Inter Miami head into Sunday’s Eastern Conference semifinal against FC Cincinnati with confidence and conviction. Javier Mascherano insists “eliminación” isn’t in his vocabulary as his team chases the first conference final in club history, backed by a full week of preparation and key players returning in rhythm. The Herons travel to Cincinnati to take on The Orange and Blue at TQL Stadium.
Reports suggest that the 20-year-old is a wanted man in Major League Soccer. That has divided opinion, with some fans saying it would be a career blunder while others feel it would be a good move for his progress. This comes as the centre-back, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, has been enjoying a terrific year of football, playing for both the Buccaneers and Bafana Bafana.
Luxury watch influencer Ziv Tamir, known as "Ziv the Watch Guy," had an interaction with Antonela Roccuzzo, Lionel Messi's wife, in Miami where he approached her after a padel match, complimenting her expensive Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Rope watch, which is valued at around £20,500 ($26,800). But then Tamir dropped a question, which left Messi’s other half looking very confused.
Barcelona have reiterated their stance on a loan transfer for Lionel Messi, with club president Joan Laporta saying such a deal is "not realistic". He has also suggested that those clinging to the dream of seeing the Argentine GOAT return to Catalunya in a playing capacity "live in the past", with La Liga's champions having moved on from their most iconic No.10.
MLS has unveiled its 2026 regular-season schedule, which opens Feb. 21 with St. Louis CITY SC hosting Charlotte FC and later features Inter Miami’s debut at Miami Freedom Park on April 4. The league will pause from late May to mid-July for the FIFA World Cup before returning with marquee rivalry matches. Opening Day will feature a full slate of 15 matches over the MLS is Back Weekend.
Lionel Messi will forever be held in the highest regard at Barcelona, but that does not mean that the Liga giants will be changing the branding of their stadium in order to pay homage to the Argentine icon. Messi, who is currently in MLS with Inter Miami, has admitted that he intends to return to Catalunya at some stage. There are, however, no plans for Camp Nou to take his name.
Timo Werner’s hopes of securing a January move to MLS have suffered a major setback after the New York Red Bulls admitted they were “not 100 percent” convinced about signing him. The Leipzig forward, frozen out in Germany, had targeted a winter switch to the United States but with NYRB shifting their squad profile, his path to MLS has unexpectedly narrowed again.
Veteran Thomas Muller, who joined Major League Soccer outfit Vancouver Whitecaps just months ago, has given a clear indication of where his future lies, with his contract expiring at the end of this year. The legendary former Bayern Munich attacking midfielder has made a great start to life in North America and is determined to bring unprecedented success at the BC Place.
Jordi Alba has rubbished comparisons between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, claiming that Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer “has no rival”. Teenage wonderkid Yamal has been thrust into an obvious debate ever since he stepped out of the La Masia academy system. He has become a global superstar in his own right, but there will never be another Messi.
Lionel Messi has sent another “we’ll be back” message to Barcelona after being crowned the “most beloved player” in the club’s history. The Argentine superstar has been awarded that honour following a supporter vote. He feels proud to have received such a title, given the calibre of talent that he was up against, and remains determined to head back to Catalunya at some stage.
The Atlanta United manager knows there’s skepticism around his return, but he’s adamant he can steer the club out of a rough 2025 and spark a turnaround.
U.S. international Sebastian Berhalter delivered an impressive opening spell in the Americans’ friendly against Uruguay, scoring his first national team goal from a well-placed set piece in the 17th minute. Minutes later, he set up Alex Freeman for his first international goal, assisting on a driven header to give the U.S. an early boost.
Black Players for Change (BPC) and Vans have introduced a limited, made-to-order Vans x BPC collection based on the Eras silhouette. Featuring two minimalist colorways and the BPC emblem on the heel, proceeds from the release will benefit BPC initiatives. BPC is a player-led nonprofit within MLS that works to advance racial equality in soccer and local communities.
Lionel Messi and Argentina have been told that they were “lucky” to savour World Cup glory at Qatar 2022. All-time great Messi completed his medal collection at that event, as he inspired the Albiceleste to a global title. Wesley Sneijder has suggested that the South Americans were fortunate to claim that crown, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal considered to have a better chance of landing the same prize in 2026.
Alejandro Zendejas’ standout form with Club América has put him on the radar of several MLS clubs. Fresh off a strong Apertura 2025, the USMNT winger is drawing interest from LA Galaxy, Atlanta United, and the Portland Timbers, who see an opening to lure América’s top star back to the league where he began his career. The 27-year-old has five goals and three assists in 10 appearances this season.
Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthaus has explained why he will always side with Lionel Messi in the Argentine icon’s GOAT debate with Cristiano Ronaldo. Two legends of the modern era consider themselves to be the greatest of all-time, but opinion across the rest of the world remains divided. Matthaus knows what it takes to be considered the best player on the planet.
Uruguay's talismanic forward, Luis Suarez, has revealed his plans of making a possible return to his former club, Barcelona, in the near future. The 38-year-old is yet to bid farewell to the sport and could end his career in Catalunya, as he admits he still has connections at the club which he represented from 2014 to 2020 before switching base to metropolitan side Atletico Madrid.
Brian Gutiérrez has become a top target for several Liga MX clubs this winter, as his newly obtained Mexican passport would allow him to play without occupying a foreign-player slot. GOAL previously reported that Chivas are preparing an offer for the midfielder, and now America and Monterrey - two of Liga MX's richest clubs - are also in the running.
Lionel Messi continues to see a "last dance" at Barcelona speculated on, with it possible that a loan return to Catalunya could be agreed early in 2026. The Argentine icon is currently plying his trade in MLS with Inter Miami, but could head back to Europe during the American off-season - with Jordi Cruyff, the son of Blaugrana legend Johan, reacting to that transfer gossip.
Mexico and Uruguay played to a scoreless draw in a match that lacked clear scoring chances. Aside from a good opportunity for Gilberto Mora in the second half, neither Javier Aguirre’s side nor Marcelo Bielsa’s looked comfortable at TSM. It was a midfield-heavy, uneventful game that left Mexico fans frustrated - and saw Hirving Lozano exit with an injury.
Major League Soccer and Apple are reportedly set to make significant revisions to their landmark streaming partnership, with the agreement now scheduled to conclude in 2029 - three-and-a-half years earlier than originally planned. The restructured deal, which includes increased payments and aligns with MLS’s upcoming calendar shift, marks a substantial evolution of the partnership.
Starting in 2027, Major League Soccer will transition from its current calendar-year schedule to a summer-to-spring format, aligning with top international leagues. The move has caused much discussion, but United States national team boss Mauricio Pochettino has thrown his full support behind the move, saying it's a great step forward for the game in America.
Mic'd Up: The former MLS and USMNT forward lauded MLS for its decision to switch to a Fall-Spring calendar and insisted there are playoff upsets ahead in the semifinals.
Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus is reportedly close to extending his contract with LA Galaxy, with his agent confirming that "both sides want to continue and expand the successful cooperation." The 36-year-old German midfielder, who joined the MLS club in 2024, is described as "simply a very good fit" for the West Coast team, potentially extending his stay until the end of 2027.
Christian Pulisic believes, at 27 years of age, he could have another 10 years left in him. The USMNT star has also revealed that he intends to head home to MLS at some point in his career. While looking to the future, the United States international admits to feeling happy and settled at AC Milan for now - with life in Italy more enjoyable than his London-based stint at Chelsea.
MLS announced a landmark decision by switching to a fall-spring calendar, and the benefits are obvious, but there are some valid challenges the league needs to navigate through
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