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Lionel Messi was seen pointing his finger at Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber several times during a postgame exchange following Inter Miami’s match against Cruz Azul on Wednesday. Video from after the game showed Messi pointing at Garber while speaking to him before walking away. He later returned and appeared to point at Garber again as they continued their conversation. In another video, the two were seen pointing at each other while talking. MLS declined to comment on the exchange, while Inter Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident came after Inter Miami beat Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup. Messi scored the 100th goal of his Inter Miami career during the match. The victory added another trophy to Inter Miami’s collection since Messi joined the club three years ago. The team won the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 and the MLS Cup in 2025.

One more time. That's it, that's all. Lionel Messi will wear the Argentina shirt once more, and then that's the end of it. The plan had been rumored ever since Messi announced his international retirement last month: the Argentine Football Association (AFA) wanted him back for one home friendly during a FIFA window, so the fans who'd watched him for twenty years could actually be there to say goodbye. Now it's confirmed. Argentina play Benin on October 6 at the Monumental in Buenos Aires — 85,000 seats, and Messi's name is on the squad list Lionel Scaloni released. It's his last game in the shirt. AFA president Claudio Tapia put it plainly in a video message: the federation invited Messi so he'd get, in his words, "the proper farewell he deserves." It's going to be a lot, that night. The AFA invited every player from the 2022 World Cup-winning squad, plus their families, and Tapia says the whole match is being dedicated to Messi. There was a real chance this wasn't how his story with the national team would end. Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain 1-0 back in July, and Messi — 39 now — posted his retirement on social media on August 31. For a while, it looked like that final loss would just be the last thing anyone remembered. The AFA clearly didn't want that to stick. Two friendlies come first: Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30, then Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3. Benin will be cap number 208 for Messi. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has played more internationals and scored more international goals than him. Within Argentina alone, Messi already owns both records — 207 caps, 125 goals. There's a wrinkle hanging over the home games. FIFA hit Argentina with a disciplinary sanction last month for using a match to make a political statement, and ordered the next home game capped at half capacity. So the Bolivia match at Estadio Mario Kempes will be played with the stands half-empty. That goes back to the World Cup semi-final win over England, when a group of Argentina players unfurled a banner reading "The Falklands are Argentina's." Separately, suspensions from the brawl between Argentine and Spanish players after the World Cup final are due to kick in around these same friendlies — Leandro Paredes gets 10 matches, Nahuel Molina seven, Thiago Almada one.

Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami as the club defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 on Wednesday night to win the Campeones Cup. Messi gave Miami the lead in the 24th minute, heading in a cross from Luis Suárez. It was his 100th goal in 115 appearances for Inter Miami across all competitions. The milestone came against the same team Messi faced when he scored his first goal for Miami. He found the net with a stoppage-time free kick to give Miami a 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul in his debut in July 2023. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro doubled Miami's lead in the 81st minute, heading in a corner delivered by Messi. Casemiro has now scored four goals in his last five matches, all with headers. He scored in three straight games against CF Montreal, Atlanta United and Chicago before failing to score against Nashville on Saturday. The victory gave Inter Miami another trophy three years after Messi joined the club. Miami previously won the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters' Shield in 2024 and the MLS Cup in 2025. Up next Inter Miami will return to MLS action Sunday when it hosts San Diego FC at Nu Stadium. Miami currently sits second in the Eastern Conference standings.

Lionel Messi scored a goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami drew 2-2 with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night. Messi set up Inter Miami’s opening goal in the 21st minute when his cross was headed by Luis Suarez into the path of Daniel Pinter, who finished from close range. Five minutes later, Messi cut inside onto his favored left foot from about 12 yards and curled the ball into the corner of the net. It was his first goal since returning to action following the death of his father. Messi now has 13 goals and nine assists in 17 MLS appearances this season. Against the Union, he has six goals and four assists in six matches across all competitions. Indiana Vassilev scored on a volley in the first half to put Philadelphia ahead, with 16-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan providing the assist. The Union leveled in the 58th minute when 18-year-old defender Neil Pierre headed home his third goal in five games this season. Philadelphia thought it had taken the lead again in the 62nd minute through Milan Iloski, but the goal was ruled out after a video review because Pierre was offside in the buildup. The match ended with both teams reduced to 10 men after Yannick Bright and Sullivan were shown red cards in stoppage time following an off-the-ball scuffle. Inter Miami, now 11-3-6, remained second in the Eastern Conference after losing 4-1 to leaders Nashville on Saturday. Messi played the full 90 minutes in that match, missing a penalty and hitting the post twice while assisting Telasco Segovia. Miami had lost three consecutive matches in all competitions before Wednesday's draw, including two defeats to Mexican clubs in the Leagues Cup. The loss to Nashville also ended Miami's seven-game unbeaten run in MLS. Messi returned as a substitute in Miami's Aug. 12 defeat to Leon, playing 45 minutes. He missed the Aug. 8 match against Monterrey to attend the funeral of his father, Jorge, who died on Aug. 7. The Union, 5-10-5, are unbeaten in five matches, with four wins and a draw, since Ryan Richter took charge as interim coach. Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's teammate on Argentina's 2022 World Cup team, missed Wednesday's match through suspension after accumulating yellow cards. Inter Miami had beaten the Union 6-4 on May 24 in the teams' last meeting before the World Cup break. Messi did not score in that match, but Suarez netted a hat trick as Miami came from behind after trailing 2-0 and 3-1.

The race for the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals continues on Tuesday with two final round-of-16 matches, headlined by a much-anticipated showdown between Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Egypt star Mohamed Salah in Atlanta. The winner of the clash will move a step closer to the title, while the losing side will see its World Cup campaign come to an end. The knockout stage has already featured several standout performances from football's biggest stars. France, inspired by Kylian Mbappé, secured a place in the last eight, while Norway advanced behind Erling Haaland. England also booked a quarterfinal berth after edging Mexico 3-2, whereas Portugal exited the tournament following a 1-0 defeat to Spain in what was Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance. Defending champions Argentina enter Tuesday's match led by Messi, who continues to impress at the age of 39. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored seven goals in four matches, matching Mbappé and Haaland in the race for the tournament's Golden Boot. Messi has also extended his record by scoring in eight consecutive World Cup matches dating back to Argentina's title-winning campaign in 2022, taking his overall World Cup tally to 20 goals. Egypt, meanwhile, will rely heavily on Mohamed Salah, who has long been the face of the country's football. The Liverpool forward has scored three World Cup goals, one shy of the Egyptian national team's all-time international scoring record held by current coach Hossam Hassan. Salah has already helped Egypt reach new milestones by guiding the Pharaohs to their first-ever World Cup group-stage victory and their maiden knockout-stage win after eliminating Australia in a penalty shootout. Neither Messi nor Salah has confirmed whether they will continue playing international football after the tournament, adding further significance to Tuesday's encounter. In the day's other last-16 fixture, Switzerland will take on Colombia in Vancouver. Colombia will become the only team to have played matches in all three host nations — Mexico, the United States and Canada — during this expanded World Cup. Colombia reached the knockout stage after victories over Uzbekistan, Congo and Ghana, while Switzerland advanced by defeating Algeria 2-0 for its first World Cup knockout win since 1938. However, the Swiss could be without several key players, with Johan Manzambi, Ruben Vargas and Djibril Sow all facing fitness concerns after cutting short Monday's training session. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni warned against underestimating Egypt, noting that several traditional football powers have already been eliminated in an unpredictable tournament. "This World Cup has shown there are no clear favorites," Scaloni said, recalling Argentina's hard-fought extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the previous round. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan also expressed confidence ahead of the match, insisting his side is capable of producing another upset. The winner of Argentina-Egypt will face the victor of the Switzerland-Colombia match in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Kansas City. France, Belgium, Spain, Norway and England have already secured their places in the last eight. Round of 16 schedule (BD time): Tuesday, July 7: — Argentina vs. Egypt, 10:00pm in Atlanta Wednesday, July 8: — Switzerland vs. Colombia, 2:00am in Vancouver, British Columbia Quarterfinals schedule Friday, July 10: — Morocco vs. France, 2:00am in Foxborough, Massachusetts Saturday, July 11: — Spain vs. Belgium, 1:00am in Inglewood, California Sunday, July 12: — Norway vs. England, 3:00am in Miami Gardens, Florida — Argentina-Egypt winner vs. Switzerland-Colombia winner, 7:00am in Kansas City, Missouri

Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina survived a dramatic scare on Friday, edging Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Following the final whistle, Messi and his teammates showed visible relief after overcoming a spirited challenge from tournament debutants Cape Verde, who twice fought back to level the match before finally falling short. Despite the defeat, Cape Verde's remarkable performance will be remembered as one of the tournament's biggest surprises. The small island nation off Africa's west coast pushed the reigning world champions to their limits in a memorable contest. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his opponents, saying the match proved there are no easy opponents at the World Cup. Argentina regained the lead for good in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero's header deflected off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and was recorded as an own goal. Messi had earlier opened the scoring with his record-extending 20th World Cup goal, while Lisandro Martinez gave Argentina a 2-1 advantage in stoppage time of normal play. Cape Verde responded on both occasions through Sidny Lopes Cabral and Deroy Duarte. Cabral's stunning curling strike in the 103rd minute leveled the match at 2-2 and briefly raised hopes of a penalty shootout. However, Argentina held on after the decisive own goal and advanced to face Egypt, who defeated Australia in a penalty shootout earlier on Friday. The Round of 16 clash will take place Tuesday in Atlanta. Messi praised his team's determination, saying Argentina continued competing until the very end and never stopped fighting for the victory. Cape Verde's Fairytale Journey EndsCape Verde's first-ever World Cup appearance exceeded all expectations. Backed by outstanding performances from 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, the nation of just over 525,000 people became the smallest country ever to reach the tournament's knockout stage. The Blue Sharks earned impressive draws against former champions Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia, before their courageous display against Argentina. Vozinha was outstanding once again, making 10 saves, including five against Messi, to keep his side in contention throughout the match. Head coach Bubista expressed pride in his players, saying they represented their country with dignity and demonstrated their identity by competing toe-to-toe with one of football's strongest teams. Messi Continues Record-Breaking FormMessi opened the scoring in the 29th minute after timing his run perfectly to meet Lisandro Martinez's lofted pass before controlling the ball and finishing powerfully into the roof of the net. The goal was Messi's seventh of the tournament, moving him one ahead of France's Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot. It also extended his World Cup career scoring record, placing him two goals clear of Mbappé on the all-time list while stretching his scoring streak to eight consecutive World Cup matches, during which he has netted 12 goals. Earlier in the match, Messi narrowly missed the target with a low effort before seeing a free kick comfortably saved by Vozinha, who repeatedly frustrated Argentina's captain. Pride Despite DefeatCape Verde defender Pico Lopes admitted the result was disappointing but said the team could be proud of its resilience after twice coming from behind against the defending champions. Following the match, players and coach Bubista remained on the field for several minutes, many overcome with emotion. Some sat quietly with heads bowed, while others embraced teammates before acknowledging their supporters. Reflecting on the tournament, Bubista said Cape Verde had shown that although it is a small nation, it is capable of competing with the world's best teams. 

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all delivered standout performances on the same day at the World Cup, underlining their status as the tournament’s biggest stars. Haaland scored twice in Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night, finding the net in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. His goals helped him recover from an earlier missed header and a shot that struck the post just before halftime. His display came hours after Messi scored twice for Argentina to set a new World Cup scoring record, while Mbappé also netted a brace for France in a separate match. Haaland, who is still a month away from turning 26, continues to impress for a national team that lacks the international pedigree of Argentina or France. “He is the best striker,” Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said through an interpreter. “He is not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.” Between them, the three forwards have now scored 13 goals in the tournament — five for Messi and four each for Mbappé and Haaland — intensifying the Golden Boot race. “It’s easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France and Argentina,” Solbakken added. “But we’ll try to give Erling more games and more help in the next matches.” Messi moved to 18 World Cup goals after Argentina’s win over Austria in Arlington, Texas, becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer. Mbappé reached 16 goals, tying former record holder Miroslav Klose after France defeated Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia. Haaland, playing in his first World Cup after Norway’s long absence since 1998, now has four goals in the competition. “I’m part of something special. Norway’s part of something special. We’re making history,” Haaland said. The Manchester City striker has now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway, collecting 24 goals in that run. The last time he failed to score in a competitive match for his country was in October 2024. “He’s on fire,” Solbakken said. “I’m very happy for him that he can score on the biggest stage.” Haaland’s first goal against Senegal came during a 4-on-2 counterattack after earlier frustration in front of goal. His second, which hit the crossbar before going in, saw him celebrate by cupping his ear toward Norway fans dressed in red. When asked about his scoring form, Haaland gave a modest explanation. “It’s my specialty to score goals,” he said. “It’s like many other things: I’m just really good at scoring goals, and I’m quite lucky. I don’t know what I’m doing, but yeah. That’s just how it is.”

Lionel Messi’s move to the United States could prove to be a masterstroke if he leads Argentina to consecutive World Cup titles. The 38-year-old joined Inter Miami in 2023, a decision that boosted soccer’s profile in the US, helped his club win trophies and added another chapter to his legendary career. Argentina could be the biggest beneficiary, with Messi still performing at an extraordinary level. Time to accept Messi as the greatest of all time: Brazilian legend Ronaldo

Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a goal as Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0 on Tuesday in their final warm-up match ahead of the World Cup. The Argentina captain, who is preparing for a record sixth World Cup appearance, came off the bench in the 70th minute and converted a penalty two minutes later after Lautaro Martínez was fouled inside the box. Messi, 38, had been recovering from muscle fatigue and a minor hamstring strain picked up during his last appearance for Inter Miami on May 24. After missing the start of the match, he made an immediate impact once introduced. The Argentina star, the national team’s all-time top scorer with 117 goals, struck a high left-footed penalty in the 72nd minute to seal the win. Argentina, the reigning world champions and three-time winners in 1978, 1986 and 2022, will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. Group J also includes Austria and Jordan. The match was only the second meeting between Argentina and Iceland. Their previous encounter came at the 2018 World Cup, which ended 1-1, where Messi had missed a penalty.

Football star Lionel Messi has been sued by a Miami-based event promoter who claims he broke the terms of a $7 million contract by failing to play in a scheduled exhibition match last year. According to court records, Vid Music Group filed a lawsuit last month in a Miami-Dade circuit court, accusing Messi and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) of fraud and breach of contract. The company says it had secured exclusive rights to organize and promote Argentina’s friendly matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico in October, in return for ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship revenue. It claims the agreement required Messi to play at least 30 minutes in each match unless he was injured. Messi did not play in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Venezuela on October 10, instead watching from a suite at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. However, he played the following day for his club Inter Miami in an MLS match, where he scored twice in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United. He later featured in Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Puerto Rico on October 14. That match had originally been scheduled in Chicago but was moved to Florida amid low ticket sales and security concerns. The promoter alleges it suffered losses running into millions of dollars due to Messi’s absence from one match and poor attendance at the other. Messi and the AFA have not yet responded to the lawsuit.