Argentina and Portugal have begun the post-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era in a similar fashion, with both sides losing their first match following the international retirements of the two captains, in a scene that highlights the scale of the challenge awaiting the two giants.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi will return to the Estadio Monumental on January 19 when the Major League Soccer side face River Plate in a preseason friendly. The Buenos Aires exhibition will mark the first time the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has ever played a club match on Argentine soil.
Argentine legend Lionel Messi is preparing to return to the Monumental Stadium in the capital, Buenos Aires, to play a friendly match between Inter Miami and River Plate, as part of both teams' preparations for the new season, on 19 January 2027.
Years of silence, and then Brazilian Malcom dropped a bombshell, revealing previously untold details from inside the Barcelona dressing room, with Lionel Messi at the heart of the story. Messi himself tried to persuade him to stay at the Camp Nou, describing him as one of the Catalan club's players of the future.
A constellation of stars who defined the modern era of American soccer have been officially recognised for their contributions to the game. Icons including David Beckham and Megan Rapinoe lead the latest class of inductees to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. These legendary figures will be celebrated for their massive impact on both the international stage and the growth of the domestic game.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi continues to draw massive crowds across North America after the Florida club featured in eight of the 10 highest-attended MLS fixtures of 2026. Official regular-season figures released by the league also revealed that two of the Herons' road trips rank among the three largest single-match attendances in history.
Almere
