Inter Miami reach their first-ever Eastern Conference final courtesy of Lionel Messi’s brilliance!
Inter Miami advanced to their first MLS Eastern Conference final in club history with a convincing 4–0 victory over FC Cincinnati. This result builds on Miami’s momentum in the postseason, marking their second consecutive 4–0 playoff win under coach Javier Mascherano. Lionel Messi, as usual, was the anchor man behind the triumph, scoring a goal and providing three assists, continuing his consistent involvement in every Miami goal during this playoff journey. The result eliminates Cincinnati at home for the third consecutive season, extending their streak of postseason disappointments just short of the conference final. Messi delivered a commanding performance, scoring the opening goal and assisting on three others to drive Miami’s attack. His header in the 19th minute set the tone for the match, and he was directly involved in the build-up for each subsequent goal. Messi now has six goals and six assists in the postseason. Tadeo Allende continued his postseason form with two second-half goals in the 62nd and 74th minutes. Both came from quick transition plays initiated by Messi, who won possession high and quickly set up Allende. Allende’s impact underscores his importance in this playoff run. Mateo Silvetti, aged 19, made a significant impact by assisting Messi’s opener and adding a goal of his own to make it 2–0. Silvetti finished off a well-worked move that began with a right-side throw-in and a clever exchange with Messi. His performance reinforced the value of Miami’s youthful frontline, which flourished in the absence of Luis Suarez, who was available after suspension but did not start.
Messi to travel to Hyderabad also; CM elated with Messi’s poster
Lionel Messi will also travel to Hyderabad along with Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai in his India trip in December. Satadru Dutta, the organizer of this trip, has already presented a Messi poster to the Chief Minister of Telangana and revealed that the Chief Minister of the state, Revanth Reddy, was elated with Messi’s trip to Hyderabad. “The Chief Minister himself is a fan of Messi. He also said the whole football fraternity of Hyderabad is waiting for Mesi’s arrival, who will be reaching there on 13th December evening after completing his visit to Kolkata.” “The CM also divulged that he will be inviting the state’s corporate fraternity to watch the Messi-show on the day. He has some plans to introduce a youth development program with the city’s potential kids, where he wants Messi to inaugurate the program on the day,” Satadru informed while speaking to Parallel Sports YouTube.
Messi’s masterclass steers Inter Miami to the semifinal in MLS Cup Playoffs
Inter Miami secured a berth in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time. The team thrashed Nashville SC 4-0 in their crucial Game-3 at Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night. The victory marked a milestone for Inter Miami, which had never previously advanced in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Miami’s success ensured Nashville SC’s elimination in the first round for a third consecutive year. The Florida club now prepares to face FC Cincinnati in a single-leg semifinal in two weeks. Lionel Messi dished out a superb show once again, scoring twice with two assists to continue a dominant run across the three-match series. He contributed to all eight of Miami’s goals (five goals, three assists). His performance brought his career tally against Nashville to 15 goals, the most he has scored against any MLS opponent. Besides Messi, Tadeo Allende delivered a significant impact in the second half. Allende scored two quick goals in the 73rd and 76th minutes. Both the strikes were assisted by Messi. His goals were the result of coordinated plays, involving a link-up with Jordi Alba for the first and a precise through ball from Messi for the second. The match’s momentum was established early. In the 10th minute, Messi capitalized on a misplaced pass from Nashville’s Corcoran to score the opener with a low finish. Miami’s lead doubled in the 39th minute when Messi added a second following a defensive error by Walker Zimmerman, with Mateo Silvetti providing the assist.
David Beckham’s mum meets Lionel Messi for the first time; Inter Miami keen to make ‘reunion’ with ‘LSM’ next season!
The Argentine star plays for Beckham’s MLS franchise Inter Miami and met his mother, Sandra, at the club’s training ground. Beckham, 50, caught the wholesome moment on camera as his mum, 76, encountered the 2022 World Cup winner. He snapped two pictures of the pair as they shook hands before posing together. The former Manchester United star shared the snaps on Instagram for his 88.1million followers. He captioned the post: “When your Mum meets Leo for the first time.” Beckham’s son, Romeo, responded with crying face emojis, while his Spice Girl wife, Victoria, commented with two love hearts. His fans also loved the snaps as they flooded the comment section. One posted: “What a great picture. Tad is jealous.” However, it is expected that he will renew terms with the franchise with reports suggesting he is close to signing new agreement with Miami. Should he sign, he would not be returning to the Chase Stadium as the club is preparing to move to Miami Freedom Park Stadium from 2026. It has also been claimed that Miami is keen to reunite Messi with his former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar Jr. The Brazilian’s contract at Santos is due to expire with Miami’s top brass looks willing to sign him on a free transfer fee. The move would see them recreate Barca’s iconic front three of Neymar, Messi and Luis Suarez. Meanwhile, Beckham has also been in talks with FA about helping England ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the US.
Neymar and Jordi Alba might give a ‘surprise’ to Kolkata’s football fanatics, and Messi also at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan!
Sports entrepreneur Shatadru Dutta, the key man behind Lionel Messi’s second visit to Kolkata on December 13, has planned a ‘surprise’ for Messi. As a result, Kolkata’s football fans may see even more excitement, as world football superstars Neymar of Brazil and Jordi Alba of Spain might join Messi at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on the afternoon of December 13. Discussions are ongoing to bring Neymar and Suarez to Kolkata on December 13 for what could become a Barcelona reunion. At present, Messi is unaware of these plans. If Neymar and Suarez attend on December 13, it will reunite Messi, Neymar, and Suarez, who played together at Barcelona in La Liga from 2014, when Suarez joined from Liverpool, until 2017, when Neymar left for Paris Saint-Germain. If the arrival of Brazil’s Neymar and Uruguay’s all-time leading goal-scorer Suarez materialises, it will only be for the Calcutta leg of Messi’s India visit. fter his set of events in Calcutta, Messi will move on to Wankhede and the Kotla for more programmes on December 14 and 15, in Mumbai and Delhi, respectively. In New Delhi, the organisers will also try to have India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill on the same stage as Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo breaks Lionel Messi’s record to begin Portugal’s World Cup 2026 bid
Cristiano Ronaldo began his campaign for a sixth FIFA World Cup finals with flair, scoring twice and setting records as Portugal routed Armenia 5-0 in their qualifiers opener Saturday night. After Joao Felix opened the scoring in the 10th minute, Ronaldo doubled Portugal’s lead in the 21st with his 139th international goal, brushing past his defender to connect with a cross from close range. With his 140th goal, Ronaldo surpassed Lionel Messi on the all-time FIFA World Cup qualifiers scoring list, reaching 38 goals in 48 appearances compared to Messi’s 36 in 72 matches. Ronaldo will be firmly in contention to top the charts when the UEFA Nations League winners go up against Hungary later next week and have four other games left in the qualifiers. Only Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz has scored more goals in WC qualifiers, standing one ahead of Ronaldo with 39 goals in 47 appearances.
Lionel Messi refuses to commit to play in the 2026 World Cup
Messi has not promised to play in the 2026 World Cup, instead indicating his decision will depend on his fitness. Speaking to the Argentine press after Argentina’s 3-0 win over Venezuela on Thursday night, the Argentine captain did not at all look excited when asked about the tournament. Messi explained, “It’s like I’ve said before. I don’t think I’ll play the next World Cup — not because of age, but the logical thing is that I won’t.” “But here I am —excited, wanting to play, but like I’ve always said, I go day by day, game by game. This year we had so many matches, one after another. I just came off a break for a few days, then had another setback,” added the 38-year-old forward. “Luckily, now I was able to play three games in a row, and that’s it — just going day by day, seeing how I feel. What’s clear is that today was my last competitive match here. Now it’s about taking it one day at a time, trying to feel good, and above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it. When I don’t, honestly, I suffer, and I’d rather not be there. So we’ll see.” Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has used Messi’s absences for the last two years to slot in younger players in his traditional no. 10 role as Atletico Madrid’s Thiago Almada, 24, has settled into Argentina’s starting XI with ease and new Real Madrid teenager Franco Mastantuono, 18, started alongside Almada and Messi against Venezuela and performed at a high level, as well. But finally, it will be a shock for the national team and Schaloni if the legendary footballer is not able to help them in their campaign in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With nine months remaining before that tournament begins, Messi is clearly in no hurry to make big proclamations about his involvement. “I’m going game by game,” he said. At this stage, nine months — it goes by fast, but at the same time, it’s a lot of time. We finish the season at the end of the year, then I’ll have a preseason. That leaves me six months, and we’ll see how I feel. Hopefully I can have a good preseason, finish this MLS season well, hopefully win the championship, and then get ready.”
Messi to play in Kerala ultimately in November!
The uncertainty seems to be over. The Lionel Messi-led Argentine national team is coming to Kerala to take part in a friendly match in November this year! The friendly match is likely to take place during FIFA’s November-window, between 10th and 18th November. This visit will mark the first time an Argentine side will be playing in Kerala. The official confirmation came through the team’s social media handles earlier today. The opponents for the fixtures are yet to be announced. “The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendly matches in the remainder of 2025. The first, in October, from the 6th to the 14th, will be played in the United States (opponents and cities to be determined). The second, a FIFA friendly in November, from the 10th to the 18th, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India (opponents to be determined),” the statement read. Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman first revealed that the Argentine national team, led by Messi would be taking part in a friendly match this year. But the much-awaited trip got a big blow following disagreements between the Kerala government, event sponsors, and the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Doubts were created over whether the friendly would actually go ahead. At one point, Kerala’s Sports Minister announced that the Argentine national team’s Kerala-tour would be cancelled. Then, Reporting Broadcasting, the commercial partner of the Kerala state sports ministry, warned of legal action against the AFA. However, the situation now seems to have been resolved, and Argentina are set to play in India later this year. This will be the reigning world champions’ second visit to the country. Their first appearance came in 2011, when Lionel Messi led the side in a friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Messi’s brace and excellent assists guide Inter Miami to trounce New York Red Bulls 5-1 in Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi struck twice and gave two excellent assists to help Inter Miami to a bounce-back 5-1 victory over the host New York Bulls on Saturday night in Harrison, New Jersey. Messi and Inter Miami (12-4-5, 41 points) erased a 1-0 first-half deficit with a flurry of goals late in the first half — two of them coming off the foot of Telasco Segovia — that staked the Herons to a 3-1 half-time lead. Miami won its sixth MLS match in its past seven after having a five-game winning streak snapped at Cincinnati on Wednesday. The Red Bulls (9-9-6, 33 points) failed to string together consecutive wins at home and lost to Inter Miami for the second time this season. New York scored its lone goal in the 15th minute when Emil Forsberg lifted a corner kick in front of Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo’s line of sight. Alexander Hack then kicked it home for the score despite having defender Federico Redondo draped all over him. Rios Novo made his second start this season for Oscar Ustari, who sat out with an injury. Jordi Alba, who exited the game in the 84th minute with what appeared to be a leg cramp, scored his first goal of the season in MLS league play off a cross from Messi in the 24th minute to tie the game1-1.
Messi’s brace helps Inter secure victory and the record of consecutive 15-match winning streak!
Lionel Messi extended his record scoring streak in Major League Soccer with two more goals in a 2-1 victory for host Inter Miami over Nashville SC on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Messi’s brace helped Inter Miami (11-3-5, 38 points) snap a club-record of unbeaten streak of 15 matches across all competitions for Nashville (12-5-5, 41 points), which lost for the first time since April 19 at Seattle. Messi scored two or more goals for the fifth consecutive time in an MLS match — a league record. Inter Miami improved to 4-0-1 in its last five matches with Nashville while also winning its fifth consecutive MLS match overall. Miami has won three in a row since Paris Saint.-Germain eliminated it in the round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup on June 29. Messi capitalised on a major mistake by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to score the eventual decisive goal in the 62nd minute on Saturday. Willis chested a ball and tried to clear it out of his zone, but kicked it right in Messi’s direction. Messi intercepted it with his left foot, then worked the ball around Willis and fired it home to put Miami ahead for good. The goal came 13 minutes after Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar tied the game at 1 with a perfectly timed header off a pinpoint cross from distance by Andy Najar. It was Mukhtar’s 10th goal of the season. Patrick Yazbek also had an assist. Messi’s first goal came in the 17th minute on another spectacular free-kick goal. Messi fired a ball precisely through a gap in the wall set up by Nashville’s defenders, and it found the mark just out of the reach of a diving Willis. Messi’s 16 goals are tied for the most in the league with Nashville’s Sam Surridge, who was kept off the scoresheet on Saturday. Messi has 23 goal contributions in MLS games this season and has 22 goals across all competitions.
