Messi helped Inter Miami to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16, scoring a goal and providing an assist. However, he did all of that in the first half and was forced to leave the pitch just five minutes into the second period.

Speaking with reporters, Martino explained that Messi has “muscle overload” in his right leg and that the team is taking a cautious approach. 

“I don’t want to take any risks, but I imagine that he won’t be available for Saturday’s game,” Martino said via ESPN. “That’s the only thing I can say about it now. We’ll have some tests soon, and we’ll see how he feels.”

Messi’s “muscle overload” appears to be an issue that has been around for some time. He was noticed getting treatment in the first leg of the Nashville SC matchup last week while also missing the MLS game against CF Montreal this past weekend.

Messi has five goals and two assists in five games in all competitions this season. Miami is through to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals while also sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference.

The post Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi Dealing With a Leg Injury, Will Miss D.C. United Game appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Messi is currently on holiday in his native Argentina and is not officially considered Inter Miami’s player just yet. He needs to wait for his contract with Paris Saint-Germain to expire at the end of June, and there are several details that need to be finalized in his agreement with the MLS side.

Still, Miami is already making preparations for Messi’s arrival. This includes increasing the capacity of their DRV PNK Stadium by 3,000 seats, getting the capacity up to 22,000.

Speaking with Miami Herald earlier this week, Mas confirmed that Messi’s Inter Miami debut is set to take place against Cruz Azul next month. He also talked about the influence Messi will have on soccer and sport overall in the United States.

“I think there will always be a ‘before and after Messi’ when we talk about the sport in the United States,” Mas said. “I cannot overemphasize the magnitude of this announcement. Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league and for the football ecosystem in the United States.”

The details of Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami remain under wraps. However, it is certain that the 35-year-old will remain one of the highest-paid players in the world. Reportedly, his annual salary will be in the $60 million range while he’ll also receive part of the profit from streaming and merchandise deals.

The post Lionel Messi to Make His Inter Miami Debut on July 21 Against Cruz Azul appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

MLS later confirmed the move on social media.

“I have made the decision that I am going to Miami. I still don’t have it agreed upon 100 percent and a few things are needed, but, well, we decided to continue my path there,” Messi said about his decision.

Messi is currently a free agent after his contract with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain expired at the end of the 2022-23 season. The 35-year-old player had an offer from Saudi Arabia, which was believed to be worth up to $1 billion, and La Liga side Barcelona but ended up choosing the MLS.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way and to enjoy the day-to-day more,” Messi added. “Obviously, with the same responsibility and desire to play well and do things well as always. But in a calmer way.”

In order to attract Messi, MLS got very creative. Messi will reportedly be entitled to a share of profits from revenue that would be generated by new subscribers to MLS Season Pass and a profit-sharing agreement with sportswear giant Adidas.

On top of this, Messi will receive a rumored annual salary of $60 million to $100 million and an option to purchase a stake in an MLS team after he finishes his playing career. This is a similar option that David Beckham had when he came to MLS, and it resulted in his involvement in Inter Miami.

Another thing that might have lured Messi to MLS is the fact that Miami is considering hiring Gerardo “Tata” Martino as their new head coach. Messi is known as a huge fan of Martino, having worked with him in Barcelona and with Argentina’s national team.

The post Lionel Messi to Continue His Career in MLS, Set to Join Inter Miami appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The news comes after Messi was suspended by the club earlier this week. The 35-year-old player reportedly missed a training session to visit Saudi Arabia as part of his role as the country’s ambassador. This didn’t sit well with the club’s brass, and the decision was made to hand the player a two-week suspension without pay.

Apparently, this brought an already strained relationship between Messi and the club to a breaking point. The two sides were previously engaged in contract negotiations, but the talks broke down after PSG asked the player to take a pay cut.

Messi has been exceptional for PSG in Ligue 1 this season, contributing 15 goals and 15 assists in 28 matches. But he disappointed in UEFA Champions League, with his poor performances in the Round of 16 loss to Bayern Munich being particularly criticized.

According to sources close to Messi, his preference is to continue playing in Europe with a return to Barcelona being on the table. However, this is also the most difficult option as La Liga club finds itself in a tough financial situation and would likely struggle to meet its financial demands.

Messi has reportedly already been contacted by Saudi Arabia side Al Hilal and was offered a contract worth more than $400 million per year. MLS side Inter Miami is also believed to have a strong interest in the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The post Lionel Messi Will Leave PSG at the End of the Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

To win the award, Messi edged out his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid’s striker Karim Benzema. Messi finished at the top of the voting with 52 points, while Mbappe and Benzema received 44 and 34 votes, respectively.

“It’s amazing. It was a tremendous year, and it is an honor for me to be here tonight and win this award,” said Messi after receiving the award.

With the award, Messi capped off a successful 2022 year that saw him win the Ligue 1 title with PSG and World Cup trophy with Argentina. He also received FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player while finishing second on the top goalscorers list.

In other Best FIFA Award categories, Barcelona’s star midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Best FIFA Women’s award for the second straight year. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Manchester United’s Mary Earps were recognized as the world’s best goalkeepers, while Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni and England Women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman received the Best Coach awards.

The post Lionel Messi Edges Out Kylian Mbappe for Best FIFA Men’s Player Honors appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with the UK media outlet The Times, Neville said that among the players Inter is targeting are Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi and longtime Barcelona standout Sergio Busquets.

“I’m not going to deny (it and say) there isn’t truth in the speculation that we’re interested in Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets,” Neville shared.

“We’re always going to be linked with the best players in the world,” he added. “We had Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi. Now we’ve got the opportunity to bring in some new designated players following their retirements.”

Both Messi and Busquets are set to become free agents at the end of the 2022-23 season in Europe, which would allow Inter to sign them without paying a transfer fee. However, the MLS side is facing an uphill battle as the duo will most likely draw interest from plenty of other clubs. PSG is rumored to have offered Messi a new deal, while Busquets is drawing interest from Saudi Arabia.

Inter Miami is entering the 2023 campaign after an encouraging run last year. They ended the regular season as the sixth seed in Eastern Conference before being eliminated by the New York City FC in the playoffs.

The post Inter Miami is Targeting Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets Says Head Coach Phil Neville appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Jorge, who is also Messi’s agent, was in Paris on Tuesday to watch his son play in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League round of 16 game against Bayern Munich, which ended in a 1-0 loss for the Ligue 1 club.

The next day, he met with PSG sporting director Luis Campos to discuss a new contract for his son. With Messi’s contract due to expire in June, the Parisian club is keen to keep him at the club next season.

“I don’t think he will return [to Barcelona],” Jorge stated to reporters at Barcelona’s airport. “The conditions are not there.”

While Barcelona and Inter Milan have both expressed an interest in signing Messi, he looks set to remain at PSG, with another contract discussion having been scheduled for next month.

In addition to expressing his son’s willingness to remain in Paris, Jorge denied rumors that he had been in contact with Barcelona president Joan Laporta to discuss his son’s future.

The post Lionel Messi Unlikely to Return to Barca, Father Says appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Messi is currently a Paris Saint-Germain player, his contract with the club is set to expire at the conclusion of the current season. He is yet to agree to a contract extension with the French club.

Messi played in Saudi Arabia last week, where he made an appearance in the PSG team that played against a team made up of Al Nassr and Al Hilal players, including Ronaldo. The game ended in a 5-4 victory for PSG, with both Messi and Ronaldo getting on the scoresheet.

According to multiple sources, Ronaldo’s arrival in the Saudi Pro League has given Saudi officials a major boost in confidence when it comes to the acquisition of new players, particularly those who played in elite European leagues.

Saudi clubs are currently allowed to sign seven foreign players each, however, this threshold is set to be boosted to eight in an effort to attract more overseas players to the league.

The post Saudi Pro League Targets Messi Transfer appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Messi scored the first goal of the game for PSG while Ronaldo, who made his first return to football since the World Cup, grabbed the equalizer from the penalty spot.

The game heated up near the end of the first half when PSG defender Juan Bernat was sent off. Despite being a man down, PSG restored their lead through Marquinos after which Neymar missed a penalty. Ronaldo grabbed his second goal of the game before the halftime break after slotting in the rebound after his well-struck header hit the post.

Center back Sergio Ramos put PSG 3-2 up before both Ronaldo and Messi were substituted around the 60th-minute mark, bringing an end to their game. With Ronaldo having departed European football, there is a possibility that this game was the last time that he and Messi would face one another on the same pitch.

PSG began to run away with the game when Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty and Hugo Ekitike handed them a 5-3 lead. While Anderson Talisca pulled one back in the 94th minute, it proved too little too late as PSG held on for the win.

The post Ronaldo and Messi Score in 5-4 Thriller appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, Ronaldo will play 45 minutes as he looks to get some game time under his belt ahead of his Al-Nassr debut on Sunday. The Portuguese forward missed the first two games since signing for the club due to serving a two-game ban handed to him by the English Football Association.

Highly anticipated due to being the potential final showdown between Messi and Ronaldo, more than two million online ticket requests have been submitted for the game. Bidding for a VIP “Beyond Imagination” ticket for the game has already gotten underway with over $2.66 million worth of bids being submitted in an auction set to end on Tuesday.

Following the PSG exhibition game, Ronaldo is expected to make his Al-Nassr debut in Sunday’s Saudi Pro League game against Al Ettifaq.

The post Ronaldo Named Captain of Saudi Team to Face PSG and Messi appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Messi helped Inter Miami to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16, scoring a goal and providing an assist. However, he did all of that in the first half and was forced to leave the pitch just five minutes into the second period.

Speaking with reporters, Martino explained that Messi has “muscle overload” in his right leg and that the team is taking a cautious approach. 

“I don’t want to take any risks, but I imagine that he won’t be available for Saturday’s game,” Martino said via ESPN. “That’s the only thing I can say about it now. We’ll have some tests soon, and we’ll see how he feels.”

Messi’s “muscle overload” appears to be an issue that has been around for some time. He was noticed getting treatment in the first leg of the Nashville SC matchup last week while also missing the MLS game against CF Montreal this past weekend.

Messi has five goals and two assists in five games in all competitions this season. Miami is through to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals while also sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference.

The post Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi Dealing With a Leg Injury, Will Miss D.C. United Game appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Messi is currently on holiday in his native Argentina and is not officially considered Inter Miami’s player just yet. He needs to wait for his contract with Paris Saint-Germain to expire at the end of June, and there are several details that need to be finalized in his agreement with the MLS side.

Still, Miami is already making preparations for Messi’s arrival. This includes increasing the capacity of their DRV PNK Stadium by 3,000 seats, getting the capacity up to 22,000.

Speaking with Miami Herald earlier this week, Mas confirmed that Messi’s Inter Miami debut is set to take place against Cruz Azul next month. He also talked about the influence Messi will have on soccer and sport overall in the United States.

“I think there will always be a ‘before and after Messi’ when we talk about the sport in the United States,” Mas said. “I cannot overemphasize the magnitude of this announcement. Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league and for the football ecosystem in the United States.”

The details of Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami remain under wraps. However, it is certain that the 35-year-old will remain one of the highest-paid players in the world. Reportedly, his annual salary will be in the $60 million range while he’ll also receive part of the profit from streaming and merchandise deals.

The post Lionel Messi to Make His Inter Miami Debut on July 21 Against Cruz Azul appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

MLS later confirmed the move on social media.

“I have made the decision that I am going to Miami. I still don’t have it agreed upon 100 percent and a few things are needed, but, well, we decided to continue my path there,” Messi said about his decision.

Messi is currently a free agent after his contract with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain expired at the end of the 2022-23 season. The 35-year-old player had an offer from Saudi Arabia, which was believed to be worth up to $1 billion, and La Liga side Barcelona but ended up choosing the MLS.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way and to enjoy the day-to-day more,” Messi added. “Obviously, with the same responsibility and desire to play well and do things well as always. But in a calmer way.”

In order to attract Messi, MLS got very creative. Messi will reportedly be entitled to a share of profits from revenue that would be generated by new subscribers to MLS Season Pass and a profit-sharing agreement with sportswear giant Adidas.

On top of this, Messi will receive a rumored annual salary of $60 million to $100 million and an option to purchase a stake in an MLS team after he finishes his playing career. This is a similar option that David Beckham had when he came to MLS, and it resulted in his involvement in Inter Miami.

Another thing that might have lured Messi to MLS is the fact that Miami is considering hiring Gerardo “Tata” Martino as their new head coach. Messi is known as a huge fan of Martino, having worked with him in Barcelona and with Argentina’s national team.

The post Lionel Messi to Continue His Career in MLS, Set to Join Inter Miami appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The news comes after Messi was suspended by the club earlier this week. The 35-year-old player reportedly missed a training session to visit Saudi Arabia as part of his role as the country’s ambassador. This didn’t sit well with the club’s brass, and the decision was made to hand the player a two-week suspension without pay.

Apparently, this brought an already strained relationship between Messi and the club to a breaking point. The two sides were previously engaged in contract negotiations, but the talks broke down after PSG asked the player to take a pay cut.

Messi has been exceptional for PSG in Ligue 1 this season, contributing 15 goals and 15 assists in 28 matches. But he disappointed in UEFA Champions League, with his poor performances in the Round of 16 loss to Bayern Munich being particularly criticized.

According to sources close to Messi, his preference is to continue playing in Europe with a return to Barcelona being on the table. However, this is also the most difficult option as La Liga club finds itself in a tough financial situation and would likely struggle to meet its financial demands.

Messi has reportedly already been contacted by Saudi Arabia side Al Hilal and was offered a contract worth more than $400 million per year. MLS side Inter Miami is also believed to have a strong interest in the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The post Lionel Messi Will Leave PSG at the End of the Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

To win the award, Messi edged out his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid’s striker Karim Benzema. Messi finished at the top of the voting with 52 points, while Mbappe and Benzema received 44 and 34 votes, respectively.

“It’s amazing. It was a tremendous year, and it is an honor for me to be here tonight and win this award,” said Messi after receiving the award.

With the award, Messi capped off a successful 2022 year that saw him win the Ligue 1 title with PSG and World Cup trophy with Argentina. He also received FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player while finishing second on the top goalscorers list.

In other Best FIFA Award categories, Barcelona’s star midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Best FIFA Women’s award for the second straight year. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Manchester United’s Mary Earps were recognized as the world’s best goalkeepers, while Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni and England Women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman received the Best Coach awards.

The post Lionel Messi Edges Out Kylian Mbappe for Best FIFA Men’s Player Honors appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with the UK media outlet The Times, Neville said that among the players Inter is targeting are Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi and longtime Barcelona standout Sergio Busquets.

“I’m not going to deny (it and say) there isn’t truth in the speculation that we’re interested in Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets,” Neville shared.

“We’re always going to be linked with the best players in the world,” he added. “We had Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi. Now we’ve got the opportunity to bring in some new designated players following their retirements.”

Both Messi and Busquets are set to become free agents at the end of the 2022-23 season in Europe, which would allow Inter to sign them without paying a transfer fee. However, the MLS side is facing an uphill battle as the duo will most likely draw interest from plenty of other clubs. PSG is rumored to have offered Messi a new deal, while Busquets is drawing interest from Saudi Arabia.

Inter Miami is entering the 2023 campaign after an encouraging run last year. They ended the regular season as the sixth seed in Eastern Conference before being eliminated by the New York City FC in the playoffs.

The post Inter Miami is Targeting Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets Says Head Coach Phil Neville appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Jorge, who is also Messi’s agent, was in Paris on Tuesday to watch his son play in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League round of 16 game against Bayern Munich, which ended in a 1-0 loss for the Ligue 1 club.

The next day, he met with PSG sporting director Luis Campos to discuss a new contract for his son. With Messi’s contract due to expire in June, the Parisian club is keen to keep him at the club next season.

“I don’t think he will return [to Barcelona],” Jorge stated to reporters at Barcelona’s airport. “The conditions are not there.”

While Barcelona and Inter Milan have both expressed an interest in signing Messi, he looks set to remain at PSG, with another contract discussion having been scheduled for next month.

In addition to expressing his son’s willingness to remain in Paris, Jorge denied rumors that he had been in contact with Barcelona president Joan Laporta to discuss his son’s future.

The post Lionel Messi Unlikely to Return to Barca, Father Says appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Messi is currently a Paris Saint-Germain player, his contract with the club is set to expire at the conclusion of the current season. He is yet to agree to a contract extension with the French club.

Messi played in Saudi Arabia last week, where he made an appearance in the PSG team that played against a team made up of Al Nassr and Al Hilal players, including Ronaldo. The game ended in a 5-4 victory for PSG, with both Messi and Ronaldo getting on the scoresheet.

According to multiple sources, Ronaldo’s arrival in the Saudi Pro League has given Saudi officials a major boost in confidence when it comes to the acquisition of new players, particularly those who played in elite European leagues.

Saudi clubs are currently allowed to sign seven foreign players each, however, this threshold is set to be boosted to eight in an effort to attract more overseas players to the league.

The post Saudi Pro League Targets Messi Transfer appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Messi scored the first goal of the game for PSG while Ronaldo, who made his first return to football since the World Cup, grabbed the equalizer from the penalty spot.

The game heated up near the end of the first half when PSG defender Juan Bernat was sent off. Despite being a man down, PSG restored their lead through Marquinos after which Neymar missed a penalty. Ronaldo grabbed his second goal of the game before the halftime break after slotting in the rebound after his well-struck header hit the post.

Center back Sergio Ramos put PSG 3-2 up before both Ronaldo and Messi were substituted around the 60th-minute mark, bringing an end to their game. With Ronaldo having departed European football, there is a possibility that this game was the last time that he and Messi would face one another on the same pitch.

PSG began to run away with the game when Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty and Hugo Ekitike handed them a 5-3 lead. While Anderson Talisca pulled one back in the 94th minute, it proved too little too late as PSG held on for the win.

The post Ronaldo and Messi Score in 5-4 Thriller appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, Ronaldo will play 45 minutes as he looks to get some game time under his belt ahead of his Al-Nassr debut on Sunday. The Portuguese forward missed the first two games since signing for the club due to serving a two-game ban handed to him by the English Football Association.

Highly anticipated due to being the potential final showdown between Messi and Ronaldo, more than two million online ticket requests have been submitted for the game. Bidding for a VIP “Beyond Imagination” ticket for the game has already gotten underway with over $2.66 million worth of bids being submitted in an auction set to end on Tuesday.

Following the PSG exhibition game, Ronaldo is expected to make his Al-Nassr debut in Sunday’s Saudi Pro League game against Al Ettifaq.

The post Ronaldo Named Captain of Saudi Team to Face PSG and Messi appeared first on yoursportspot.com.