Western Overview

This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series that counts down to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. This week, we dive into the rise of the Lionel Messi in the United States, the emotional connection that transformed Miami, his seismic impact on U.S. soccer, and the possibility that the upcoming World Cup might offer him the most fitting stage of his career - one built around comfort, belonging, and a crowd that treats him like their own hero.

Lionel Messi is preparing for a record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance, but the player heading to the tournament is unrecognizable from the teenager who first burst onto the scene. While most elite stars adapt to decline, the Inter Miami talisman has spent two decades adapting to stay ahead of the game.

Dejan Joveljic is an excellent MLS striker, but in another life he might have been a competitive chess player.

The MLS All Star initial XI has been revealed, and the big names have made it - along with a few well-deserved surprises. GOAL's writers break it all down in the latest Rondo.