Lionel Messi marked his return to action in emphatic style, finding the back of the net as Inter Miami sealed a 2-0 victory over Cavalier FC in Jamaica to advance to the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
The Argentine superstar had been sidelined for three matches due to load management concerns, with head coach Javier Mascherano emphasizing the importance of rest to prevent potential injuries. Despite keeping his plans under wraps, Mascherano had hinted at Messi’s involvement ahead of the fixture.
“We knew that Leo wasn’t playing for the last three or four games,” Mascherano said after the match. “Obviously we wanted him playing but we need to know and to find the moment to send him to the pitch. I think it was good because he felt very good on the pitch. He could score. The people in Jamaica could see him. So great, great night for everyone.”
In the dying moments of the game, Messi latched onto a pass from 18-year-old homegrown talent Santiago Morales, drilling a precise shot into the far corner of the net. Even the Jamaican fans couldn’t help but celebrate the football legend’s goal.
His goal added gloss to Miami’s already commanding position in the tie, having secured a 2-0 victory in the first leg through goals from Tadeo Allende and Suárez. The visitors extended their lead further in the return leg when Suárez converted a penalty in the first half after Allende was brought down in the box.
Messi’s arrival in Jamaica had been highly anticipated, with government officials, including Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia Grange, welcoming him and his teammates at the airport.
Due to overwhelming demand, the match had been moved from Cavalier FC’s usual 3,000-seat venue to the 35,000-capacity national stadium.
With the victory secured, Inter Miami now shifts their focus to a high-profile quarterfinal clash against LAFC, who overcame Columbus Crew in their round-of-16 encounter.
Tag: Lionel Messi
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Messi’s last-minute goal for Inter Miami makes opposition fans celebrate against their own team
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Messi planning a Barcelona reunion by signing contract with Inter Miami: Report
Inter Miami are planning to extend Lionel Messi’s stay in the MLS for another year as they are set to offer a new contract to the Argentine great. Messi has brought a lot of attention to MLS with his arrival at the Inter Miami in 2023. He boosted the sport’s popularity in the US as they are set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi’s existing contract is set to expire after next season, but Inter Miami is in no mood to let him go so early.
According to a report on Marca, Messi is working on signing a new contract with Miami, which will allow him to play in Europe. The 37-year-old is planning to extend his stay with the Argentine team for the 2026 World Cup to help them defend their crown. To get himself ready for the big challenge in 2026, Messi might return to Europe in his potential contract extension; there will be a clause allowing him to play in Europe at the end of 2025 and the start of 2026. It might allow a Barcelona reunion, his former club, which is still very close to his heart. -
Messi’s Argentina likely to play in Kerala in 2025
Lionel Messi is likely to come to India. Again. Not to Kolkata this time but Kerala.
Kerala’s sports minister V Abdurahiman said on Wednesday that the Argentina national football team, including its talismanic skipper, is expected to visit the state and play an international friendly next year.
The statement was made following discussions between the state’s sports ministry led by Abdurahiman and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) in Madrid last September. Kerala chief minister Pinayari Vijayan also made a similar announcement through a Facebook post.
“The world’s number 1 football team Argentina including Lionel Messi will visit Kerala next year. The match will be held under the complete supervision of the state government. The state’s traders have promised to provide financial assistance to conduct the match,” Abdurahiman told reporters.
The minister said the AFA officials will visit Kerala in the next one-and-a half months to hold further talks. Asked when the team including Messi are likely to visit and who they will play against, the minister said: “Those details will be chalked out later. The match will have to be conducted as per the FIFA window for international friendlies.” Kochi is one of the options to host the match, Abdurahiman said. -
Lionel Messi Hong Kong game backlash forces Hangzhou to cancel Argentina vs Nigeria friendly
In a recent turn of events, Chinese sports officials have made the decision to call off the upcoming friendly football match between Argentina and Nigeria. This decision comes in the wake of significant backlash stemming from Lionel Messi’s absence during an Inter Miami game in Hong Kong.
Despite being scheduled to play in Hangzhou, followed by a game against Ivory Coast in Beijing, the fallout from Messi not participating in the Hong Kong match has led to the cancellation of the first fixture.
The situation escalated when Messi, who had been expected to play, remained sidelined due to an injury during the Hong Kong event, much to the dismay of fans—some of whom had paid substantial amounts for tickets.
In response to the uproar, the organizers offered a 50% refund to ticket holders. However, the situation was exacerbated when Messi appeared on the field in a subsequent match in Japan, which intensified the backlash.
Messi played a cameo against Vissel Kobe in a 0-0 draw and didn’t take part in the penalty shootout.
As a result, Hangzhou’s sports authorities announced that the friendly match with Nigeria would not proceed as planned.
“As a commercial event, a company and the Argentinean soccer team negotiated that the team would play a friendly match in March this year in the city of Hangzhou,” the Hangzhou authorities said in a statement.
“In view of the current well-known reasons, according to the competent authorities, conditions to hold the friendly match are not mature, therefore (we) have decided to cancel it.”
There has been no confirmation regarding the status of the subsequent match against Ivory Coast in Beijing. Requests for comments from both the Chinese FA and the Argentine FA have gone unanswered. -
Lionel Messi named Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year
Arguably one of the greatest in football history, Lionel Messi has been named as Times magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2023. The news comes after Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time, further elevating his status in football folklore. Messi played a key role in Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign, where he led them to the title, defeating France in the final. He was adjudged as the tournament’s Best Player and was also the second-highest goalscorer.
Despite his World Cup victory, Messi failed to replicate similar form with PSG and departed them as a free agent in this year’s summer transfer window. His time in PSG could be considered a disappointment by his standards and he was also frequently jeered by the fans.
Initially, he was expected to return to Barcelona, whom he left in shocking circumstances in 2021 as a free agent, joining PSG. The development occurred after Barcelona couldn’t afford a new contract for him. But once again the Catalan club couldn’t afford him, and then he rejected offers from the Saudi Pro League, to join MLS side Inter Miami, which is also co-owned by former player David Beckham.
Explaining his transfer to Inter Miami, Messi told Time, “The truth is that fortunately, I had several options on the table that were interesting, and I had to analyze them and think, even weigh them up with my family, before making the final decision to come to Miami.”
“My first option was to return to Barcelona, but it was not possible. I tried to return, and it did not happen. It is also true that later I was thinking a lot about going to the Saudi league, where I know the country and they have created a very powerful competition that can become an important league in the near future. “As the country’s tourism ambassador, it was a destination that attracted me, especially because I’ve enjoyed everything I have visited, because of how football is growing in the country and because of the effort they are putting into creating a top competition. it was Saudi Arabia or MLS, and both options seemed very interesting to me,” he added.
Source: HT -
Messi taking MLS by storm
Lionel Messi scored in his third straight game and had his second consecutive multi-goal performance for Inter Miami after the start of the Leagues Cup contest against Orlando City on Wednesday, Aug 2, night was delayed 95 minutes because of thunderstorms. Messi scored seven minutes into the match then added a second strike in the 72nd minute. On Messi’s first goal, he stopped a pass from Robert Taylor on his chest, dribbled a couple of yards near the edge of the 6-yard box and converted a shot that landed under the crossbar. The goal gave Inter Miami a 1-0 lead in the Round of 32 match. Orlando tied it 11 minutes later. Messi struck again when he received a pass from Josef Martinez and converted a right-footed shot that landed inside the left post and put Inter Miami ahead 3-1.
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Sergio Busquets is joining former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami
Sergio Busquets is joining former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, the team’s second major addition in less than a month. The team confirmed the move Friday in a video posted on Twitter. Inter Miami displayed the phrase “Busi,” referring to Busquets’ nickname, accompanied by quotes from various soccer stars.
“On the field, he’s always No. 5, but in reality as a player and a person, he’s a 10,” Messi wrote in Spanish.
The 35-year-old Messi announced on June 7 that he was joining Miami. He is expected to make his Major League Soccer debut in a home game on July 21, the team confirmed Tuesday. Owner Jorge Mas told selected outlets on Monday that his club and Messi have agreed to terms and are finalizing paperwork and a visa.
After nearly two decades with Barcelona, Busquets announced last month that he would not return to the club. His contract expires at the end of June.
Busquets arrived at Barcelona in 2005 and has played 722 matches for the club, putting him third all-time behind Xavi and record-holder Messi. One of the best defensive midfielders Barcelona has had, Busquets has scored 18 goals and had 40 assists. He has been team captain for the last two seasons.
Adding Busquets brings another high-profile name to a team looking to establish itself in a region that is enjoying plenty of sports success, as the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers are coming off respective finals runs. Source: AP -
Lionel Messi picks MLS’s Inter Miami
Miami (TIP)- Lionel Messi has pulled off his latest stunning feat: He is headed to Major League Soccer and joining Inter Miami. After months — years, even — of speculation, Messi finally revealed his decision to join a Miami franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon, David Beckham, since its inception but has yet to make any real splashes on the field. That likely will soon change. One of Inter Miami’s owners, Jorge Mas, tweeted out a photo of a darkly silhouetted Messi jersey shortly before the Argentinian great revealed his decision in interviews with Spanish news outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport. It was widely believed that Messi eventually would choose to play for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo to a nation where some clubs now are funded by the state’s sovereign wealth fund. Going back to Barcelona, a storied franchise where he spent most of his career, was another possibility. Source: AP
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Messi set for return as PSG farewell looms
Lionel Messi is in line to return for Paris Saint-Germain for Saturday’s Ligue 1 game at home to Ajaccio after a club-imposed suspension for going on an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner sat out last weekend’s win at Troyes after missing a training session to fulfil commitments in his role as a Saudi tourism ambassador.
The Argentine later apologised to the club and his team-mates, and resumed training with PSG on Monday, but his time at the Parc des Princes is coming to a sad end.
After two uninspiring years in France, Messi looks set to play in Saudi Arabia next season as part of a blockbuster deal that would see him follow arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the Gulf kingdom. Messi, who turns 36 next month, will sign a “huge” contract with an as-yet-unnamed club, a source close to the negotiations told AFP this week.
“Messi is a done deal. He will play in Saudi Arabia next season,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The contract is exceptional. It’s huge. We are just finalising some small details,” added the source, who is not authorised to speak to media. PSG have yet to confirm the departure, while Messi’s father and agent Jorge insists the World Cup winner has not decided where he will play next season.
But it appears certain his stint at PSG will conclude in June, after the club hopes to celebrate a record 11th French league crown. “If the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier,” said a PSG source. -
Lionel Messi reaches historic 800-goal mark with incredulous free-kick
Lionel Messi’s Argentina made a return for the first time since lifting the World Cup last December, as they beat Pana 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday, March 23. Thiago Almada and Messi were on target in a festive atmosphere at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, as manager Lionel Scaloni picked the same starting XI that also played in the World Cup final against France. Argentina couldn’t break through the Panama defence in the opening half of the match but Almada broke the deadlock with his first international goal, thanks to a rebound from a Messi free-kick.
The Argentine captain, then, finally scored his 800th career goal with a free-kick that went into the top-right corner of the goal. His 89th minute goal doubled Argentina’s lead, ensuring a victory for the side in front of a 80,000-strong crowd at ‘El Monumental’. Messi became the second footballer to reach 800 goals after Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, who has 830 career goals to his name.
A post-match ceremony was also organised by the Argentina Football Association to celebrate the country’s FIFA World Cup victory; it was the country’s third title and their first in 36 years. -
Lionel Messi has doubts about playing 2026 World Cup at age 39
Lionel Messi may be in doubt as to whether he’ll be still playing for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup but he’s sure about one thing: he wants Lionel Scaloni to stay on as head coach until then, regardless.
The 35-year-old Messi led Argentina to the title in Qatar last December and wasn’t entirely sure if his fifth trip to the World Cup would be his last. The next edition will take place in Mexico, Canada and the United States when Messi is 39. Messi told newspaper Olé in an interview published Thursday that he’d regularly said his age would make it difficult to play another World Cup.
“I love playing soccer, I love what I do and while I am feeling well and feel I am fit and continue to enjoy it, I will do it. But it seems to be too much until the next World Cup,” he told the newspaper. “I have to see where my career goes, what I will do. It depends on many things.”
In the near future, he suggested he wants to play in next year’s Copa America in the U.S. to help Argentina defend its title. “I will stay a little longer, I have to enjoy this,” he said.
Scaloni is negotiating an extension of his contract with the Argentinian soccer federation and Messi thinks the coach should remain on the job. -
Lionel Messi to leave FC Barcelona, club says
MADRID (TIP): Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona despite both parties having reached an agreement over a new contract, the La Liga club said on Thursday, citing economic and structural obstacles to the renewal of the deal.
Messi, who joined Barca’s youth set-up aged 13, is the club’s all-time top scorer and appearance maker with 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.
The Argentina forward was free to negotiate a transfer with other clubs after his deal ran out at the end of June, but Barcelona had always maintained he wanted to stay with the club.
Messi, who has spent his whole career at Barcelona, had been expected to sign a new five-year deal with the Catalan club, which would have included a salary reduction of 50%.
Barcelona needed to financially restructure in order to get the deal over the line, which proved impossible in the end as they failed to reduce their wage bill in order and stay within La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
La Liga chief Javier Tebas said last month that Barcelona, who have a total debt of more than 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion), would not be shown any leniency when it comes to obeying the league’s strict financial control rules.
The news of Messi’s exit comes a day after La Liga agreed in principle to sell 10% of a newly formed company housing most of its business to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for 2.7 billion euros ($3.2 billion).
“Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish La Liga regulations),” Barca said in a statement.
“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.
“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.” FREE AGENT MESSI
Messi’s last contract, signed in 2017, was the most lucrative in world sport according to a January report in newspaper El Mundo.
Source: Reuters
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Lionel Messi double powers Barca to big win over Getafe
Barcelona (TIP): Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona crushed Getafe 5-2 on Thursday, April 22, to stay in the hunt for the La Liga title.
Messi gave Barca an early lead with the help of a pin-point pass from Sergio Busquets but Getafe pulled level with an own goal by Clement Lenglet.
The visitors then conceded a calamitous own goal when Sofian Chakla’s backpass deceived keeper David Soria and trickled over the line.
Messi extended Barca’s lead before halftime, hitting the post then following up to net from a tight angle and to move on to 25 La Liga goals for the 12th season in a row.
But the Catalans slowed down in the second half and Turkish forward Enes Unal made for an exciting finish by converting a penalty in the 69th minute following a VAR review for a foul by Ronald Araujo.
Getafe had a couple of half-chances to level but Uruguayan defender Araujo made amends for his foul on Unal by heading in Messi’s corner in the 87th minute to effectively kill the game.
Barca earned a penalty in added time but Messi surrendered the chance to score a hat-trick and handed the ball to Antoine Griezmann who slammed in the spot-kick.
The win took Barca back up to third place on 68 points, five behind leaders Atletico Madrid but with a game in hand.
“It was a very strange game but the team knew how to get the job done and win which is the important thing,” said Araujo.
“We suffered a little bit in the second half, we could have been more comfortable. Every game we have left is like a final and every team will give everything.”
Getafe gave Koeman’s side a guard of honour for their recent Copa del Rey triumph but the visitors also wore T-shirts saying “Earn It”, criticising Barcelona’s decision to sign up to the breakaway European Super League.