LIONEL MESSI MAKES MLS CUP PLAYOFFS HISTORY WITH DOMINANT INDIVIDUAL DISPLAY IN INTER MIAMI ROUT OF FC CINCINNATI

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Lionel Messi made MLS Cup playoffs history with a dominant individual display as Inter Miami thrashed FC Cincinnati 4-0 to progress to the Eastern Conference finals. The World Cup-winning Argentina legend was involved in every goal, contributing one of his own and three assists for his team to leave the David Beckham-owned club just two games away from winning their first-ever MLS Cup.

Messi scripts MLS Cup Playoffs history

Messi opened the scoring for Inter Miami with a brilliant header in the 18th minute. The goal came after a swift counterattack sparked by former Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba, who intercepted a misplaced pass from Nick Hagglund in midfield. The Spaniard quickly found Messi in a central pocket, and the Argentina star slid a perfectly-weighted ball out to Mateo Silvetti on the left. The youngster then sent an inch-perfect cross into the box, and Messi met it with a bouncing header that beat goalkeeper Roman Celentano and nestled into the far corner.

The 38-year-old then returned the favour to his compatriot Silvetti as he provided the assist for his goal in the second period. Messi went on to set up two more assists for Tadeo Allende as Inter Miami completed the rout of FC Cincinnati. With a combined four goals and assists in the clash, Messi created history as he now has 12 goal contributions, the most in the history of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Inter Miami two games away from winning MLS Cup

Messi has certainly changed Inter Miami's fortunes since joining the club in a high-profile transfer in 2023. The club which made its debut in 2020 and finished among the top 10 teams in the MLS Eastern Conference, won the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2024 under the leadership of the Argentina captain. In the subsequent campaign, Messi has now led the Herons to the Conference finals and is only two games away from helping the club win its first-ever MLS Cup. He has also enjoyed a stellar run of form in the current season, as he has scored 43 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions and has provided 23 assists. He is on course to win back-to-back MVP awards in the MLS.

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Mascherano hails Messi

Speaking after the crucial victory, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said: "Messi is an amazing player. He is good at handling the ball and pressing. Coaching him is my privilege." He added: "We still haven't achieved anything. We need more focus. We must show our best performance in the next match to reach the MLS final."

Up next: Inter Miami gear up for New York City

In the other Eastern Conference semi-final, New York City FC edged out Philadelphia Union 1-0 and will now face a red-hot Inter Miami side, led by Messi, in the final on November 29. The kind of form Messi and his team have displayed, fans can remain hopeful of reaching the final game for the ultimate prize. 

- Ritabrata Banerjee

LIONEL MESSI REACTION TO MLS SUSPENSION REVEALED

Lionel Messi is said to be ‘very upset’ over his MLS ban (Getty)

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas has revealed that Lionel Messi is ‘extremely upset’ over his Major League Soccer suspension for missing the 2025 MLS All-Star Game.

Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were both voted into the All-Star Game but did not take part in any of the events in Austin, Texas this week.

The former Barcelona duo did not show for the All-Star skills challenge on Tuesday evening and were missing from the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday where they would have played against an equivalent select squad from Mexico’s LigaMX.

MLS rules state that players who miss the All-Star Game without approval from the league are subject to a suspension. On Friday, MLS confirmed that Messi and Alba will serve a one-game ban and are ‘unavailable’ for Inter Miami’s league match against Cincinnati on Saturday night.

‘The reaction was as expected, obviously it was not a positive reaction, they want to compete, they want to play games, that’s what they’re here for – to play and win,’ Mas said on Friday.

‘They understand the magnitude of tomorrow night’s game, so the reaction was exactly as expected out of two competitive players who don’t understand the decision, who don’t understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension, the rule is what it is, they don’t understand it.

‘I don’t agree with the rule, I have made my thoughts know to the commissioner very plainly. I think it is going to change but that’s neither here nor there, but their reaction was as I expected, they were extremely upset both of them.

Asked if the decision could impact Messi’s future at Inter Miami, Mas replied: ‘He’s very upset, he’s extremely upset, as expected. I’m hopeful it doesn’t have an impact long term.

‘Will it have an impact initially in the player’s perception on how the league rules work? Absolutely, no doubt.’

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement: ‘I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don’t think there’s a player – or anyone – who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi.

‘I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision.

‘Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision. That said, we’re going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. I’m committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve.’

- Chris Davie

LIONEL MESSI'S INTER MIAMI ELIMINATED FROM MLS CUP PLAYOFFS IN FIRST ROUND

The MLS Cup title dreams of Lionel Messi came to an abrupt end on Saturday with his Inter Miami suffering a shock first-round elimination from the playoffs after a 3-2 home defeat to Atlanta United.

Miami had won the regular season campaign with a record points total but after losing twice in the best-of-three series, the MLS Cup favourites and their eight-times Ballon d’Or winner are out.

All the accolades Miami received for their regular season ‘Supporters’ Shield’ triumph count for little after an Atlanta team which finished ninth in the Eastern Conference pulled off a stunning upset.

Inter took the lead in the 17th minute when Messi was denied by a diving save from Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan but Matias Rojas followed in to slot home the loose ball.

Just two minutes later though the visitors, who only secured a wildcard spot on the final day of the season, levelled when a deflected pass from Dax McCarty fell to Jamal Thiare who confidently fired home with a sweet strike.

Miami were stunned when moments later Thiare struck again — the 37-year-old McCarty lifted the ball forward to Russian Aleksei Miranchuk who slipped the ball inside to the Senegalese striker who blasted home to make it 2-1.

Diego Gomez thought he had brought Miami level in the 23rd minute but his effort was ruled out for offside and Miami continued to look vulnerable against Atlanta’s swift breaks.

After the break, the 40-year-old former USA and Aston Villa keeper Guzan was in inspired form as he frustrated Miami’s search for an equalizer.

Inter Miami, with the injured Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets on the bench, lacked fluency in midfield and neither Messi nor his former Barcelona strike partners Luis Suarez were at their best as they struggled to conjure up opportunities from limited service.

But it was Lionel Messi who finally broke through in the 65th minute, meeting a Marcelo Weigandt cross from the right with a thundering header.

"Miami pushed forward in search of the winner but instead, they were caught out once again with Pedro Amador’s cross from the left headed home at the back post by Polish midfielder Bartosz Slisz.

Inter Miami players were furious that the referee had allowed play to continue while their defender Tomas Aviles lay injured on the floor but their frustration was in vain.

The final whistle brought a deflated silence over Chase Stadium as Miami’s season, which so many had expected would end with their first MLS Cup title, concluded with the sight of Guzan and his Atlanta team-mates celebrating.

For Miami head coach Gerardo Martino, who won MLS Cup with Atlanta in 2018, an inquest is sure to follow but he tried to put a brave face on the loss.

“This season has had good and bad things. If you think about where we were in November last year, there has obviously been progress in terms of the club, not just the team. If you think about the expectations we had for this playoffs, obviously we came up a little short,” said the Argentine.

Martino said there was a despondent mood in the dressing room.

“The players are sad, as they should be when there are so many expectations and the team can’t fulfil them. In this final part of the year we got used to achieving the objectives but we couldn’t achieve the most important one,” he said.

Former Spain full-back Jordi Alba questioned whether the playoff format was the right approach for MLS.

I think this format is a bit unfair. It’s been done for many years but I think it should be the champion of one conference against the champion of the other, to make it as fair as possible,” said the former Barcelona wing-back.

Atlanta will now face Orlando in the Eastern Conference semi-finals with New York Red Bulls and New York City clashing in the other conference semi.

 - AFP

COPA DEL REY: BARCELONA YAICHAPA SEVILLA 2-0 NA KUCHUKUA KOMBE LA 2

Barcelona imechukuwa kombe la Copa del Rey wakiwa na wachezaji 10 ndani ya uwanja wa Vincente Calderon wa Atletico Madrid...Kombe hili ni la 2 baada ya kushinda kombe la La Liga hivi karibuni...Ni mara ya 28 Barcelona wanashinda kombe la Copa del Rey...

Wafungaji walikuwa Jordi Alba na Neymar...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.