INTER MIAMI LIONEL MESSI MAKES MLS HISTORY WITH INCREDIBLE BACK-TO-BACK GOLDENBOOT AWARDS

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Lionel Messi has cemented his legacy in the United States by becoming the first player to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards. The Inter Miami forward finished the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season with 26 goals, proving he remains in a class of his own at 39 years old.

Messi secures historic consecutive Golden Boot awards

Messi has rewritten the history books by becoming the first player to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards. The Inter Miami forward finished the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season with a league-high 26 goals to his name.

The 39-year-old achieved this remarkable scoring feat across 31 appearances, which included 29 starts for his club. He ultimately finished four goals clear of his nearest challenger, FC Dallas forward Petar Musa, while Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge took third place with 21 goals.

Messi is now just the sixth player to finish with the most goals in multiple MLS regular seasons. His prolific form also included 17 assists, giving him an astonishing league-high 43 goal contributions overall.

Inter Miami coach backs Messi for MVP

The legendary forward previously won the Golden Boot in 2025 after scoring 29 goals in just 28 regular-season matches. Having already claimed the prestigious MVP award in 2024 and 2025, he remains the heavy favourite to win the trophy again in 2026.

If successful, the recently retired Argentina international will become the first three-time MVP winner in MLS history. Inter Miami head coach Kily Gonzalez firmly believes his star player is fully deserving of the historic accolade.

- Yosua Arya

BALLON D'OR TOP 10 | 2026

 

MESSI'S INTER MIAMI BEAT NEW YORK CITY TO REACH THIRD STRAIGHT MLS PLAYOFF

Messi assist sets Inter Miami on way to 2-0 win against New York City FC as back-to-back wins guarantee playoff place.

Inter Miami's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi, flanked by Brazilian defender Casemiro, applauds after win in New York City FC [Chandad Khanna/AFP]

Lionel Messi set up a Rodrigo De Paul goal, and German Berterame snapped his scoring drought as Inter Miami booked their place in the MLS (Major League Soccer) playoffs with a 2-0 win over New York City FC on Wednesday.

Victory gave Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez his first back-to-back wins since taking over as head coach last month, guaranteeing second-placed Miami at least a place in the wild card round of the competition in the United States, with five games left to play.

“I’m leaving happy. Obviously, there’s a lot to improve, but we’re making progress little by little,” Gonzalez said.

Messi – who had scored twice on Saturday after returning to his club side from last week’s emotional Argentina send-off – was again a dangerous presence, playing a hand in both first-half goals.

In the 20th minute, Messi trapped the ball just outside the penalty area and passed it to De Paul, who found Suarez on the byline with a diagonal looping ball.

Suarez rolled it flat across the face of the goal, giving Berterame a simple finish for his first goal since May.

De Paul grabbed Miami’s second on a quick counter with the final kick of the first half. Berterame brought the ball across the halfway line and was slightly fortunate to find Messi to his right with a mishit pass.

Messi drew in three defenders then laid it off with the outside of his left foot to De Paul, who slammed it high to the keeper’s right.

In a goalless second half, Messi sent a curling effort from just outside the box over the bar.

As the game clock hit 90, Messi played a short corner to De Paul, who unleashed a shot from outside the box towards the far top corner. United States national team goalkeeper Matt Freese made a superb diving save, tipping the ball onto the post.

New York City, on a dire streak of just one win in their last 11 MLS games, at least had a chance for a consolation deep in stoppage time with a penalty.

Ian Fray brought down fellow substitute Talles Magno, who turned sharply away from goal and ran into the defender’s trailing leg.

But Dayne St Clair made a brilliant save, flinging himself low and right to palm the ball around the bar.

It was Inter Miami’s second straight clean sheet, after none in their previous 10.

“I really liked how we handled dropping back into defensive shape. We didn’t get caught out on the counter and were very aggressive, breaking up plays whenever a sudden transition from them looked likely,” said Gonzalez.

“Perhaps our ball circulation was a bit too slow at times, but that’s just how the game played out.”

Even with first-place Nashville out of sight this year in the Eastern Conference, the win consolidated Miami’s grip on second and home-field advantage into the playoffs.

- Aljazeera

ARGENTINA IN TEARS 😭 | FANS BID FAREWELL TO THEIR 'CULT' HERO | THE G.O.A.T 🐐

 

LIONEL MESSI'S LAST MATCH ENDS WITH VICTORY & TEARS

 

LIONEL MESSI FULL EMOTIONAL ARGENTINA FAREWELL | 1 GOAL & 2 ASSISTS

 

MANCHESTER UNITED DEFENDER LISANDRO MARTINEZ WAS ON THE FIELD AS LIONEL MESSI CPOSED THE BOOK ON HIS ARGENTINA CAREER

 

The former Barcelona man announced his international retirement in August, and this friendly against Benin was set up to mark the departure of La Albiceleste's record appearance maker, and the man who helped deliver the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

As the two sides walked onto the pitch, they were met by a fireworks display and a huge Argentina shirt with Messi's no.10 on it.

Staying on that theme, the game was halted in the 10th minute for more fireworks and a standing ovation for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

The game was a routine 3-0 win for Lionel Scaloni's side and Messi was involved in all three goals, providing assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz before converting a penalty for a strike of his own.

Licha was a second-half substitute, replacing former Manchester City man Otamendi shortly after he netted the opener.

"I told Leo Messi that I love him with all my heart," Martinez told broadcaster TyC Sports after the game.

Our defender was on the pitch 30 times with Messi in total, the pair combining for one of the 38-year-old's 126 Argentina goals. Only former Red Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more at international level with 146.

The friendly also drew the curtain on our involvement in the extended three-week international break, with focus now shifting firmly back to domestic action.

First up for the Reds is the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford this Saturday (10 October) for a 17:30 BST kick-off.

- Isaac Stacey Stronge

THE THINGS YOU DON'T SEE WHEN YOU WATCH FOOTBALL

 

LIONEL MESSI RETIRES FROM ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Monday, officially ending one of the greatest international careers of all time.

Inter Miami CF's legendary No. 10 confirmed the news on his social media account, calling it a "decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come.

"I swear to you that I always gave it my all: not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."

Argentina icon

Messi retires from international duty as a national team hero, rivalled only by the late Diego Armando Maradona. 

His 125 goals, 68 assists and 207 appearances are all Argentina records, while he ranks top-four all-time in caps, top-two in goals and No. 1 in assists across international soccer. 

The 39-year-old reached his greatest heights with La Albiceleste at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, leading the country to its third title with 7g/3a over the course of a memorable tournament that culminated with a legendary final win over France. 

Messi also won two Copa Américas (2021, '24) with Argentina, and reached the 2014 and 2026 World Cup finals. He is the only player in history to win two World Cup Golden Ball awards (2014, '22) and the only player to start three World Cup finals (2014, '22, '26).

Thank you for giving us the most beautiful journey of our lives. Your legacy and professionalism will remain forever etched in our hearts.

Thank you, Captain. We love you 🩵 pic.twitter.com/ARfgguHjxd

— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) August 31, 2026

Emotional end

Monday's announcement capped an emotional summer for Messi, who guided Argentina to their second straight World Cup final with 8g/4a in eight games, before falling to Spain, 1-0, in the 2026 title match. 

That turned out to be his last appearance with La Albiceleste. It also came a few weeks before the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner mourned the passing of his father, Jorge Messi.

"I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final," Messi concluded in his statement.

"Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."

🚨🚨 LEO MESSI ON IG 🥹🎥 pic.twitter.com/8xO5lcfI2e

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) August 31, 2026

Statement in full

Messi, the most decorated soccer player in history, addressed his millions of followers on Monday to officially announce the end of his remarkable 21-year run with Argentina:

"After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team.

"It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all: not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

"Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the National Team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.

"Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad, especially the bad).

"Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey, so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.

"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, alongside my teammates, moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!

"Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.

"Let's go, Argentina!

"I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."

Jaime Uribarri

LIONEL MESSI RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL DUTY

 

Lionel Messi has RETIRED from the Argentinian national team 🥺🇦🇷

👕 207 games

⚽️ 125 goals 

🅰️ 68 assists 

🏆 World Cup  

🏆🏆 Copa América 

🏆 Finalissima   

A true great on the international stage who delivered two of the greatest World Cup performances in 2022 and 2026 🙌🐐

- OneFootball

AFA-RBC AGREEMENT SIGNATORIES FACE TA. FRAUD IN ARGENTINA, COLLECTION AGENT PROBED BY FBI FOR MONEY LAUNDERING

Image. Canva.

Two signatories to the agreement between Reporter Broadcasting Company Private Limited (RBC) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to bring Messi and team to Kerala -- Claudio Tapia and Victor Blanca -- have faced multiple cases of alleged tax fraud, money laundering and financial mismanagement in Argentina, even forcing a court in Buenos Aires to issue a travel ban on them.

In the agreement signed on December 20, 2024, with Anto Augustine of RBC, Tapia and Blanco represented AFA as President and General Secretary, respectively. The agreement also shows Tourprodenter as the collection agent of the AFA. It was agreed that all funds shall be deposited into the company's account at Bank of America. Accordingly, Tourprodenter received $14.5 million in two instalments.

Claudio Tapia, who signed as the second party in the agreement for the Messi-led Argentina team to Kerala, was summoned for questioning in March 2026 by the court in Buenos Aires. Quoting court documents, the Associated Press reported that he is accused of failing to pay social contributions amounting to 19 billion pesos ($12.8 million) in 2024 and 2025.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by the country's customs collection and control agency. The court had then issued a travel ban on AFA treasurer Pablo Toviggino and other office- bearers Cristian Malaspina, Gustavo Lorenzo and Victor Blanco. Along with Tapia, Blanco has signed the agreement with the RBC.

Tourprodenter, AFA's collection agent, is also embroiled in another investigation. BA Times reported on a judicial investigation into AFA's handling of funds through the firm and a possible link to a luxury mansion in Pilar. Reports also surfaced about a federal investigation in the US into offshore funds and financial deals of AFA.

While local dailies had reported that Tapia was summoned for questioning, AFA came up with an explanation that none of the officials had been asked to appear for interrogation. However, the AFA release stated that the subpoena issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida was addressed to a third party, who was required to appear before a Grand Jury and potentially provide documentation and communications related to various individuals, including officials of this Association.

Argentine Daily La Nacion reported in July that the US Department of Justice is looking into the business deals of the US-based company owned by Tapia with Tourprodenter and how the firm channelled funds.

The report submitted by the Special Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, to the Chief Minister flags reports about the deals of Tourprodenter. Miami Herald, which actively pursued the case, has reported that the FBI is investigating whether Tourprodenter illegally routed more than $300 million in sponsorship receipts through the US banking system and remittance companies to top AFA executives and associates in Argentina for their personal use.

Documents show that Tapia sent an invitation to RBC in August 2025 for a meeting on September 1 and to attend a match between Argentina and Venezuela on September 4, 2025.

- Aswin J Kumar

MESSI RETURNS ROSARIO AFTER HIS FATHER'S DEATH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FAREWELL CEREMONY

Lionel Messi (Photo/Archive)

Rosario, Argentina – Argentine star Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, arrived in his hometown of Rosario on Saturday evening, following the death of his father Jorge Messi, to participate in the farewell ceremony with family members.

Jorge Messi died at the age of 68, after a long battle with illness, leaving behind one of the most prominent figures who had a significant impact on the life and football career of the Argentine national team captain.

Jorge played a pivotal role in the beginning of his son’s career, managing his business affairs and overseeing many of his off-field matters from his early years. He was also strongly present in Messi’s journey from Argentina to Europe and the beginning of his career with Barcelona.

During Messi’s time at Newell’s Old Boys, Jorge took care of providing his son with the necessary treatment and monitoring his condition, before accompanying him during his move to Spain and joining the Barcelona academy, while his mother remained in Rosario to take care of the rest of the family.

Despite his name being linked to his son’s famous career, Jorge Messi maintained a limited media presence, preferring to stay out of the spotlight and focus on supporting his son and family away from media attention.

Jorge Messi leaves behind his wife Celia Cuccittini, his sons Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol, along with his grandchildren and the rest of the family.

- Ahmed Khairy

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LIONEL MESSI MEME 🤣 | FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

 

LIONEL MESSI REACTS TO ICONIC LAMINE YAMAL PHOTO BEFORE WORLD CUP FINAL:'IT'S CRAZY ..'

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has described Lamine Yamal as one of the best players in world football ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final, but the Argentina captain admitted he hopes the Barcelona youngster is kept quiet when the two nations meet with football’s biggest prize at stake.

The meeting between Spain and Argentina has naturally been built around two generations of football’s elite. 

On one side is Messi, preparing for another World Cup final with Argentina. 

On the other is Yamal, whose performances have confirmed his status as one of the brightest talents in the game.

Away from the official press conferences, FIFA organised a special event at the Fan Fest featuring Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, midfielder Rodri, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. 

The biggest attraction, however, was Messi, who also appeared alongside Novak Djokovic, Kevin Durant and Tom Brady for a discussion ahead of the final.

Messi feels Yamal is destined for a special career

Messi has nothing but praise for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Asked about the teenager’s rapid rise, Messi had nothing but admiration for the Barcelona winger, revealing he has followed his progress closely because of his affection for the Catalan club.

“Lamine is a truly great player, whom I’ve followed very closely because he plays for a club I love and for which I always wish the best. 

“At just 19, he’s already one of the world’s leading players. He has his whole career ahead of him and the chance to achieve something historic. 

"We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t happen this time,” said the Barcelona legend.

Messi reflects on iconic Lamine Yamal photo

Messi was also asked about the famous photograph taken nearly two decades ago, showing him holding a baby Yamal during a charity calendar photoshoot.

The image has resurfaced repeatedly in recent months, especially with the pair now preparing to face each other on football’s biggest stage.

Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real.

More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot.

Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices and platforms as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors to support and advocate for children around the world.

The goal? That every child survives, thrives, and fulfils their potential.

We are proud to have them on our team.

Credit: Joan Monfort

Reflecting on that moment, Messi said, “That photo is crazy. Life… 

“I had my photo taken with him when I was a baby and now we’re set to face each other in a World Cup final. 

“He’s one of the best in the world right now and I wish him the very best of luck because if he does well, so will Barcelona. 

“That said, we’ll try to put in a good performance so he doesn’t play at his best, although that’s difficult.”

While his admiration for Yamal was clear, Messi also reminded everyone that Spain’s strength lies in the collective rather than one individual.

He concluded, “It’s not just Lamine. Spain have some brilliant players and play great football. We’ve got our own weapons too.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo

- Swapnil Bhopatkar

LIONEL MESSI ALMOST PLAYED FOR SPAIN: THE FORGOTTEN STORY OF A VHS TAPE

FIFA World Cup 2026 final carries added significance for Lionel Messi, who came close to committing his international future to Spain during the early years of his career.

Lionel Messi in action
© AFP

After more than a month of intense competition, Argentina and Spain have emerged as the two finalists of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The tournament, which began with a record 48 teams, has now come down to a highly anticipated title clash between the two football giants, set to take place on Monday in New Jersey. For Argentina captain Lionel Messi, the occasion marks a full-circle moment. The 39-year-old is set to play in his third World Cup final during his sixth appearance at the tournament. However, this final carries added significance for Messi, who came close to committing his international future to Spain during the early years of his career.

In September 2001, Messi arrived in Barcelona at the age of 13 to join the club's famed La Masia academy. He would go on to spend 21 years with the Catalan giants, developing into one of the greatest footballers of all time before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Yet despite spending most of his formative and professional years in Spain, Messi's dream was always to represent Argentina on the international stage-a decision that ultimately shaped one of the most iconic careers in football history.

Former Argentina coach Jose Pekerman, who handed Lionel Messi his senior international debut, once revealed that he first learned about the youngster from members of Argentina's coaching staff during the 2003 U-17 World Cup.

Back in 2002, then-national team coach Marcelo Bielsa and his assistant Claudio Vivas came across information about the Barcelona prodigy while visiting Spain to monitor several Argentine internationals playing there.

However, the story took a different turn when one of Messi's early representatives, Horacio Gaggiolo, shared an incident about the VHS tapes.

"That was [Messi's dad] Jorge's idea. He told me: "Horacio, the Argentine national team is coming to Barcelona, can you get them some footage of Leo?" Leo wasn't well known in Argentina. We had a video that I was given by Barca with some plays, and I went to the Hotel Princesa Sofia in Barcelona where they were staying. I asked for Vivas, who was Bielsa's assistant," Gaggiolo told ESPN, as quoted by Hindustan Times. 

"When Marcelo renewed his contract with Argentina, we toured Europe to explain to the players why we had renewed after the South Korea-Japan World Cup [in 2002]. During that stop in Barcelona, an Argentine man approached me," he added.

"I told Marcelo about him and he asked: "Does he play well?" I said: "He doesn't just play well, he's incredible!" "Let me see, play a little bit of it," Marcelo said, adding as I played the tape: "But play it at normal speed, you can't see anything like this." I said: "Marcelo, it is at normal speed, I just pressed play." He said: "But this kid is unbelievable!"

However, by the time the video footage reached Hugo Tocalli, Argentina's youth team coach, preparations for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup were already at an advanced stage. As a result, Tocalli chose not to include Messi in the squad. Argentina eventually suffered a 3-2 defeat to Spain in the semi-finals. Following the tournament, a member of Spain's team staff told Tocalli that Argentina would likely have beaten Spain had Messi featured in their lineup.

How Messi played for Argentina?

Upon returning to Argentina, Tocalli set out to bring Messi into the national team setup. A friendly match was quickly organized to assess the young forward, but the circumstances surrounding it were rather unusual. With little time available to make arrangements, the match even had an Argentine referee officiating it, as FIFA regulations required a recognized match official for the game.

Horacio Gaggioli, revealed that there was significant interest from Spain regarding the youngster's international future.

"I received many calls asking whether he could play for the Spanish national team," Gaggioli recalled. "I would tell them that the decision ultimately rested with Leo and his family. There was no question about his ability, but he had to choose."

Despite the speculation, Messi's stance remained unwavering. According to Gaggioli, the football icon was always determined to represent Argentina while continuing his club career with Barcelona.

- Tushar Mamgaain

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LIONEL MESSI'S 1ST INSTAGRAM POST AFTER ARGENTINA'S WIN VS JORDAN TAKES INTERNET BY STORM

Lionel Messi struck a note of unity after Argentina wrapped up a perfect FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage campaign.

Messi in action/ AFP

Lionel Messi struck a note of unity after Argentina wrapped up a perfect FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage campaign, with the captain declaring, "One more win to complete the group stage. We're still together," in an Instagram post following the reigning champions' 3-1 victory over Jordan. The message came after yet another historic outing for the 39-year-old, who continued to rewrite the World Cup record books with a trademark free-kick that made him the tournament's all-time leader in goals scored from outside the penalty area. 

Introduced in the 60th minute, Messi curled home Argentina's third goal in the 80th minute to register his sixth World Cup strike from outside the box, surpassing Brazil legend Rivelino's long-standing record of five.

The goal also lifted Messi's overall World Cup tally to 19, extending his record as Argentina's leading scorer in the competition. It was his sixth goal of the ongoing tournament after a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria in the opening two group matches.

Messi also became the first men's player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup appearances, adding another landmark to his glittering international career. The Argentine captain further joined an elite group by becoming only the fourth player to score in all three group-stage matches of a single FIFA World Cup since the current format was introduced in 1998, following Cristiano Ronaldo (2018), David Villa (2010) and Fernando Torres (2010).

Argentina's victory was equally significant for the team, as it marked the nation's 50th win at the FIFA World Cup, making La Albiceleste only the third country after Brazil and Germany to reach the milestone.

With qualification already assured, head coach Lionel Scaloni made nine changes to his starting XI, but Argentina remained in complete control. Giovani Lo Celso marked his World Cup debut with a stunning first-half free-kick before Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty after a VAR review.

Jordan briefly threatened through Musa Al-Tamaari's goal in the 55th minute, but Messi's introduction changed the tempo of the contest, and his brilliant late free-kick ensured Argentina completed the group stage with three wins from three. Argentina will face tournament debutants Cape Verde in the Round of 32 in Miami on July 4, while Jordan exited the competition after losing all three group-stage matches.

- ANI

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