.2 million this 12 months. , Messi’s teammate with Inter Miami and Argentina, is third with a $9.7 million wage.

FC’s is subsequent at $9.3 million. The Mexican ahead is incomes that determine for doing little or no as he continues to be frozen out by the staff. Rounding out the highest 5 is ‘s Miguel Almirón at $7.9 million.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 22: San Diego FC’s Marcus Ingvartsen celebrates after scoring a objective towards Actual Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego FC and RSL performed to a 2-2 draw.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 22: San Diego FC’s Marcus Ingvartsen celebrates after scoring a objective towards Actual Salt Lake at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego FC and RSL performed to a 2-2 draw.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 21: St. Louis Metropolis’s Simon Becher (11) tackles the ball away from the New England Revolutio’ns Matt Polster at Energizer Park. St. Louis Metropolis gained the match, 3-1.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 21: Orlando Metropolis goalkeeper Maxime Crapeau (71) blocks the header by Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge in the course of the first half at Geodis Park. Nashville SC gained the match, 5-0.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 21: Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran makes a play on the ball in entrance of Columbus Crew ahead Jamal Thiaré (in the course of the second half at BMO Discipline. TFC gained the match, 2-1.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 15: The Vancouver Whitecaps’ Mathías Laborda (2) scores towards the Minnesota United en path to a 6-0 rout of Minnesota at BC Place.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 14: San Diego FC’s Jeppe Tverskov (6) heads the ball in the course of the second half towards FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The sport led to a 3-3 tie.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 7: A tifo is seen earlier than the sport between the Chicago Fireplace and Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Discipline. The sport led to a 0-0 draw.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

March 1: Inter Miami’s German Berterame controls the ball towards Orlando Metropolis in the course of the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Inter Miami gained the sport, 4-2.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

Feb. 28: Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga and the Houston Dynamo’s Antonio Carlos (left) compete for possession in the course of the first half at Shell Vitality Stadium. LAFC gained the match, 2-0.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

Feb. 28: The Chicago Fireplace’s Jonathan Dean (24) and CF Montrea’s Hennadii Synchuk battle for management of the ball in the course of the second half at Soldier Discipline. Chicago gained the match, 3-0.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

Feb. 22: The Seattle Sounders’ Paul Rothrock celebrates after scoring a objective towards the Colorado Rapids at Lumen Discipline. Seattle gained the match, 2-0.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

Feb. 21: FC Cincinnati’s Gerardo Valenzuela (heart) has his shot blocked by Atlanta United’s Elias Baez(left) in the course of the first half at TQL Stadium. FC Cincinnati gained the match, 2-0.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

Feb. 21: Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (1) reaches for the ball towards Actual Salt Lake in the course of the second half at BC Place. Vancouver gained the match, 1-0.

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MLS motion, targets, scenes and drama from 2026 season

Feb. 21: Followers watch in the course of the nationwide anthem earlier than the sport between Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami CF at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. LAFC gained the sport, 3-0, knocking off the defending MLS champs.

Messi’s wage can also be only a fraction of what he’s really incomes. The Argentine additionally has an possession share in Inter Miami included in his contract. In March, Inter Miami proprietor Jorge Mas round $70-80 million per 12 months.

The 38-year-old additionally has separate offers with each Fanatics and Apple that see him compensated for league merchandise gross sales in addition to streaming subscriptions.

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Final 12 months, Messi led Inter Miami to the MLS Cup title and have become the primary MLS participant to win back-to-back league MVP awards.

Highest-paid MLS gamers for 2026

*Assured compensation

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami – $28,333,333

Son Heung-min, LAFC – $11,152,852

Rodrigo De Paul, Inter Miami – $9,688,320

Hirving Lozano, San Diego – $9,333,333

Miguel Almirón, Atlanta – $7,871,000

Thomas Müller, Vancouver – $5,152,504

Aleksey Miranchuk, Atlanta – $5,085,441

Germán Berterame, Miami – $3,824,200

Kévin , Cincinnati – $3,810,000

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (internet hosting World Cup last)

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (internet hosting World Cup last)

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas Metropolis

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Estadio BBVA – Monterrey, Mexico

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Estadio Akron –Guadalajara, Mexico

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, California

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

BC Place – Vancouver, Canada

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Arduous Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, California

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Lincoln Monetary Discipline – Philadelphia

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What stadiums are internet hosting the 2026 World Cup in North America? See all 16

Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts

May 12, 2026 0 comments

LALIGA

Lionel Messi sends heartfelt message to Barcelona after La Liga title triumph

by Soccer-News May 11, 2026

written by Soccer-News

Barcelona are as soon as once more champions of Spain after securing their twenty ninth La Liga title with a at Spotify Camp Nou.

The celebrations started instantly after the ultimate whistle, with gamers, supporters, former stars and soccer figures from around the globe congratulating Barcelona for one more historic home triumph.

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Social media from former Barça gamers, journalists and followers, however there was one response specifically that supporters have been desperately ready to see – the response of Lionel Messi.

Messi reacts after Barcelona title win

The Argentine icon didn’t take lengthy to publicly react to Barcelona’s title victory.

Simply minutes after the tip of El Clasico, Messi shared a narrative on Instagram that instantly went viral amongst Barcelona supporters around the globe.

The previous Barcelona captain reposted the official graphic printed by the membership celebrating the La Liga triumph and added two brief however emotional messages alongside it.

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“Champions”. “Visca el Barça”

Lionel Messi congratulated Barcelona for his or her La Liga triumph. (Supply: Instagram)

His response shortly grew to become one of many largest speaking factors of the celebrations on-line.

For a lot of supporters, the velocity and emotion behind the publish served as one other reminder that the Argentine legend nonetheless maintains a deep reference to the membership regardless of now not taking part in in Spain.

Even from a distance, Messi continues to carefully comply with all the pieces occurring at Barcelona, one thing followers as soon as once more witnessed after the title-clinching victory in opposition to Actual Madrid.

Every thing suggests Messi skilled the match very similar to any Barcelona supporter watching around the globe.

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The Argentine appeared invested within the sport and clearly loved watching Barcelona safe the league title in opposition to their largest rivals in such historic trend.

Generally, a easy gesture says greater than an extended speech and Messi’s response to Barcelona’s title victory was sufficient to remind supporters that his reference to the membership stays utterly intact.

May 11, 2026 0 comments

LALIGA

Lionel Messi reacts as Barcelona beat Actual Madrid to win La Liga

by Soccer-News May 10, 2026

written by Soccer-News

was fast to have a good time on Sunday night time as to efficiently defend their title.

Marcus Rashford bought the celebration began with a ravishing free-kick earlier than smashed residence one other excellent aim in a 2-0 win for Hansi Flick’s facet.

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Barcelona then held agency to take all three factors, with Messi fast to have a good time on social media after the ultimate whistle.

Barcelona will now have a good time successful one more title, with admitting it’s time for the gamers to get pleasure from themselves.

“This title is much more particular as a result of we gained it at residence in opposition to Actual Madrid. Now it’s time to get pleasure from it with the followers,” he stated.

“Flick is essential. He has very clear concepts, however inside that there’s a lot of freedom for the gamers. That’s how we will show the standard now we have.”

“Each title needs to be celebrated in type. Particularly a league title, which is a year-round competitors. We’ve got clearly been the very best in Spain. In fact, we wish to win the Champions League; that’s the aim. Subsequent yr we’ll have one other alternative.”

May 10, 2026 0 comments

Major League Soccer

Lionel Messi makes extra MLS historical past as quickest participant to 100 objectives and assists

by Soccer-News May 9, 2026

written by Soccer-News

Two assists and a objective from powered previous , 4-2, on Saturday, Could 9, and in addition helped Messi add one other accolade to his MLS profession.

The 38-year-old turned the quickest participant to achieve 100 objective contributions, with 59 objectives and 41 assists in his first 64 MLS regular-season matches since arriving from in 2023.

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The followers at BMO Stadium noticed the earlier chief to 100 usually. Messi surpassed Toronto FC nice , who took 95 matches to achieve 100 objectives plus assists — that is a 31-match distinction, which is almost a whole MLS common season.

Messi additionally zoomed previous former star , legend and , the Tijuana ahead who began his MLS profession with .

Messi’s efficiency helped push Inter Miami to a 4-2 win in Toronto — . Messi’s help for to make the rating 2-0 got here on a play with a Toronto FC defender down injured, maintaining Suarez onside.

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