Major League Soccer news

Inter Miami star Yannick Bright has claimed that he "almost fainted" when he met Lionel Messi for the first time. The 24-year-old has become a first-team mainstay with the MLS side, having gone from playing in the fourth-tier of Italian football to sharing a team sheet with arguably the best player to ever kick a football.

New Year's Eve is almost upon us, meaning 2025 is about to be consigned to the past - but how will it be remembered by the football world? It was certainly an unforgettable year for some players, coaches and clubs. Paris Saint-Germain, for example, finally got their hands on the trophy they craved above all others, the Champions League, thus vindicating a sensible change in recruitment strategy by the club's owners, who went from signing superstars to investing millions in youth.

Russell Martin has reportedly been identified as one of the leading candidates to become the next head coach of the Columbus Crew. The 39-year-old Scottish manager is being considered to fill the vacancy left by Wilfried Nancy, who departed the defending MLS champions in December 2025 to take charge of Scottish Premiership giants Celtic FC.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF will open preparations for the 2026 season with an ambitious preseason tour of South America, facing opponents in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador as they gear up to defend their MLS Cup title. The Herons will begin their tour with a visit to Estadio Alejandro Villanueva on Jan. 24, where they'll face Alianza Lima.

Monterrey are reportedly moving closer to a key addition for the Clausura 2026, having reached a preliminary agreement with MLS side FC Cincinnati for the transfer of winger Luca Orellano. The Argentine attacker built a solid spell in the league, totaling 77 appearances while contributing 15 goals and 11 assists, numbers that underline his attacking impact.

Charlotte FC are reportedly closing in on the signing of U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Luca de la Torre from Celta Vigo, according to The Athletic. The 27-year-old arrives after a steady 2025 loan spell with San Diego FC, where he made 37 appearances and played a key role in the club’s being first in the Western Conference and their playoff push.

After a standout season with Tigres, Ángel Correa has drawn interest beyond Liga MX. Despite being settled in Monterrey and among the league’s top earners, the 30-year-old Argentine forward is reportedly now on Inter Miami’s radar as the club explores ambitious ways to bolster its squad ahead of the 2026 MLS season.

Robert Lewandowski has reportedly moved a step closer to leaving Barcelona as his representatives prepare to hold a fresh round of talks with the Saudi Pro League over a lucrative move to the Middle East. The Poland international is also being courted by Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the season.

Lionel Messi’s traditional Christmas return to Argentina has been overshadowed by a serious family setback after his sister, María Sol Messi, was forced to postpone her wedding following a road accident in Miami. The ceremony, scheduled to take place in Rosario on January 3, has now been cancelled as she begins a lengthy period of recovery from multiple injuries.

Facundo Mura has opted for a new challenge abroad. After weighing interest from Racing and River Plate, the right-back has reportedly agreed terms with Inter Miami, ending a four-year spell in Avellaneda and marking his first move outside Argentina. He is set to join Lionel Messi and a growing Argentine core on a deal through December 2029.

The young midfielder made his mark in Qatar this fall, but that is just the beginning for a player with plenty of potential.

Lionel Messi has been a sporting sensation in the United States, with the history books being rewritten by the Argentine at Inter Miami, but MLS has been told that Cristiano Ronaldo would have made an even greater impact than his “very quiet” eternal rival. Portuguese GOAT CR7 favoured a Saudi Arabian adventure over pursuit of the American dream.

Lionel Messi’s sister, Maria Sol, has reportedly been injured in a road traffic accident. The 32-year-old is said to be “out of danger”, as she begins her recovery, but has been left nursing broken bones and burns. Maria Sol had been due to marry a member of Inter Miami’s coaching staff in the new year, but those January nuptials have been postponed indefinitely.

A domestic opponent of Lionel Messi in the United States has explained how the Argentine GOAT has a ”nasty side” and enjoys engaging in “verbals” with MLS rivals. The most decorated player of all-time is considered to have a switch that can be turned on whenever moments of inspiration are required, with those qualities making him the “best player ever”.

The cost of owning grass graced by Argentine GOAT Lionel Messi has been revealed, with Inter Miami joining the trend of selling turf as they prepare to move into a new stadium. The Herons are bidding farewell to Chase Stadium, having savoured a historic MLS Cup win in that venue, and will be heading to Freedom Park next season. Fans can snap up a piece of the pitch that Messi has trodden since deciding to chase the American dream in 2023.

Cruz Beckham has angrily shut down reports saying his parents Sir David and Victoria have unfollowed his brother Brooklyn on Instagram, claiming they have actually been blocked by their eldest son on the social media platform. The latest chapter in what has fast become a bitter public feud has been written, with there appearing to be no sign of an immediate end to the family saga.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta admits the long-running Lionel Messi saga, which started in 2021 when the Argentine GOAT left for Paris Saint-Germain, has made him "sad". He does, however, hope that a crossing of paths will take place at some stage, saying: "Hopefully we meet again." A fitting tribute to Messi, be that an exhibition game or statue, is still being planned.