Fifteen years ago, Manchester City were so enamoured with the all-conquering Barcelona that they sought to replicate the same structure. They began by hiring chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, before eventually landing Pep Guardiola to manage the team. All that was missing was Lionel Messi - though they nearly signed the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner at the very start of the Abu Dhabi-led project by mistake!
Lamine Yamal continues to be billed as the ‘next Lionel Messi’, having stepped out of the same La Masia academy system at Barcelona, but the teen sensation has been told that Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is “closer” to earning GOAT status than he is. That is the opinion of ex-Blancos star Guti, who has seen Yamal likened to Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona.
Lionel Messi helped to inspire Inter Miami to a historic MLS Cup triumph, but the Argentine GOAT was not really in a party mood when wild post-match celebrations were taken in. Club co-owner Sir David Beckham formed part of those, as he led a conga line, but Messi - who has enhanced his status as the most decorated player of all-time - looked like he would rather be anywhere else in the world.
Mohamed Salah has been brutally reminded that he is not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Liverpool forward accused of “tricking himself” into believing that he has become “untouchable”. The Egyptian superstar has delivered an explosive rant, having been benched recently, in which he accused Premier League heavyweights of throwing him under the bus.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla - Lionel Messi waited almost three years to lift his first league title in North America. Now that the Argentine has helped Inter Miami lift their first franchise title, he admitted it was their main objective this season, and he appreciated the team-wide effort by Javier Mascherano's side to accomplish it.
Lionel Messi delivered a moment of magic to secure Inter Miami their first MLS Cup title, ending a two-and-a-half-year wait to lift the league's biggest prize.
Ahead of MLS Cup, Fray joins GOAL Convo to talk growing up near Chase Stadium, playing with Messi and Co., and what this moment means for him and Inter Miami.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup is finally over! After what seemed like an eternity, the real business finally got underway in Friday's ceremony in Washington DC, with Rio Ferdinand leading the way and sporting icons such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal and Wayne Gretzky teaming up to throw up some intriguing groups for next summer's tournament in North America.
Mic’d Up: McCarty breaks down the MLS Cup - why benching Suárez was a “career-defining” call, how Müller made Vancouver must-watch, and which side he thinks has the edge.
Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller meet in an MLS Cup final full of storylines, from farewells to uncertainty, driving what should be a strong match this Saturday.
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