Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas has been named the No. 1 player on Major League Soccer’s 2025 22 Under 22 list, which recognizes the league’s top young talent. The annual rankings, voted on by MLS coaches, general managers, sporting directors, MLS Season Pass broadcast talent and select media members, highlight a growing wave of homegrown players.
Orlando City reportedly attempted to sign Brazil and Tottenham forward Richarlison last summer, but their pursuit stalled after being quoted a transfer fee at $46.4 million, according to ESPN. The MLS club viewed the 28-year-old as a potential face of the franchise ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Richarlison remains under contract with Spurs until 2027.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has vowed not to take any risks with Lionel Messi during the October international friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Messi is doubtful for the Venezuela clash, which will be played on Saturday, only a day before Inter Miami face Atlanta United in a crucial MLS fixture. He will link up with his Argentine team-mates after playing seven matches in 21 days.
Mason Greenwood snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo for another former Manchester United team-mate when naming the best player he's worked with and chose Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate. While Greenwood briefly played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese striker's ill-fated second stint at Old Trafford, tensions reportedly ran high between the two as they struggled to build a successful playing relationship.
Bayern Munich have reportedly decided to take a risk on Harry Kane's contract extension amid intensifying Premier League and MLS transfer links. Kane, who joined Bayern from Tottenham in 2023, has a €65 million (£57m/$75m) release clause embedded in his contract that would allow him to leave the German club next summer. Kane has until the end of the January transfer window to trigger that option if another club comes in with an offer.
Lionel Messi has admitted it will be “strange” not playing alongside Jordi Alba in an emotional tribute to his Inter Miami team-mate following the defender’s decision to retire from professional football. The Argentina star took to social media to hail his close friend and former Barcelona colleague after he announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer season.
Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale believes MLS would be more appealing if salaries for international stars matched what they could earn in Europe. He added that the league’s infrastructure and life in major North American cities are otherwise major selling points. Bale had a brief but successful stint with Los Angeles FC, lifting the MLS Cup in 2022.
USMNT defender Alex Freeman faced Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Hero Kanu in a lighthearted cross-sport juggling challenge at the University of Texas athletic complex. The showdown highlighted the surprising footwork of the German-born football player against the refined technique of the rising American soccer prospect.
Columbus Crew captain Darlington Nagbe has announced he will retire at the end of the 2025 season, concluding an illustrious 15-year MLS career. The 35-year-old midfielder is among the most decorated players in league history, with four MLS Cup titles and the fifth-most regular-season appearances (444). He also has 25 USMNT caps.
Sergio Busquets, Riqui Puig, and FC Barcelona led the tributes to Jordi Alba after the Inter Miami full-back announced he will retire at the end of the MLS season. The 35-year-old’s decision marks another emotional moment for the club’s famed Barcelona core, with Alba set to join longtime teammate Busquets in closing out a remarkable chapter that bridged La Liga and MLS.
Inter Miami left back Jordi Alba announced that he will walk away from professional soccer at the end of the 2025 season. The former Spain international, who won 25 trophies over the duration of his career, will go down as one of the best fullbacks of all-time and a stalwart on numerous teams alongside Lionel Messi. The Spainard will turn 37 next year.
Lionel Messi’s nephew and godson, Tomas, admits that his family has “suffered a lot” down the years as a result of the Inter Miami superstar’s global celebrity status. After bursting onto the scene at Barcelona, it did not take Messi long to take up a standing alongside the greats. He is now an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and the most decorated player of all-time, with many highs and lows being experienced over the course of a remarkable career.
Harry Kane has reacted to speculation regarding transfers back to the Premier League or over to MLS, with the Bayern Munich striker prepared to have an “honest conversation” about his future in Germany. The England captain admits to being in no rush to leave his current surroundings, but has hinted at another new challenge being taken on at some point.
MLS has been told that it needs to change its recruitment strategy when it comes to bringing overseas stars to the United States, with Gus Poyet telling GOAL of how that process could be tweaked to the benefit of everybody. Efforts to expand the domestic game Stateside have tended to focus on the acquisition of household names on the field, but could that process be expanded to include bigger names in the dugout?
Sergio Busquets has revealed that he could have continued playing alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami in MLS, but has chosen not to. Instead of prolonging a remarkable playing career, the legendary former Barcelona midfielder has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2025/26 season. A break from football is being planned, but he could return to the dugout at some point in the future.
Lionel Messi joined Carlos Vela in an exclusive MLS club after posting a hat-trick of assists for Inter Miami. The Argentine GOAT was at his brilliant best once again as the Herons eased to a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution. When it comes to combined goals and assists in 2025, Messi has burst beyond 40 - a mark that only one other player has passed at the highest level of North American soccer.
Celebrations are underway in Pennsylvania as the Philadelphia Union are Supporter Shield holders once again, following an 1-0 victory over NYCFC at Subaru Park on Saturday night. Mikael Uhre delivered the clinching moment for team, scoring the game-winner in the 40th minute. The club will have home field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs.
Inter Miami conceded five goals in a humbling defeat to the Chicago Fire on Tuesday, putting manager Javier Mascherano’s tactics under scrutiny. But the Herons made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat, allowing just one goal while Lionel Messi proved the catalyst with three assists in a convincing 4-1 win over the struggling New England Revolution on Saturday night.
Jimmy Haslam, who owns the Columbus Crew and Cleveland Browns, claimed that MLS has a "long way to go" before it is able to consider itself a top-five league. He called on the league to "put a better product on the field" and suggested that a promotion-relegation system could potentially drum up interest as MLS continues to struggle in drawing consistent TV audiences.
Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano quashed "nonsense" claims of fallout with Lionel Messi after a shock home defeat in MLS to Chicago Fire. The loss leaves Miami clinging to fourth place in the Eastern Conference on 56 points, seven adrift of table-toppers Philadelphia Union, and with the Supporters’ Shield slipping further from their grasp.
Inter Miami will pay tribute to Spanish legend and long-time Lionel Messi teammate Sergio Busquets after Saturday’s match against New England Revolution at Chase Stadium, celebrating the 2010 World Cup winner’s remarkable career as he prepares to retire at the end of the MLS season. The midfielder announced his retirement last week.
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano highlighted the influence of Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, one of the marquee summer signings in MLS who has taken control of the Herons’ midfield. Miami will look to bounce back Saturday at Chase Stadium against the New England Revolution after a midweek 5-3 loss to the Chicago Fire.
Lionel Messi's mooted contract renewal at Inter Miami could impact a number of other players on the club’s books, GOAL has been told in an exclusive interview, with Gus Poyet casting an eye over goings on in South Florida. He has seen Argentine GOAT Messi assemble a cast of close friends alongside him, with it possible that one of those - Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez - will also agree to extend his career in MLS.
Thomas Muller became Germany’s most successful player after winning the Canadian Championship with Vancouver Whitecaps, who defeated local rivals Vancouver FC 4-2 in the final. Muller had previously been tied on titles with Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos. However, he downplayed the achievement, saying he plays for the love of the game and not for trophies.
Lionel Messi is seemingly ready to extend his association with Inter Miami, with a new contract being mooted that will keep the Argentine GOAT in MLS. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has, however, been told that the “God-given” physical attributes that he possesses would make him a star in MMA if he ever fancied swapping a rectangular football field for a fighting octagon.
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