Lionel Messi's Inter Miami came into the 2026 season with a ton of new shiny toys, but it was a familiar LAFC who dominated in their season opener - crushing the Herons in a 3-0 rout in front of an MLS-record opening day crowd of 75,673 at LA Memorial Coliseum. Denis Bouanga sparked an impressive performance for the Black and Gold, with an impressive goal and assist in the second half.
Lionel Messi was unable to make an impact and Inter Miami were poor defensively as they dropped the first game of the season to LAFC, 3-0. The Herons never really got into the game, and were undone by three clinical counterattacks by the home side - who showed that they just might be serious challengers for MLS Cup this year.
Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has spoken of his desire to bring Lionel Messi back to the club to give him a proper farewell. The Argentine legend left Camp Nou in sad circumstances back in 2021, with the Catalan giants unable to agree a new contract due to financial constraints. He left for Paris Saint-Germain and currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
After a record MLS playoff run, Tadeo Allende opens up on Messi’s leadership, new competition from Berterame, and why he committed his future to Inter Miami.
If you're wondering about the main dates for the upcoming Major League Soccer season, GOAL has you covered - plus more info on how to watch games on TV
Keylor Navas has played with the greatest players of the modern era, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi. However, the legendary Costa Rican goalkeeper has snubbed both icons when naming the most talented teammate he has ever witnessed. Reflecting on his career, the three-time Champions League winner explained why a Brazilian superstar left the biggest impression on him during their time together in Paris.
Presidential hopeful Marc Ciria has launched a bold bid for the Barcelona top job by unveiling a massive tribute to Lionel Messi in the heart of the city. The 'Moviment 42' leader aims to rectify the "historical injustice" of the Argentine's 2021 departure as his campaign to replace Joan Laporta as club chief centres on emotional reconciliation and a rigorous five-point economic plan to revitalise the Catalan giants.
Lionel Messi trained fully with Inter Miami on Wednesday after dealing with a muscle issue during preseason. New Designated Player Germán Berterame also trained with the group following the approval of his work visa. Both players are available for Saturday’s match against Son Heung-Min's LAFC at BMO Stadium.
Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has claimed his 'toughest opponent' during his playing days was not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, despite recognising the iconic duo as the 'best players' he came up against. Kompany made 621 senior appearances as a player between 2003 and 2020, most notably captaining Manchester City and the Belgium national team.
GOAL spoke to GMs and chief soccer officers across MLS about the league’s 3.0 vision: the calendar change is progress, but executives say the next steps must come faster.
Gordon Ramsay insists that close friend Sir David Beckham is an “incredible dad” and believes time will heal a rift that has torn one of the world’s most famous families apart. Brooklyn Beckham has become engulfed in a stunning feud with his iconic parents, claiming that he has no plans to reconcile. Ramsay is confident that bridges will be rebuilt.
Lionel Messi is well versed in the art of goal celebration, but the Argentine GOAT struggled to crack a smile after watching son Mateo find the back of the net for Inter Miami’s youth team. The youngster is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his famous father by becoming a professional footballer, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner on hand to offer words of advice.
Antonela Roccuzzo took to Instagram to show off the giant Valentine's Day gift she received from husband Lionel Messi. The Argentina international showed off his personal side as the forward continues to recover from injury. And rather than make a big song and dance of the day, Messi treated Roccuzzo to dinner and gifts as a display of affection.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has explained why he is more Cristiano Ronaldo than Lionel Messi, with the NBA superstar adding his voice to the long-running GOAT debate. The Milwaukee Bucks talisman is hoping to form part of those discussions in basketball circles and sees himself being cut from similar sporting cloth to Portuguese icon CR7 - while being a huge admirer of magical Argentina international Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo, amid his strike action at Al-Nassr, is being backed for an “incredible” link-up with Lionel Messi in MLS. CR7 is seeing a stunning move away from the Saudi Pro League speculated on as tension mounts in the Middle East. It could be that the Portuguese superstar decides to join another GOAT in MLS as Sir David Beckham throws open the doors at Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi did not train with Inter Miami after suffering a left hamstring strain during the match against Barcelona SC in Ecuador. The club confirmed the medical report and announced the postponement of the preseason friendly against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico. The captain later addressed fans, apologizing for the change of plans.
Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has launched a scathing attack on Joan Laporta, describing the broken relationship with Lionel Messi as "unforgivable" while promising a "three-pronged" offensive to bring the Inter Miami star back. The opposition leader claims to have knowledge that the Argentine legend would be open to a sensational return if the conditions were right.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been told he "doesn't have the genius" of fellow footballing greats such as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Ronaldo Nazario by former Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello. The Portugal and Al-Nassr superstar is still going strong at the age of 41, and remains on track to score 1,000 career goals before he retires, but has been told he's still not one of the very best.