The salaries, released Tuesday, are the first of two annual releases by the MLSPA and are current as of April 16, 2026. The average guaranteed compensation for the league’s players is $688,816.

Messi signed a three-year contract extension with the Herons through the 2028 season last October, right before leading the club to its first MLS Cup title. His base salary of $25 million, including guaranteed compensation of $28.3 million, this season marks a drastic increase from the $12 million base and guaranteed compensation of $20.4 million he earned last year, per the MLS Players Association salary guide from October.

While the 38-year-old Argentinian superstar’s salary makes him by far the U.S. top flight’s highest-paid player, he actually takes home significantly more cash. Inter Miami actually pay him $70 to $80 million annually, according to club owner Jorge Mas, making the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion the second-highest paid player in the world, behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s estimated $230 on-field salary with Al Nassr.

In addition to his salary, Messi earns money through an MLS-related deal with adidas and receives a cut of revenue sharing from Apple TV, among other business ventures, all of which brought his annual earnings to around $135 million in 2025, a number that has likely increased this season, with the salary pay raise and plethora of 2026 FIFA World Cup endorsements.

Way behind Messi, LAFC’s Son Heung-min is the second highest-paid player in MLS with a base salary of of $10.3 million and guaranteed compensation of $11.1 million. Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul sits in third with a base salary of $7.5 million and guaranteed compensation of $9.6 million.

Here’s a look at the top 10 salaries in MLS in 2026, which include players for nine different clubs.

Top 10 Player Salaries in MLS as of April 16, 2026

Guaranteed compensation includes a player’s base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player’s contract, including option years, per MLSPA.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND GOSSIP

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise.

After an extensive two-month trial, Fernández signed with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC, the second-tier club announced Tuesday. He will play striker both on the pitch and on-screen.

“Cristo is a great addition to our roster, adding another attacking threat to our forward line,” Locomotive manager Junior Gonzalez said. “His passion for the game and leadership qualities for our locker room allow us to continue growing the positive culture we strive for as a club.”

The 35-year-old has trained with the El Paso side since early March and even featured in their preseason match against New Mexico United, clocking 30 minutes. He also tried out for Chicago Fire II, scoring a goal for the MLS Next Pro team in a preseason friendly.

Soccer Player to Actor to Soccer-Playing Actor to Actor Playing Soccer

Fernández began his soccer career at the youth level with Tecos FC in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he was born, working his way up to the second division of the now-extinct Liga MX side, in pursuit of a professional career. A knee injury, however, set his course anew. He briefly joined Puerto Rico’s Guayama FC, before pivoting to acting, moving to the United Kingdom to pursue his master’s degree.

The actor featured in several indie films before receiving the ultimate opportunity to blend both of his passions in Ted Lasso, where he played Rojas, an enthusiastic striker for fictional Premier League side AFC Richmond.

“Since I was little, the first thing I did as soon I started walking was play soccer, like many of us in Mexico,” Fernández told Grupo Formula in 2021. “But then I wanted to get rid of soccer entirely because it was something that hurt me [after he gave up on trying to become a professional].

“It’s something I pursued and things didn’t go as I wanted. But regardless of how much I tried, soccer returned to me [through Ted Lasso] and here we are, that’s life, right?”

Now, soccer returns to Fernández in an even more tangible way. El Paso Locomotive, who sit fourth of 12 in the Western Conference standings, return to action on May 27 for the group stage of the USL Cup, facing AV Alta FC, and return to league play on May 30, battling Lexington SC.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club.

“I don’t know who said that,” the 34-year-old told Apple TV after posting his first two MLS assists in Minnesota United’s 2–2 draw with Austin FC on Sunday. “I think it was in Colombia to get views, to get likes. But I think they should inform themselves a bit more about all these things. The only person who will know how long I want to play is me.”

“I’m going to say with plenty of time in advance [when I intend to retire], but right now I think I have a few more years. All those things they’re saying are false. I think it’s bad for the whole country, for fans because they believe things that aren’t true, and for me, of course. I’ve never said that.”

Another James Rodriguez assist! This time it's Joaquín Pereyra who puts it in the back of the net! pic.twitter.com/4vGuwS3Hy6

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 11, 2026

The 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner signed a short-term contract through June with Minnesota ahead of the 2026 MLS season and had gotten off to a slow start in the U.S.’s top flight, playing just 104 minutes across four matches, before making a 32-minute appearance against Austin on Sunday. 

Taking on Los Verdes, James turned back the clock and showed some of the thrilling qualities that stunned fans through much of the past two decades. First, it was a perfectly-weighted cross for Anthony Markanich’s finish, before a slicing pass to Joaquín Pereyra to help the Loons claim a point. 

After the match, James not only shut down the retirement rumors on Apple TV, but also said he is set to join Los Cafeteros for a pre-World Cup camp on May 17, making Wednesday’s match against the Colorado Rapids likely his final competitive minutes before the tournament. 

Will James Return to Minnesota?

James may have pushed aside retirement, but it looks increasingly unlikely that he will return to Minnesota. His current short-term deal runs through June 30, and according to reports, he and the club have decided not to exercise the option to extend it through the remainder of the season. 

As for what comes next for the veteran star? It remains unclear. However, the focus is solely on Colombia’s World Cup run and his return to a tournament that launched him into the global spotlight 12 years ago.

Colombia will face Costa Rica in Bogotá on May 29 in a World Cup send-off match, before taking on Jordan in a friendly in San Diego on June 7. Los Cafeteros open their group stage schedule on June 17 against Uzbekistan in Mexico City, before facing DR Congo and Portugal in Miami to wrap up Group K action. 

“Next week, I’ll be with them,” James said. “Obviously, I want to think about what’s coming up. I’m at a certain age, and I have to think about everything that is coming, which I think will be good. Day to day, I train well. I take good care of my body, and if they give me 30, 40 minutes or the whole match, I have to be ready.”

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors.

Lewandowski played the final 13 minutes in Barcelona’s 2–0 win over Real Madrid that made them La Liga champions. Following the game, the veteran striker spoke to Polish outlet Eleven Sports, and made some telling revelations about his future.

“There might be an option to go to an inferior league,” Lewandowski said, potentially referring to MLS, via SPORT. “I’m almost 38, but I feel good physically, so I’m considering it. I have to consider the possibility that it might be time to play more freely and enjoy life. Maybe that option arises, and I’m not ruling it out.

“What will I do come the fall? I don’t know. I just found out that I have 51 days left on my contract, so I still have time. I’ll listen to a few more offers and then make a decision.”

Chicago Fire Confirm Robert Lewandowski Interest

Lewandowski’s words come only a few days after Chicago Fire sporting director, Gregg Broughton, gave an interview with talkSPORT, confirming the longstanding interest the club and MLS in general have in the legendary Pole.

“Robert [Lewandowski] is a player that the MLS as a league is interested in,” Broughton said. “Don’t forget that the players within the MLS, and this is something unique about the league, is the players are owned by the league rather than the clubs themselves.

“So, we’ve put our interest forward in terms of trying to bring a player of that caliber to Chicago Fire. Again, Robert is still a Barcelona player and it wouldn’t be the right thing for me to do to talk about a player who’s under contract at another club.”

Some reports already have speculated that Chicago are aiming to lure Lewandowski with a salary that makes him one of the highest earners in MLS. Elsewhere, AC Milan and other Serie A teams have also been linked with the soon-to-be 38-year-old.

Barcelona are also interested in keeping Lewandowski but with a significantly reduced salary and role, something the striker has reportedly been unwilling to accept.

One thing that’s out of the question, though, is Lewandowski calling it quits after this season.

Lewandowski Dismisses Retirement Amid Uncertain Future

In his interview with Eleven Sports, Lewandowski also dismissed the possibility of retirement.

Fellow Pole, Wojciech Szczęsny, sarcastically said recently that Lewandowski should retire and then study potential offers, alluding to his own temporary retirement before signing with Barcelona as a free agent in Sept. 2024.

When asked about that possibility, Lewandowski shut down any retirement talk.

“You know how Wojciech [Szczęsny] is,” Lewandowski said. “It’s not like I wake up and something hurts. I appreciate where I am, and I’m enjoying it. We’ll see what comes next, but what’s clear is that I’m going to continue playing.”

With that settled, where Lewandowski plays next season will continue to be a hot topic of discussion in the coming weeks.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami bounced back from last week’s humiliating upset to Florida rivals Orlando City with a 4–2 win over Toronto FC, which marked the first match with over 43,000 fans at the newly-expanded BMO Field, which will host six World Cup games in Toronto this summer. 

Meanwhile, over in the Western Conference, the top of the table clash between the San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps ended in a 1–1 draw to cap off Saturday night, before the Houston Dynamo thrashed LAFC 4–1 in Sunday Night Soccer—just after James Rodríguez posted his first MLS assists in Minnesota United’s 2–2 draw with Austin FC. 

With a thrilling weekend of Matchday 12 action in the books and ahead of a double gameweek for most squads, here’s how teams stack up in Sports Illustrated’s latest MLS Power Rankings, including some massive shifts.

MLS Power Rankings Matchday 12: Clubs 30–11

30. Sporting Kansas City (Previous: 30)
29. Philadelphia Union (Previous: 29)
28. St. Louis CITY SC (Previous: 27)
27. Atlanta United (Previous: 26)
26. Colorado Rapids (Previous: 25)
25. Orlando City (Previous: 24)
24. CF Montréal (Previous: 28)
23. D.C. United (Previous: 24)
22. Toronto FC (Previous: 19)
21. Portland Timbers (Previous: 23)
20. Austin FC (Previous: 18)
19. Red Bull New York (Previous: 17)
18. Columbus Crew (Previous: 15)
17. Houston Dynamo (Previous: 20)
16. San Diego FC (Previous; 13)
15. FC Dallas (Previous: 16)
14. LA Galaxy (Previous: 14)
13. Charlotte FC (Previous: 13)
12. Minnesota United (Previous: 10)
11. New York City FC (Previous: 12)

10. New England Revolution 🆙 (Previous: 21)

We’ve given the New England Revolution one of the most significant bumps this week, as it is truly remarkable the consistency this team has shown over the last while. Under new manager Marko Mitrović, it has consistently felt as though we were waiting for things to revert to mid-table. Still, it’s 11 games into the regular season, and the Revs find themselves sitting pretty, with the best home start in club history at 6-0-0. Might they be an MLS Cup contender, even?

While they weren’t dominant in a 2–1 victory over the struggling Philadelphia Union this weekend, the performance still showed some of their best elements. Carles Gil added his fourth of the season for the 87th-minute winning strike, after setting up Luca Langoni earlier in the match. Between the sticks, potential USMNT World Cup starter Matt Turner made one save, good enough for his side to win. 

The Revolution are not a possession-dominant team; they’re not doing it in the prettiest of styles, and they certainly aren’t scoring at an elite clip—15th in the league. However, they’re still delivering elite results and an uplifting spell after finishing 11th and 14th in the Eastern Conference the past two seasons. 

9. Chicago Fire 📉 (Previous: 7)

For everything that has gone right for the Chicago Fire this season, things have started to revert to a more mid-table level. This weekend’s 3–1 loss to Red Bull New York was an example of that, with Gregg Berhalter’s men giving RBNY its first win in six games. 

This week saw the Fire shift to a 4-2-3-1 out of possession and 4-4-2 on the ball, rather than the 4-3-3 that they have played in for most of 2026. With this shift, Hugo Cuypers had to adjust to playing with a strike partner and often crossed his runs with Maren Haile-Selassie, staying off the scoresheet until the 88th minute. 

It’s three losses in a row now for the Fire, and they will look to return to winning ways against D.C United midweek, hoping to turn a corner ahead of the World Cup break.   

8. Real Salt Lake 🤝 (Previous: 8)

It wasn’t a week that Real Salt Lake will be too fond of, dropping a 3–1 result to FC Dallas in a game that could prove pivotal in the second tier of teams in the Western Conference. 

Yet, it was a clash of tactical approaches and identities that eventually spelled RSL’s demise in this one. FC Dallas absorbed pressure and allowed a Diego Luna-led RSL buildup to maintain 73% possession, while also drawing the visitors into a high defensive line. That opened up space for FC Dallas to exploit, none more so than on Sam Sarver’s exceptional 3–1 goal in second-half stoppage time, where he ran the entire length of the field. 

For Luna, his World Cup hopes were likely lofted by the performance, creating three chances and scoring. Still, the Claret and Cobalt will hope their identity finds a winning way against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. 

7. FC Cincinnati 📉 (Previous: 6)

Superb Evander chip 😱

Cincinnati leads 2-0! pic.twitter.com/rzBrWGprah

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 10, 2026

A game where Kévin Denkey and Evander both scored? It was a fun, rare occurrence for FC Cincinnati, despite the 2–2 draw on the road against Charlotte FC, who saw elevated performances from Pep Biel and Idan Toklomati. 

Evander’s goal, as seen above, should contend for one of the best goals of the season, and the Brazilian midfielder continued his strong spell of productive form, now with six goals in his last five matches. Denkey, meanwhile, has scored five in his last four appearances, his best spell yet since joining the Ohio club ahead of the 2025 campaign. 

The Gary Lions are up to sixth in the Eastern Conference now, hitting their stride and will fancy their in-form attack against Inter Miami’s faulty defense in midweek action.

6. Inter Miami 🆙 (Previous: 9)

Bravo, Guillermo Hoyos. After several missteps from defender Maxi Falcón, the interim manager opted to drop the center back from the starting lineup this weekend, leading to a more coherent backline in a 4–2 win against Toronto FC—a result that, if it weren’t for David Ayala’s miskick, should have been even more convincing.

With the improvements around him and continued strong form from Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Messi continued to hold up his end, scoring a goal and providing two assists to break the record for the fastest player to reach 100 goal contributions in MLS regular-season history. 

There are still plenty of issues with Miami, and Germán Berterame struggled mightily once again, missing gaping goals twice in the performance, but with strong play from Messi, De Paul and Luis Suárez, the Herons have floated to second in the Eastern Conference ahead of the midweek clash against FC Cincinnati.

5. LAFC 📉 (Previous: 4)

LAFC had a challenging week, crashing out of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals in the second leg against Liga MX’s Deportivo Toluca, before quickly regrouping only to fall 4–1 to the Houston Dynamo in front of home fans. 

While the Black and Gold were victims of Jack McGlynn’s potent left-foot strikes and desire to make a last-gasp run towards the USMNT World Cup squad, they also showed gaps in midfield. Houston simply had no issues playing through the midfield triangle of Stephen Eustàquio, Mark Delgado and Son Heung-min, leaving space for Guillherme, Lawrence Enalli and McGlynn to exploit. 

As a team, should LAFC worry? Probably not, given they were coming off a gruelling Concacaf run and were without the suspended Denis Bouanga. Yet, productivity is becoming a concern for Son, who now has no goals and seven assists in nine MLS matches this season. 

After a week they’ll want to forget, it becomes critical to find a win against St. Louis CITY SC on Wednesday, before a testing game against Nashville SC on Saturday. 

4. Seattle Sounders 🤝 (Previous: 4)

The Seattle Sounders are a weird team right now. They dropped points to Sporting Kansas City, a side that lost 6–0 to the Portland Timbers this weekend, and then drew with San Diego FC on home turf. 

This week’s draw wasn’t for lack of chances, creating 2.53 xG and putting 26 shots towards San Diego’s goal in the 1–1 finish, but rather the continued search for an outright and potent goalscorer, since each of Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnák and Jesús Ferreira has yet to show they can truly take a game over this season. 

Could that answer be Danny Musovski? The North Macedonian international scored 18 goals in 2025 and netted his first of the season after coming in to play in a two-striker setup for 27 minutes with Morris in this match. Don’t be surprised if that’s an approach manager Brian Schmetzer pursues. 

At the back, there’s nothing to worry about. The defense has conceded a league-best six goals in 10 games, and sitting fourth in the Western Conference, they have two games in hand on teams around them. Two draws to San Diego and Sporting Kansas City aren’t great, but it’s far from time to worry about the Sounders right now.

3. Nashville SC 🤝 (Previous: 3)

Nashville SC is going to have a tough spell. Not only did they fall short of beating Liga MX’s Tigres UANL in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals this week, but they also saw Patrick Yazbek and Edvard Tagseth suffer significant injuries, taking out two of their best players this season. 

Andy Najar remains one of the most exciting fullbacks in MLS and showed that with his assist in this weekend’s 2–2 draw with D.C. United, and the brace off the bench from Warren Madrigal was also a standout moment of the weekend. Although, without Sam Surridge in the lineup, the Nashville attack misses a finishing touch, and Hany Mukhtar doesn’t quite work as a central attacker.

This week doesn’t get any easier for Nashville. First, it’s a midweek visit to the Revolution, who are unbeaten at home, before hosting LAFC and Denis Bouanga’s return from suspension on the weekend. Good luck!

2. San Jose Earthquakes 🤝 (Previous: 2)

Preston Judd is the breakout player of 2026. The 26-year-old scored just four minutes into this week’s eventual 1–1 draw at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps, netting his eighth goal of the season in just 12 games, eclipsing his previous career-high of seven from last season.

While Judd’s fourth-minute goal stood out, it was an admirable performance considering the Earthquakes’ two best chance creators, Timo Werner and Niko Tsakiris, were sidelined with injuries. Still, they didn’t have many outstanding spells of possession or attacking opportunities in this one, and they didn't hold momentum at any stage of the game beyond the first seven minutes. 

Daniel Munie and Reid Roberts had another stellar showing at center back, and the late effort to keep the ball out of high-xG areas stood out, allowing the Earthquakes to grab a point on a night when they were second-best. 

After back-to-back draws, the Supporters’ Shield leaders look to return to winning ways against Seattle and FC Dallas this week. 

1. Vancouver Whitecaps 🤝 (Previous: 1)

When the Vancouver Whitecaps hit the road for eight straight games due to FIFA taking over operations at BC Place, it was fair to guess that they might slide from form. Two weeks in, it’s two 1–1 draws to the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes, respectable results without German superstar Thomas Müller in the lineup due to illness. 

Saturday’s draw was far better than last week's, though. Making his first start, 21-year-old winger Bruno Caicedo was a consistent threat down the left wing, and 20-year-old left back Tate Johnson bolted forward throughout the performance, while making six tackles. Andrés Cubas also continued to prove his prowess as the best defensive midfielder in MLS. 

Sebastian Berhalter, looking to make a final impression in the hunt for a spot on the USMNT’s World Cup squad, scored a skillful trivela for the 1–1 goal, bringing him to four goals and seven assists. He is the cornerstone of Vancouver's transition right now and should be on the World Cup squad as he continues to evolve in the role. 

“He has a great belief, and he’s also very optimistic in his play,” Vancouver manager Jesper Sørensen said of Berhalter. “That’s why he ended up in situations where he can also be decisive and score goals, like that run he took in for the goal was not necessarily a run you often take from a No. 6 position.”

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12.

Barça were able to clinch the title by beating Clásico rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou, extending their winning run in the top flight to 11 games. A sensational Marcus Rashford free kick set the hosts on their way against a Madrid team merely focussed on not brawling one another, then Ferran Torres rounded off a flowing team move to double Barça’s lead in the first half.

Dani Olmo’s flick, which presented Torres with a glorious opening, was Messi-esque, and the Argentine was doubtless tuned in to Sunday’s ongoings in Catalonia after dazzling in Inter Miami‘s 4–2 victory over Toronto FC the previous day.

The reigning MLS Cup holders sit third in the Eastern Conference, having won half of their first 12 games. Messi, meanwhile, has 12 goal contributions in 11 outings, including nine goals. He remains in fine form heading into his sixth World Cup, which he hasn’t fully committed to yet.

Lionel Messi’s Social Media Response to Barcelona’s La Liga Triumph

Woeful financial mismanagement forced Messi out of Barcelona after 21 blissful years in 2021. The Argentine certainly didn’t want to leave Catalonia, but there was no bad blood. It’s a city he adores, and a club that helped him blossom into an all-time great.

Thus, Messi still relishes the Blaugrana’s triumphs. After his former club sealed the La Liga title on a rather novel occasion as their fiercest competitive rivals were the defeated opposition, the 38-year-old posted an image of Flick’s squad on his Instagram story with the words: “Campeones!!! Visca el Barça!!!”

For those who haven’t yet dabbled with Catalan on Duolingo, that translates into: “Champions!!! Long live Barça!!!”

How Many Trophies Have Barcelona Won Since Lionel Messi Left?

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner claimed a whopping 34 major honors with Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles. Messi’s Barça retained their crown on multiple occasions, and the Argentine left in 2021 having helped the Blaugrana conquer the continent four times.

Champions League glory has continued to elude Barça since Messi‘s exit, with Flick’s side following last season’s cruel semifinal exit with a disappointed quarterfinal elimination at the hands of domestic rivals Atlético Madrid.

Still, that wasn‘t enough to dampen the mood in Catalonia on Sunday night. This was their third La Liga title celebration in a post-Messi world, having won their first with the Argentine‘s former teammate, Xavi Hernández, in 2023. Barcelona also have a Copa del Rey to their name and three Spanish Super Cups.

Flick, who has said this job will be his last in soccer management, won’t be satisfied until Barça are recognized as Europe‘s finest again. His team are close.

READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi Offers Four-Word Response to Barcelona’s La Liga Title Triumph.

Scheduled to be released on May 21, “James” becomes the latest sports documentary series to hit the market, diving into the life and soccer journey of the Colombian superstar who broke out at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 

Directed by Simón Brand, the series features three episodes, including sit-down interviews with James himself and several others who crossed his path, from his 2014 breakout to his journey to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and eventually Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United. He is just the latest soccer legend to be featured in a Netflix documentary, joining Ronaldinho, David Beckham, Neymar, Pelé, and Angel Di Maria, among others. 

“In 2014, James Rodríguez took the world by storm—scoring the only goal in World Cup history to win the FIFA Puskás Award and becoming the face of a generation of Colombian football,” Netflix said as it unveiled the series’ trailer. “The rise that followed would take him to Real Madrid and FC Bayern Munich—but behind the glory was a story few had ever heard.

“This is the intimate journey of the man behind Colombia’s iconic No. 10—shaped by pressure, sacrifice, triumph, and heartbreak, both on and off the pitch—told in his own voice.”

While he has not won a World Cup or Copa América with Colombia, James’s career has still reached immense heights, as the now 34-year-old boasts UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and La Liga titles, in addition to his 2014 FIFA Puskás Award and 2014 World Cup Golden Boot. 

Will James Play a Big Role This Summer?

James is expected to play a key starting role for Colombia at the 2026 tournament. Still, he will need to step up his form after an underwhelming start to his MLS career, having signed with Minnesota United in February. 

Since putting pen to paper with the Loons, James has played just 103 minutes, in four of the club’s first 11 MLS regular-season matches, missing time due to visa issues, injury, pre-scheduled medical appointments and hospitalization for severe dehydration. 

While he has yet to score a goal or tally an assist, he has had flickers of positivity when in possession and has assured fans that he will “arrive in good shape” and “excellent form” when it comes time to play for Los Cafeteros at the World Cup. 

Whether or not he returns to Minnesota after the tournament remains the big question. His current contract only runs through June 30, with a club option to extend through the end of the 2026 MLS season, a trigger that may not be attractive to the Loons given James’s minimal impact thus far.

Colombia opens the tournament on June 17 against Uzbekistan in Mexico City, then faces DR Congo in Monterrey on June 23. It closes out Group K action against a ballyhooed Portugal side on June 27 in Miami. 

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Netflix to Release Documentary on 2014 World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez.

Saturday’s outing means the Herons have successfully bounced back from last week’s humiliating affair, surrendering a 3–0 lead against Florida rivals Orlando City and ultimately losing 4–3.

While Messi’s impressive showing dominates the storyline, it was a complete team effort from the reigning MLS Cup champions. 

Rodrigo De Paul scored the opening goal right before half-time on a highlight-reel second attempt, after his free-kick initially hit Toronto’s wall of players. He perfectly struck the bouncing ball on a volley and hit the side-post into the net, leaving Toronto’s goalkeeper Luka Gavran utterly stunned.

Luis Suárez netted his third goal of the campaign in the 55th minute after a quick breakout play from De Paul and Messi, before the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner picked up his second assist of the day on Sergio Reguilón’s first MLS goal minutes later. Messi then added a goal of his own in the 75th minute. 

De Paul ➡️ Messi ➡️ Suárez

Luis Suárez makes it a 2-0 @InterMiamiCF lead. pic.twitter.com/O1Xn8QpjX1

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 9, 2026

While Miami dominated, they weren’t able to avoid a late-game collapse, allowing two goals to Toronto’s Emilio Aristizábal.

Outside of the dramatic goalscoring, the matchup also featured several stoppages for pitch invasions, including a four-person effort late in the match, following an earlier invader who ran out to Messi for a photo. It’s not an unusual occurrence to see pitch invaders looking for the superstar, but upwards of five in one match is extraordinary.

It all came in front of a record crowd for the venue as well, as 44,828 fans packed into the recently expanded stadium, which will host six games at the upcoming World Cup. That record stands as the most for a soccer game at the stadium, but also eclipsed the previous venue record of 40,148 set at the NHL Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in 2017.

Here is Sports Illustrated’s breakdown of the match, featuring report card grades for each Inter Miami player who saw the pitch. 

Inter Miami Report Card vs. Toronto FC (4-3-3)

GK: Dayne St. Clair—C+: The Canadian backstop was in familiar surroundings for the match on his birthday and stood out with a sharp first-half save on Daniel Sallói, as one of his three saves on the day, despite allowing two goals.

RB: Facundo Mura—B+: Stepping into the right back position for the injured Ian Fray, Mura was a constant presence up the right wing throughout the match, making quick interplays with Rodrigo De Paul.

CB: Gonzalo Luján—B: Replacing Maxi Falcón in an effort to shore up the defensive outlook, Luján stood out alongside Micael in a largely uneventful effort, far better than the mistake-ridden play from Falcón’s nine previous starts.

CB: Micael—B-: The Brazilian center back completed the most passes in the match of any player and was vital in keeping Toronto’s attackers at bay for most of the afternoon. However, his loss on Emilio Aristizábal’s header in the final moments cost him a higher grade.

LB: Noah Allen—D: The Greek youth international has become one of the most consistent pieces for Inter Miami in the last three seasons and was largely unproblematic in his efforts down the left flank, ending his afternoon with three defensive contributions in 68 minutes.

RM: Rodrigo De Paul—A: Rodrigo De Paul’s efforts to make the Argentina World Cup squad have been impressive since the March international window, and his showing against Toronto FC stood out, first with his impressive goal on the volley before an assist to Messi later, stringing together a goal that will no doubt catch the eye of Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.

CM: Yannick Bright—A+: Taking on a more central role in the 4-3-3 as De Paul shifted to the right, Bright was a physical force in midfield, while also creating space for each of De Paul and Segovia in wider positions. His 13 defensive contributions led the match, showcasing his impressive two-way skillset.

LM: Telasco Segovia—C: In a match where Inter Miami dominated the run of play and created plenty of chances, Telasco Segovia was unable to get in on the fun, despite amassing 49 touches through 79 minutes.

RW: Lionel Messi—A+: Playing in his 101st match for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi stood out in this one, scoring once and picking up two assists, while also creating four chances and taking five shots. With his impressive showing, he broke Toronto FC legend Sebastian Giovinco’s record for the fastest player to reach 100 goal contributions in MLS regular season play, doing so in just 64 games.

ST: Luis Suárez—A+: Luis Suárez might not be the most mobile player anymore, but his finishing touch is still as good as ever. Amassing 45 touches through 78 minutes, the Uruguayan found himself in prime scoring areas, netting his third goal of the season to sit second in the club’s goalscoring race, only behind Messi.

LW: Germán Berterame—F: Germán Berterame is in a last-gasp effort to crack Mexico’s World Cup squad and his massive second-half miss in this match won’t help him draw many positive review. The $15 million man had no shots and just 26 touches through 90 minutes.

SUB: Sergio Reguilón (68’)—A: The Argentine wingback came into the game late on and had one of his best MLS showings to date, picking up a goal in the 73rd minute while making his presence known up the wing.

SUB: David Ayala (78’)—F: A highly-regarded offseason add from the Portland Timbers, Ayala struggled off the bench on Saturday, making a horrible mistake to allow Toronto to get onto the scoresheet.

SUB: Preston Plambeck (78’)—D: The 20-year-old academy product had 15 touches and was largely invisible as the Herons saw out the lead, despite giving up two goals.

SUB: Dániel Pintér (78’)—C: The 18-year-old Pintér continued to collect minutes off the bench this season and made four successful passes late in the game for the Herons.

Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Maxi Falcón, Alex Shaw, David Ruiz, Mateo Silvetti

One Thing We Can’t Ignore

Saturday’s match marked the first time in nine games that the club did not start center back Maxi Falcón, dropping him from the lineup after a string of poor performances and questionable decisions cost his side points at Nu Stadium.

While Toronto were still able to create chances and find their way through the central defensive pairing of Gonzalo Luján and Micael, there were far fewer glaring positional errors, than there have been with Falcón.

The shift showed the growth of new interim manager Guillermo Hoyos, who made just two substitutions in last week’s collapse against Orlando City. Instead of sticking to his usual lineup, he made adjustments to solve a problem, and it paid off, emphasizing his abilities as a manager and not just as a coach that has a history with Lionel Messi from their time in FC Barcelona’s academy.

What’s Next For Inter Miami?

With the victory, Inter Miami snapped a brief two-game winless skid following a draw against the New England Revolution and a loss to Orlando City. Now, the group looks ahead to three more games before the break for the 2026 World Cup, starting with Wednesday's match against FC Cincinnati, followed by two home dates against the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Grading Inter Miami’s Turbulent Win as Messi Sets MLS Record in Front of Historic Crowd.

In Inter Miami’s 4–2 win over Toronto FC on Saturday, the star midfielder scored one goal and added two assists, earning Player of the Match honors, and more significantly, breaking Toronto legend Sebastian Giovinco’s record by becoming the fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 regular-season goal contributions, doing so in 64 matches—31 fewer than Giovinco needed (95 matches).

Messi left BMO Field with 59 goals and 41 assists in his 64 MLS regular season games, accrued since he joined the South Florida side in the summer of 2023.

One of one. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/GF7Y8P9o8t

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 9, 2026

Messi has taken MLS by storm, despite entering the league in the twilight of his career. The 38-year-old is the only player to have won MLS MVP two seasons in a row (2024 and 2025).

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also set the record for most goal contributions in a single season—including regular and postseason matches—with 62 contributions in 2024–2025, surpassing LAFC’s Carlos Vela’s record of 52 set in 2019. Messi also has the record for the most goal contributions in a single postseason with 15 last winter: six goals and nine assists, a feat he achieved en route to the Herons’ first MLS Cup win.

Messi also holds the record for the most assists in a single MLS game: five against Red Bull New York in May 2024, the same match in which he scored a goal to secure the most goal contributions in a single game as well, six. Inter Miami won the historic match 6–2.

The former FC Barcelona legend now has 907 total career goals, becoming only the second player ever to hit the 900-goal mark when he scored against Nashville SC in Concacaf Champions Cup play back in March. Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to reach 900, doing so in 2024, and is well on his way to 1,000.

Messi Graces Same Pitch as Giovinco, Ronaldinho

Legends of the game sharing the pitch in Toronto 🤩

🇮🇹🇧🇷🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/0lMcb8CLFu

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 9, 2026

Messi’s impressive showing against Toronto at BMO Field came less than 24 hours after the previous record holder, Giovinco, rekindled some of his former magic on the same pitch. 

On Friday night, a group of Toronto FC legends, including Giovinco and former U.S. men’s national team star Jozy Altidore, played to a 4–3 loss in a showcase game against a team of Brazilian legends, including Ronaldinho. Giovinco scored in the showcase, linking up with Altidore throughout the night. 

The former Italian international remains one of the best MLS players of all-time, having scored 68 goals and 52 assists in 114 regular-season games between 2015–19, while winning the 2015 MLS Golden Boot and MLS MVP Award, a dual feat Messi matched in 2025. 

Giovinco also helped Toronto to the 2016 and 2017 MLS Cup finals, winning the title in 2017. With that resumé, the club even brought the 38-year-old retiree back to trainings in 2025 to help the squad prepare for playing against Messi. Saturday’s outing proved the sound reasoning behind that, as Messi and Giovinco are so nearly aligned in their successes at the MLS level.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi Smashes MLS Record in Latest Inter Miami Win.

Despite being devastatingly snubbed by manager Carlo Ancelotti for the most-recent international window, the 34-year-old forward is set to be included in Brazil’s preliminary 55-man list, the pool from the final 26-man squad will be selected, per Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

The preliminary list will be officially announced Monday, with the final squad to be released on May 18.

Neymar, who surpassed Pelé in 2023 as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 total appearances, has not appeared for the Seleção since October of that year. Ancelotti excluded him from the March friendlies against France and Croatia on the premise that he was not at his best.

“Neymar is not at 100% of his capability,” Ancelotti said before the March window. “If he can be at 100% physically, he can be there. Neymar could be at the World Cup. Neymar has to keep working, playing, showcasing his qualities and maintaining good physical condition.”

The Brazilian superstar and Barcelona legend has been plagued by injury in recent years, keeping him on the fringes of the country’s squad. It was an ACL tear back in 2023 that ended his regular international participation, and he required arthroscopy knee surgery last December, keeping him out of Santos’ first 12 matches this season.

Neymar, however, has seemingly done enough to prove himself to Ancelotti, regaining fitness since his most recent December injury, for the possibility of making his fourth career World Cup appearance.

Since his return in February, Neymar has dominated the pitch for Santos. In 12 matches, he has scored five goals and added three assists, helping his boyhood club climb the league table and playing a key role in their CONMEBOL Sudamericana outings.

Messi Weighs in on Neymar’s World Cup Chances

Messi and Neymar first shared the pitch at Barcelona, striking fear in opponents for four straight seasons (2013–17) and creating an unstoppable attacking trio with Luis Suárez for three of those. They then reunited at Paris Saint-Germain for two seasons (2021–23), playing a grand total of 206 matches together across the decade.

“I can’t be very objective, he’s a friend of mine,” Messi told Pollo Álvarez when discussing Neymar. “Obviously, I would love for him to go [to the World Cup] and for good things to happen to him because he deserves it.

“At World Cups, we always want the best players to be there, and Neymar, as long as he’s around, will always be one of them.”

Should Neymar get the call, he could find himself on the opposite side of the center circle to Messi’s Argentina, with the South American giants potentially meeting in the semifinals.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Update on Neymar’s 2026 World Cup Chances As Lionel Messi Weighs in.

Across 17 seasons, Messi established an era-defining legacy with his unrivaled creativity, poise and dribbling skills. Now, Yamal paves his own path for the Blaugrana, with his own unique creativity and flair from the right wing, all while donning Messi’s No. 10 jersey.

“There is a new generation of footballers who are very good and who have many years ahead of them, but if I have to choose one because of age, for what he has done so far and for the future he may have, it is Lamine,” Messi said at an adidas event this week, per Diario Sport. “There’s no doubt, for me, he’s the best.”

Yamal, Barça’s current leading goalscorer and assist provider, most recently won the Laureus Young Sportsperson of the Year award, recognizing him as the best young athlete under the age of 21 globally. He also finished runner-up in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting, ultimately losing to Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé.

A Relationship Decades in the Making

In 2007, a 20-year-old Lionel Messi was pictured bathing a baby for a Barça-UNICEF charity campaign—that baby, Lamine Yamal, is now a rising football star. pic.twitter.com/wCbjWHCEm5

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) July 16, 2025

Although Messi and Yamal have never met on the pitch, their relationship famously began nearly 20 years ago, of pure coincidence—or perhaps, fate.

In 2007, Messi, 20 years old at the time, was tapped by Barcelona to participate in a charity photoshoot at the Camp Nou, taking photos to raise funds for UNICEF and for the Barça Foundation childhood protection programs. The six-month-old Catalan baby that Messi was photographed with was none other than Yamal.

“UNICEF did a raffle in the neighborhood of Rocafonda in Mataró where Lamine's family lived,” the charity photoshoot photographer, Joan Monfort, said in 2025. “They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barça player. And they won the raffle.

"Messi didn’t even know how to hold him at first. Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy. He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated.

“For Lamine to grow up to be a footballer, and to have this photo, I’m just really happy it happened. It’s especially nice in today’s football, when so much is to do with money and power.”

Many fans consider that encounter to be a symbolic “soccer baptism,” foreshadowing the torch Messi would one day pass to Yamal.

Although Yamal is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, out for the remainder of the La Liga season, he is anticipated to return for the 2026 World Cup and make his debut for Spain on the sport’s grandest stage. It is there that the reigning European champions could come face-to-face with the World Cup holders, Argentina, seeing Yamal and Messi on the same pitch for the first time ever, as early as the round of 32.

Yamal Outspoken in His Admiration of Messi

After Barcelona’s star forward won the first-ever Young Sportsperson of the Year—marking back-to-back honors for the prodigious star at the Laureus World Sports Awards, after winning Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year in 2025—Yamal couldn’t help but praise Messi, expressing his desire to follow in his footsteps.

Messi also has two Laureus awards in his trophy cabinet, winning his first World Sportsman of the Year award in 2020 while playing for Barcelona, becoming the first soccer player to do ever do so. He won it again in 2023, making him the only team-sport athlete to win it twice. The Inter Miami captain is still the only soccer player to have ever won the award.

“For me, Messi is the best player in history,” Yamal said at the awards ceremony last month. “I don’t know if he’s the best player in all sports, but if not, he’s close. He’s an idol. Everyone respects him for everything he’s done. He’s been a part of the childhood of all the kids who played at school, in the park.

“I hope I can follow in his footsteps and have another one of those [trophies] in my house.”

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘There’s No Doubt’—Lionel Messi Makes Huge Lamine Yamal Claim.

With MLS clubs taking several weeks off for the tournament, banking points before the break is vital to every team. Individual players also look for standout performances to earn a spot at the first-ever 48-team World Cup.

Matchday 12 features 15 games, with 12 on Saturday and three on Sunday, headlined by the San Jose Earthquakes hosting Vancouver Whitecaps in a massive clash atop the Western Conference table on Saturday night.

Here’s what Sports Illustrated predicts for the 12th matchday of MLS in 2026.

Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

Toronto FC fell 3–1 to one of the Canadian Premier League’s poorest-performing teams midweek, crashing out of the Canadian Championship to Atlético Ottawa. Now, they look to return to form against the 2025 MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami.

The Herons are looking to bounce back after blowing a 3–0 lead to lose 4–3 to Florida rivals Orlando City, and will hope to avoid falling as low as 10th in the Supporters’ Shield table. The hosts are likely to be without key USMNT stars, Josh Sargent and Đorđe Mihailović.

Prediction: Toronto FC 3–5 Inter Miami

Chicago Fire vs. Red Bull New York

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT

Chicago Fire FC welcomes Red Bull New York to the Windy City this weekend, with Gregg Berhalter’s men looking for a fifth win in eight games after dropping a dramatic 3–2 result to FC Cincinnati last week. Hugo Cuypers looks to both build on his brace and bounce back after missing a second-half stoppage-time penalty. Meanwhile, New York hope to snap a six-match winless run.

Prediction: Chicago Fire 3–2 Red Bull New York

CF Montréal vs. Orlando City

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT

CF Montréal will take on former academy product and potential Canada World Cup goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau this weekend, as he heads back up north with Orlando City, a side reveling in form after staging a four-goal comeback to win last week’s Florida Derby. Can Crépeau prove himself in his home province of Québec, or will Prince Owusu maintain his standout form and lead CF Montréal to the three points?

Prediction: CF Montréal 3–1 Orlando City

Atlanta United vs. LA Galaxy

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Atlanta United had some Canadian fun the past two weeks, picking up their first back-to-back wins of the season by defeating Toronto FC and CF Montréal. Now, they’re back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the last time until Aug. 15, after it hosts eight World Cup games this summer, taking on the LA Galaxy. Momentum and the moment favor the Five Stripes here, with travel and inconsistent form likely hampering the 2024 MLS Cup champions.

Prediction: Atlanta United 1–1 LA Galaxy  

Charlotte FC vs. FC Cincinnati

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Charlotte FC are back at Bank of America Stadium, looking to halt a three-game losing streak, which saw them drop three of four games on the road. It’s the club’s first home match since April 17, and it will need to see some offensive improvement from Pep Biel and Idan Toklomati after being shut out in a 1–0 loss to the New England Revolution last week. It’s a spell of five-straight home matches now as well, making a win over Cincinnati a tidy tone-setter for the next while. 

Prediction: Charlotte FC 2–2 FC Cincinnati

New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

If this were 2025, the Philadelphia Union would be feeling pretty good about walking into Foxborough to take on the New England Revolution. Yet this season, the defending Supporters’ Shield winners sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with six points in 11 games, while New England leads with 19 points in 10. Expect Dor Turgeman and Carles Gil to have a field day against a dismal 2026 edition of the Union in front of the home supporters.

Prediction: New England Revolution 2–0 Philadelphia Union

FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Two teams with talent that could be bound for the World Cup, this will be a key audition game for USMNT’s Diego Luna and Croatia’s Petar Musa, both vying to make their respective teams as previously called-up players. Luna is in outstanding form at the moment and showed impressive confidence in last week’s win over the Portland Timbers, while Musa scored in his return from injury in a win over the Red Bulls. With those clashing missions, Dallas have a slight advantage at home. 

Prediction: FC Dallas 2–1 Real Salt Lake

Nashville SC vs. D.C. United

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 9:15 p.m. ET / 6:15 p.m. PT

Nashville SC saw their Concacaf Champions Cup journey come to an end this week, eliminated by Tigres UANL in the semifinals. While B.J. Callaghan’s men won’t have to balance both competitions anymore, they paid a hefty price for the run—key scorer Sam Surridge is likely unavailable due to an ongoing injury. At the same time, Australian World Cup hopeful and star midfielder Patrick Yazbek was seen on crutches midweek. Hany Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza will hope to keep the group afloat against Tai Baribo’s D.C. United.

Prediction: Nashville SC 1–3 D.C. United

Colorado Rapids vs. St. Louis CITY SC

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

The Colorado Rapids have played some outstanding soccer under new manager Matt Wells, but are now amid a four-game winless run, including three losses. This week marks their first match back at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park since April 11, and after facing the likes of Miami, LAFC and Vancouver over the last month, they take on a St. Louis CITY SC side that sits on just six points and second last in the Western Conference. It should be a fairly simple result for the Rapids given the talent of Rafael Navarro and Paxten Aaronson, among others. Plus, they could be aided by the altitude.

Prediction: Colorado Rapids 3–0 St. Louis CITY SC

Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

The Portland Timbers will consider themselves massive favorites this weekend at home against Sporting Kansas City, despite goalkeeper James Pantemis being forced into an MLS record-setting 13-save performance in last week’s loss to Real Salt Lake. Yet, despite SKC’s one win in 10 games this season, the Dejan Joveljić-led group might just be able to scrape out a point.

Prediction: Portland Timbers 1–1 Sporting Kansas City

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

It’s a clash of titans atop the Western Conference, as Vancouver Whitecaps look to avenge an early-season loss against the San Jose Earthquakes, the only team to beat them in 11 games this season. While Thomas Müller is doubtful after missing last week’s draw against the Galaxy with illness, Vancouver will be able to rely on Sebastian Berhalter and Brian White, who are enjoying immense form in an effort to crack the USMNT World Cup squad. San Jose, meanwhile, look to defend their Western Conference lead without star midfielder Niko Tsakiris, who will be sidelined with injury. 

Prediction: San Jose Earthquakes 2–2 Vancouver Whitecaps

Seattle Sounders vs. San Diego FC

• Date: Saturday, May 9
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

Seattle Sounders welcome a struggling San Diego FC side this week, as the Californian second-year club searches for a road win to snap an eight-game winless run, which has included just two draws. Anders Dreyer remains the sole hope for San Diego’s middling form, coming up against a Seattle side boasting in-form talents of Paul Rothrock, Cristian Roldan and Albert Rusnák. 

Prediction: Seattle Sounders 3–0 San Diego FC

New York City FC vs. Columbus Crew

• Date: Sunday, May 10
• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT

New York City FC are back on the baseball diamond this week, looking to return to winning ways after going winless through the last seven matches, as Nicolás Fernández and Maxi Moralez have been unable to push the team to victory. While they remain the cornerstones of any NYCFC effort, they face a structured Columbus side, with the matchup also featuring a USMNT goalkeeper battle between presumed starter Matt Freese and potential third-string backstop Patrick Schulte. 

Prediction: New York City FC 1–1 Columbus Crew

Minnesota United vs. Austin FC

• Date: Sunday, May 10
• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT

Minnesota United are enjoying exceptional form, boasting five wins from the last six matches thanks to striker Kelvin Yeboah returning to his potent scoring self, as he showed throughout 2025. While the James Rodríguez experiment hasn’t quite worked out, this week’s clash against Austin FC should have plenty of star power, with Yeboah battling Austin’s returning Brandon Vázquez and Myrto Uzuni in a clash of the strikers.

Prediction: Minnesota United 1–2 Austin FC

LAFC vs. Houston Dynamo

• Date: Sunday, May 10
• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

Timothy Tillman missed a gaping goal in LAFC’s matchup against Toluca midweek, kicking off a poor performance that saw the Black and Gold bid adieu to any hopes of the Concacaf Champions Cup, eliminated by Toluca despite winning the first leg. This weekend, they turn their focus back to MLS, and they will do so without Denis Bouanga, who is suspended for the matchup against Guillherme’s Houston Dynamo. 

Prediction:  LAFC 3–0 Houston Dynamo

MLS Predictions: Matchday 12

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Predictions: Western Conference Clash of Titans Headlines Matchday 12 .

While the Loons were able to lure the Colombian, his tenure with the club might already be coming to an end, with the potential that the next three matches could be his last home games, given that only four more games are guaranteed on his current contract. 

The 34-year-old officially joined Minnesota United on Feb. 6, inking a deal through June 30, with the intention of getting him into as strong a form as possible to play for Colombia at his third World Cup. 

Minnesota have the option to extend the deal through the end of 2026, but given how things have gone to this point, it may not be wise. James did not debut until March 15 in a 6–0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps and has since played just 103 minutes across four MLS games, with no goals or assists. 

James has arrived 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/QyZmj4twHP

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) March 15, 2026

Initially, it took James weeks to get fit enough to play significant minutes, with his March Loons debut marking his first playing time since featuring for Colombia in November. Later on, he was hospitalized with severe dehydration after representing La Tricolor in the March international window and took time to rebound from that setback. 

Last week, he also opted out of a 3–2 win over Columbus Crew due to, as the club said, a “previously scheduled routine medical procedure.” Despite his absences, Minnesota have enjoyed a strong season so far, with 20 points through 11 games, and the Colombian has made little difference.

“We’ve had a couple of different unforeseen circumstances that have made him unavailable for selection,” manager Cameron Knowles told Sirius XM. “Then there’s obviously the team performance; it’s difficult to change a winning team, and we’ve been really consistent with the lineup selection and leaned on a smaller group of guys for some heavy minutes.”

Would Minnesota Pick Up James’s Option?

While Minnesota has the option to secure the Colombian star for the rest of the season, both the club and player have been non-committal about a post-World Cup future. 

For the player, getting to the 2026 World Cup was a key goal in choosing MLS and Minnesota, and without that target, there may not be an attraction to continue. At the same time, Minnesota United chief soccer officer Khaled El-Ahmad told the Pioneer Press that the club would “take this as it comes.”

Although he is not on a Designated Player contract and the deal would leave Minnesota with flexibility in the summer transfer window, the spotlight on James may not be welcome. The star himself may already want to move on to the next chapter, as well. 

“There’s still a month to go and, well, I’m training hard, training to the max, going all out, just as I always have,” James said. “So whatever playing time comes my way here, I think it’s going to go well.”

Minnesota’s last game before the World Cup is at home against Real Salt Lake on May 22, with James set to turn his attention to Colombia’s World Cup pre-camp and June 17 opener against Uzbekistan after that. 

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• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Why James Rodríguez’s Time at Minnesota United May Already Be Coming to an End.

“I am concerned,” Schuster told reporters in an hour-long roundtable on Wednesday, following reports of an offer from Grant Gustavson, the son of Kentucky billionaire Tamara Gustavson, which includes the intention of moving the club to Las Vegas. “That doesn’t mean that I’m not also hopeful that we will find the solution. I understand that everyone is concerned, but no one has to think that something is already done.”

“There’s no deadline,” he added. “[But] we have to speed up to find the solutions, or to get, at least, to the point to see what is the best that we can get in certain categories.”

The 52-year-old Whitecaps—one of North America’s oldest active clubs—have been on the market in the public realm since December 2024 and have been seeking a sale in the background for much longer. No Vancouver buyer has stepped up, despite over 100 groups showing interest, until potentially now.

While Schuster addressed reporters Wednesday morning, British Columbia Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon, who is the primary handler on the Whitecaps file for the Provincial government, revealed that a local group had come forward hours later.

“We just had a group that reached out to us, that’s been organizing, apparently, for a few weeks to put a bid in for the Whitecaps,” Kahlon told reporters.

There are no details yet on the possible local buyer and whether or not they could make a legitimate bid.

Revenue Shortfalls Highlighted

The primary issue in Vancouver remains a $40 million shortfall between them and what the average MLS side can spend, with the problem at its core being the increase in MLS team operating costs since the Whitecaps were granted expansion in 2009, while revenues have remained relatively flat. 

Few MLS clubs are understood to be profitable or breaking even, despite lofty valuations. Chief among the shortfalls for Vancouver is the agreement with BC Place, the government-owned and crown corporation-operated venue. 

The Whitecaps earn only 12% of matchday revenue—compared to other teams and leagues making nearly 100% for owning their venues—hampering the potential of matchday earnings, despite 19-straight games of over 20,000 fans and a recent turnout of over 27,500. 

In addition to a more lucrative BC Place agreement, the Whitecaps need a new soccer-specific stadium—and have a one-year Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Vancouver, signed in December 2025, for a stadium at nearby Hastings Park. However, that project is increasingly unlikely to come to fruition without a new owner willing to take on the Forbes-estimated club value of $445 million, in addition to the new stadium costs. 

Problems Beyond BC Place

Schuster highlighted issues beyond the stadium as well, listing other factors hampering the club’s position, including in-venue partnerships, corporate partnerships and efficient spending. 

“This isn’t an easy problem to solve,” he said. “If it were an easy problem to solve, we probably would have solved it...Even a new stadium, it's like the same discussion we have with BC Place, it can’t solve everything.”

While Vancouver cannot draw on private sports gambling or private healthcare, as its U.S. counterparts can, due to local regulations, there remain several options to increase sponsorships. 

Local commercial interest has improved in recent months, and the club is working through a checklist of roughly 30 marketing categories and further subcategories to open itself to any price point—all while battling for sponsorship dollars with the local sports behemoth, the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. 

Schuster confirmed that there have been several meetings between himself, two of the four-person Whitecaps ownership group, provincial officials and top-end MLS executives, with MLS Vice President Charles Altchek set to visit the city next week for further meetings.

He also insisted that the club has not asked for any public funds and remains steadfast in keeping tickets at an affordable price point. 

Sporting Side Remains Healthy, Save The Caps Movement Vital 

While the struggles continue off the pitch, the team is thriving on the field, sitting second in the Western Conference ahead of this week’s matchup against the leading San Jose Earthquakes. 

That form has nurtured the club’s hope, with the team's following and energy at a fever pitch. At the same time, Schuster confirmed that the murky future has not clouded any player negotiations, with several inking recent deals beyond 2026. 

“The energy that comes from this team...it makes it makes it easier for everyone,” Schuster said. “You feel this energy, and you get that energy and being meaningful and winning, and having so many people love the club, excited about the club, it helps.”

The recent surge in the Save the Caps initiative from Whitecaps supporters has also heightened the situation’s urgency and turned previously unaware eyes to the team, putting it in the global spotlight and in front of potential buyers through a protest at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver and through the push of fellow MLS supporters’ groups. 

“Without somebody else, other stakeholders, helping us, we are not able to get to the next step,” Schuster added. “We are open for all solutions, from A, B, C, D, all the way to X and Y...And now that is more real because there is a Z solution,” with Z being the Vegas offer.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘We Have to Speed Up’—Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Provides Key Update on Relocation Rumors.

The 39-year-old striker, who is Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer with 69 in 143 total appearances, competed for La Celeste for 17 years—spanning the four previous World Cups (2010, 2014. 2018, 2022), before announcing his retirement from international play in September 2024, a door he has since regretted closing.

“I wanted to be called up,” the now-Inter Miami star told reporters in Spanish on Wednesday.

“Obviously, being Uruguayan, I would never turn down the national team,” he added. “I stepped aside back then because I felt I needed to make way for the younger generation ... As I’ve said before, I would never say no to the national team if they needed me—especially with a World Cup just around the corner.”

This marks Suárez’s second plea for a World Cup spot in recent time, after he made it clear last month that he wanted to reopen the conversation.

Would Uruguay Actually Roster Suárez?

Suárez hasn’t played for Uruguay since Sept. 2024, in which he featured in a goalless draw against Paraguay.

“I’m 37 years old and it’d be a huge struggle for me to make it to the next World Cup, as there are so many talented up-and-coming players,” Suárez said at the time of his retirement. “The fact that I’m able to call time on my international career and not have it decided for me by injuries is a great feeling for me.”

It’s not surprising that Suárez wants to turn back the clock, especially given his recent club resurgence and current bill of health, and it’s not unfathomable that Uruguay’s manager Marcelo Bielsa could let him do it.

Suárez tallied 10 goals and 11 assists last season as a starter for Inter Miami, but opened the 2026 season rooted to the bench, in the shadows of $15 million transfer of Germán Berterame. Yet while Berterame struggled to find his footing, Suárez prevailed, once again proving himself integral to the Herons’ operation.

The seasoned striker has notched two goals and two assists across 303 minutes of MLS play, averaging a goal contribution every 75 minutes. He has since been reintegrated into the starting lineup, becoming a more favorable option for interim manager Guillermo Hoyos, who took over following Javier Mascherano’s sudden departure last month.

Suárez also has a long history of success on soccer’s grandest stage, meaning the experience and veteran leadership he would bring to Uruguay’s relatively unproven World Cup squad cannot be understated.

He has bagged seven total goals in World Cup action, including a brace against Korea Republic in the round of 16 of the 2010 South Africa tournament that singlehandedly took Uruguay to the quarterfinals. In the subsequent match, he infamously palmed the ball in order to deny Ghana a late winner, inevitably helping La Celeste advance to the semifinals.

Uruguay has also struggled in Suárez’s absence to find a consistent starter at the No. 9 position. In the 17 international matches without him, Bielsa has shifted primarily between Darwin Núñez, Rodrigo Aguirre, Federico Viñas and Luciano Rodríguez, none of whom have been able to match Suárez’s impressive output from years past.

READ THE LATEST SOCCER NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez Makes Late World Cup Plea—Could He Be Called Up?.

Premier League

While Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has played down rumors of a move to Manchester United, there is still a belief that he would consider the transfer if an offer arrived. (Source: Daily Mail)

Liverpool have made an ambitious approach to Real Madrid over a move for Kylian Mbappé, who continues to divide opinion at the Bernabéu. (Source: Fichajes)

If Barcelona do not trigger their option to sign Marcus Rashford permanently, the winger will not be re-integrated back at Man Utd, who will look for a new buyer instead. (Source: The Sun)

Lyon winger Afonso Moreira is among those under consideration by Man Utd this summer. (Source: A BOLA)

Another player being considered by Man Utd is 19-year-old Prince Amoako Junior from Nordsjælland. Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the young winger. (Source: MyJoy)

Darwin Núñez has an agreement to leave Al Hilal this summer. Chelsea and Juventus are both interested in bringing the former Liverpool forward back to Europe. (Source: El Observador)

A move to San Diego FC remains a possibility for departing Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, with owner Sir Mohamed Mansour continuing to push for an agreement. (Source: talkSPORT)

Arsenal have joined the race to sign Botafogo midfielder Danilo, who has recently been linked to Man Utd. (Source: Globo Esporte)

While Liam Delap wants to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea, the striker is of particular interest to Newcastle United, who are more likely to move for the Englishman than teammate Nicolas Jackson. (Source: GIVEMESPORT)

Aston Villa, Liverpool and Man Utd are all monitoring Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu ahead of a possible summer move. (Source: Mark Brus)

Juventus are moving quickly to try and strike a deal for Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller before Man Utd have the chance to start a bidding war that the Red Devils will ultimately win. (Source: TuttoJuve)

A number of clubs towards the top of the Premier League are interested in signing West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville. (Source: The Telegraph)

Phil Foden rejected interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and clubs in Saudi Arabia in favor of signing a new contract with Manchester City. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Arsenal are readying a bid of $29 million (€25 million, £22 million) for PSV Eindhoven center back Yarek Gasiorowski, who is also of interest to Brentford, Atlético Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. (Source: SportsBoom)

La Liga

Vinicius Junior is not expected to leave Real Madrid this summer even if there is no resolution over his contract, which is set to expire in 2027. (Source: Ramón Álvarez de Mon)

The representatives of Chelsea center back Wesley Fofana have offered the Frenchman to Barcelona. The Blues would be open to selling for around $35 million (€30 million, £26 million) but Barça are instead exploring an initial loan. (Source: Sacha Tavolieri)

Fofana has made it clear he is keen to make the move to Camp Nou. (Source: Fichajes)

Mohamed Salah wants to remain in Europe when he leaves Liverpool and is keen to keep playing at the highest level. Real Madrid are leading the race for his signature. (Source: Mwatan)

Barcelona have doubts over Ferran Torres’s long-term suitability for the team and are ready to cash in this summer. The versatile forward is Newcastle’s top target. (Source: El Nacional)

Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. is unsure about extending his stay in Saudi Arabia as he dreams of playing in Europe. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG are all interested in the 15-year-old. (Source: The Sun)

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER RUMORS FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Liverpool Make Mbappe Approach; Real Madrid Lead Salah Race.

The Manchester United star announced his impending Old Trafford exit in January, lighting the fuse of a transfer frenzy from teams across the globe. Casemiro’s recent performances for the Premier League’s form team has only heightened speculation—with plenty in Manchester keen to hang onto the veteran midfielder for “one more year.”

However, the chance to move to Major League Soccer appears to be too appealing for Casemiro to turn down. Inter Miami are one of several U.S. clubs linked with the five-time Champions League winner and Sky Sports News claim the Herons boast the ultimate trump card: Messi.

Such is his admiration of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, the report claims that United’s top earner would be prepared to reduce his salary demands. This compromise could prove decisive in Miami’s negotiations given the strict wage regulations which are in place across MLS.

Messi is a familiar foe for Casemiro. The pair have lined up on opposite sides of two historic soccer divides, clashing repeatedly for Barcelona, Argentina, Real Madrid and Brazil. Despite this constant enmity, there is a clear level of affection spilling out of the United midfielder.

Casemiro’s Clear Messi Stance

“I think that Messi marked an era,” Casemiro told Placar in the summer of 2023. “He’s always been a rival, he’s always been at Barcelona, he’s always been at Argentina. There’s no escaping him.”

“I always like to say, ‘He who likes soccer, likes Messi.’”Casemiro

“It was a pleasure to watch him play, it was a pleasure to play against him. I didn’t have the opportunity to play with him, unfortunately,” he added.

At this point, it was noted that Messi was in search of a new club having left Paris Saint-Germain earlier that summer. “If you want more, I’m there too,” Casemiro laughed. Is the door open, he was asked. “For Messi, yes!”

Casemiro Puts Foot Down on Man Utd Future

Each Manchester United fixture seems to feature the club’s fans pleaded with Casemiro to stay for “one more year.” This stance has been echoed by some of his teammates yet no amount of affection is going to convince the 34-year-old: his mind is made up.

“I don’t think there’s a chance, there’s no chance,” Casemiro told ESPN. “Mostly because of what I said, you know? Go out the big door, I think it was four beautiful, wonderful years and I am eternally grateful not only to the club, but to the fans.

“But I think I have to leave in good terms, I have to go out on top. I will be an eternal United fan here in England and I just have to thank all the love from the fans.”

There are 24 million reasons for United to part ways with Casemiro, too. The Red Devils stand to save the eye-watering annual salary which the Brazilian would be entitled to next season, which would represent an increase upon his current earnings thanks to United’s Champions League qualification.

While Casemiro is supposedly willing to swallow some salary demands for the chance to play alongside Messi in Miami, there are no suggestions that he would make the same sacrific to carry on at Manchester United.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘He Is Willing’—How Lionel Messi Is Helping Inter Miami’s Quest to Sign Casemiro.

While the slate saw a dramatic Inter Miami collapse against Orlando City, it also saw nearly every top team in the table drop points, forcing some significant shifts in Sports Illustrated’s weekly MLS Power Rankings. 

With Matchday 11 all wrapped and the World Cup break now just four games away for most clubs, here’s how the teams stack up in the latest edition of this week’s rankings.

MLS Power Rankings Matchday 11: Clubs 30–11

30. Sporting Kansas City (Previous: 30)
29. Philadelphia Union (Previous: 29)
28. CF Montréal (Previous: 27)
27. St. Louis CITY SC (Previous: 25)
26. Atlanta United (Previous: 28)
25. Colorado Rapids (Previous: 23)
24. Orlando City (Previous: 27)
23. Portland Timbers (Previous: 21)
22. D.C. United (Previous: 24)
21. New England Revolution (Previous: 22)
20. Houston Dynamo (Previous: 20)
19. Toronto FC (Previous: 18)
18. Austin FC (Previous: 19)
17. Red Bull New York (Previous: 14)
16. FC Dallas (Previous: 17)
15. Columbus Crew (Previous: 13)
14. LA Galaxy (Previous: 15)
13. San Diego FC (Previous: 12)
12. New York City FC (Previous: 10)
11. Charlotte FC (Previous: 11)

10. Minnesota United 🆙 (Previous: 14)

Minnesota United isn’t quite getting the same results as last year’s defensive-based, shutdown systems. Still, things are certainly improving under manager Cameron Knowles at the one-third mark of the 2026 campaign. This week, it was a 3–2 win over the Columbus Crew, with all goals coming in the first or second phase after a set play. 

Minnesota’s first goal came off a long throw, the second off a corner, and the third from a throw and a cross, exposing Columbus’ tactical frailties in defending set plays. The team has become more fluid with Anthony Markanich taking on more responsibility in running the midfield, while serving up Kelvin Yeboah up top.

For Yeboah, his brace and recent form stand out as one of the best spells he has had since the club transferred Canadian attacker Tani Oluwaseyi to Villarreal. That’s only a good sign for the Loons, even though the club might be tempted to add further this summer.

9. Inter Miami 📉 (Previous: 7)

It was the most embarrassing day in Inter Miami’s history, squandering a 3–0 lead to lose 4–3 to rival Orlando City, primarily on defensive errors, allowing their Florida foes to become the first team to secure three points at Nu Stadium.

Lionel Messi left the pitch in clear frustration. Meanwhile, interim manager Guillermo Hoyos answered just a single question post-match, offering little insight or accountability into one of the worst collapses in MLS history. 

So far this season, Miami has been defined by aimlessness. They floundered in the Concacaf Champions Cup and are making routine defensive errors nearly every week. Messi—even at his best—can’t save the team like he used to, now at 38 years old. 

Winless in four games at home and having allowed 19 goals in 11 games, it’s panic time for Miami. If next week’s matchup against a pesky Toronto FC doesn’t amount to three points, there’s potential to fall to as low as 10th in MLS. 

8. Real Salt Lake 🆙 (Previous: 9)

The chatter around Zavier Gozo and Diego Luna and the U.S. men’s national team’s 2026 World Cup roster will only grow louder after this week’s 2–0 win over the Portland Timbers, as the standout U.S. youngsters each scored in the victory. 

Gozo got things going early with a perfectly weighted strike in the 10th minute and amassed seven shots through 71 minutes. Meanwhile, Luna starred with deft dribbles, cheeky shoulder feints and a clinical finish to seal the three points—in a performance that saw him complete three dribbles and create 10 chances. 

If it weren’t for a starring performance from James Pantemis between the sticks for the Timbers, making an MLS regular-season record 13 saves, this game could have been a far heftier scoreline for Real Salt Lake. On the backend, the defense ensured Rafael Cabral only needed to make two saves to send the sold-out crowd home happy. 

Next week, RSL goes up against fellow Western Conference upper mid-table team FC Dallas, hoping to significantly improve their standings, potentially as high as third place.

7. Chicago Fire 📉 (Previous: 6)

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! 🤯

Celentano made a penalty kick save to maintain the draw. pic.twitter.com/tGZviwrjzQ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 3, 2026

Oh no, Hugo Cuypers. Despite scoring a brace for his ninth and 10th goals of the season, a missed penalty in the 91st minute proved costly for the Belgian forward’s side, as Chicago Fire fell 3–2 to FC Cincinnati, where Evander scored a winning penalty in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time. 

Having gone up a man after Cincinnati’s Kyle Smith picked up a 56th-minute red card, the Fire were unable to make the most of their chances, failing to score more than twice on 33 shots and 4.47 xG, headlining a day that will keep manager Gregg Berhalter up at night. 

6. FC Cincinnati 🆙 (Previous: 8)

While the Fire will rue their missed chances, it was an outstanding day for FC Cincinnati and Evander, with the Brazilian netting a hat-trick, including the 97th-minute winning penalty for his side’s victory, despite the squad being outshot 33-10. 

Chicago native Roman Celentano played a key role, making eight saves in the performance, including the penalty save on Cuypers’ 91st-minute penalty. At the same time, the ferocity of Cincinnati to continue striving for all three points despite playing with 10-men for over 35 minutes should be admired. 

This is a good Cincinnati team, and it might look even better if they swing a Neymar deal this summer. Even without that Brazilian, though, they already have Evander showcasing his nation’s soccer prowess—and he’s already up to five goals and an assist in this season, after his first career hat-trick. 

5. Seattle Sounders 📉 (Previous: 4)

The Seattle Sounders will want to have this weekend’s game back as they surrendered points to Sporting Kansas City in a 1–1 draw, allowing SKC to pick up just a fifth point in 10 matches and to score an eighth goal in that same period. 

Cristian Roldan’s push to make the USMNT’s World Cup squad also likely took a hit this week, as he made a poorly weighted pass, which was intercepted by SKC’s Dejan Joveljić, leaving the Rave Green battling in a physical affair from the 18th minute onwards. 

Is it time to panic for Seattle, though? Not at all; it just showed they haven't yet hit the same intense winning habits they showed in 2025—a factor that shouldn’t worry them too much, given manager Brian Schmetzer’s history of peaking in the fall. 

4. LAFC 🆙 (Previous: 5)

LAFC will feel lucky to get out of this week with a point, but at the end of the day, it’s the score at the end of the match that matters more than any performance, and the board at Snapdragon Stadium read 2–2 between LAFC and San Diego FC. 

The Black and Gold fielded a partially rotated squad, with manager Marc Dos Santos eyeing the second leg of the Conacaf Champions Cup semifinal against Deportivo Toluca on Tuesday. Still, it was enough to scrounge a point, with a controversial late moment leading to Ryan Hollingshead’s tying goal in the 16th minute of stoppage time, following a lengthy VAR review for a handball. 

There are concerns about not being able to take three points against an underwhelming 2026 San Diego FC, and with a yellow card, star attacker Denis Bouanga will miss next week’s match against the Houston Dynamo. Still, the focus is clearly on the Champions Cup right now, even as their gap to the top of the Western Conference grows to seven points behind the San Jose Earthquakes.

3. Nashville SC 🤝 (Previous: 3)

Not dissimilar to LAFC, Nashville SC is dealing with the weight of a Concacaf Champions Cup run and will face an uphill task this Tuesday when they look to rebound from a 1–0 home loss to Tigres in the first leg. 

With none of Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar or Cristian Espinoza in the starting lineup, the heavily rotated squad played to a scoreless draw against the Philadelphia Union. It was probably the right move to make for manager B.J. Callaghan, and the draw leaves Nashville atop the Eastern Conference by a four-point margin. 

If the Coyotes can push past Tigres, expect some more rotation and potentially a rescheduled match in the next few weeks. If not, then we’ll likely see the potent attacking trio return to full MLS involvement, hunting down the Supporters’ Shield.

2. San Jose Earthquakes 📉 (Previous: 1)

How has Reid Roberts gotten to that?!

A goal line clearance you have to see to believe! 😮 pic.twitter.com/xloY7yl9ql

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 2, 2026

Speaking to reporters post-match, manager Bruce Arena was not pleased with his team’s performance on a cold, windy afternoon at BMO Field, as the San Jose Earthquakes played to a 1–1 draw with a heavily injured Toronto FC side. If it weren’t for a goal-line clearance from 22-year-old defender Reid Roberts in the 86th minute, the Earthquakes would likely be looking to bounce back from a second loss, instead. 

It was the Earthquakes’ seventh game in 21 days, as the club also advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup, but it marked one of their least impressive showings in MLS to date—even with a strong finish from Preston Judd in the 14th minute for his sixth goal of the season. 

“There are no excuses for how we played today,”  Arena said. “Regardless of the extra games over the past couple of weeks, we didn’t play well, and that’s how we’ll analyze and review it as we look to improve.”

The Earthquakes face a massive test next week as they look to stay atop the Western Conference against a Vancouver Whitecaps side nipping at their heels.

1. Vancouver Whitecaps 🆙 (Previous: 2)

All the storylines this week surrounded the Vancouver Whitecaps’ for-sale status, the club’s unclear future and a lucrative offer to purchase and relocate the club to Las Vegas. Amid it all, the fact that the Whitecaps are among the best teams in MLS right now seemed to fall by the wayside, as they hit the road for the first of eight away games through August 1 due to World Cup stadium operations. 

Playing the late game on Saturday, the Whitecaps had a chance to hop into first in the Supporters’ Shield race, after each of LAFC, San Jose and Nashville dropped points. Yet, an arid pass from usual star goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka allowed LA Galaxy’s Joseph Paintsil to score, and a response from Mathías Laborda on a set-piece from USMNT World Cup hopeful Sebastian Berhalter wasn’t enough to claim anything but a 1–1 draw. 

Still, it was an impressive performance—hence the team’s bump over the Earthquakes, who didn’t show as well and played to the same result against Toronto FC. Vancouver outshot the Galaxy 19–7 and had 2.61 xG compared to LA’s 1.38, all with superstar Thomas Müller sidelined due to illness. 

Next week is critical against San Jose, as the players and coaching staff focus on the pitch rather than business talks in boardrooms and with the media.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: Top Teams Faltered, Inter Miami Humiliated and More From Matchday 11 .

Since then, Messi has made plenty of history. In his first 100 matches across all competitions, he notched 86 goals and 56 assists (including 10 secondary assists, as recognized in MLS), became the first player to win back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP Awards and won the 2025 MLS Golden Boot. He also became the first active player in MLS to win the Ballon d’Or, winning his eighth in 2023, largely for his performance at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

Outside of the personal accolades he has amassed with the South Florida side, he has led the team to the 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Supporters’ Shield and 2025 MLS Cup titles. Yet, he has rarely thrived under the final spotlight by himself, preferring to set up his teammates to write their own historic moments. 

While Miami lost the 2023 U.S. Open Cup final and the 2025 Leagues Cup final and has not advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup final, there is little to drag on performance-wise in the Messi era. 

Here, Sports Illustrated takes a look at the top five moments from his first 100 games, and shockingly, none have come in finals, as much as hoisting MLS Cup was a defining moment for the club. 

5. Messi Turns Back the Clock

Ankara Messi, Ankara Messi, Ankara Messi Ankara Messi, Ankara Messi . 🐐 pic.twitter.com/DsvmC73hns

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 6, 2025

Messi has always been a star dribbler, and he shows those skills in nearly every match for Inter Miami. Yet, his goal in a 2025 4–1 win over CF Montréal stands out as his best with those skillsets, when he turned back the clock to a similar goal he scored in 2007—known as the “Ankara Messi” goal. 

With his team already up 2–1, Messi picked up the ball in midfield and kept it in close control, dropping defenders with little touches and deft shoulder feints, before smashing past the goalkeeper to seal all three points. 

That moment came 18 years after a 19-year-old Messi scored a very similar goal for FC Barcelona against Getafe in the 2007 Copa del Rey semifinal. That one still reigns as one of his best, with the play-by-play call to match its magic.

4. A Debut to Remember

LIONEL ANDRÉS MESSI IS NOT HUMAN. pic.twitter.com/2mBDI41mLy

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 22, 2023

After putting pen to paper with Inter Miami on July 15, Messi’s debut for the club didn’t come in MLS; instead, he came off the bench in a Leagues Cup clash against Liga MX giants Cruz Azul. 

Entering the match in the 54th minute with the score tied 1–1, the Argentine made an immediate impact. He ended the night with 25 successful passes on 26 attempts, while also showcasing his silky dribbling in North American soccer for the first time. 

While his sheer confidence and skill on the ball would have been enough to entice fans for what was to come in his career with Miami, he authored his first iconic moment as well, curling a perfect free-kick over the wall to win the match 2-1 in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time.

3. Dominating FC Cincinnati in MLS Cup Playoffs

As much as Inter Miami leaned on Messi to win the 2025 MLS Cup, the playoffs weren’t only filled with exceptional standout performances from the superstar, overshadowed instead by Tadeo Allende’s record-breaking pace and Rodrigo De Paul’s midfield prowess in tough games. 

Messi, however, did take control of the second round matchup against FC Cincinnati, scoring a goal and pulling the strings in attack for three assists, as the Herons dismantled the Gary Lions 4–0 to move on in the postseason. 

Messi would finish the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs with six goals and nine assists, including an assist in the final against Thomas Müller’s Vancovuer Whitecaps, giving him a rare win in the storied rivalry against the German. Still, it was that Cincinnati game where he made his most significant mark.

2. MLS Record Against Red Bull New York

The diminutive Argentine has spread his name across the MLS record books through his first 100 games, but the performance in a 6–2 win over Red Bull New York in Miami’s 2024 Supporters’ Shield-winning season stands out as his best. 

Messi also turned back the clock in this one, making the most of his partnership with Luis Suárez and bringing back memories of the duo’s time at FC Barcelona. Red Bull opened the scoring, before Messi took over, providing a goal in the 50th minute as well as five assists to a Matías Rojas brace and a Suárez hat-trick. 

The performance set a record for most goal contributions in a single MLS regular-season match and played a significant role in his campaign to secure the first back-to-back MLS MVP Awards.

1. History vs. FC Porto at the FIFA Club World Cup

No MLS team had ever beaten a European side in a competitive match—that is, until Messi stepped up to the challenge and scored a free-kick against FC Porto in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. 

Having been awarded the host spot to the first 32-team Club World Cup, Miami faced an immense challenge. Still getting up to speed in the 2025 MLS season, the Herons were navigating through the early days of Javier Mascherano’s managerial tenure. Suddenly, they had to shift from MLS opponents to a group stage schedule against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, Brazilian giants Palmeiras and Portuguese titans FC Porto. 

FC Porto opened the scoring early with an eighth-minute strike from Samuel Aghehowa, before Telasco Segovia levelled the match in the 47th minute. Then, it was Messi’s 54th-minute free kick from long range, which put the Herons up 2–1, securing the first-ever MLS win over a UEFA opponent. 

That victory also allowed Miami to advance to the knockout stages of the competition, where its journey ended against 2025 UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi’s Top Five Moments In His First 100 Inter Miami Games—Ranked.

Premier League

In an unexpected twist, Arsenal have entered the race for Chelsea’s wantaway midfielder Enzo Fernández. The Gunners are so keen on the notable Real Madrid target they are supposedly willing to shatter the British transfer record with a bid of $175.9 million (£129.6 million, €150 million) for the World Cup winner. (Source: Fichajes)

Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with a move for Sporting CP’s versatile wide man Maximiliano Araújo. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Mohamed Salah is giving “firm” consideration to a move to MLS once his Liverpool career ends in the summer. San Diego has been billed as the most likely U.S. destination. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Manchester City have attempted to hijack Manchester United and Liverpool’s pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni with a $105.5 million (£77.8 million, €90 million) bid. (Source: Fichajes)

Bradley Barcola’s long list of suitors have been bolstered by murmurings from his representatives that the Paris Saint-Germain starlet is unsettled amid contract negotiations in the French capital. Arsenal and Liverpool will be particularly interested to learn of this development. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Tijjani Reijnders’s Manchester City career has been tipped for a premature conclusion after failing to impress Pep Guardiola. A move to Real Madrid has been mooted for the former AC Milan midfielder who is also garnering interest from Serie A. (Source: El Nacional)

Arsenal are tracking Belgian forward Mika Godts as a potential solution to their left wing problem. The 20-year-old has excelled in the Eredivisie for Ajax and would be open to a move to north London. (Source: Hand of Arsenal)

Well established Liverpool and Arsenal target Anthony Gordon has been in contact with Bayern Munich “for months.” Vincent Kompany has already approved the move and discussions over suitable terms are underway. The issue for Bayern would be his price tag, which has been set in the region of $101.8 million (£75 million) (Source: Florian Plettenberg)

Juventus have emerged as unexpected suitors for Real Madrid’s under-used youngster Franco Mastantuono this summer. Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the Argentine. (Source: Fichajes)

Liverpool’s defensive rebuild has already begun with contact made to the representatives of Brighton center back Jan Paul van Hecke. (Source: TEAMtalk)

La Liga

Real Madrid have begun planning for a future without Thibaut Courtois by lining up a $58.6 million (€50 million) bid for Porto’s revered shot-stopper Diogo Costa. (Source: Fichajes)

Gonzalo García is the latest Madrid player to be added to the list of sales José Mourinho has drawn up in the event of his return in the summer. Veteran defenders David Alaba and Dani Carvajal are set for a scrapheap shared with midfielders Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Díaz. Left back Fran García is also tipped for an exit. (Source: El Nacional)

Manchester United are vying with Saudi Arabia’s top teams for the signature of Barcelona star forward Raphinha this summer. (Source: Fichajes)

PSG are eyeing up Real Madrid’s prodigious young center back Joan Martínez. The teenager boasts a contract with a $175.9 million (€150 million) release clause although any deal is expected to be struck for far less than that sum. (Source: MARCA)

Dean Huijsen’s Real Madrid future is set to come under scrutiny during the summer as the waning capital outfit plot a major defensive overhaul, with as many as three new faces arriving at the Bernabéu. (Source: El Nacional)

In the club’s hurried quest to secure Mohamed Salah’s successor, Liverpool are prepared to splash $52.8 million (£38.9 million, €45 million) on Barcelona’s second-string right winger Roony Bardghji. The dethroned Premier League champions are eager to strike a deal before the World Cup begins. (Source: Fichajes)

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER RUMORS FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Arsenal’s Ridiculous Fernandez Bid; Mourinho Plots Seven Real Madrid Exits.

The Argentine got his landmark night at Nu Stadium off to a dream start, recording a goal and an assist to help the Herons take a 3–0 lead in the Florida derby. Orlando City had the last laugh, though; the Lions rattled four past Dayne St. Clair to secure a 4–3 comeback victory, leaving Messi and Co. stunned.

Still, the defeat on the night does not take away from all the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has accomplished since making the move to south Florida. Messi has broken record after record in MLS, putting together a career in a pink shirt that only furthers his untouchable legacy, fueled by his success with Barcelona and the Argentina national team.

Here’s how Messi’s first 100 games at Inter Miami compare to his records with the Catalans, as well as La Albiceleste.

Goals

In 100 appearances at Inter Miami, Messi scored a staggering 86 goals. Half the Argentine’s tally came in the 2025 season in which he found the back of the net 43 times in 49 matches across all competitions. He took home the MLS Golden Boot for his efforts.

On his journey to the century mark for Barcelona, Messi scored 41 goals. Sure the number pails in comparison to his haul in a pink shirt, but the forward was just 17 years old when he made his competitive debut for the Catalans. It also must be said he was facing much tougher competition, yet he still averaged roughly a goal every 2.4 matches.

The same goes for Argentina, where Messi bagged 46 goals in his first 100 appearances for his country. He was 18 years old when he made his senior international debut—and the rest is history.

Assists

Even in the twilight of his career, Messi is still putting on a show in MLS. Not only is the 38-year-old tearing up the goalscoring charts, but he is also setting up goal after goal for his teammates. In a pink shirt, the Argentine has registered 45 assists.

Going back to the start of his career, Messi’s supreme dribbling and creativity was on display even when he was far from the finished product. Although his 14 assists in his first 100 games for Barcelona do not jump off the page, they were a sign of what was to come in the next 678 matches in a Blaugrana shirt.

His numbers were more impressive on the international stage. Messi tallied 27 assists in the buildup to hitting the century mark in appearances for La Albiceleste. That’s 73 goal contributions in just the first-half of his Argentina career.

Trophies

Since Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, he led the team to their first three trophies in history, one in each season: the 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Supporters’ Shield and 2025 MLS Cup. The former Barcelona legend will hope to add a fourth in 2026 to keep the tradition going.

Speaking of the Catalans, Messi already had four pieces of silverware in his trophy cabinet by the time he made 100 appearances for the Spanish giants. Two La Liga titles, a Champions League and a Spanish Super Cup at the age of 20 is a haul some players never achieve in their entire career.

In comparison, it took Messi much longer to lift a trophy for Argentina. Beyond winning a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, he did not find any glory with La Albiceleste until the latter stages of his career. The wait was worth it, though; Argentina won back-to-back Copa América titles, as well as the World Cup from 2021–24.

READ THE LATEST INTER MIAMI NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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• Lionel Messi Offers Four-Word Response to Barcelona’s La Liga Title Triumph
• Grading Inter Miami’s Turbulent Win as Messi Sets MLS Record in Front of Historic Crowd
• Lionel Messi Smashes MLS Record in Latest Inter Miami Win

This article was originally published on www.si.com as How Lionel Messi’s First 100 Inter Miami Games Compare to Barcelona, Argentina Records.

The Herons were cruising early against their Florida rivals, going up 3–0 by the 33rd minute at Nu Stadium thanks to goals from Ian Fray, Telasco Segovia and Messi. The Lions came roaring back, though, scoring four unanswered goals to claim all three points against a shellshocked Inter Miami.

After the implosion, Fray spoke to the media and revealed what Messi had to say about the shock loss. “Our captain spoke and obviously, he gave us a bunch of words, encouraging us for the next game and saying this is unacceptable, which we all agree with him.

“It is unacceptable and it won’t happen again, for sure.”

Inter Miami’s Continued Defensive Woes Spell Trouble

It’s a not a new narrative floating around South Florida, but it perhaps has never rung more true: Inter Miami are too easily beaten at the back. Despite signing 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Dayne St. Clair, center back Micael and left back Sergio Reguilón in the offseason, the Herons have kept just three clean sheets in 13 matches across all competitions.

The team have also conceded 20 goals already. For comparison, through their first 13 games last season, Inter Miami only let in nine goals.

In the past, they had Jordi Alba commanding the left flank and Sergio Busquets often filling in as a center back. Without the two Barcelona legends, who retired at the end of last season, the team are floundering inside their own half without any glimmer of improvement.

Messi is doing all he can to bail out his poor backline. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has already scored eight league goals in 2026, the most by any player in a pink shirt and the third-most in the MLS Golden Boot race. He also leads the league in shots and shots on target.

Yet even Messi’s heroics cannot shore up a defense so easily exploited. As long as the Herons keep allowing inferior teams to get back into matches, their hopes of winning another Supporters’ Shield are all but dead.

What’s Next for Inter Miami?

Inter Miami have a week to flush their embarrassing defeat to 13th place Orlando City before they must make the trip north to take on Toronto FC on Saturday, May 9. The game presents the perfect opportunity for the defending champions to bounce back; their Canadian opponents have failed to find a win in their last five matches.

Then, the Herons are headed to TQL Stadium on Wednesday, May 13, to face off with FC Cincinnati, a team slowly finding their form after a poor start to the season.

Currently sitting in third place of the Eastern Conference with 19 points through 11 games, Inter Miami will hope two wins in their next two matches will help them chase down conference-leaders Nashville SC.

More dropped points, though, could see Messi and Co. tumble down a congested table should their closest competitors, Chicago Fire and Cincinnati themselves, pick up big results.

READ THE LATEST INTER MIAMI NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12
• Lionel Messi Offers Four-Word Response to Barcelona’s La Liga Title Triumph
• Grading Inter Miami’s Turbulent Win as Messi Sets MLS Record in Front of Historic Crowd
• Lionel Messi Smashes MLS Record in Latest Inter Miami Win

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi’s Scathing Reaction to Stunning Inter Miami Implosion Revealed.

A week after the Vancouver Southsiders supporters group officially launched the Save The Caps campaign, an effort to combat relocation links to Las Vegas, where there is now an official offer to buy and relocate club, several MLS supporters groups stood alongside the Canadian club’s supporters. 

Columbus Crew fans, the Nordecke, led the way in the efforts, supporting a team that is going through a similar campaign to their 2018 Save The Crew efforts, which played a vital role in avoiding relocation to Austin. However, that plight leaned on local legislation, known as the Art Modell Law, which does not exist in Vancouver. 

Well done @Nordecke. #SaveTheCaps #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/hP3PVHrlzK

— Kristina Balevska (@kbal_21) May 2, 2026

The Crew fans staunchly stood in support of the Whitecaps, with the Nordecke chanting “Save The Caps” in the 10th minute, then observing a two-minute silence before returning with the same chants. The chants were clear on the TV broadcast, while several supporters displayed signs and banners in support of the Whitecaps’ efforts. 

@DallasGuardians & @EmpireSC fans together today.

Cc: @Southsiders pic.twitter.com/26mZY5cidD

— Upstate Trash (@Upstate_Trash) May 3, 2026

The campaign was evident across MLS as well, with “Save The Caps” signs displayed by supporters of Real Salt Lake, San Diego FC, FC Dallas and several others. At the same time, chants reverberated around Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., from Red Bull New York supporters. 

#savetheCaps @Southsiders pic.twitter.com/wwjt6PnuR4

— RCB of RSL ↙️↙️↙️ (@TheOfficialRCB) May 2, 2026

While fans of those clubs showed their support in the stadium, other supporters groups reached out online, with Charlotte FC’s Southbound & Crown and the New England Revolution’s Midnight Riders issuing statements of solidarity. 

Earlier in the week, rival Seattle Sounders supporters displayed Save The Caps banners, while rival manager Brian Schmetzer added that “it would be sad” to lose a Cascadia Cup foe. 

LA Galaxy Support Whitecaps in Draw

Columbus may have offered the loudest support, but the LA Galaxy ensured their message was clear as they played to a 1–1 draw against the Whitecaps at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, the first of eight road games for Vancouver. 

#SaveTheCaps banner in the RioT. pic.twitter.com/iPnXI1nKtP

— Jeremy Peterman𓅪 (@SportsGuyJeremy) May 2, 2026

The Galaxy supporters section displayed a significantly sized Save The Caps banner, while chants rang out in the stadium. Several fans also produced individual signs in support of the opposition team. 

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, the Southsiders and local supporters convened at a local pub near BC Place Stadium. They were joined by Vancouver mayor Ken Sim, who said earlier in the week at the 76th FIFA Congress in the city that “a lot of groups have reached out” in the 48 hours following Monday’s initial links to Las Vegas. 

@KenSimCity man of the people out here with the @Southsiders supporting #savethecaps! https://t.co/zU0iYzScOU pic.twitter.com/lxoWpkpw9M

— Caleb (@StickSkateOrca) May 3, 2026

Vegas Offer, Kentucky Derby and Vancouver Groups

Picture perfect from Seba to Mathí for the equalizer 📸#LAvVAN | 🌌 1 - 1 🏔️ pic.twitter.com/F0eNpn9daL

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 3, 2026

There is no certainty to the lofty offer made by Grant Gustavson, who hopes to buy the club and move the team to Las Vegas. The 30-year-old son of Kentucky billionaire Tamara Gustavson, who is the daughter of B. Wayne Hughes, the founder of Public Storage, has the funds to make a deal happen, but any purchase and move would have to be approved by the MLS Board of Governors. 

While the Gustavson family may have had their eye on the Whitecaps’ draw with the Galaxy, the family’s thoroughbred farm, Spendthrift Farm, also had several horses racing in the famed Kentucky Derby, which ran alongside the Saturday MLS slate. Spendthrift stallion, Further Ado, finished 11th, behind Golden Tempo, who came away with the 152nd Kentucky Derby crown.

Shoutout to this terrific human. #Crew96 #SaveTheCaps pic.twitter.com/Se9A38l7Uu

— Ralph Schudel (@schudel_ralph) May 3, 2026

Still, the Whitecaps, MLS and local governments have insisted they hope to keep the club in Vancouver and are continuing to look for potential local solutions, which would likely include a reworked arrangement with provincially owned and operated BC Place, as well as the club’s ownership setup. 

With the draw, the Whitecaps remain second in the MLS Western Conference with eight wins, a draw and a loss through 10 games, heading into next week’s away clash against the San Jose Earthquakes—the team atop the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Supporters Unite Behind Vancouver Whitecaps in League-Wide Push.

The Herons’ first 33 minutes were outstanding, featuring a goal and two assists from Lionel Messi, as the Argentine maestro picked out Telasco Segovia and Ian Fray to put his team ahead 3–0. Yet, everything quickly fell apart, with Martín Ojeda scoring a brilliant solo strike in the 39th minute, unleashing a shot past Dayne St. Clair after a quick spin around a defender. 

The onslaught continued for the Orlando side that has otherwise floundered this season, as the Lions leaned on pure direct soccer in the second half to pierce through Miami’s defensive weaknesses, featuring another two goals from Ojeda and a final winning strike from Tyrese Spicer in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. 

Messi is magical. 🔮 pic.twitter.com/v2PlU1vLuX

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 3, 2026

With the loss, Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium, defeated for the first time on the new turf after opening the grounds with three straight draws against Austin FC, Red Bull New York and the New England Revolution. 

Despite the thrilling scoreline, it was a memorable night for both goalkeepers as well. St. Clair made five stops, including a late breakaway off his face to temporarily hold Miami’s lead, while his Canadian counterpart Maxime Crépeau had a mesmerizing four-save sequence in a seven-save performance for Orlando. 

Here is Sports Illustrated’s breakdown of the match, featuring report card grades for each Inter Miami player who saw the pitch. 

Inter Miami Report Card vs. Orlando City (4-3-3)

GK: Dayne St. Clair—D: It’s hard to see many positives for a goalkeeper who allowed a hat-trick, but if it weren’t for the Canadian international, Miami likely loses this game by a more significant margin. Featuring a save with his face and a breakaway stop, it was a decent performance from the Miami backstop.

RB: Ian Fray—C: Drawn back into the lineup as Miami went back to a four-man backline, Fray netted his first goal of the season in the first half, but struggled to defend counter-attacks in the second. However, that likely came down to a coaching decision, which Hoyos will regret.

CB: Micael—F: It was a catastrophic showing by both Miami center backs, and Micael was not spared from the poor performance. Pushing too high up the pitch, caught flat footed on Orlando counter attacks and failing to complete passes, it was a dismal night for the Brazilian.

CB: Maxi Falcón—F-: When I was in grade school, there was the option to get an “incomplete”grade on an assignment. It was worse than an F, and that's likely what Maxi Falcón deserved in this match, another day where his mistakes cost Miami critical points. This time, he was consistently behind the play, lost all three of his duels, had no defensive actions, was dribbled past three times and conceded the penalty, leading to the 3–3 goal. Without Falcón, Miami would be a better team.

LB: Noah Allen—D: In the 2025 MLS season, Noah Allen lamented the fact that he had to adjust to several positions and that he was unable to build consistency in one role. This year, he has shifted between left back and left wingback and has been one of the better performers, but failed to catch Tyrese Spicer on the go-ahead goal.

RM: Telasco Segovia—C: Telasco Segovia had a first half to remember, scoring a goal and picking up an assist as Miami launched out to a 3–0 lead. Yet, those efforts were quickly dashed by a lack of defensive effort in the second half, leaving the wide areas open for Orlando to expose.

CM: Rodrigo De Paul—D: Under pressure to impress in order to make the Argentina World Cup roster later this month, it was a bad day for Rodrigo De Paul in the center of the park. The veteran defensive midfielder failed to make critical tackles, leaving passing lanes open for Orlando to play directly through.

LM: Yannick Bright—C: Returning from suspension, Yannick Bright completed the most passes of any Inter Miami player and was largely unproblematic throughout the second-half collapse.

RW: Lionel Messi—A-: The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a goal and had two assists in the first half in an impressive showing, but was clearly frustrated throughout the rest of the game, earning a yellow card as his team surrendered four goals in quick succession. Still, the three goal contributions are hard to rank poorly.

ST: Luis Suárez—D+: The Uruguayan attacker was a significant presence throughout his 71 minutes, picking up an assist and creating a game-high four scoring chances. Unfortunately, his age and mobility issues prevented him from making any significant defensive contributions.

LW: Germán Berterame—F: Germán Berterame continued to struggle on key opportunities, failing to finish into gaping goals in both halves, despite having 15 touches in the opposition’s box.

SUB: Facundo Mura (66’)—C: The Argentine wingback came into the game late on, but was unable to calm things down at the back, as Orlando continued their historic comeback.

SUB: Tadeo Allende (71’)—D: The hero of the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, Allende made one threatening run as soon as he entered the match, but failed to produce any significant chances or make an impact at either end of the pitch.

Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Daniel Sumalla, César Abadia-Reda, Gonzalo Luján, Alex Shaw, Preston Plambeck, Dániel Pintér

The Problem That Won’t Go Away

Despite having some aerial prowess, the centre back pairing of Maxi Falcón and Micael struggles to keep up with the play. More often than not, the two can be seen pointing towards the attacker, making slow, albeit lung-busting, runs in a fruitless effort to get back in time.

At the same time, the technical direction they have been given is too aggressive at the best of times. Given the state of the game and momentum, there is a case to be made that Miami should not have pushed for a winner after giving up three goals—but that’s what they did on the clip below, leaving Micael and Falcón exposed, and Allen too far behind to make a difference. 

TYRESE SPICER. ORLANDO COME ALL THE WAY BACK TO TAKE THE LEAD 4-3. pic.twitter.com/2JDTySgjTm

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 3, 2026

The Herons are currently linked with Casemiro from Manchester United, and although that could clog up the midfield and shore things up there, maybe the club should be eyeing a fleet-footed central defender instead.  

What’s Next For Inter Miami?

Inter Miami will want to quickly move on from the historic loss in the Florida Derby and look towards next week’s trip to Canada, where they will face a Toronto FC side completing a nine-game home stand at BMO Field. Following that match-up, the Herons face a double gameweek, with a visit to FC Cincinnati on May 13, before returning to Nu Stadium on May 17 against the Portland Timbers, still desperately searching for a first victory at the new grounds.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Grading Inter Miami’s Historic Collapse Against Rivals Orlando City.

“Despite some calls from Saudi Arabia, MLS remains a strong, concrete, real possibility,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “Casemiro and MLS, also including Inter Miami in the conversation. Inter Miami are working on a deal to sign Casemiro since March. Inter Miami really want to go for Casemiro.”

While Inter Miami currently do not have a Designated Player (DP) slot available and would not have enough Targeted Allocation Money to accommodate the Brazilian, they are still exploring potential solutions.

If everything goes to plan, Casemiro could play a starring role for the club and fill a midfield void Sergio Busquets left when he retired after winning the MLS Cup in 2025. To fit him in, Miami would likely need to sell one of the other three DPs, which include Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame, the latter of whom joined the club on a $15 million transfer ahead of the 2026 campaign.

But, how could Miami look if Casemiro were to sign this summer? To consider that possibility, one of the DPs has to exit the fold. For this sake, we’ll say the Herons sell Berterame at a loss, given he has struggled to live up to the expectations since joining the club.

With the Mexico striker out of the picture, here’s how Miami could line up with the addition of Casemiro.

Sticking With the 4-3-3

Since Guillermo Hoyos relieved Javier Mascherano as Miami’s manager, at least on an interim basis, he has bounced between a three-man and four-man backline. Yet, the best moments for Miami have come with the four-man system, dating back to last year’s run to MLS Cup victory.

Given Casemiro’s versatility in the center of the park, combined with his fitness, reliability and overall resurgence, the best spot for him might be at the core of Miami’s setup, the exact role Busquets played last season. 

In this system, current defensive midfielders De Paul and Yannick Bright would shift to the right and left sides in front of the fullbacks. That would leave the potential of Mateo Silvetti and Messi as wingers, centered by Luis Suárez up top, with the Uruguayan enjoying a recent late-career spell as a playmaker and goalscorer this season. 

Shifting to 3-4-3

If Hoyos, or whichever new manager, wanted to shift to a 3-4-3, it would likely mean dropping Bright from the starting lineup, while introducing versatile wingbacks to the system. Casemiro would then partner with De Paul in central midfield, as outlined above. 

While this system would still rely on the same front three, it could allow former Premier League and La Liga defender Sergio Reguilón to get further up the field, as Jordi Alba used to do, while bringing Tadeo Allende back into the fold as a starter, despite his production struggles in 2026. 

Either way, bringing in Casemiro is a complicated task for Miami, and the potential of splitting with Berterame at a significant loss may not sit right, especially when it would leave an aging Suárez as the primary striker option for 2026 and beyond.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as How Inter Miami Could Line Up With Man Utd Star Midfielder Casemiro.

Over the course of his glittering career, the Argentine legend has amassed not just an extraordinary trophy haul—including a record eight Ballons d’Or and a World Cup—but also hundreds of millions of dollars.

Those riches have come from his eye-watering on-field earnings with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, as well as from countless sponsorship deals and an ever-growing investment portfolio.

Here’s how much Messi is worth in 2026, along with a breakdown of how he earns—and spends—his vast fortune.

What Is Lionel Messi’s Net Worth in 2026?

As of 2026, Lionel Messi has an estimated net worth of $850 million (£629 million), according to various sources, including GIVEMESPORT and Parade.

That figure places him as the second-wealthiest active soccer player in the world, behind only his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently achieved billionaire status.

How Much Does Messi Earn?

According to Forbes, Lionel Messi earned an estimated $135 million (£94 million) in 2025, a figure that combines his on-field salary with Inter Miami and his substantial off-field income from endorsements and business ventures.

That total placed him among the very highest earners in global sports. Only four athletes—NFL quarterback Dak Prescott, boxer Tyson Fury, NBA superstar Stephen Curry and Ronaldo—earned more during the same period.

Below is a full breakdown of where Messi’s money came from over the year.

Messi’s Salary Breakdown

Messi is the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer by a considerable margin, earning $20.4 million (£14.8 million) in guaranteed compensation through his lucrative Inter Miami contract.

In October 2025, he signed an extension that will keep him at the club through the end of the 2028 season.

While that is hardly a modest sum, Messi’s salary still represents only a relatively small portion of his overall income.

Messi’s Endorsements and Sponsorships

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Despite his recent surge in success under interim manager Michael Carrick, the 34-year-old remains steadfast in his departure from Old Trafford upon his contract expiration this summer, ruling out an extension after four seasons with the club and more than 150 appearances.

“Casemiro keeps planning for an exit from Manchester United,” insider Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel Friday. “...I am told this is not changing. Casemiro is leaving Manchester United at the end of the season.”

Despite the various logistical challenges his signing could create, Inter Miami remain equally steadfast in their efforts to win the Brazil international’s heart.

“Despite some calls from Saudi Arabia, MLS remains a strong, concrete, real possibility,” Romano added. “Casemiro and MLS, also including Inter Miami in the conversation. Inter Miami are working on a deal to sign Casemiro since March. Inter Miami really want to go for Casemiro.”

Inter Miami to Capitalize on Casemiro’s Resurgence

Fans cried for “one more year” from Casemiro after he opened the scoring in Monday’s 2–1 win over Brentford, moving the star to visible tears on the pitch. Monday’s outing was just the latest continuation of an excellent run of form for Casemiro, which will come to an end this summer after he announced his impending departure in January. Matheus Cunha, teammate for both club and country, echoed the pleas of the fans on social media after the game as well.

Casemiro began his resurgence under manager Ruben Amorim, who was fired in January, and has only skyrocketed under Carrick’s tutelage since, combining his box-crashing capabilities and defensive solidity with the freedoms Carrick’s system affords him. His efforts have been integral for United’s bid for Champions League qualification, which is all but guaranteed now, with just four matches left in league play.

Casemiro anchors the midfield with vigor, and his success on set pieces has been unparalleled throughout the Premier League, accounting for eight of his nine goals this season—all headers.

Inter Miami are simultaneously faltering right now, showing nothing of the dominance that led them to hoist the 2025 MLS Cup less than six months ago. The Herons have yet to earn a win at their brand-new home stadium in Miami proper, Nu Stadium, walking away with draws to Austin FC, the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution over the past month.

Even Messi seems to be breaking down under the weight of the responsibility of generating every creative offensive moment for the Herons, evidenced by the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s frequent displays of frustration last Saturday against a pretty average Revolution squad.

Casemiro, however, could be exactly the spark plug Inter Miami need. If the MLS side are willing to make some major roster upheavals, the Brazilian could be matching Messi in pink as early as this summer, during the league’s secondary transfer window which opens in mid-July.

READ THE LATEST INTER MIAMI NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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• Grading Inter Miami’s Turbulent Win as Messi Sets MLS Record in Front of Historic Crowd
• Lionel Messi Smashes MLS Record in Latest Inter Miami Win

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Update on Lionel Messi, Inter Miami’s Bid for Man Utd’s Casemiro—Report.

Due to the sheer volume of the U.S.’s top flight, the notion of implementing a relegation and promotion system—a merit-based model widely implemented across European soccer, currently used in the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga and the German Bundesliga, among others—has been raised several times over.

The model not only raises the stakes for the entire season by condemning the lowest-ranked teams at the season’s end to a lower-tiered league of play—and conversely, rewards the highest-performing teams with a promotion to a higher-tiered league—but it also manages and caps how many teams compete in a given league, creating a clear and organized pyramid structure of multiple leagues, instead of having just one oversaturated pool of teams.

For example, England’s top flight, the Premier League, includes 20 total clubs; however the English Football League, the faction situated below the Premier League on the pyramid of English soccer, includes three lower leagues: the Championship, League One and League Two. There are 24 clubs in each of those three divisions for 72 teams in total. That means the Premier League and the English Football League combined have over 90 teams in England and Wales; however, they are well divided, so as to not overpopulate one given pool of play.

The future vision for MLS is once again in question, not only due to the increasing number of expansion clubs but also as the United Soccer League (USL)—a separate men’s professional soccer league in the U.S.—is preparing to launch relegation and promotion in the 2027–28 season, thus prompting Garber to contemplate doing the same.

What Is Don Garber’s Opinion on Promotion and Relegation for MLS?

Major League Soccer has operated as a closed and fixed league since it was founded in 1993. The only way a new team can enter MLS is by paying a hefty expansion fee, which these days typically exceeds hundreds of millions of dollars. For example, the league’s latest addition, San Diego FC, paid a record-breaking $500 million to secure their place in MLS for 2025.

Garber, who has served as MLS Commissioner since 1999, however, has acknowledged that this closed model is likely to change in the future.

“Who I am to say it will never happen?” Garber told reporter Andrew Marchand this week.

“Do I think at some generation there will be promotion and relegation in the U.S.? I do. I will say that it is not going to be when we are funding, with billions of dollars of debt, the foundation for soccer in America and Canada.”

It is not surprising, then, that most of the arguments against MLS promotion and relegation come from those who have invested substantial sums to not only secure a spot in MLS—one they do not want to see so easily taken away—but also to build new stadiums specifically for competing in the U.S.’s top tier.

“At some point, the stadium in New York will be just like Yankee Stadium,” Garber added. “It’s just Yankee Stadium, and nobody will care that somebody had to pay a billion dollars for it. Then maybe you’ll have promotion and relegation.”

“I do think at some point it will happen, but it won’t happen while I am commissioner.”

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Will MLS Use Relegation and Promotion? MLS Commissioner Addresses Idea.

In the Canadian Premier League, where Arséne Wenger’s “daylight” offside rule is being tested, striker Tomasz Skublak celebrated in an unorthodox fashion after scoring in Inter Toronto’s 4–1 home victory over reigning champions Atlético Ottawa. 

The 28-year-old rushed to the camera after his finish, leaned down to his sock, pulled out a business card for his real estate business and made a “call me” gesture to the broadcast—a moment that has since gone viral. 

“I’m a man of two hats,” Skublak said post-match. “Full-time football player here at Inter Toronto, as well as full-time realtor ... I spend a lot of money on marketing for my business outside of football, so I got some free marketing in here, so I whipped out the business card, and I did what I did.”

Need a goal? You can call Inter Toronto's Tomasz Skublak☎️

Do you need a home in Ontario? You can also call Tomasz Skublak📞

🔴 Watch #CPLSoccer on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/ZGyeZxdXwI

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 2, 2026

Skublak is a full-time soccer player in Canada’s top division, but also works as a real estate agent in the Toronto area after growing up in nearby Burlington, Ontario, a business path he has pursued for three years. 

The 2026 CPL season marks his second in the league, but first since 2019—the competition’s second season. Since then, he became a real estate agent and took that on as a full-time profession while playing in the Canadian second tier, the Ontario Premier League. 

“[The CPL] is definitely a bigger time commitment,” he added. “You’re training every single day, you’re doing video, making sure your body is recovering. The levels are obviously a lot better as well.”

Why Does a Pro Soccer Player Have Another Job?

While no details were immediately available on Skublak’s decision to work an additional job outside of soccer, he is far from the first—many in the first two decades of Major League Soccer did so as well, as MLS was in a similar stage of league development to the CPL currently, which is in its ninth season.

For example, former D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins was a pick for the 2006 MLS All-Star Game, but also worked as a mortgage loan processor, leading D.C. fans to produce a banner reading “Troy saves and loans.”

Unlike MLS, Skublak’s and the rest of the CPL players’ contract and salary info are not made public. Each CPL team builds its roster with a salary cap of CAD $1,217,500 (USD $895,018), and the minimum salary for senior roster CPL players is just CAD $30,000 (USD $22,063), a similar range to MLS’s minimum salary in 2005.

Yet, just as MLS has blossomed to a point where minimum salaries are $109,000 in 2026, the CPL aims to have a similar growth trajectory, eyeing expansion franchises across Canada and a chance to continue growing the game in the World Cup co-hosting nation. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Viral Business Card Celebration Shines Light on Pro Athletes Working Second Jobs.

And it’s not as if the Whitecaps are struggling for interest. The 52-year-old club is debatably the second most popular sporting product in the city and has drawn over 20,000 fans for 19 straight home games, with the on-pitch performance seeing them near the top of MLS. 

Yet, it’s the lack of a soccer-specific stadium and the team’s current home, the provincially owned and crown corporation-operated BC Place, which stand as the primary issues. In the current setup, the club does not have primary date rights at the stadium and earns only 12% of matchday revenues. As such, CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster says they face a $40 million gap compared to the average MLS club. 

The problem, at its core, is that costs have skyrocketed in MLS since the Whitecaps were granted an expansion franchise in 2009, while revenues have remained relatively flat. Few MLS clubs are understood to be profitable or breaking even, despite lofty valuations.

Las Vegas Offer Sparks Concern

On Thursday, reports emerged that Grant Gustavson, the son of Kentucky billionaire Tamara Gustavson, had made a formal offer, with the family having made its fortune from founding and operating Public Storage. His intention would be to move the club to Las Vegas and build a soccer-specific stadium.

While those reports put a name to the offer, the Whitecaps had been linked with Las Vegas prior, and relocation had been a topic since December 2024, when the club’s current ownership, including Jeff Mallett, Greg Kerfoot and NBA legend Steve Nash, announced it was looking to sell. 

The Whitecaps and MLS continue to seek solutions in Vancouver, but the time to sort one out is ticking away—and now offers are on the table. Any sale and relocation would have to pass a vote of the MLS Board of Governors to become official.

As of Thursday, which was highlighted by over 1,600 international delegates at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, representatives of the Province of British Columbia and City of Vancouver said that Whitecaps and MLS had not outlined what exactly would be required to remain in the market.

MLS Commissioner Meets Local Leaders

MLS Commissioner Don Garber met with British Columbia Premier David Eby on Wednesday and Thursday, and also sat near Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim for the four-hour FIFA meeting. However, Garber did not address the media on Thursday, opting to walk past clamouring reporters. 

The Congress came mere hours after a tweet from Garber’s X (formerly Twitter) account commented, “Liar liar pants on fire,” below a video of Eby’s support for the Whitecaps remaining in Vancouver. MLS and Garber later added that his account had been “compromised.”

“Major League Soccer remains focused on working with the Whitecaps and local stakeholders to determine whether a sustainable long-term path for the club can be achieved,” MLS spokesperson Dan Courtemanche said in a statement Thursday. 

“While in Vancouver for the FIFA Congress, Commissioner Don Garber met yesterday with Premier of British Columbia David Eby. He also had the opportunity to speak with Premier Eby, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, British Columbia Deputy Minister of Tourism Silas Brownsey, and PavCo President and CEO Rehana Din during the Congress.

“Those conversations were constructive, and we appreciate the time and engagement from local leadership. MLS and club representatives will continue discussions in the days ahead, and league leadership plans to return to Vancouver in the coming weeks for additional meetings.”

A statement from Whitecaps’ Shuster further added that the club remains on the hunt for solutions in Vancouver, but that there would be no further comments at this time.

B.C. Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon, who is handling the Whitecaps file, also chimed in Thursday: “I’m hoping that that meeting and that dialogue from that meeting was genuine ... if they have already made a decision to move the team, I’d rather they just tell and not have everybody go through the anxiety of trying to figure out what we can do.”

Fan Protests Intensify 

A group of Vancouver Whitecaps supporters are making their #savethecaps message heard to FIFA representatives from around the world this morning. pic.twitter.com/itu7LqMeS7

— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) April 30, 2026

While news of the official Vegas offer emerged midway through the FIFA Congress, Whitecaps supporters had already made their voices heard in an intensifying Save The Caps campaign, with several chanting and holding banners as FIFA’s most important decision-makers walked into the Vancouver Convention Centre. 

The Save The Caps campaign was inspired by the Save The Crew movement in 2018, which garnered massive local and international support, while leaning on Ohio legislation to keep Columbus Crew in market after then owner Anthony Precourt had eyed a move to Austin. 

In that situation, the legislation played a vital role—there are no similar laws in British Columbia—but the social pushback also took on plenty of weight. Precourt was then granted an MLS expansion franchise, now Austin FC, while the Columbus-based Haslam Family stepped in to save the Crew in the final days. 

#SaveTheCaps pic.twitter.com/YII1FjfWVW

— Crew96Times (@Crew96Times) April 29, 2026

The Save The Caps campaign is off to a similar start. Led by the Vancouver Southsiders at the recent Vancouver win over the Colorado Rapids, Save The Caps posters have been seen across several MLS, USL and Canadian Premier League teams. That trend is expected to grow over the next several weeks.

Rival players and coaches have also spoken out, with Seattle Sounders manager Brian Schmetzer saying “it would be sad” if the historic Canadian club were to move, while Portland Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis added that “the rivalry means a lot,” and “you want to beat them, but you want them to stay.”

Local Interest ‘Reached Out,’ Says Mayor

While the Whitecaps’ issues remain, Mayor Sim revealed in a short media availability with local press at FIFA Congress that “a lot of groups have reached out in the 48 hours” after the initial reports of relocation emerged Monday, adding “I don’t want to give anyone false hope, because we do have a hill to climb.”

The Whitecaps had previously urged local groups that could see a feasible path ahead for the team in the market to come forward, and mentioned that over 100 groups had previously looked at the club and decided a deal did not suit them. 

Sim, meanwhile, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Whitecaps in December to take the first steps towards a potential soccer stadium at Hastings Park, an area outside of downtown previously used for horse racing. Still, any stadium would remain a pricey dream for new ownership, leaving Sim concerned.

“I think we should all be concerned, and that’s from well before Vegas came into the picture,” he added. “We’ve been concerned, and we’ve been working on this for over a year. We can’t control what other groups that have an interest in our team, what they do. All we can do is control our own destiny.”

Amid it all, the Whitecaps are thriving on the pitch, with USMNT World Cup hopefuls Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter alongside German legend Thomas Müller, as they embark on an eight-game road trip due to the FIFA World Cup taking over BC Place until Aug. 1. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘Save the Whitecaps’ Fight Intensifies With Rival Support As Local Groups ‘Reach Out’.

With the calendar flipping to May, it is officially the final month for players to impress for World Cup roster spots, as each of the 48 competing nations must name their rosters by May 30. There is little potential to make changes thereafter. 

Although the race for roster spots spreads across nearly every top division in world soccer, the Florida Derby brings a special spotlight to the World Cup, given Lionel Messi’s status, the goalkeepers on show and several others who could suit up for their nations next month. 

Here, Sports Illustrated takes a look at three key World Cup storylines in the matchup. 

Lionel Messi’s Status Remains Unknown

Despite winning the 2025 MLS MVP and Golden Boot, Lionel Messi’s status for the 2026 World Cup is still in question.

After winning the 2022 World Cup and capturing a second-career Copa América in 2024, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner may not want to risk stepping away from Argentina with anything but a trophy. At this point, the 38-year-old has the perfect farewell story.

This season, Messi has slowed down in production, as Inter Miami have struggled to find an identity, first under Javier Mascherano’s management and now under Guillermo Hoyos. As such, his status for the summer remains undecided, but Argentine manager Lionel Scaloni would welcome him if he wishes to join. 

“I will do everything I can to make sure he is there,” Scaloni said in a March press conference when asked if Messi will feature at the World Cup. “I believe that he has to be there, for the sake of football, but it's not me who decides. It's up to him how he feels in his mind and his physical condition.”

The Battle for Canada’s No. 1

The race to start for Canada between the sticks at the first men’s World Cup on home soil could come down to Saturday’s matchup, as Orlando City backstop Maxime Crépeau stares down his longtime friend and goalkeeping competition, Dayne St. Clair of Inter Miami. 

Both got off to rocky starts with their new clubs, but have enjoyed recent improvements. St. Clair’s distribution and tight-space shot-stopping have been on full display, with the only goals conceded coming from defensive failures. At the same time, Crépeau recently made five saves in a 1–1 draw with the Columbus Crew. 

A very promising performance from Maxime Crépeau on Sunday with this stellar stop among five saves.

Orlando City were well outplayed by th Columbus Crew, but the #CanMNT man saved a point for his side.

pic.twitter.com/FGFdbcqtoX

— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) April 13, 2026

Canada manager Jesse Marsch has long quibbled with the goalkeeping conundrum, starting both regularly since taking over the team in May 2024. Yet, he has previously stated that he will name an outright No. 1 for the World Cup. At its core, Crépeau has often performed better for Canada, while St. Clair offers more mobility and has reached greater heights at the club level. 

This weekend will provide the final matchup between the two, before players convene in Charlotte for a pre-World Cup camp ahead of Canada’s final two friendlies against Uzbekistan and Ireland. Canada opens World Cup play on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. 

Will Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame Maintain Form?

Inter Miami’s inconsistent start to the 2026 season has raised doubts about two regular players at the international level.

For Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul, struggling to defend against Red Bull New York last month highlighted the weak points that have been emphasized in his drop in form since joining MLS last summer from Atlético Madrid; meanwhile, Germán Berterame hasn’t scored at the same clip that made him a potent attacker for CF Monterrey, where he was a Mexico national team lock. 

That form had both of them in doubt for World Cup outings, with Scaloni emphasizing in March that the Argentine team would be “decided based on objective criteria” and include “only players who are ready and in their best form.” Since then, De Paul has improved, scoring a goal and three assists in his last four games, while providing slicing passes and key vision to attackers, potentially crawling back into Scaloni’s plans. 

Berterame seems to be on a similar trajectory. After eight games without a goal to start his Inter Miami career, he now has three goals and two assists across his last five games, potentially regaining Mexico manager Javier Aguirre’s trust, despite being left off the initially named roster of 12 players. 

After Saturday, Inter Miami will play four more league matches before MLS pauses for the World Cup, while Orlando have five, including a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against Atlanta United. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Inter Miami vs. Orlando City: Three Reasons Why This Match is Crucial for the World Cup.

While the most significant storyline remains the future of the Vancouver Whitecaps, with the club currently linked to a relocation to Las Vegas, competition moves along with a 15-match slate to start May, including 13 games on Saturday and two on Sunday. It is also expected that several Save The Caps banners and protests will be on display across the league.

Here’s what Sports Illustrated predicts for the 11th matchday of MLS in 2026.

Toronto FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

Toronto FC’s seven-game undefeated streak came to an end with a 2–1 loss to Atlanta United last week, and things only get more difficult as the Reds welcome the MLS-leading San Jose Earthquakes to BMO Field. It will be a strong contest, highlighted by the star striker battle of San Jose’s Timo Werner—up to four goals and five assists in seven games—and Toronto’s Josh Sargent, who has two goals and an assist in 492 minutes.  

Prediction: Toronto FC 2–4 San Jose Earthquakes 

Sporting Kansas City vs. Seattle Sounders

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT

Sporting Kansas City are up to five losses in a row and have scored just three times in that spell, dropping the last two games to Vancouver and Chicago by a combined scoreline of 8–0, which might actually be flattering. They’re back at Sporting Park this weekend, facing a punishing Seattle Sounders attack, USMNT World Cup hopeful Cristian Roldan and leading scorer, Paul Rothrock. 

Prediction: Sporting Kansas City 1–4 Seattle Sounders  

Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 4:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 p.m. PT

Real Salt Lake were flying high with three wins in four games, but have since lost back-to-back contests and will hope this weekend’s home date against the Portland Timbers sparks their return to form. It’s down to the final weeks for Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo to push for the USMNT’s World Cup squad, while the rest of the team looks to shut down Kevin Kelsy’s newfound form that has seen him score two goals in three games for the Timbers.

Prediction: Real Salt Lake 2–2 Portland Timbers

Inter Miami vs. Orlando City

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. PT

The second Florida Derby of the season is on Saturday, with Inter Miami welcoming Orlando City to Nu Stadium for the first time. It’s the Herons’ fourth home game this season, and they are on the hunt for a first win in front of their supporters, after draws against Austin FC, Red Bull New York and the New England Revolution. After a 4–2 Miami win in the first derby of the year, could Saturday’s clash see as many goals?

Prediction: Inter Miami 3–1 Orlando City 

Atlanta United vs. CF Montréal

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Atlanta United snapped a four-game losing skid with a win over Toronto FC on the road last week, and the Five Stripes will look to find back-to-back victories against Canadian opponents this weekend. Montréal enters with plenty of confidence, coming off two wins against Red Bull New York and New York City FC, buoyed by impressive goal-scoring from Prince Owusu, who has six goals and three assists in nine appearances. 

Prediction: Atlanta United 1–1 CF Montréal 

Columbus Crew vs. Minnesota United

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

With back-to-back wins, the Columbus Crew might have found their stride in MLS under new manager Henrik Rydström. Yet, it won’t be easy this weekend, taking on a Minnesota United side with four wins in five games, while the only loss saw James Rodríguez make his first start and impress in a dominant, but eventually disappointing, effort to LAFC. 

Prediction: Columbus Crew 2–1 Minnesota United

New England Revolution vs. Charlotte FC

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Carles Gil remains an underrated quality in MLS, even as other stars have flocked to the league in recent seasons. The New England Revolution talisman helped secure a 1–1 draw against Inter Miami last weekend, and enters this weekend’s clash against Charlotte FC with goal contributions in each of his last three outings. Back at home, he and the Revolution look to extend the undefeated streak to seven games against a Charlotte side that has lost its last two. 

Prediction: New England Revolution 2–1 Charlotte FC

Red Bull New York vs. FC Dallas

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Red Bull New York began the season in incredible form, but have now gone four games without a win, including two losses in that spell to FC Cincinnati and CF Montréal. As impressive as the young stars have been, led by Julian Hall, finding more consistency will be vital. They fell 3–1 in the U.S. Open Cup to rivals New York City FC midweek, and will need to bounce back against Petar Musa’s FC Dallas. 

Prediction: Red Bull New York 2–2 FC Dallas

Philadelphia Union vs. Nashville SC

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

The vibes have shifted for Nashville SC this week, with Concacaf Champions Cup dreams now on edge after a 1–0 loss in the first leg of the semifinals to Liga MX’s Tigres UANL. Yet, they remain atop the Eastern Conference and are riding a three-game MLS win streak heading into their visit to the last-place Philadelphia Union. Expect manager B.J. Callaghan to rotate his squad again, looking ahead to the second leg against Tigres, but it should be enough to find another win. 

Prediction: Philadelphia Union 0–3 Nashville SC

Chicago Fire vs. FC Cincinnati

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

It’s a good time to be a Chicago Fire FC supporter, seeing a team that throttled Sporting Kansas City 5–0 last week for a fifth game undefeated and fourth win in that run. Led by Hugo Cuypers and Philip Zinckernagel, thriving under Gregg Berhalter’s tutelage, the Fire head to Cincinnati this week with hopes of continuing strong form. Yet, it won’t be so simple, with impressive form from Evander, Pavel Bucha and Kévin Denkey to lead FC Cincinnati. 

Prediction: Chicago Fire 3–3 FC Cincinnati

Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

The Colorado Rapids are facing a crisis. After an impressive start under new manager Matt Wells, the club have found no consistency in results and have just one win in the last five games. Amid the recent struggles, star goalkeeper Zack Steffen has been at fault for several goals against, making it a challenge for Rob Holding and the backline. The Houston Dynamo will be another strong test, but Rafael Navarro and Paxten Aaronson should be able to help them secure a point.   

Prediction: Houston Dynamo 2–2 Colorado Rapids

San Diego FC vs. LAFC

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

LAFC doesn’t want to be playing this match, with manager Marc Dos Santos lashing out that he would have liked schedule adjustments to focus on the Concacaf Champions Cup. The Black and Gold beat Deportivo Toluca 2–1 in the first leg of the semifinal, but now, they will face a stiff test in the upcoming second leg. As such, expect a heavily rotated LAFC squad to visit the struggling San Diego side, which is reeling from a five-game losing skid. 

Prediction: San Diego FC 2–1 LAFC

LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

The Vancouver Whitecaps begin a lengthy road spell, with eight straight away games due to the World Cup, meaning the next home match won't be until August 1 against LAFC. While much of the focus has been on their unclear future off the pitch, the team continues to thrive, sitting with eight wins in nine games and second in the Western Conference. Eyes will be on Thomas Müller’s clash with LA Galaxy’s Marco Reus, with additional focus on Brian White’s Golden Boot race, sitting on eight goals, one behind league-leading Sam Surridge. 

Prediction: LA Galaxy 2–3 Vancouver Whitecaps

New York City FC vs. D.C. United

• Date: Sunday, May 3
• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT

After a thrilling start to 2026, things have gotten difficult for New York City FC now amid a six-game winless run heading into this weekend’s clash against D.C. United. Still led by Nicolás Fernández and Maxi Moralez, manager Pascal Jansen’s group looks to snap their skid against a D.C. United side that earned their first win in six games over Orlando City last time out. 

Prediction:  New York City FC 0–0 D.C. United

Austin FC vs. St. Louis CITY SC

• Date: Sunday, May 3
• Time: 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT

The week wraps up with a Western Conference clash between Austin FC and St. Louis CITY SC, with the potential of Los Verdes welcoming Owen Wolff back to the lineup, alongside Myrto Uzuni and Facundo Torres. While the Texas side hasn’t been exceptional, it should have enough to prevail against a St. Louis side that has just one win in nine games. 

Prediction: Austin FC 3–0 St. Louis CITY SC 

MLS Predictions: Matchday 11

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Predictions: Reus vs. Muller, Florida Derby and More for Matchday 11.

Uncertainty has clouded the Western Conference side since 2024, when the team was put up for sale. Despite looking for a buyer committed to keeping the team in Vancouver, no progress has been made, leaving Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster’s “Plan Z” of relocation the most likely option, given the team’s lease with BC Place expires at the end of the 2026 season.

Fans have heavily fought against the moving the club out of Vancouver, staging “Save The Caps” protests, but their worst fears suddenly have come to life. The Athletic report Grant Gustavson, the son of Kentucky billionaire Tamara Gustavson, submitted an official offer to buy the team, with the intention of moving the Whitecaps to Las Vegas.

The bid comes after a committee of MLS owners met earlier this month to discuss the team’s future. A move to Sin City was reportedly the “chief option” discussed—and now the talks are becoming a reality.

Gustavson’s Group Keeps Tight-Lipped on Whitecaps Proposal

Gustavson, who lives in Las Vegas, is leading a group of investors intent on bringing the MLS outfit to Nevada. The group released the following statement regarding its bid, per The Athletic:

“Las Vegas is known the world over as a welcoming destination for millions of people each year and has a growing, passionate community of soccer fans. An investor group, led by Grant Gustavson, submitted a bid for consideration to the MLS League Office.

“The investment group will privately finance this endeavor and is not connected to any of the recently announced arena ideas in Las Vegas. In the coming weeks and months, we look forward to the opportunity to share more, however, out of respect for the league’s deliberations and community stakeholders, we are refraining from sharing details of our proposal.

“We look forward to continuing to work for a positive outcome for the game, the fans, the league and Las Vegas.”

Although the specifics of the proposal are largely unknown, The Athletic report building a soccer-specific stadium in Las Vegas is part of the offer.

What the Bid Means for the Whitecaps

Should the league ultimately accept Gustavson’s offer, the Whitecaps would become the first MLS club in 20 years to relocate. The last time a formal move occurred, the San Jose Earthquakes became the Houston Dynamo in 2006.

Two years later, San Jose joined the league as an expansion team, bringing MLS soccer back to the region. The Whitecaps could be forced to take a similar path if they do indeed make the move to the United States and get rebranded.

Except securing an expansion bid is now wildly expensive; it cost San Diego FC $500 million to join the league in 2023.

In the meantime, the Whitecaps have to continue on with their season as if there isn’t potentially a massive upheaval coming their way. The club sits second in the Western Conference and is eyeing redemption after finishing as the MLS Cup runners-up last season.

One thing is for certain, though; fans will fight tooth and nail against relocation, which would take only three Canadian clubs in MLS down to two.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Official ‘Las Vegas Buyer’ Adds New Twist to Vancouver Whitecaps’ Relocation Saga.

The Whitecaps have been for sale since 2024, and their lease deal at BC Place expires at the end of the season. Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster has said the club is exploring every option to remain in Vancouver, down to “Plan Z,” which would be relocation. 

The MLS side put out a statement on Monday night, though, writing that “to date, no viable offer [from a local buyer] has emerged that would keep the club [in Vancouver],” meaning the team could soon be moved to a U.S. market such as Las Vegas or Sacramento, among other cities. Investment groups in those locations are reportedly ready to pounce on the purchasing opportunity.

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Wednesday’s Matchday 9 slate brought some of the most chaotic moments of the season so far, with a pair of 4–4 draws, as well as a 3–3 tie between Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union, in which Toronto’s Luka Gavran scored the third goalkeeper goal in MLS history. 

Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes dominated their way to two wins, and the Vancouver Whitecaps moved to eight wins in nine games with a commanding performance against the Colorado Rapids, among just a few of the storylines this week. 

With Matchday 9 and 10 in the rearview, here’s how the teams stack up in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated’s MLS Power Rankings.

MLS Power Rankings Matchday 10: Clubs 30–11

30. Sporting Kansas City (Previous: 30)
29. Philadelphia Union (Previous: 28)
28. Atlanta United (Previous: 29)
27. Orlando City (Previous: 26)
26. CF Montréal (Previous: 27)
25. St. Louis CITY SC (Previous: 24)
24. D.C. United (Previous: 25)
23. Colorado Rapids (Previous: 20)
22. New England Revolution (Previous: 23)
21. Portland Timbers (Previous: 22)
20. Houston Dynamo (Previous: 20)
19. Austin FC (Previous: 21)
18. Toronto FC (Previous: 18)
17. FC Dallas (Previous: 15)
16. Minnesota United (Previous: 14)
15. LA Galaxy (Previous: 17)
14. Red Bull New York (Previous: 13)
13. Columbus Crew (Previous: 16)
12. San Diego FC (Previous: 11)
11. Charlotte FC (Previous: 10)

10. New York City FC 📉 (Previous: 9)

The good vibes for New York City FC from the start of the season have largely evaporated, with this week featuring a blown 4–2 lead in second-half stoppage time to settle for a 4–4 draw against FC Cincinnati, before losing 1–0 to a CF Montréal team that has largely struggled in 2026. 

Although the primary reason remains the lack of a genuine goalscoring threat outside of Nicolás Fernández and Maxi Moralez, the last two games showcased defensive shortcomings, with a pair of underwhelming performances from veteran center back Thiago Martins and a lack of critical moments between the sticks for Matt Freese, who suddenly could be slipping in the USMNT depth chart. 

Given Alonso Martínez’s injury, it doesn’t appear any quick offensive fix is in the works for Pascal Jansen’s men. Yet, they will look to continue advancing in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, facing local rivals Red Bull New York in the round of 16, before turning their focus to their next MLS match against Columbus Crew. 

9. Real Salt Lake 📉 (Previous: 8)

Hoping for a chance to take some massive steps into the upper ranks of the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake were unable to make much of the week, losing to Inter Miami 2–0 at home before falling 2–1 to the LA Galaxy on the road. 

While there have been standout moments—the loss to LA saw Zavier Gozo score his fifth goal contribution of the season—the inconsistencies that can come with relying on youth showed this week.

At the same time, as much as USMNT World Cup hopeful Diego Luna has returned to form, he wasn’t able to overwhelm Miami’s midfield and couldn’t control the game against the Galaxy. 

Overall, this RSL side under manager Pablo Mastroeni is still very much a work in progress. Luckily, they should have at least one more year with the youngsters and Luna, which could make 2026 simply a warm-up for bigger plans down the road.

8. FC Cincinnati 🆙 (Previous: 12)

Pavel Bucha ➡️ Kevin Denkey 💥@fccincinnati takes the lead just before half.

📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/y3S2oT6z8b pic.twitter.com/a2sZShzyNL

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 26, 2026

Why hello there, Kévin Denkey!

With rumors swirling about FC Cincinnati potentially luring Neymar to Ohio, the current Designated Players on the roster used this week to make sure no one would give them up too easily.

For Denkey, the club’s record signing from ahead of the 2025 season, that meant a four-goal week, scoring a brace in a 4–4 comeback to draw New York City FC and another pair in a 2–0 win over Red Bull New York. 

The Togo international attacker stood out in his connections with Evander, a partnership that has struggled to flourish for over a year, as well as with Pavel Bucha. Evander, the club’s current star Brazilian, also scored against NYCFC, making him the highest-scoring Brazilian player in MLS history. 

While it wasn’t a win against NYCFC, scoring six goals—four from Denkey—and picking up four of a possible six points makes for a pretty good week for FC Cincinnati, who are set to face Chicago Fire next week. 

7. Inter Miami 📉 (Previous: 6)

Who knows whether Javier Mascherano is watching any Inter Miami games these days—but if he is, he can probably rest knowing it wasn’t his coaching outlook or plans that were causing Inter Miami’s struggles this season. 

While the midweek slate saw the Herons pick up a commanding 2–0 win over Real Salt Lake on the road, the weekend left a sour taste, with a 1–1 draw against the New England Revolution off a defensive error from Maxi Falcón, leaving the club with three draws in as many games at Nu Stadium. 

For new manager Guillermo Hoyos, the lack of a “new coach bump” is concerning. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi was held off the scoresheet twice and has been evidently frustrated with his teammates and opponents on the pitch. The biggest concern, however, has to be Falcón’s defensive liability, with his tentativeness against New England costing his side all three points. 

On the positive side, Luis Suárez continues to enjoy a resurgence at 39 years old, picking up a goal and an assist in the week, while Rodrigo De Paul has leveled up his play, showcasing himself with a goal against Salt Lake and some stellar play on the weekend. 

Sitting second in the Eastern Conference, the Herons are still in a decent position for a regular MLS club. Yet, with such demanding standards and expectations, there is no doubt a tense feeling heading into the Florida Derby against Orlando City next weekend. 

6. Chicago Fire 🆙 (Previous: 7)

Philip Zinckernagel ➡️ Hugo Cuypers

That's 3 unanswered for @ChicagoFire! pic.twitter.com/ctGrmMKSQx

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 26, 2026

Undefeated in five games and boasting four wins in that spell, the Chicago Fire are enjoying some of their best soccer under manager Gregg Berhalter.

This week saw them out of action for the 11-game midweek slate, before trouncing bottom-of-the-table Sporting Kansas City 5–0 in one of the most commanding performances in Berhalter’s tenure.

Shifting to the 4-2-3-1 this week, the Fire played with more interplay between all attackers, with Hugo Cuypers and Philip Zinckernagel each scoring a brace and orchestrating plenty of chances between their pairing. At the same time, Maren Haile-Selassie stood out as the No. 10. 

With the level that Sporting Kansas City is playing at this season, it’s hard to take too much from a commanding win of this sort, but the three points are still vital. Next up, it’s a U.S. Open Cup clash against St. Louis CITY SC. 

5. LAFC 📉 (Previous: 4)

After a few weeks of defensive missteps, LAFC were back to their best in the defensive third this week, keeping two clean sheets in a scoreless draw against the Colorado Rapids and a 1–0 win over Minnesota United. Yet neither performance was pretty, and the club relied on Hugo Lloris to make six saves across the two games, while Minnesota placed only three of its 23 shots on target. 

Son Heung-min is still awaiting his first goal of the 2026 MLS season, but was left out of the lineup against Minnesota, with manager Marc Dos Santos eyeing a full-strength squad for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals against Liga MX giants, Deportivo Toluca. 

However, even with the focus clearly on the Champions Cup, the team didn’t falter too much. Canada international and midfield lynchpin Stephen Eustàquio returned from injury, while Venezuelan youngster David Martínez scored an outstanding strike for the Minnesota win. 

Now, it’s all eyes on the Concacaf Champions Cup—even if it means surrendering a top-end squad against San Diego FC next weekend.

4. Seattle Sounders 🆙 (Previous: 5)

The Seattle Sounders played just one game this week and came away as 2–1 victors against FC Dallas, despite struggling with the Texas side’s press at points throughout the early moments. 

This game, however, could have looked very different if it had included Seattle’s Cristian Roldan or either of FC Dallas’s potent striker duo of Petar Musa and Logan Farrington, all of whom did not see the pitch in the contest. 

Without those key players, it left former Dallas star Jesús Ferreira to step up with a goal and a missed penalty, as well as veteran Sounders forward Jordan Morris, who scored a goal and assisted as a winger. 

It wasn’t the prettiest for the Sounders, but the three points moved them to fourth in the Western Conference ahead of next week’s match against last-place Sporting Kansas City. 

3. Nashville SC 📉 (Previous: 2)

The best news from Nashville SC this week came with the reintroduction of Sam Surridge on Saturday, as the English striker came off the bench to score a brace in a 4–2 win over Charlotte FC in his first appearance since April 11. 

Outside of Surridge’s goals, captain Hany Mukhtar also made history, netting a goal and an assist to become the third fastest player in MLS history to hit 150 regular season goal contributions, trailing only league legends Landon Donovan and Preki. 

While the two goals against will be cause for some concern, the match followed a common theme for Nashville, at least when it came to an attack. Leaning on both Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza, before Surridge’s introduction, the team extended their goal differential lead, now outscoring opponents 21–6 in the seven wins, one loss and one draw this season. 

Now, the focus turns to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, where they meet Tigres UANL in Tuesday night’s first of two legs, with the winner set to face either LAFC or Deportivo Toluca in the final ahead of the World Cup.  

2. Vancouver Whitecaps 📉 (Previous: 1)

The Vancouver Whitecaps fall in the rankings to San Jose this week, despite earning a commanding 3–1 victory over the Colorado Rapids.

As they have been so often at home, the Whitecaps controlled every aspect of the match, with Andrés Cubas and Sebastian Berhalter orchestrating midfield patterns and providing key passes to striker Brian White, as well as direct-facing wingers Emmanuel Sabbi, Bruno Caicedo and Cheikh Sabaly. 

Throughout the approach, it was evident that Jesper Sørensen had planned to attack Colorado’s wide defenders and to take advantage of long balls into the top of the final third, leaving Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen to make a decision of whether to come out or not. 

Dominance on the pitch isn’t anything new for the Whitecaps in the past year, and the club will be dreaming of an MLS Cup this season, while also courting new ownership to remain in the market. Now, things get challenging, with the next eight MLS matches on the road.

1. San Jose Earthquakes 🆙 (Previous: 2)

Everything is going right for the San Jose Earthquakes right now. 

This week saw the Earthquakes take the top spot in the Supporters’ Shield table, thrashing Austin FC 5–1 on Wednesday, before beating St. Louis CITY 3–2 on Saturday. 

While it took a few games for him to get entirely up to speed, Timo Werner has hit top form, scoring three times this week, while Preston Judd continued his immense form, now up to six goals and two assists in 10 games.

The Earthquakes are 5-0-0 away from home, a feat only done twice in MLS history ( La Galaxy in 1998, Red Bull New York in 2022) and boast an incredible nine wins in 10 games, which has never been done before in MLS’s post-shootout era (2000).. 

During their successful spell, they have taken advantage of wide areas for most of their attacks, avoiding shutdown defensive midfielders, while creating the most crossing opportunities of any MLS team. With that, they’ve created an immense amount of high-quality scoring chances, while still being able to counterpress in the center of the park through Niko Tsakiris and others.

Led by 74-year-old manager Bruce Arena, the team can already be dreaming of the trophies, including the U.S. Open Cup—they have a round of 16 match against Minnesota United on Tuesday—but more importantly, both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: San Jose Dominates, Inter Miami Underwhelms and More After Matchday 10.

The west coast club spearheaded by Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga opened the new MLS campaign with a thumping victory over Lionel Messi’s defending champions, Inter Miami. The waning league form in recent weeks has been offset by a run to the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, a competition LAFC are desperate to win after losing two previous finals.

However, the same success has not been had by the MLS side’s sister side, Grasshopper Club Zürich.

The fallen giants of Swiss soccer are facing the alarming prospect of relegation for a third season in succession, accelerating a steep downward trend since LAFC acquired a majority stake in the club back in January 2024. The fans have lost their patience.

Most ultras refused to take their seats for the opening minutes of Grasshoppers’ league meeting with FC Luzern on Saturday, leaving two banners hanging poignantly below the barren stands. The first read: “We just don’t feel like it right now.” The second, with 6' white letters emblazoned on a black sheet, was more to the point: “F--- OFF LAFC!”

The Decline of LAFC’s Sister Club

Grasshoppers are the most successful club in Swiss top-flight history, amassing an unrivaled 27 league titles. However, their last success came back in 2003. The club have recorded more seasons in the Swiss second tier (two) than title triumphs (one) in the 21st century.

This steady decline started long before LAFC’s investment 15 months ago. The financial issues which have beset this historic institution stretch back to 2007, when their Hardturm ground was closed for a rebuild which never materialized. Now Grasshoppers are forced to share the modest the Letzigrund track and field stadium with their fierce city rivals FC Zürich. The only atmosphere which has been inspired behind the running track is one of extreme anger.

The nadir came in 2019 when the Hoppers were relegated for the first time in 68 years, ending the campaign with two abandoned matches after fan violence.

The following season, Grasshoppers were purchased by Hong Kong-based Champion Union. The Chinese company is owned by Jenny Wang, who is married to the head of Fosun International, which in turn has a majority stake in Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Fosun oversaw Grasshoppers’ return to the top flight in 2021 although another relegation was never too far away.

During the season in which the ownership changed hands, Grasshoppers were condemned to a relegation playoff to preserve their top-flight status. It took a stoppage-time winner to avoid the drop in 2024 before history repeated itself 12 months later, with Grasshoppers again winning this desperate fixture after escaping automatic relegation by goal difference alone.

With just four games of the current campaign remaining, LAFC’s sister club are hurtling towards this same dire fate once more.

Why Anger Has Peaked Now

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The “Save The Caps” movement was officially alive.

One of three Canadian MLS clubs, the Whitecaps have been for sale since 2024. Despite sitting near the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings and reaching the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup finals in 2025, there is no certainty about their future in the city. Relocation rumors are swirling. 

The lease deal at BC Place expires at the end of the 2026 season, a slight extension of the previous agreement that ended in 2025, and the team takes home only a reported 12% of the matchday revenue, despite drawing over 20,000 fans for 19 straight matches.  

Vancouver Whitecaps fans stage a #SaveTheCaps campaign launch tonight, amid the rising possibility of relocation stemming from the club's current sale and stadium situation.

Government pressure will be needed as well, as it was in 2018 with Columbus.pic.twitter.com/euGfjUWflo

— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) April 26, 2026

MLS commissioner Don Garber has called the situation “untenable,” and there is the potential of relocation to a U.S. market, with groups in Las Vegas and other cities ready to pounce on a what could be cheaper pathway to MLS than the formal expansion process and its exorbitant fees, last measured at San Diego FC’s 2023 entry fee of $500 million.

With that growing uncertainty, the Vancouver Southsiders, the club’s largest supporters group, officially launched a new movement to keep the team on the Canadian west coast.

“It’s important that we launch this, because with the best performance on the pitch, it kind of masked the issues that the club was having,” Southsiders president Ciáran Nicoll told Sports Illustrated, worried the team may go the way of the Vancouver Grizzlies—the city’s short-lived NBA franchise from 1995–2001, which moved to Memphis after business and sporting struggles.

 “I think that some people think it’s just all going to get resolved in the end, or maybe they don’t want to think about it.”

Save The Caps Inspired by Columbus Crew

Before the movement’s first game, a 3–1 Vancouver win over the Colorado Rapids, thousands of fans packed into downtown bars and then marched towards BC Place, carrying signs and banners and trailing colored smoke ahead of the venue’s final match before hosting seven World Cup games this summer. 

Over the 90 minutes, the sold-out crowd of over 27,000 held up Save The Caps signs, with other displays reading “Hands off our team” and “We will fight for our club, and we will win,” taking on the rumors with an intensified passion—with hopes that love, in some way, can help save the club.

“Hands off our Whitecaps.”#SaveTheCaps ✊ pic.twitter.com/FsoUPaX3kU

— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) April 26, 2026

It draws inspiration from the Save The Crew movement, a massive 2018 push across Columbus and MLS to keep the Columbus Crew in the market, despite then-owner Anthony Precourt’s push to move the team to Austin. Precourt eventually opened Austin FC, while the Crew remained in Ohio. 

While the Save The Crew movement leaned on Ohio’s “Art Modell Law,” and brought the issue to court, there is no doubt that the fan push in Columbus and from across MLS to maintain a legacy club mattered. 

VANCOUVER IS A SOCCER TOWN #SaveTheCaps pic.twitter.com/DPqvphPzrL

— Arch City Capers ⭐⭐⭐ (@ArchCityCapers) April 25, 2026

“This is a really good opportunity to show whoever it might be that is going to be putting up money, that we really do love our club here,” Nicoll says, adding that the Southsiders have been in contact with the people who ran the Crew efforts, despite no similar legislation in British Columbia. “Culturally, this team is from 1974  and has been a huge part of this city over the last 50-odd years. You can’t just throw that away... if we don’t do anything about it, we’ll be kicking ourselves.”

Several other supporters groups across MLS have also already displayed the Save The Caps message, with banners seen at Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders and in Columbus. That trend is only expected to grow. 

“It of course becomes emotional,” said Whitecaps manager Jesper Sørensen after the win. “It’s love from the fans to the team and to the players and to all of us, and it’s a strong message—it’s important.”

Cascadia needs the Caps. #SaveTheCaps

ECS 4/18/26 📸 Hollie Coates-Seamster https://t.co/CxQkfgkaQJ pic.twitter.com/aGN0WeRIFu

— Merts (@ConnerMertens) April 22, 2026

What’s Next for the Whitecaps?

Whitecaps CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster has said the club is exploring every option to remain in Vancouver, down to “Plan Z,” which would be relocation. 

Yet, more recently, he told The Guardian that “it might not be this year or next year—we might be done with the alphabet... What happens after the season, that’s actually something nobody really knows. But it doesn’t feel good.”

The German executive has previously cited a $40 million revenue shortfall for the club compared to the rest of MLS, despite sitting near the top in attendance. At its core, the lack of stadium operations hampers the team, preventing it from fully benefiting from matchday revenue and other events. 

And unlike their American counterparts, they cannot draw on lucrative private healthcare sponsorships, given Canada’s universal healthcare. At the same time, provincial laws limit their ability in the gambling space, leaving them with fewer commercial opportunities.

BC Place, which is operated by PavCo—a crown corporation with the provincial government—reportedly makes less than $3 per fan at each Whitecaps match. 

As one potential solution, the Whitecaps are lobbying to take control of the government venue to make revenue from events and matches, thinking they could make more, while the dream of a new team-owned, soccer-specific stadium at nearby Hastings Park remains at least a half-decade and a new owner away, at best. 

#SaveTheCaps #VWFC pic.twitter.com/exSVsyod9c

— AFTN (@aftncanada) April 26, 2026

When Vancouver billionaire Greg Kerfoot, in a consortium that includes NBA legend Steve Nash, took the Whitecaps into MLS in 2011, the league was in a very different era. The harsh reality now is that MLS’s immense growth has left the Whitecaps’ model behind, even as the team thrives on the pitch.

Still, for Nicoll and the thousands alongside him, there’s hope of avoiding the most heartbreaking storyline in the wake of the city hosting its first men’s World Cup.

“The more support you can give, whether it’s banners for your own clubs, your local MLS clubs, we just want people to know what’s happening and to stand with us against relocation of the Whitecaps,” he added. “All my friends and family are here, and the whole kind of social structure revolves around Whitecaps games. The Whitecaps are a huge part of my life, and so many of ours.”

For now, the club are still winning. The stands are still full, and the city has embraced it. But the future isn’t tied to results and the Save The Caps fight is a far greater matter than anything on the pitch.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
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• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as How Fans Across MLS Hope to Save Muller’s Vancouver Whitecaps From Ultimate Heartbreak.

While the 34-year-old’s Loons fell 1–0 to LAFC, Rodríguez turned heads by returning to the MLS pitch after a brief hospitalization for severe dehydration following his time with Colombia in the March international window. 

Through 63 minutes, James had two shots on target, while stunning the sellout crowd of nearly 20,000, including Colombia manager Néstor Lorenzo, with skillful dribbling around opponents. Previously, he played 66 minutes on the road against USL Championship side Sacramento Republic on April 14 in U.S. Open Cup play.

“I felt good with this being my first start here,” James told reporters after the match. “Unfortunately, we lost the match ... we had many opportunities, clear opportunities, but we have to continue down this path.”

¡Que cerca se quedó James Rodríguez!

Disparo desde fuera del área del colombiano que estuvo a poco de convertirse en el gol del empate de @MNUFC. pic.twitter.com/VONUsnWLTr

— MLS Español (@MLSes) April 25, 2026

While the loss bumped Minnesota down to fifth in the Western Conference and snapped a four-game win streak, the importance of getting James into a rhythm was immense. And manager Cameron Knowles, who has looked to get the star more minutes, beamed with praise despite the result. 

“He’s a high-quality player, but the quality shows up in the spots where you want it,” Knowles said. “He’s getting in the uncomfortable places and spaces for the opponent to have to deal with him. And then ultimately you see when he gets the ball there, his final pass, his decision making, is why he’s a high-level player.”

Now, the Loons will look to refocus quickly, before taking on MLS-leading San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup round of 16, a tournament in which they reached the semifinals last year. In the upcoming clash, they not only face the league’s form team, but also an fully firing Timo Werner, who scored a brace on Saturday to bring him to four goals in as many games. 

World Cup Focus for James

Unlike other legendary players who have signed in MLS in recent seasons, James’s deal with Minnesota is extremely short-term, covering only until the World Cup, with a team option to retain him through the end of the season. 

For both sides, finding a mutually beneficial situation is vital. 

“I wanted to score today, that’s why I was trying from all directions. [I was] trying to find whichever way I could help the team, whether it was playing a lot or a few [minutes], I am always going to be good and will always compete to help,” the James added.

“There are about six matches left before the World Cup, and I’m very focused on everything that’s coming. Whatever playing time I get, whether a lot or very little, I’m going to take it in the best way possible.”

The search for the first MLS goal will continue after the midweek clash, when the Loons look to return to winning ways against the Columbus Crew on May 2. 

World Cup legends. 🇨🇴🇫🇷

James Rodríguez 🤝 Hugo Lloris pic.twitter.com/0aIiDODhzh

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 25, 2026

Meanwhile, James will continue to improve in training, with hopes of finding his best form and fitness ahead of what is likely to be his final World Cup appearances, ending an international chapter which began as a breakout star at the 2014 World Cup. 

“I’m going to arrive in good shape. I’m going to arrive in excellent form,” he said. “There’s still a month to go, and well, I’m training hard—training to the max, going all out, just as I always have. So, whatever playing time comes my way here, I think it’s going to go well.”

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as James Rodriguez Makes World Cup Guarantee After First MLS Start.

The Herons had plenty of chances throughout Saturday’s match, posting 18 shots, including 10 on target, but were ultimately met with a stronger match in U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Turner, who will hope his second-consecutive standout performance will help him catch the eye of USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino and reclaim the starting role for the World Cup.

Following a scoreless first half, the Revolution broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, when Dor Turgeman stripped Miami center back Maxi Falcón of the ball off a throw-in, before Carles Gil chipped a near-side shot past Dayne St. Clair.

Miami equalized in the 76th minute when midfielder Rodrigo De Paul sent a perfectly weighted pass to striker Luis Suárez, whose shot rebounded into the path of Germán Berterame, who then fired the ball to claim a third straight draw at Nu Stadium.

Here is Sports Illustrated’s breakdown of the match, featuring report card grades for each Inter Miami player who saw the pitch.

Inter Miami Report Card vs. New England Revolution (3-4-3)

GK: Dayne St. Clair—D: While the Canada international made several key stops through the first 60 minutes, he failed to adjust to cover his near post after Turgeman beat Falcón, allowing a tidy chipped finish for Carles Gil to put the visitors up 1–0.

RCB: Gonzalo Luján—C: Tasked with the wide threats of Peyton Miller and Turgeman’s diagonal runs, Luján took an extremely physical approach to his defending, finishing the night with three defensive actions.

CB: Maxi Falcón—F: The start of the match showcased some communication errors as Miami and Falcón adjusted to playing with a back three, and things got worse from there. On New England’s first goal, Falcon was tentative on a clearance despite having ample time, before Carles Gil stripped him of the ball and chipped a finish past St. Clair. With all the struggles from the Uruguayan defender, it is perplexing that Miami still rely upon him to center the backline.

CLB: Micael—C: If Micael had the chance to go back and rework his Inter Miami deal, he might just do that. With the amount of times he has had to cover for Falcón’s mistakes, he is proving to be a vital piece of Miami’s setup. Yet, he has consistently been left out of position, when looking to solve other defensive concerns.

RWB: Facundo Mura—C: The 27-year-old Argentine was unable to create many chances with a more attacking outlook, as right back continues to be a questionable position for the Herons.

CM: Rodrigo De Paul—A: After a slow start to the season, the Argentine international has impressed over the last several weeks, with Saturday’s game proving no different. He showcased clear vision and patience on the ball, leading to a secondary assist on Berterame’s 1–1 goal.

CM: David Ruíz—C: The young midfielder stepped in for the suspended Yannick Bright and ensured that De Paul had a productive evening. While he did not make a massive difference in his third start of the season, he allowed De Paul to take on more attacking movements—and he can count himself lucky that Gil failed to finish a free-kick, which followed a risky foul.

LWB: Noah Allen—C: Shifted to a wingback position and given more room to roam attacking-wise, the Greek youth international was active in wide areas and was not afraid to take on defenders in order to gain crossing opportunities.

RW: Lionel Messi—C: The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had plenty of time on the ball, amassing 98 touches, but struggled to produce as he started as a winger, before shifting to a more central role in the second half.

ST: Luis Suárez—B+: The Uruguayan attacker has developed more trust under Hoyos’ leadership and made several key runs in behind the backline through the match, including a 71st-minute sprint for a curled-in pass from De Paul, before a defender pushed him from behind, sparking unanswered calls for a penalty kick. Moments later, he made the key run and shot, leading to Berterame’s goal.

LW: Germán Berterame—A: Germán Berterame was the target man under Mascherano, but his adjustment to a providing role for overlapping runs from Messi and Suárez against New England showcased a new element to his game. In the 38th minute, he played a perfectly weighted chipped pass to Messi, who was unable to control the opportunity on goal, before finding himself in the perfect position to finish off a rebound for his third goal in four games.

SUB: Tadeo Allende (46’)—B-: The hero of the run through the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, Allende made an immediate impact when he came on at halftime, making key runs for through balls from De Paul and other midfielders.

SUB: Ian Fray (69’)—C: The Jamaica international stepped into the match with more offensive edge than Noah Allen, putting a shot off target and making two crosses in a late-game push.

SUB: Preston Plambeck (69’)—B: The 20-year-old made his MLS debut in this match, signing a short-term contract from Inter Miami CF II just hours before kickoff. He put one shot on target from distance, but was unable to beat Turner.

SUB: César Abadia-Reda (76’)—C: A call up from Inter Miami CF II, Abadia-Reda helped solidify the defensive outlook in the final minutes.

Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Daniel Sumalla, Alexander Shaw, Santiago Morales, Dániel Pintér

Winners and Losers

Winner: Rodrigo De Paul

After an underwhelming start to the season, Rodrigo De Paul’s recent form has been tremendous. The Argentine was responsible for many of the best moments in Saturday’s match.

Through the first half, he was consistently playing looped balls from the top of the box, when he drifted wide from his central midfield position. Yet, it was his second-half slicing passes alongside the ground that made the difference, first forcing an offside goal from Tadeo Allende, before sending Luis Suárez clear on goal, leading to Berterame’s rebound finish.

Just a few weeks ago, there were questions about whether he would make Argentina’s World Cup team as a struggling MLS midfielder. It’s evident he took that to heart, improving his play over the last four matches, which has seen him post three assists and a goal.

Loser: Maxi Falcón

Carles Gil comes out of nowhere to open the scoring for the @NERevolution in Miami. 🌬️ pic.twitter.com/VSePHaYZ02

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 26, 2026

Maxi Falcón has become the primary liability for Inter Miami and has been the reason that the team has dropped several points this season, including in all three matches at Nu Stadium. This week, he became too focused on a physical battle with Dor Turgeman that Carles Gil easily stripped him off the ball and finished into the goal.

While he appeared more confident in the back three than he has at times in the back four, which forces him out of position, it has become overwhelmingly evident that he is not strong, fast or skilled enough as a defender to shut down the often star-studded attacks across MLS.

What’s Next For Inter Miami?

After playing three matches in three cities in eight days, the Herons will now have the full week off as they prepare for the second Florida Derby matchup against Orlando City on Saturday, bringing the rivalry night to Nu Stadium for the first time ever.

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Grading Inter Miami, Messi’s Underwhelming Showing Against USMNT Hopeful.

It’s been a difficult start for San Diego’s sophomore season in Major League Soccer. Winless in their last six matches, the 2025 Western Conference finalists are currently sitting 10th in the conference standings. A player of Lozano’s caliber could theoretically help San Diego end their slump, but when asked about El Chuky’s potential return to the pitch, Varas had an unequivocal two-word response.

“No chance,” he said.

Two words are all it took for Varas to once again confirm that, under his watch, the Chuky Lozano era in San Diego is over.

What Happened Between San Diego and Lozano?

San Diego announced in January that Lozano was not part of the team’s plans for 2026 and encouraged him to look for a new team during the winter window. Lozano, who was the club’s first ever Designated Player signing, was cast aside after only one season, but why?

“It’s not worth getting into details,” Varas said about the situation in January. “This is a decision that was made based on an analysis of the whole year. This wasn’t just one thing that happened or something that happened at the end of the year.

“There were many things that we analyzed for us to decide we don’t fit together. This isn’t judging us as a club or him as a player, it’s simply saying that it’s not a good fit and what’s best for us is to continue without him.”

Lozano—still contracted with the MLS side through the 2028 season—has spent the entirety of 2026 training by himself, separated from his teammates, evidenced by recurring posts on his social media.

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Saturday marks the second game in five days for 22 of the 30 MLS clubs, after an intense 11-game Wednesday slate provided an impressive amount of drama.

With players contending for World Cup roster spots and teams looking to put themselves in the best possible spot heading into the extended summer, every weekend in the first portion of the season is vital—and it all begins to feel closer on Matchday 10, with Vancouver Whitecaps set to play at BC Place for the last time until August.

This weekend’s MLS slate sees battles atop both conferences, with 14 matches on Saturday, before a Sunday Night Soccer showcase match between the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake.

Here’s what Sports Illustrated predicts for the 10th matchday of MLS in 2026.

Toronto FC vs. Atlanta United

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

Toronto FC are riding a seven-game undefeated run and making the most of a string of nine-straight home matches in MLS play.

This weekend sees the Reds duel with a middling Atlanta United side, flying high with confidence after Luka Gavran scored the third goalkeeper goal in MLS history to secure a last-gasp 3–3 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. At the same time, new club record signing Josh Sargent has found his form, now with two goals in six games. 

While Toronto has had their own struggles since last making the MLS Cup playoffs in 2020, they will be the undeniable favorite against an Atlanta side that has struggled over the past two seasons. The Five Stripes head north amid a four-game losing skid, sitting second last in MLS and boasting just two goals from the last five matches. 

Prediction: Toronto FC 3–2 Atlanta United

CF Montréal vs. New York City FC

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT

CF Montréal may just have a knack for teams from the Tri-State Area. Through the first nine games of the season, the Québec side has just two wins—both against Red Bull New York, who has been one of the league’s better teams.

Given where Montréal’s roster stands, the trend at the club over the last several years, as well as the recent firing of Marco Donadel as manager, it’s challenging to tip them as the favorite in any clash. However, with the entire week off—compared to NYCFC’s 4–4 draw against FC Cincinnati, combined with striker Prince Owusu’s five goals and three assists in eight games—the Black and Blue might just come out on top and link back-to-back wins for the first time this season. 

Prediction: CF Montréal 3–1 New York City FC

Minnesota United vs. LAFC

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 4:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 p.m. PT

At one point, this match was set to feature both Son Heung-min and James Rodríguez in prominent roles for their respective clubs. Yet, James has played just 40 minutes since signing with Minnesota, struggling for form and fitness, making him, at best, a depth piece. At the same time, Minnesota has failed to replicate the defensive stinginess shown through the 2025 season, having conceded 13 goals through the first nine games of the campaign. 

Although the Loons sit fourth in the Western Conference following a 1–0 win over FC Dallas midweek, there is more possibility for the team. James will want to ramp up his minutes in the lead-up to the World Cup with Colombia, while each of Anthony Markanich, Kelvin Yeboah and Tomás Chancalay have had strong flashes.

Coming up against LAFC will be a big test, given they need a win to keep pace with the San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps atop the Western Conference. However, manager Marc Dos Santos could opt to rest Son, Denis Bouanga and others ahead of next Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal first leg against Toluca.   

Prediction: Minnesota United 1–1 LAFC  

FC Cincinnati vs. Red Bull New York

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 7:30 p.m.ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

FC Cincinnati and Red Bull New York will be pleased they both scored four goals in midweek action, but no doubt frustrated by the four goals they conceded in thrilling 4–4 draws. 

Cincinnati, however, enter this match with a little more confidence. Trailing 4–2 to New York City FC on Wednesday, they got a 92nd-minute goal from 17-year-old Andrei Chirila and the 4–4 goal in the 96th minute, a penalty kick that established Evander as the highest-scoring Brazilian in MLS history. Still, finding a way to avoid four goals against will be critical, especially against an energetic Red Bulls attack, led by 18-year-old Julian Hall, who has six goals and two assists in his first nine games of the season. 

Expect another high-scoring affair, but for the Gary Lions to come out on top, sending the once thriving Red Bulls to two losses and a draw in three games over an eight-day spell. 

Prediction: FC Cincinnati 4–3 Red Bull New York

Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 7:30 p.m.ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

It has not been the dream season for the Columbus Crew, picking up two wins through the first nine games and seeing star striker Wessam Abou Ali ruled out for the season due to an ACL injury. Yet they found some momentum on Wednesday, authoring a 2–1 win over the LA Galaxy with goals from Diego Rossi and Dániel Gazdag—two key players who need to step up in Abou Ali’s absence. 

While Rossi has been a constant star, there is hope that Gazdag’s goal can spark some better form. The former Philadelphia Union talisman has largely struggled since arriving last spring. For him in particular, Saturday’s match looms large, facing his struggling former club, now a team middling at the bottom of the table and reeling after allowing two points to slip on Toronto’s goalkeeper goal midweek. 

Prediction: Columbus Crew 2–0 Philadelphia Union

D.C. United vs. Orlando City

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 7:30 p.m.ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

For two teams that had struggled to score consistently in the early stages of the 2026 MLS season, Wednesday night was near therapeutic. For D.C. United, it came with a hat-trick from Tai Baribo in a 4–4 draw with Red Bull New York, while Orlando City picked up a stunning 4–1 win over Charlotte FC for just their second success of the season.

A week ago, this fixture would have looked like a low-scoring affair between two struggling teams. Now, it looks as though it could be a barnburner, with Baribo’s trio of goals and Martín Ojeda’s brace from earlier in the week sparking some rekindled attacking prowess. 

Prediction: D.C. United 3–3 Orlando City

Inter Miami vs. New England Revolution

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

The new era, sorry—Nu era— of Inter Miami heads to Nu Stadium for the first time, with interim manager Guillermo Hoyos set to lead the team onto the home pitch in the first home match since Javier Mascherano’s departure from the sidelines. At the same time, Hoyos is looking to lead Miami to a first victory at the stadium, after 2–2 draws against Austin FC and Red Bull New York in the first two home matches. 

Coming off a 2–0 win over Real Salt Lake, which saw Rodrigo De Paul score in his best performance of the season and Luis Suárez net his second goal in a mere 142 minutes, there should be some confidence in the group as well. With a victory, climbing to first place in the Eastern Conference stands as a possibility, as well. 

For the visiting Revolution, finding a way to disrupt Miami’s rhythms will be key, as will ensuring that difference-makers, including 18-year-old Peyton Miller and veteran MLS star Carles Gil, remain heavily involved, particularly on counterattacks.

Prediction: Inter Miami 3–0 New England Revolution

Austin FC vs. Houston Dynamo

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

The Copa Tejas continues this weekend as the Houston Dynamo look for a third straight 1–0 victory in a visit to Austin FC, who hope to rebound from a disheartening 5–1 loss to the Western Conference-leading San Joe Earthquakes. 

While state cup points are on the line, the mid-table clash could also prove invaluable as the season wears on, given the trajectories of both sides as probable playoff participants.

For Houston, the hope for three straight wins will come from the back, with Jonathan Bond between the sticks seeking another standout performance, behind veteran center backs Franco Negri and Antonio Carlos, who led them to wins over San Diego FC and Orlando City. 

Meanwhile, Austin will look for more creative attacking moments from Facundo Torres and Myrto Uzuni, with the latter set to return after a slight ankle injury held him out of midweek play. 

Prediction: Austin FC 0–2 Houston Dynamo

Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Neither Chicago Fire nor Sporting Kansas City were among the 22 MLS teams that played midweek games, keeping them both fresh for Saturday’s matchup, which sees Chicago as the overwhelming favorite. 

The Fire have won three of the last four games and are looking to extend an undefeated streak to five games, while SKC is off to one of the worst starts in MLS history with a mere four points through eight games—their latest loss, 3–0 to Vancouver, saw them outshot 27-2. 

For the Fire, the focus will be on maintaining their confidence and building out their ability to control the game against a lesser opponent, while also keeping star striker Hugo Cuypers in form after he scored a brace in his return from injury in last week’s 3–3 draw against FC Cincinnati. 

Prediction: Chicago Fire 4–0 Sporting Kansas City

Nashville SC vs. Charlotte FC

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Nashville SC is flying higher than ever through the start of the 2026 season and will no doubt have eyes on Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal first leg against Liga MX’s Tigres UANL, whilst also seeking three points at home against Charlotte FC. 

Given the importance of the Champions Cup for Nashville this season, expect manager B.J. Callaghan to rest each of his two key stars, Hany Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza. In contrast, star striker Sam Surridge is likely to remain out as he recovers from a muscle injury. Still, this game should favor the Tennessee side. 

Charlotte will look to take advantage of a potentially weakened Nashville, looking to rebound after a 4–1 loss to Orlando sent a shock through their otherwise promising outlook. Yet, there will be some fear for The Crown as well, having fallen 2–1 to a rotated Nashville side back on April 11.

Prediction: Nashville SC 1–1 Charlotte FC

St. Louis CITY SC vs. San Jose Earthquakes

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Just how good can the San Jose Earthquakes be this season? Sitting atop the Western Conference with eight wins through nine games and coming off a 5–1 dominant win over Austin FC on Wednesday, it could already be an MLS Cup or bust mentality for a side that few expected to be in such a commanding position.

Led by 74-year-old manager Bruce Arena, the Earthquakes are getting stellar play from new key signing Timo Werner, as well as dynamic 20-year-old midfielder Niko Tsakiris, both of whom had standout showings against Austin. At the same time, Dániel has been a key star guarding the goal. 

While they hit the road this week, it should be a relatively straightforward win against a St. Louis CITY SC side that has not hit its stride under new manager Yoann Damet, boasting a single win through the first eight games of the campaign. 

Prediction: St. Louis CITY SC 1–5 San Jose Earthquakes

San Diego FC vs. Portland Timbers

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

A home match against the Portland Timbers on Matchday 10 feels must-win for San Diego FC after four straight losses. One thing to immediately work on is discipline—five straight red cards across all competitions a complete disaster.

Mikey Varas’ side will still fancy themselves in most matchups, given Anders Dreyer’s potential to make a key difference after winning the 2025 MLS Newcomer of the Year, but are also evidently held back by the lack of a pure striker and star creative midfielder.

The visiting Timbers may not boast anywhere near an outstanding record with two wins in eight games, but have seen recent flashes from Kristoffer Velde and Antony, who could make a key difference in the return to positive results. 

Prediction: San Diego FC 2–2 Portland Timbers

Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola headline this Saturday night Western Conference clash, with the two former FC Dallas stars now healthy and suiting up for the Seattle Sounders against their ex-club at Lumen Field. 

While the reunion takes a key storyline, this matchup also brings together two Western Conference contenders, with Seattle sitting in fifth place on 17 points and Dallas in eighth on 13. Both teams have struggled with some inconsistency this season, but have showcased the game-changing talents and standout performances that are often needed to contend among the best. 

For the Sounders, much of that form runs through Albert Rusnák and USMNT World Cup hopeful Cristian Roldan in attack, while Dallas leans on Petar Musa’s Golden Boot-leading nine goals in nine games.

Both sides boast punishing and decisive players throughout the roster, making this match one of the most enticing of the weekend—and potentially one that could prove to have decisive points come the end of the season. 

Prediction: Seattle Sounders 2–2 FC Dallas

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Colorado Rapids

• Date: Saturday, April 25
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

The Vancouver Whitecaps were bumped from the top spot in the Western Conference for not playing on Wednesday. Now, they look for an eighth win in nine games when they host the Colorado Rapids in front of an expected 27,000-person sellout at BC Place, the club’s final home match ahead of the 2026 World Cup. 

Vancouver come off a dominant 3–0 win over Sporting Kansas City, which saw Thomas Müller score his fourth goal in eight games, alongside electrifying performances from wingers Emmanuel Sabbi and Bruno Caicedo. At the same time, the goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and the backline kept a fifth clean sheet of 2026. 

Coming up against the Rapids won’t be easy, though. Under new manager Matt Wells, Colorado boasts a promising attack of Rafael Navarro and Paxten Aaronson, while also leaning on MLS veterans Georgi Minoungou and Darren Yapi, who impressed in the recent 3–2 loss to Inter Miami. 

If Colorado can win this match, they will prove themselves to be a top-tier MLS Cup contender. In contrast, Vancouver looks to extend their season in front of a massive crowd, buoyed by the launch of the “Save The Caps” movement, which aims to ensure the team’s future in Vancouver amid speculation of relocation. 

Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps 2–1 Colorado Rapids

LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake

• Date: Sunday, April 26
• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Sunday Night Soccer’s marquee clash sees the LA Galaxy welcoming Real Salt Lake to Carson, with both sides looking to rebound from midweek losses to Columbus Crew and Inter Miami, respectively. 

While the Galaxy will embrace their friendly home confines, they will be missing key starting striker João Klauss due to injury, which will heavily hamper their attacking abilities. Meanwhile, RSL is thriving despite the recent 2–0 loss to Miami, with Diego Luna playing with clear confidence in an effort to crack the USMNT World Cup roster, and Zavier Gozo standing out as one of the top youngsters in MLS. 

With all the factors at hand and the recent upswing of Real Salt Lake, the Western Conference clash may fall in favor of the visiting Claret and Cobalt.

Prediction: LA Galaxy 0–2 Real Salt Lake

MLS Predictions: Matchday 10

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Predictions: Top of the Table Races Headline Matchday 10.

Gavran, who has taken on Toronto’s regular starting role for the first time this season, rushed up the pitch in second-half stoppage time, with the Canadian side looking to amend an 89th-minute 3–2 go-ahead goal from Philadelphia’s Nathan Harriel. 

After several attacking waves, the ball made its way back to Dániel Sallói, for the Hungarian to send in a pinpoint cross to Gavran’s aerial finish, which sailed past Andre Blake in the Philadelphia goal for the tying marker. 

It marked the first goalkeeper goal in Toronto FC’s 19-year MLS history and extended the club’s undefeated streak to seven games—their longest run without a loss since the start of the 2024 campaign. 

GOALKEEPER LUKA GAVRAN TIES IT AT THE DEATH! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/t564thkRW9

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2026

Gavran became the first goalkeeper to score in MLS since Columbus Crew’s William Hesmer scored against Toronto on Oct. 16, 2010. Overall, three goalkeepers have found the back of the net in MLS regular-season play since the league began in 1996. 

“I can’t even remember what happened; all I remember was that there were 10 seconds left, and I looked to the bench, and everyone was waving me down to go,” the Canadian backstop said. “I used to be a number nine, and you do set pieces every day, so I’m used to it.”

As the ball nestled into the net, Gavran ensured he wasn’t instantly swarmed by his teammates either, sprinting towards the stands and pumping his chest amid a knee slide, a celebration he had rehearsed in training sessions. 

“This was the perfect moment to knee slide,” he added. “I would have taken my jersey off, but my gloves are on, so I would have been awkward so I didn’t.”

Can Toronto FC Continue Rekindled Form?

After finishing 12th and 11th in the Eastern Conference over the last two seasons and having not cracked the MLS Cup playoff picture since 2020, the run of seven games undefeated is bringing hope back to Toronto FC.

The draw saw club-record signing Josh Sargent score his second goal since joining for $22 million from English Championship side Norwich City — a deal that could rise to $27 million to eclipse the MLS incoming transfer record. At the same time, the resilience to battle back after Philadelphia’s 89th-minute goal was evidence of a significant shift in the club’s approach under manager Robin Fraser. 

With the point, Toronto lofted itself to sixth in the Eastern Conference with 13 points across the first nine games, while Philadelphia saw valuable points slip out of their control, now sitting on one win, two draws and seven losses to start the 2026 campaign. 

Wild Night of MLS 

The goalkeeper goal and 3–3 draw was far from the lone thrilling moment in MLS on Wednesday, as the first midweek slate of the season brought immense performances across the board. 

FC Cincinnati’s 17-year-old Andrei Chirila scored from distance in the 92nd minute, and talisman Evander scored in the 96th, helping their side to a dramatic 4–4 draw against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. Across the Hudson River, D.C. United’s Tai Baribo scored a hat trick in a 4–4 draw with Red Bull New York. 

Orlando City, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, shocked Charlotte FC 4–1, backed by a brace from Martín Ojeda, and the Houston Dynamo downed San Diego FC, with both sides earning red cards, all before Inter Miami managed a first clean sheet win of the season in a 2–0 result over Real Salt Lake.

Andrei Chirila from distance!

Can @fccincinnati find their equalizer? 👀 pic.twitter.com/gX3lbD3IME

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2026

For Miami, it marked the first win under new interim manager Guillermo Hoyos, in addition to a starring performance from Rodrigo De Paul, who completed the most passes in the match and scored his second goal of the season. With the victory, the Herons rose to second in the Eastern Conference as well on 18 points through nine games, riding an eight-game undefeated run.

The night wrapped with the San Jose Earthquakes continuing their outstanding start to 2026 under 74-year-old manager Bruce Arena, thrashing Austin FC 5–1. Timo Werner’s second MLS goal helped bump them atop the Western Conference, though Vancouver Whitecaps hold a game in hand.

In total, four teenagers also scored on Wednesday, alongside some superstars, including De Paul, Sargent, Werner and Luis Suárez, setting the tone for an immense upcoming weekend with 15 matches across Saturday and Sunday. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

• Top 10 MLS Salaries in 2026: Lionel Messi Earns Giant Pay Raise
• Ted Lasso Star Signs Professional Soccer Contract With U.S. Club
• World Cup Golden Boot Winner James Rodriguez Speaks Out on Retirement Rumors
• Robert Lewandowski Drops Huge MLS Hint, Reveals Stance on Retirement
• MLS Power Rankings: New England Shines at Home, Inter Miami’s Resurgence and More From Matchday 12

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS History Made in Toronto As Goalkeeper Heroics Spark Wild Midweek Slate.

Barcelona’s star forward won the first-ever Young Sportsperson of the Year award at the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday, establishing himself as the best athlete under the age of 21 and marking back-to-back honors for the prodigiou star following his win of Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year in 2025.

“I am very happy to be the first to receive this award for the best young athlete,” Yamal said from the Cibeles Palace in Madrid. “It’s a source of pride. I wanted to thank the [Laureus] Academy; all the legends who have voted for me and that are here; my two brothers who are sitting there; Jorge [Mendes, Yamal’s agent], who has always accompanied me; my team; my mother who is taking care of my brother at home; my father; my grandmother; obviously my teammates and the staff.

“I am very happy. I hope that this serves to keep going, to move forward. I still have a long way to go.”

Yamal also couldn’t help but praise former Barcelona legend Messi, expressing his desire to follow in his footsteps.

Lamine Yamal Lauds Lionel Messi

Messi also has two Laureus awards in his trophy cabinet, winning his first World Sportsman of the Year award in 2020 while playing for Barcelona, becoming the first soccer player to do ever do so. He won it again in 2023, making him the only team-sport athlete to win it twice. The Inter Miami captain is still the only soccer player to have ever won the award.

There is no doubt that Yamal has his sights set on the Laureus World Sports Award’s most prestigious accolade, given to the man who exhibits the highest level of athletic performance and achievement globally. Tennis phenom Carlos Alcaraz took the prize in 2026.

“For me, Messi is the best player in history,” Yamal added on Monday. “I don’t know if he’s the best player in all sports, but if not, he’s close. He’s an idol. Everyone respects him for everything he’s done. He’s been a part of the childhood of all the kids who played at school, in the park.

“I hope I can follow in his footsteps and have another one of those [trophies] in my house.”

🖊️ Lamine Yamal signs his name in Laureus World Sports Awards history.#Laureus26 | @FCBarcelona_cat @LaLiga pic.twitter.com/i3b8Pqa19v

— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 20, 2026

Yamal has openly hailed Messi many times in the past, expressing his desire to use the Argentine legend’s success as a blueprint for his own journey.

“Lionel Messi is indeed the greatest player in history for me,” Yamal said last July. “We’re both left-footed. He played for Barça, and so do I. We do have many similarities, but I want to walk my own path.

“I hope I can have a career as successful as his, but I only think about playing in my own way, writing my own history and having people remember the name ‘Lamine Yamal.’”

Yamal, who leads Barcelona with 15 goals and 11 assists this season as they close in on La Liga victory, is well on his way. He also won the 2025 Kopa Award just seven months ago—his second-consecutive win—and recently rewrote Champions League history, becoming the youngest player to ever record 20 goal contributions in the premier European competition.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lamine Yamal Follows in Lionel Messi’s Footsteps With Prestigious Individual Award.

The latest round of MLS saw Thomas Müller lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a dominant 3–0 win over Sporting Kansas City, Lionel Messi harness his superpowers to push Inter Miami to a 3–2 win over the Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes stun LAFC with a 4–1 win to close out action on Sunday.

Outside of league action, MLS teams were busy as well. Nashville SC made history, becoming the first MLS club to win at Estadio Azteca, eliminating Club América and advancing to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, a stage LAFC also advanced to with a win over Cruz Azul. 

With Matchday 8 all wrapped up, here’s how the teams stack up in the latest edition of Sports Illustrated’s MLS Power Rankings.

MLS Power Rankings Matchday 8: Clubs 30–11

30. Sporting Kansas City (Previous: 30)
29. Atlanta United (Previous: 28)
28. Philadelphia Union (Previous: 27)
27. CF Montréal (Previous: 29)
26. Orlando City (Previous: 24)
25. D.C. United (Previous: 25)
24. St. Louis CITY SC (Previous: 23)
23. New England Revolution (Previous: 26)
22. Portland Timbers (Previous: 20)
21. Austin FC (Previous: 22)
20. Colorado Rapids (Previous: 21)
19. Houston Dynamo (Previous: 19)
18. Toronto FC (Previous: 18)
17. LA Galaxy (Previous: 17)
16. Columbus Crew (Previous: 15)
15. FC Dallas (Previous: 14)
14. Minnesota United (Previous: 16)
13. Red Bull New York (Previous: 10)
12. FC Cincinnati (Previous: 13)
11. San Diego FC (Previous: 9)

10. Charlotte FC 🆙 (Previous: 12)

Charlotte FC have had few standout moments from Wilfried Zaha this season, often needing to rely on one of Pep Biel, Idan Toklomati or Ashley Westwood for the successes they have enjoyed so far. On Saturday, they finally got the type of game that they signed Zaha for, with the Ivory Coast international stepping up to skip through NYCFC’s midfield for Toklomati’s opening goal, before making a slicing pass in the buildup for Kerwin Vargas’s second, proving Charlotte the eventual winner. 

Manager Dean Smith had clearly noted Zaha’s struggles. He altered his system to better harness the Premier League veteran’s abilities, lining him up as a secondary central attacking midfielder alongside Biel, instead of a pure winger—and it worked. 

Will that tactic be one that Charlotte sticks with? More pertinently, is it the type of playing style that the often demanding Zaha can adapt to? If so, things should be looking up for The Crown, even as Zaha’s contract creeps closer to its end.

9. New York City FC 📉 (Previous: 8)

NICOOO PULLS ONE BACK WITH A BELTER 🚀 pic.twitter.com/KwWaTMBosp

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) April 19, 2026

We’ll be seeing more of Nicolás Fernández's stellar strike from this weekend’s 2–1 loss to Charlotte FC in Goal of the Year voting at the end of the season. Yet, it was another week and another worrying performance for an NYCFC side now riding a four-match winless streak, with only one of those results a draw.

Still, it was a marked improvement on last week’s loss to Vancouver. This NYCFC effort saw them pepper Charlotte’s Kristijan Kahlina with seven shots on target, and out wide, each of Hannes Wolf and Agustín Ojeda offered threatening moments. 

The biggest issue for Pascal Jansen’s side right now is the lack of central attacking depth outside of Fernández and 39-year-old Maxi Moralez. The pair can provide special moments and are reliable creators, but it's going to take one more scoring-focused piece to put this team into the upper echelon of MLS.

8. Real Salt Lake 🆙 (Previous: 11)

Real Salt Lake is very quickly becoming a must-watch team in the Western Conference, and this week’s 4–2 win over San Diego FC was the latest chapter in that project.

Recently back from injury, Diego Luna had a shining day with a goal off an aggressive press against San Diego backstop Duran Ferree and two assists, as he begins to play himself back into contention for the USMNT World Cup squad. 

Yet, the play of Sergi Solans might have been the bigger story. A gem from the MLS SuperDraft in 2025, Solans scored a brace and added an assist in the performance, amassing four shots on target and creating a trio of chances in the best showing of his professional career.

Under the tutelage of Pablo Mastroeni and with the return of Luna buoyed by new form from Solans and Zavier Gozo, the sky seems to be the limit with this RSL side, now up to 16 points in seven games. Next up, they get a chance to test themselves against an Inter Miami side that has been more reliant on Lionel Messi than ever before.

7. Chicago Fire 🤝 (Previous: 7)

Chicago Fire had plenty of chances to secure what would have been a rather dominant victory against FC Cincinnati, but struggled in moments demanding a clinical touch, eventually settling for a 3–3 draw on Dje D’Avilla’s late own goal. 

Getting Hugo Cuypers back into the lineup for the first time since March 21 made a massive difference in how manager Gregg Berhalter’s side is able to attack, even with winger Jonathan Bamba unavailable for selection. With Cuypers—who scored a brace—the Fire were dominant in central areas, and were able to take advantage of Cincinnati’s three-man defensive unit. 

At the same time, the switch to a 4-4-2 allowed Cuypers to begin forming a cohesive attacking unit with offseason signing Robin Lod, while the winger duo of Philip Zinckernagel and Maren Haile-Selassie had space to attack up the flanks, with the backline drawn into narrow positions. 

With the potential of reintegrating Bamba back into the team soon, the Fire looks ahead to next Saturday against Sporting Kansas City, a team that was outshot 25-2 this weekend and boasts a measly -13 goal differential.

6. Inter Miami 📉 (Previous: 5)

It was a massive week for Inter Miami, parting ways with now former manager Javier Mascherano and beginning the Guillermo Hoyos era, as the now ex-sporting director stepped onto the touchline for the 3–2 win over the Colorado Rapids in front of the largest crowd Miami has seen in MLS play. 

While the win snapped Miami’s winless skid, it caused some worries as well, as they needed to rely on Messi’s brace and a creative moment to pick up the victory in an otherwise damning performance. 

Outside of Messi’s moments in attack, it was midfield breakdowns, positional errors and defensive mishaps that highlighted this game for the reigning MLS Cup champions. Colorado’s Rafael Navarro dribbled through the entire team before side-stepping center back Micael for a goal, and the second marker from Darren Yapi came on a direct over-the-top ball with both Micael and Maxi Falcón struggling to recover from mistaken positions. 

Add in the factor that the team needed to weather late pressure after Yannick Bright picked up a red card for derogatory language, and this victory caused more concerns than positives. Yes, it helps in the standings — but where would this Miami side be without Messi to save them? They’ll get a good test against Real Salt Lake this week.

5. Seattle Sounders 🆙 (Previous: 6)

Cristian Roldan off the corner AGAIN! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Ox5ji9f5uU

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2026

Cristian Roldan really wants to be on the USMNT this summer and took strides towards that possibility with a brace in a dominant 4–1 win over St. Louis CITY SC. At the same time, much of this victory came down to set pieces, which sparked the 2–0 lead, before the Rave Green ushered in the further onslaught. 

Aside from Roldan’s brace and the two assists, the match highlighted Snyder Brunnell’s potential, with the 19-year-old active up and down the right wing throughout the night and making six passes into the final third while overlapping with Roldan and right back Kalani Rienzi. 

Under manager Brian Schmetzer, the Sounders have never reached their peak early in the season. At this point, sitting on 16 points in seven games, it’s clear that there is a defined absence of what the 2026 Sounders could be, but expect them to heat up throughout the summer and into the fall as they get up to speed. 

4. LAFC 📉 (Previous: 2)

Where’d the vibes go?

LAFC suffered its first loss by more than two goals since March 2025 on Sunday, falling 4–1 to California rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes, for a second defeat in as many MLS games. Suddenly, the team that didn’t allow a goal through six matches has lost twice and has conceded six goals across 180 minutes. 

Yet, this weekend’s loss was more worrying than the 2–1 defeat to the Portland Timbers on Matchday 7. Playing at home against the Earthquakes, manager Marc Dos Santos started each of Denis Bouanga, Son Heung-min and Hugo Lloris in a full-strength effort, but they were still overwhelmed in every aspect of the game—and Ryan Porteous’s own goal was only salt in the wound. 

The week wasn’t a total loss, though. LAFC did manage to oust Liga MX’s Cruz Azul from the Concacaf Champions Cup with a 1–1 draw and is now focusing on a semifinal first leg against Deportivo Toluca on April 29, which was clearly the team’s mindset in league play. 

Now down to third in the Western Conference, it will be vital for LAFC to return to winning ways when they take on the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, hoping not to make these results a habit as a club accustomed to victories.

3. San Jose Earthquakes 🆙 (Previous: 4)

Bruce Arena, take a bow. Then take another.

The winningest coach in MLS history, Bruce Arena, has coached many an MLS Cup contender and helped usher in some of the best talents across MLS through his time with the LA Galaxy, New England Revolution and D.C. United. Yet, at 74 years old, he might be writing his best chapter now with the Earthquakes, who sit second in MLS on 18 points through eight matches, boasting a 7-1-0 record. Among those seven wins? A victory against Vancouver, the lone team in front of them on goal differential. 

Timo Werner scored his first MLS goal in a dominant performance in Los Angeles, Ousseni Bouda continued his standout form with his third and fourth goals of the season, all while Niko Tsakiris and Beau Leroux continued to stand out as young U.S. stars in midfield. 

San Jose boasts two MLS Cups and a pair of Supporters’ Shields, and Bruce Arena has five MLS Cup titles himself, yet both might be having their best moments of all time at the start of the 2026 season. Next up? A chance to build more momentum against Austin FC.

2. Nashville SC 🆙 (Previous: 3)

Nashville breakaway! 💨

Shak Mohammed secures his first MLS goal. pic.twitter.com/cIIav8e7gW

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2026

Nashville SC had no issues cruising past Atlanta United this weekend, dominating from start to finish in a 2–0 victory at Mercedes-Benz Arena. It came as a sweet end to a historic week as well, having eliminated Liga MX’s Club América from the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday.

While Concacaf Champions Cup remains the club’s priority early in the season, this weekend saw a largely first-choice lineup control the run of play against Atlanta. Still without talismanic striker Sam Surridge, due to a muscle injury, the Coyotes leaned on Hany Mukhtar’s creativity and a standout moment in the buildup from Cristian Espinoza as well. 

The best moment of the weekend came late in the match as well, when 22-year-old Shak Mohammed scored off a first-touch, side-footed finish. He instantly broke into tears and an emotional embrace with Mukhtar, who had laid the perfect pass for Mohammed’s first career MLS goal. 

Nashville SC is keeping things simple right now, and the wins are flowing: they sit atop the Eastern Conference on 19 points through eight games, with a chance to continue their stellar run when they face Charlotte FC next weekend. 

1. Vancouver Whitecaps 🤝 (Previous: 1)

There’s nothing stopping the Vancouver Whitecaps right now, and a Friday night 3–0 win over Sporting Kansas City is one that actually flatters their opponents, considering the 2025 MLS Cup finalists outshot their Western Conference foes 25-2. 

While Vancouver never looked concerned in this match, the big storyline was the continued impressive form of Emmanuel Sabbi, whose electrifying dribbling skills are bringing fans to their feet at BC Place. On Saturday, he used his speed to slide and keep a ball in play before sending a pinpoint cross to Thomas Müller, who fired home his fourth goal of the season. 

Moments later, Caicedo exploited space, challenged a defender one-on-one and finished a perfectly placed side-footed shot through a narrow shooting lane past his defender and goalkeeper John Pulskamp. With his skill set, combined with Müller’s clinical edge, the Whitecaps are now the second team in MLS history to score at least 22 goals within the first eight games of a season and the first since LA Galaxy scored 26 in 1998. 

Nothing about the win over Kansas City was surprising, but Vancouver did what they needed to against the opponent in front of them. Next week, they’re up against a stronger Colorado Rapids side, where they hope to remain atop the Supporters’ Shield standings. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: Timo Werner’s San Jose Dominate as LAFC Continue Slide in Matchday 8 .

Evander, a Cincinnati star since joining ahead of the 2025 MLS season, has been a standout in his time with the club—but still could see a future with his compatriot, especially after a celebration on Matchday 8. 

With his side trailing 3–1 in the 79th minute against the Chicago Fire, Evander slotted home a penalty kick before forcing an own goal from Dje D’Avilla less than 10 minutes later, grabbing a point for his side despite the poor start. 

His celebration on the goal, however, looked familiar. Putting his thumbs up against his face and his hands up while sticking his tongue out, it was an evident imitation of Neymar’s iconic celebration, potentially in an effort to lure the superstar to TQL Stadium. 

“I saw the same news as you guys, I know nothing about it, but of course, if this happens, of course it will be a big negotiation. With a superstar, who knows how long this is going to take, but if the club can make this happen, I think it will be very helpful for all the players,”  Evander told Cincinnati reporter Laurel Pfahler about Neymar and the reported talks. 

“All the players got excited, and it’s a chance for us to play with one of the big names in the past few years. And he is a Brazilian, of course, one of my idols, and would be nice, but as I said, I know nothing about it, and hopefully it’s not just [rumors], and hopefully it comes through.”

Evander Returns to Form

Evander from the spot! @fccincinnati pull one back. 😤 pic.twitter.com/iQuQKN5jxf

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2026

While rumors about Neymar’s potential addition have brought some excitement to FC Cincinnati, it has been a mixed start to the season. After Saturday’s 3–3 draw, the club sat 10th in the Eastern Conference with eight points through eight matches. At the same time, the goal marked Evander’s first of the season, having previously only having a single assist in seven matches. 

With the goal, the Brazilian reached 43 regular season goals between his time with the Portland Timbers and now Cincinnati, tying Welton for the most goals scored in MLS by a Brazilian player, and potentially sparking a formative run for him and the club. 

“When you’re pushing, pushing, pushing, now there’s more expectation to finish a play from the penalty spot,” said FC Cincinnati manager Pat Noonan of his star man. “I was happy to see the first one go in, and he had a strong game. He was influential in our attack.”

Cincinnati returns to MLS action on Wednesday, taking on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, likely showcasing a clash between USMNT World Cup hopeful goalkeeper Roman Celentano and presumed starter Matt Freese. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘Excited’—Evander Embraces Neymar, FC Cincinnati Rumors in Return to Form.

While the likes of Alphonso Davies and Tyler Adams have highlighted key young North American talents to thrive in MLS before moving abroad, similar moves could be on the cards for the generation starting out early in the 2026 campaign. 

At the start of the season, plenty of eyes circled in on the Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan—the 15-year-old signed to a pre-contract with English Premier League giants, Manchester City. Yet, he has been used sparingly on an underperforming Philadelphia side, leaving him off this list. 

Here, Sports Illustrated takes a look at the top five USMNT-eligible players under the age of 21 through the first quarter of the 2026 MLS season.

5. Duran Ferree

In a league where 39-year-old Hugo Lloris stands as the best goalkeeper so far in 2026, 19-year-old Duran Feree has established himself as a critical piece of San Diego FC’s roster build. While he has not been helped with the team’s six red cards in 12 matches, his overall goalkeeping level has not dropped, as he establishes himself as one of the few teenage starting backstops in the world’s top 10 leagues. 

Through seven MLS matches this season, he has three clean sheets and has amassed 27 stops, while also standing out as one of the league’s best distributors in his position, with 311 successful passes, many of them to key winger Anders Dreyer. 

While a mistake in a 4–2 loss to Real Salt Lake won’t be a play he wants to replicate, the performance no doubt gave him valuable lessons in urgency, playing out of the back, and defending against high-pressing teams. Still, his development at 19 years old in a veteran position makes him a standout in the league. 

As such, it is only a matter of time before he will be in contention for the USMNT starting role, and if he keeps up his form, that likely comes as the player pool shifts its focus towards the 2030 World Cup. 

4. Tate Johnson

It has become increasingly common for young stars to shine in attacking areas of the game, but Tate Johnson has established himself as a consistent left back for the league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps, a spot often reserved for more experienced talents. 

At just 20 years old, Johnson is in his second season as Vancouver’s starting left back, after stepping into the role as a teenager early in his rookie campaign, filling in for Canada international Sam Adekugbe, who suffered an ACL tear.

Since making his debut, the former University of North Carolina star has appeared in 52 matches across all competitions, including 10 in 2026 alone. In 2025, he also stood out in a key defensive role, man-marking Lionel Messi in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, which Vancouver won 5–1 on aggregate against Inter Miami.

A slick-dribbling left back, Johnson isn’t afraid to push ahead and has carved out a role as a key player on a dominant Vancouver side, making the most of his position despite his diminutive 5'8" frame. 

3. Adri Mehmeti

Some of the world’s best players over the last decade have struggled to get past Rodrigo De Paul. Not Red Bull New York 17-year-old midfielder Adri Mehmeti, who did so against Inter Miami, before scoring a 2–2 goal to earn a draw at Nu Stadium. 

Entrusted with his first significant senior minutes under manager Michael Bradley this season, Mehmeti has been a well-rounded performer for RBNY, balancing spells of important possession in central midfield with tenacious challenges on the defensive side. 

Those factors have combined with critical creation chemistry with fellow teenager Julian Hall, and will certainly have big clubs calling for a potentially lofty transfer at some point. 

2. Zavier Gozo

It takes a lot for any player to be floated as a potential call-up to a World Cup squad just weeks from the tournament and without any previous senior international experience, but that has been the conversation around Real Salt Lake’s Zavier Gozo early in the 2026 campaign. 

The 19-year-old has established himself as a key starter for RSL over the past two seasons, but his breakout in 2026 has harkened back to earlier showcase moments from Diego Luna, albeit as a winger rather than a central midfielder. 

Offering key defensive contributions and sparking quick transitions from wide areas, Gozo leads his club in successful dribbles and chances created this season, while also amassing two goals and three assists. 

Yet, outside of his run-of-play skillsets, his bravery and bravado to attempt half-chances also stand out, highlighted by a stunning goal against Sporting Kansas City, where he flicked the ball up to himself before sending a rocket of a shot off his right foot to score. 

1. Julian Hall

Julian Hall has been a known wunderkind for several years now, initially earning viral plaudits for his limited hours at home, as New Jersey law stated that those under 16 could not work past 6:00 pm. 

Since outgrowing that law, Hall’s rise and development have continued, and entering this season, he had already amassed 38 MLS appearances over three seasons. Yet no coach has brought out more in him than manager Michael Bradley has in the first portions of the 2026 MLS season, opting to rely on Hall for goalscoring rather than playing the veteran Emil Forsberg in a more advanced position. 

So far, Hall has surpassed all expectations for his 18-year-old season, netting five goals and two assists in the first eight games of Red Bull New York’s campaign, all of which he has been included in the starting lineup. While those numbers have trended positively, it is evident that he has adapted to a more filled-out frame at 5'9", using his newfound strength and speed to torch defenders, before applying a deft finishing touch. 

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Top Five U.S. Young Players in MLS in 2026—Ranked.

For the third time in the 2026 season, a match surpassed 70,000 supporters, as Inter Miami defeated the Colorado Rapids 3–2 at Empower Field at Mile High, the home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, on Matchday 8. 

The match, which saw Lionel Messi score a brace and set up another goal, clocked in with an attendance of 75,824 fans, ranking second in all-time MLS matches, only behind a 2023 Independence Day El Tráfico Derby between the LA Galaxy and LAFC at Pasadena, California’s famed Rose Bowl. 

It also marked the highest attendance for any game featuring Inter Miami or Messi and the highest without LAFC on show, surpassing the 75,673 that were on hand at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for LAFC’s 3–0 win over Inter Miami to open the 2026 MLS regular season. 

Outside of the LAFC and Colorado clashes, Inter Miami also played in front of a crowd of 72,026 in the 2026 season, defeating D.C. United at the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. With those three matches, Inter Miami reached a historic mark as the first MLS team to play in front of more than 71,000 fans at least three times in a single MLS campaign. 

While MLS teams have drawn significant numbers in recent years, the addition of Messi in the summer of 2023 has only boosted attendance, as well as the controversial moves many clubs have taken to depart their soccer-specific stadiums for nearby NFL behemoths for matches featuring the diminutive Argentine. 

Such attendances dwarf the numbers in Inter Miami’s home venue. Nu Stadium, opened in April 2026, has a capacity of 26,700.

When it comes to the MLS Cup playoffs, Atlanta United holds the top three most-attended games, with crowds of over 73,000 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the 2018 postseason, and the fourth-ranked game is the Seattle Sounders’ 69,274 fans at the 2019 MLS Cup, where they knocked off Toronto FC for the title. 

Yet, things are far from done. With the ever increasing number of stars and the expected boost of soccer popularity in the wake of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there is a chance that more records are toppled in the near future.

Top 10 Regular Season Attendances in MLS History

READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND GOSSIP

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Top 10 Attendances in MLS History: Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami a Major Draw.

Taking to the pitch at Empower Field at Mile High, Miami were playing in front of the most fans in club history, with the official attendance of 75,824 ranking as the second-highest in MLS regular-season history—outshining the 75,673 that attended the season-opening loss to LAFC. 

And those fans weren’t left without entertainment, as the Herons made the most of their early chances and Messi scored a brace, while the Rapids put on an inspiring second-half performance, before the loss. 

Pressing the Rapids’ backline aggressively, Miami earned a penalty kick after Yannick Bright fell to the ground following a collision with Colorado’s Josh Atencio. Messi then scored the 905th goal of his career for the 1–0 lead from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. 

Even as the Paxten Aaronson Rapids controlled the game in the moments after, they fell victim several times to Miami’s press, often featuring a trio to isolate the Rapids’ ball carrier. In the 45th minute, the setup led to Telasco Segovia forcing the ball away from a Rapids defender, before Messi set up Mateo Silvetti for a cross and a headed finish from Germán Berterame.

GERMÁN. BERTERAME.

Two goals in two games for the @InterMiamiCF man. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/P82QIfXKFc

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 18, 2026

Once again, the aggressive approach paid off for the Herons, and the direct goal from Berterame marked his second in as many games, as he hit a run of form after nine straight games across all competitions without a goal. 

The Rapids didn’t go away easily, though, taking advantage of Miami’s defensive missteps, as the South Florida side pushed ahead, leaving players out of position and exposed for a skillful Rapids attack to take advantage. 

Colorado made it 2–1 through a nifty dribble from Rafael Navarro in the 58th minute, before an over-the-top pass to Darren Yapi sliced Miami’s midfield and defense for the 2–2 marker in the 62nd minute. 

MESSI MAGIC AT MILE HIGH! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/cJaO56dDhI

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 18, 2026

Yet, as has become the case so often for the Herons, Messi had to step up to save an otherwise underwhelming effort, as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a solo effort and skillful, side-footed finish from distance to put his team up 3–2 in the final 10 minutes, securing the three points, but not before Bright picked up a red card in the 87th minute. 

While the victory brought an end to Miami’s winless streak, it wasn’t an incredibly impressive team performance, once again relying on one of the best players of all time to avoid another disheartening finish.  

Here is Sports Illustrated’s breakdown of the match, featuring report card grades for each Inter Miami player who saw the pitch.

Inter Miami Report Card vs. Colorado Rapids (4-2-3-1)

GK: Dayne St. Clair—D: The Canadian backstop has not lived up to the standards he set with Minnesota United last season, but has been left out to dry several times. Despite making two stops, he was unable to find heroic moments with struggling center backs.

RB: Gonzalo Luján—C: Luján got the opportunity to start ahead of Ian Fray at right back and offered a calmer defensive approach, controlling the pressure from Colorado’s Georgi Minoungou.

CB: Maxi Falcón—F: Falcón’s positional awareness against counter attacks continued to plague his abilities as a physical defender, after he was caught out of position by a large margin on both of Colorado’s goals. At the same time, soft passes back to St. Clair were nearly picked off by the Rapids several times.

CB: Micael—F: After a positive first half, the Brazilian defender had an atrocious showing in the second half, first side-stepped around after diving in to defend Navarro on the Rapids’ first goal, before being caught in no man’s land on the second goal.

LB: Facundo Mura—C-: Miami were caught with an extremely narrow approach, leaving Mura out of the key moments for most of the match, and the 27-year-old was unable to combine with Segovia up the left side.

CDM: Rodrigo De Paul—C: Another game, another step further off the Argentina roster, one could guess. Rodrigo De Paul could be seen trying to organize defenders around him, but failed to adjust his approach to Colorado’s second half direct attacks.

CDM: Yannick Bright—D: Yannick Bright had a standout showing in the first half, drawing the penalty and hopping up in the attack when Miami held possession. The second half, however, saw him drawn into a narrow setup, unable to defend against Colorado's second marker, and he earned a red card in the 87th minute, canceling out most of his positives.

RM: Mateo Silvetti—C-: Silvetti looked to be in immense pain after pulling up on his leg before leaving the match in the 70th minute. The young Argentine is one of the few Herons players who thinks the game at a similar level to Messi, and that familiarity played a key role in the anticipation for the assist on the opening goal.

CM: Lionel Messi—A+-: Messi is solely responsible for this result for Miami, scoring the first goal from the penalty spot, making the key pass to Silvetti on the second goal, before scoring a world-class solo effort in the 79th minute to put his team ahead. He might be in the twilight of his career, but the Argentine remains a stunning difference-maker.

LM: Telasco Segovia—D: It takes quite an effort to put in as underwhelming a performance as Telasco Segovia. Often a key offensive driver down the wing, he amassed just 35 touches and was never involved in any key moments outside of giving up a free kick in the late stages and earning a yellow card.

ST: Germán Berterame—A: This is the Germán Berterame so many were waiting for. While Miami struggled with a narrow approach as they often have this season, the key moment where Silvetti brought the ball wide and sent in a floating cross for the Mexico international to finish signified the type of chances he can thrive on.

SUB: Noah Allen—D: The young defender did little to convince Hoyos of a starting role in the new setup after entering the game in the 70th minute, despite Miami not allowing any goals after his introduction.

SUB: Dániel Pintér—C: The 18-year-old winger jumped into a right back role and didn't look incredibly out of position, but failed to make any substantial contribution.

SUB: Alexander Shaw—N/A: Shaw entered the match in the 90th minute and helped the Herons see out the lead.

SUB: César Abadia-Reda—N/A: Abadia-Reda entered the match in the 90th minute and helped the Herons see out the lead.

Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Ian Fray, David Ruiz, Luis Suárez, Tadeo Allende.

Winners and Losers

Winner: Germán Berterame

Reports emerged earlier in the week that Mascherano was not keen on the club’s move to bring in Berterame ahead of the 2026 season. Instead, that decision was made higher up, by Hoyos in his role as sporting director.

Throughout the first half in particular, it was clear that Miami had re-adjusted how they were going to supply the former Liga MX star with chances, and it paid off with his second goal in as many games.

Loser: Maxi Falcón

Since the start of the 2025 season, Maxi Falcón has been one of the most regular starters for Inter Miami. While his lack of speed has been an issue in the past, this season has seen him struggle tactically, no more so than in the second half on Saturday.

In the image above, he can be seen pushing significantly up the field, leaving his side exposed to a simple ball over the top, which eventually led to the second goal. Those struggles, combined with his evident frustrations, could cost Miami a similar result on another day.

What’s Next For Inter Miami?

With the win, Miami are now up and running in their post-Mascherano era and will hold onto at least third place in the Eastern Conference by the time the weekend comes to a close.

Yet, they won’t have much practice time just yet with Hoyos at the helm, given the demands of the pre-World Cup MLS schedule, which sees them take on Real Salt Lake on Wednesday in Utah before returning to Nu Stadium to host the New England Revolution on Saturday, April 25.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Grading Inter Miami's Important Win Over Colorado Rapids in Front of Historic Crowd .

Premier League

Manchester United are planning to splash as much as $117.9 million (£87.1 million, €100 million) on Newcastle United’s star forward Anthony Gordon. Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have all also been heavily linked with the England international. (Source: Fichajes)

Arsenal’s mercurial forward Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain as a potential replacement for Bradley Barcola, who could be lured away from the French capital should he not sign a new contract. (Source: L’Équipe)

Amid swirling interest from Real Madrid, Liverpool have put a firm “no sale” sign around Ryan Gravenberch’s long neck with a price tag of $200.4 million (£148.1 million, €170 million). (Source: Fichajes)

Out of all the swirling interest for Real Madrid’s outcast midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, Arsenal and Manchester United are leading the race for his signature. The stunning prospect of the Frenchman crossing the Clásico divide to join Barcelona has also been raised. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Should Manchester City fail with their approach for Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, they have identified Feyenoord’s Givairo Reid and Michael Kayode of Brentford as suitable alternatives. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Following promotion to the Premier League, Coventry City have registered their interest in the Liverpool duo of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones. (Source: Indykaila)

Manchester United’s midfield transfer priority this summer is Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson. Should there be room in the budget for a second addition, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has been considered. There is also the under-the-radar option of Alex Scott at Bournemouth. (Source: The Athletic)

Girona’s sought-after midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is juggling interest from Brighton & Hove Albion as well as Aston Villa. (Source: Fichajes)

Arsenal have made enquiries about three Sporting CP players; captain Morten Hjulmand, towering center back Ousmane Diomande and spritely fullback Iván Fresneda. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Aston Villa are sniffing around Real Madrid’s teenage gem Thiago Pitarch, with talk of an offer in the region of $29.5 million (£21.8 million, €25 million) being floated. (Source: Fichajes)

La Liga

Much to the surprise of Real Madrid, there have been no offers from any European clubs for Vinicius Junior. Chelsea’s decision to rule out a move for the Brazilian forward has reportedly “stunned” Madrid. (Source: Fichajes)

Robert Lewandowski’s representative has been spotted in discussions with Juventus. The Barcelona striker who will be out of contract at the end of the season and is also on the radar of AC Milan. (Source: Gazzetta dello Sport)

Barcelona have made contact with Palmeiras regarding a potential move for 16-year-old wonderkid Eduardo Conceição. (Source: SPORT)

The Brazilian sprite Conceição is also being chased by Manchester City and is rated at a swollen $117.9 million (£87.1 million, €100 million). (Source: The Times)

Ajax are sniffing around Real Madrid’s talented but unloved central midfielder Dani Ceballos. The scarcely spotted Spaniard will only have one year remaining on his Madrid contract come the summer. (Source: AS)

In a surprise twist, Barcelona have been linked with soon-to-be relegated Burnley striker Armando Broja as a potential Lewandowski replacement. (Source: Markaj News)

MLS

Four-time Premier League champion Raheem Sterling, currently plying his trade at Feyenoord, has emerged as a potential target for MLS outfit Charlotte FC. (Source: Markaj News)

Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Lucas Moura has been tipped to make an unlikely reunion with Son Heung-min at LAFC in MLS after doubts of his São Paulo have swelled. (Source: ESPN Brasil)

FC Cincinnati are prepared to challenge a whole host of European suitors for the signature of Julian Brandt once his Borussia Dortmund contract expires in the summer. (Source: Markaj News)

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER RUMORS FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS

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• Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid Consider Bellingham Sale; Man City Eye Mbappe
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Man Utd Break the Bank for Gordon; Liverpool’s $200 Million Gravenberch Pledge.

Premier League

Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka is a surprise new addition on Manchester United’s midfield shortlist. The 27-year-old is open to leaving Elland Road in search of more consistent minutes, and he could find them at Old Trafford as Casemiro’s replacement. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson remain Man Utd’s top target, though, but the Red Devils have competition from Manchester City. Where the England international ends up could be decided by which club is willing to shell out the record-breaking transfer fee the Tricky Trees want. (Source: The Athletic)

Also on Man Utd’s radar is Atalanta midfielder Éderson, but Arsenal are now also in pursuit of the Brazilian, whose price tag is set at around $58.8 million (€50 million). (Source: The Athletic)

Liverpool lead the race for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who is expected to leave the Cherries once he becomes a free agent this summer. The Reds see the Argentine as the answer to their defensive depth crisis, beating out Chelsea and Man Utd as it stands. (Source: The i Paper)

The Blues could instead turn to Werder Bremen center back Karim Coulibaly, who is garnering interest from Chelsea, as well as Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille. (Source: Bild)

Liverpool are ramping up interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. The England international is seen as a necessary upgrade to Alexis Mac Allister after the Argentine’s steep decline in form this season. (Source: TEAMtalk)

Manchester City winger Savinho could engineer his own exit from the Etihad this summer if he decides to pursue more consistent minutes elsewhere. Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in the Brazilian after trying and failing to secure his signature over the summer. (Source: Football Insider)

With the end of his Liverpool career swiftly approaching, Andy Robertson has had talks to return to Celtic amid Spurs’ relegation battle. (Source: SportsBoom)

Bayern Munich highly rate Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon and he remains on their shortlist this summer. The club views the 25-year-old as a versatile option up top who could fill in for Luis Díaz, Harry Kane or Michael Olise. (Source: Christian Falk)

La Liga

Real Madrid no longer view midfielder Jude Bellingham and winger Vinicius Junior as untouchable. Should the right price be met—rumors continue to swirl of a potential $176.6 million (€150 million) bid from Saudi Arabia for the Brazilian winger—the club will explore offers for both players in an effort to complete a squad overhaul this summer. (Source: Fichajes)

Still searching for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona have set their sights on Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth. (Source: MARCA)

The Catalans’ top target remains fellow Atlético Madrid man Julián Alvarez, but Los Colchoneros are focused on keeping the Argentine in the Spanish capital by rewarding him with a hefty pay raise. (Source: MARCA)

Despite Real Madrid’s interest in winger Michael Olise, the Frenchman is untouchable at Bayern Munich. There is no chance he makes the move to the Bernabéu next season. (Source: Defensa Central)

Barcelona and Man Utd are preparing to step up talks concerning Marcus Rashford after the season’s end. The Catalans want to keep the winger, but likely only if they can secure him on another loan to avoid triggering his $35.2 million (£26 million) buy clause. (Source: The Daily Mail)

Bayer Leverkusen fullback Alejandro Grimaldo desires a move back to Spain, attracting the attention of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. Elsewhere, Juventus and AC Milan have also shown interest. (Source: Fichajes)

Former Barcelona manager Xavi has emerged as Inter Miami’s top candidate to replace Javier Mascherano in the dugout. (Source: SPORT)

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER RUMORS FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS

• Transfer Rumors: Mourinho Plots Arsenal Raid for Real Madrid; $175 Million Olise Offer
• Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid Consider Bellingham Sale; Man City Eye Mbappe
• Transfer Rumors: Man Utd Decide Amad Future; Liverpool’s Shock Estevao Bid
• Transfer Rumors: Liverpool Receive $140 Million Gravenberch Bid; Fernandez’s Real Madrid Ultimatum
• Transfer Rumors: Valverde, Tchouameni Receive Premier League Offers; De Gea Considers Man Utd Return

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Arsenal Hijack $59 Million Man Utd Target; Real Madrid Set Vinicius Jr Price.