Charlotte FC Overview

Lionel Messi and Co. remain favorites, but strong starts from Nashville, San Jose and Vancouver have the league nicely poised heading into a long break.

Wilfried Zaha has left Charlotte FC and will return to parent club Galatasaray during Major League Soccer’s World Cup break, he announced Sunday. The forward’s yearlong loan had been extended through June 30, but with Charlotte out of action until mid-July, the Ivorian departs immediately. He was not named to Ivory Coast’s World Cup squad.

Lionel Messi was left out of Inter Miami's squad as they played out a goalless draw against Charlotte. But the decision to leave Messi out of the squad was strategic rather than injury-related as, having played the full 90 minutes against Nashville SC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 just days prior, the Inter Miami coaching staff opted to protect their prized asset.

Despite the absence of multiple big stars, Javier Mascherano's side held firm in a scoreless draw