The record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner turned 39 midway through the current tournament and could feasibly call time on his 21-year Argentina career when it’s completed. If that’s to be the case, he will be desperately searching for a farewell fitting of his legendary status.

Argentina is considered the underdog for Sunday’s gargantuan tie, but Messi’s artistry has seen the team defy the odds multiple times already this summer. One final hurrah is very possible, especially considering Messi’s form of eight goals and four assists across seven World Cup matches in North America.

But how has Messi fared during his previous outings in the World Cup final?

How Has Messi Fared in Past World Cup Finals?

Unsurprisingly, this is not Messi’s first rodeo. The World Cup final has twice been graced by his otherworldly presence, although even his sorcery was not enough to clinch the crown during 2014’s showpiece event against Germany.

Messi had been exceptional en route to a first-ever World Cup final and was expected to carry La Albiceleste to yet another title, made all the sweeter by the competition being held in neighboring Brazil. The diminutive magician had scored four in the group stage and registered an assist in the round of 16 win over Switzerland.

With Brazil having been utterly destroyed in the semifinal by Germany, however—famously losing 7–1 in one of the World Cup’s greatest games—Argentina was naturally a touch trepidatious for its first final since 1990. That fear was ultimately justified.

Messi and his compatriots were defeated by Germany in extra time, Mario Götze netting the only goal of the match in the 113th minute. The Inter Miami star, then of Barcelona, couldn’t summon his trademark sorcery as Argentina fell agonizingly short, but he was still awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

There would be redemption for Messi, though. Many pondered whether or not the 2022 World Cup would be his final international tournament, especially after he produced an exceptional campaign en route to finally winning the trophy he had most coveted across a silverware-laden career.

Messi had scored five times for Argentina as Lionel Scaloni’s men overcame an early shock at the hands of Saudi Arabia to reach the final two. Another European adversary lay in wait, this time defending world champions France standing in Messi’s path.

Having failed to influence the 2014 final, no such accusation could be leveled at him eight years later in Qatar. After two goal involvements in the semifinal win over Croatia, Messi opened the scoring against France with a well-taken penalty, which was soon added to by Ángel Di María.

A quick-fire Kylian Mbappé brace forced extra time, but Messi once again restored Argentina’s lead in the 108th minute—although another goal from his then Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappé resulted in penalties.

Messi slotted home his spot kick in the shootout despite the enormous pressure, wandering up to the ball and casually rolling it beyond Hugo Lloris. Then all he could do was wait as Emiliano Martínez made himself the hero, saving from Kingsley Coman and putting off Aurélien Tchouaméni as Argentina secured the world title.

Will Messi make it two victories from three World Cup finals on Sunday? Only time will tell.

Messi in World Cup Finals

How Has Argentina Fared in Past World Cup Finals?

Messi’s 50% success rate in World Cup finals is matched by the Argentina teams that came before him. In a total of six appearances in the showpiece event, La Albiceleste have come out champions on three occasions.

Argentina’s first-ever appearance in the World Cup final came in the inaugural tournament, where it was beaten 4–2 by fellow South Americans Uruguay. It would have to wait another 48 years before gracing the final again.

The 1978 tournament yielded a first title for La Albiceleste, even if the competition’s format was wildly different to what audiences are familiar with today. Four groups were whittled down to two in the second round, after which the winners of those groups competed for the ultimate prize. Argentina faced the Netherlands, winning 3–1 after extra time.

Diego Maradona’s heroics brought another world title for Argentina in 1986, the magician’s fabled quarterfinal performance against England followed by wins over Belgium and, most crucially Germany. But Die Mannschaft earned its revenge four years later, beating Argentina 1–0 in the final in Rome.

Argentina in World Cup Finals Before Messi

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

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• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals.

Major League Soccer, however, is back in action before the World Cup has even concluded. The league is resuming now the semifinals are done, ending a nearly two-month pause taken specifically for the tournament.

The decision has raised plenty of eyebrows, especially with some MLS players potentially still competing at the World Cup when league matches restart.

So why is MLS returning while the biggest soccer tournament on the planet is still being played?

When Does MLS Resume?

Major League Soccer returns on July 16 and 17, 2026—but fans shouldn’t expect a full Matchday 16 schedule right away.

Instead, the league will restart with a special slate of six rivalry games during the gap between the World Cup semifinals and the final. The fixtures include CF Montréal vs. Toronto FC, Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, St. Louis CITY SC vs. Sporting Kansas City, and Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers on July 16, followed by Nashville SC vs. Atlanta United and LA Galaxy vs. LAFC on July 17.

The return promises plenty of star power, with former Barcelona great Robert Lewandowski expected to make his Chicago Fire debut, while several World Cup players could also feature after returning from international duty.

The league will then resume its normal schedule with Matchday 17 on Thursday, July 23, when all 30 teams are set to be in action, including reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami.

Why Does MLS Resume During the World Cup?

With only a few days separating the MLS restart from the World Cup final, many fans may wonder why the league did not simply wait until after the tournament ended.

The answer is opportunity. MLS wants to take advantage of the enormous attention soccer will receive across North America during the 2026 World Cup.

By returning with high-profile rivalry matches, passionate fan bases and games played at some of the same venues used during the tournament, the league hopes to capture the interest of new fans eager for more soccer after the World Cup concludes.

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Why MLS Is Restarting Even Though the 2026 World Cup Is Not Over.

With the tournament bringing massive attention to soccer, there’s hope it can boost MLS viewership and more, as the league was the sixth-most represented among leagues across the global game. Now, with the new World Cup cycle underway, could some of the tournament’s stars be bound for the 30-team U.S. first division?

Already, the San Jose Earthquakes signed Scottish goalkeeper Aaron Gunn and parted ways with previous No. 1, Daniél. There could be plenty of others to follow a similar path. 

Here, Sports Illustrated looks at some names MLS teams could try to lure.

Elijah Just—New Zealand

What is the World Cup if not a stage for breakout stars? That’s exactly what New Zealand winger Elijah Just made of this summer’s tournament, finding the back of the net three times in as many appearances. He scored a brace in New Zealand’s opening 2–2 draw with Iran, before adding a goal in a 5–1 defeat to Belgium.

At 26 years old, he’s likely at the best possible point in his career and has already been impressive in the Scottish Championship with Motherwell, where he registered seven goals and seven assists in 35 games in 2025–26. 

While he’s signed through 2027 in Scotland, the left winger should be affordable for any MLS club looking to make a move, and he would join fellow All Whites Michael Boxall and Finn Surman in the league after all three performed well at the World Cup. 

Romelu Lukaku—Belgium

Romelu Lukaku isn’t fit to play 90 minutes anymore, but why wouldn’t an MLS club be interested in a striker who scored three goals in just 230 minutes at this year’s World Cup? Not to mention he’s one of the preeminent goalscorers of a generation.

A bona fide superstar during his time with Inter Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United, Lukaku finally seems to be back at full health and ready to contribute. In MLS, where plenty of defenders are from a lower level, why wouldn’t he want to show he can continue scoring at an elite rate?

Back in 2021, he name-dropped each of LAFC and LA Galaxy, as well as New York City FC and Inter Miami. A move to LAFC or the Galaxy seems unlikely at this point, but inking a deal to become NYCFC’s marquee signing for the opening season at Etihad Park in 2027 could be in the cards. 

Christian Pulisic—USMNT

This would be a big decision that would alter the landscape of the USMNT after its disappointing end to the 2026 World Cup. After failing to score in the second half of the 2025–26 season with AC Milan and having underwhelmed at his home World Cup, could Christian Pulisic—arguably the best U.S. player at the club level—make his way to MLS?

The 27-year-old hasn’t lived up to expectations for a while now, and MLS teams would be ready to spend significant cash to bring in the most recognizable American face in the sport. Stepping into the MLS level would also likely be a breeze for him and keep him in a prominent role with the USMNT—as Messi has been with Inter Miami and Argentina, albeit being one of the greatest players ever to play the game. 

Pulisic in MLS seems like it will happen one day. At this point? Probably not. Yet, that doesn’t mean there won’t be an effort, led by a lucrative offer to try and lure him right now, even as he’s recovering from a micro-fracture and bone bruise of the right tibia/fibula. 

Gio Reyna—USMNT

Gio Reyna is a talented player—it’s why Mauricio Pochettino brought him to the World Cup. Yet Gio Reyna is also a player seeking a level that is too high for his current standing, having failed to secure significant minutes in each of the last three seasons with Borussia Dortmund and last year with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the German Bundesliga. 

At 23 years old, it’s evident that the skillful attacker needs a spark to rekindle his career, which could completely go to waste if he’s stuck riding the bench in Europe. A short stint in MLS could bring him back to form, giving him some key minutes and potentially another shot at a European stage of his career ahead of the 2030 World Cup. 

In the near term, a return to NYCFC could be in the cards if they’re looking for a new DP now that 39-year-old Maxi Moralez is out for the season due to an ACL injury. Still, other suitors could include Austin FC, LAFC or even LA Galaxy, who recently parted ways with DP winger Gabriel Pec. 

Mohamed Salah—Egypt

For two years, Mohamed Salah has been linked with MLS. At times, it’s been San Diego FC and most recently, it’s Sporting Kansas City, who The Athletic reported were “top suitors” at the moment if the Egyptian superstar chooses to come stateside in the near future. Regardless, a decision will have to come soon, with his World Cup campaign in the books and seasons resuming in North America, Europe and Saudi Arabia, where he reportedly has massive offers. 

While his 257 goals in 442 games with Liverpool were enough to make him attractive to any MLS team looking to add attacking firepower, this World Cup may have sold him on North America more than ever. He partied in the streets of Vancouver after helping Egypt to the nation’s first-ever World Cup win and even quipped, “Maybe I’ll live here one day,” when asked about the World Cup on the West Coast. 

SKC seems to be the frontrunner for now, but LA Galaxy could be in the mix after splitting with Pec, as could the Vancouver Whitecaps, if a potentially rumored new owner looks to bring one of the city’s World Cup stars as a first big move ... should the team remain in the market.

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

• ‘Special’—Son Heung-min Snaps Goal Drought As El Tráfico Earns European Derby Comparisons
• L.A.’s World Cup Fever Moves to MLS Rivalry As LAFC, Galaxy Clash in Nationally Televised El Trafico
• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Five 2026 World Cup Stars That Could Join MLS.

If one thing became clear over the last month, it’s that North American sports fans are loving soccer more than ever, and there might just be an appetite to keep consuming the beautiful game rather than waiting for next summer’s women’s World Cup and the next men’s World Cup in 2030. Luckily, there are plenty of options, including Europe’s top leagues on TV and Major League Soccer at home. 

For North Americans looking to keep the fun going on their own shores, MLS is the top option. The 30-team league is set to resume with rivalry matches on July 17 and has the second half of the season to play before the run to the MLS Cup playoffs, which will culminate in the trophy being awarded in mid-December. 

Here, Sports Illustrated outlines five reasons why a World Cup fan might want to give MLS a try for the rest of 2026, before the league switches to a winter-based schedule in 2027–28, starting with a 14-game sprint season in the first half of 2027. 

Lionel Messi and the World Cup Players 

Even at 39 years old, Lionel Messi showed throughout the World Cup that he is still among the best in the world. The Argentine’s time at Inter Miami kept him sharp and ready for this summer’s showpiece event, and the work paid off; Messi already scored the most goals he ever has at a single World Cup tournament.

After recording 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 games to help lead the Herons to the 2025 MLS Cup last season and capture his second straight MLS MVP Award, Messi has 12 goals and 8 assists in 14 games this year, chasing more personal accolades and titles. His performances have been spellbinding, and now that he’s in the twilight of his career, it’s worth embracing each one. 

Yet he’s far from the only World Cup player to find himself in MLS. He has 46 others alongside him, making MLS the top league outside of England, Germany, France, Spain and Italy represented at the World Cup, with nine stars from each of the USMNT and Canada. 

In total, there are five World Cup winners currently playing in MLS, including Germany’s Thomas Müller with Vancouver Whitecaps, France’s Hugo Lloris and Antoine Griezmann with LAFC and Orlando City respectively, and Argentina’s Messi and Rodrigo de Paul with Inter Miami. 

The Parity and Playoffs

If you liked the World Cup knockout stage or the Cinderella runs from Norway and Switzerland, you’re in luck—the MLS has underdogs delivering every season, and teams play knockout games through the MLS Cup playoffs to crown a champion, rather than simply rewarding the top team from the regular season. 

While it’s different from Europe’s top leagues, the playoffs offer tense matches to end the season. In contrast, the parity means that nearly every year, a team surprises and challenges for silverware, either in the regular season, in cup competitions or for the ultimate prize of MLS Cup. 

For example, after more than a decade of mediocrity, the Vancouver Whitecaps made a run to the MLS Cup last season. They signed Müller as their crowning piece, along with other smart recruits. This season, last year’s regular-season champions, the Philadelphia Union, have dropped to last place, while the team that finished 20th last year—the San Jose Earthquakes—now sits second and just signed Scotland World Cup goalkeeper, Aaron Gunn. Things move fast in MLS.

For the gripes some have about MLS not having promotion or relegation, that aspect certainly adds a different level of excitement. At the same time, the salary cap (teams can spend a maximum amount of money, aside from three Designated Players and other avenues) keeps all clubs within a similar realm of financial might. 

You Can Go to the Games

World Cup ticket prices were out of reach for plenty of North Americans, but MLS offers a cheaper, more accessible way to see high-level soccer across the U.S. and Canada. Plus, unlike European leagues, kickoff times and fan experiences are tailored to North American fans.

At the same time, the supporter cultures bring European and South American flair to the stands across the 30 teams. That mix makes it a unique experience as well.

Some MLS atmospheres are better than others, and some stadiums allow for more mingling. Still, each offers a unique, local aspect while providing a welcoming, accessible place for new fans. Some teams even offer free tickets if it’s your first time attending a match of that club, in an effort to draw newcomers. 

If you’re looking for the best atmospheres in MLS, few teams rival the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, LAFC, Nashville SC and FC Cincinnati anytime—or Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC and Atlanta United when the teams are good. 

The Young Stars

Oh, you thought MLS was a retirement league? There are indeed plenty of veteran superstars like Messi, Müller, and Son Heung-min, but the youthful talents that could take the European game by storm at some point are also in the league. 

It’s taken a few decades for MLS academies to fully get up and running in producing top talent, but the 2026 season has already brought some of those potential names to the forefront. 

Sixteen-year-old Cavan Sullivan has started to get more opportunities and has three goals and four assists in 772 minutes across all competitions, turning heads at Manchester City, which he will join when he turns 18. Then there’s 18-year-old Julian Hall, who has nine goals in 15 games games, and 19-year-old Zavier Gozo, who has six goals and five assists in 14 matches. He was even in late contention for the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup roster. 

Other young stars include Red Bull New York 17-year-old midfielder Adri Mehmeti and Vancouver Whitecaps 21-year-old Tate Johnson, among others. There’s plenty of hope for some of those players to move on soon as well, given recent history.

At just 20 years old, Obed Vargas left Seattle Sounders earlier this season for Atlético Madrid and played for Mexico at the World Cup. Alex Freeman, meanwhile, broke out with Orlando City last season before establishing himself with Villarreal and the USMNT. 

The Unexpected

Think of some of the best World Cup games. Are you thinking of Argentina’s near-losses to Egypt and Cabo Verde, England’s 3–2 win at the Estadio Azteca over Mexico or maybe some of the other close matches? Amazing, because that’s the chaos you’ll find in MLS almost every week, for better or worse. 

While some of Europe’s top leagues have the best possible attackers and defenders, MLS teams, given the salary restrictions, tend to have far more talented attackers than they do defenders or goalkeepers. That makes for some high-scoring matches, some unexpected—but eye-catching— mistakes and, overall, some random moments that don’t seem to happen as often in Europe’s top leagues. 

As MLS continues to grow and bring in more talented players, the overall level will improve, and mistakes will become less common. For now, though, that element means you can’t take your eyes off the game. This season, we’ve seen former NCAA defenders make a fool of World Cup winners and even a goalkeeper score to tie the match in stoppage time. 

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

• ‘Special’—Son Heung-min Snaps Goal Drought As El Tráfico Earns European Derby Comparisons
• L.A.’s World Cup Fever Moves to MLS Rivalry As LAFC, Galaxy Clash in Nationally Televised El Trafico
• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Five Reasons to Watch MLS If You Loved the 2026 World Cup in North America.

This year’s roster includes 13 players named to World Cup squads, including U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Freese of New York City FC, fullback Max Arfsten of the Columbus Crew, Charlotte FC center back Tim Ream and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter of the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Argentina and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were also named to the squad, with questions already rising regarding the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s availability for the All-Star festivities after skipping out in 2025. 

There are also two Canadian World Cup players, including fullback Richie Laryea of Toronto FC and starting goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau of Orlando City, who offered standout World Cup moments but has struggled in MLS. 

Of the 29 picks, only nine are American, with the likes of South Korea superstar Son Heung-min of South Korea and Germany legend Thomas Müller bolstering a multinational roster. Eleven players were voted into the team by fans. At the same time, MLS All-Star and Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith selected 12, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber also added two commissioner’s picks.

The MLS vs. Liga MX structure will continue in 2026 for the fifth time in the last six seasons, featuring the latest edition of the MLS All-Star format, which previously included a match between the Eastern and Western Conferences, as well as a matchup against a highly touted European team in past eras. 

In 2025, MLS topped Liga MX 3–1, following a 4–1 loss in 2024. In addition to the game, select players will also participate in the MLS Skills Challenge on July 28.

Will Lionel Messi Play?

This year marks the third time MLS has named Lionel Messi to the All-Star Game roster, but the now-39-year-old has yet to play in the match. Last season, neither he nor teammate Jordi Alba were present, despite being voted in by fans and in 2024, he missed due to an ankle injury. 

This year, he and De Paul will be coming off a significant run with La Albiceleste at the 2026 World Cup, which could call their standing into question. At the same time, the 29-player roster is a three-player increase over 2025’s squad, seemingly built to allow several players to skip. 

If he or any other players opt to pass on the MLS All-Star Game, MLS will levy an automatic one-game suspension, which, for Messi, would potentially keep him out of Inter Miami’s Aug. 1 clash with the Columbus Crew, their first outing after the All-Star Game. 

2026 MLS All-Star: Full Roster

Goalkeepers

• Maxime Crépeau - Orlando City (Coach’s Selection)
• Matt Freese - New York City FC (Coach’s Selection)
• Brian Schwake - Nashville SC (Voted In)

Defenders

• Max Arfsten - Columbus Crew (Coach’s Selection)
• Lucas Herrington - Colorado Rapids (Coach’s Selection)
• Richie Laryea - Toronto FC (Commissioner’s Pick)
• Anthony Markanich - Minnesota United FC (Voted In)
• Mbekezeli Mbokazi - Chicago Fire FC (Voted In)
• Steven Moreira - Columbus Crew (Coach’s Selection)
• Daniel Munie - San Jose Earthquakes (Coach’s Selection)
• Andy Najar - Nashville SC (Voted In)
• Jackson Ragen - Seattle Sounders FC (Coach’s Selection)
• Tim Ream - Charlotte FC (Voted In)

Midfielders

• Sebastian Berhalter - Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Voted In)
• Pep Biel - Charlotte FC (Coach’s Selection)
• Rodrigo De Paul - Inter Miami CF (Coach’s Selection)
• Evander - FC Cincinnati (Coach’s Selection)
• Carles Gil - New England Revolution (Coach’s Selection)
• Zavier Gozo - Real Salt Lake (Voted In)
• Hany Mukhtar - Nashville SC (Voted In)
• Thomas Müller - Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Coach’s Selection)
• Ashley Westwood - Charlotte FC (Coach’s Selection)

Forwards

• Hugo Cuypers - Chicago Fire FC (Voted In)
• Anders Dreyer - San Diego FC (Coach’s Selection)
• Julian Hall - Red Bull New York (Commissioner’s Pick)
• Son Heung-Min - LAFC (Voted In)
• Lionel Messi - Inter Miami CF (Voted In)
• Petar Musa - FC Dallas (Coach’s Selection)
• Sam Surridge - Nashville SC (Coach’s Selection)

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

• ‘Special’—Son Heung-min Snaps Goal Drought As El Tráfico Earns European Derby Comparisons
• L.A.’s World Cup Fever Moves to MLS Rivalry As LAFC, Galaxy Clash in Nationally Televised El Trafico
• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as USMNT World Cup Stars, Messi, Muller Lead 2026 MLS All-Stars: Full Roster.

Premier League

In an unexpected twist to the ongoing saga of Enzo Fernández, Bayern Munich are thought to be “exploring” an approach for the Chelsea midfielder. (Source: Indykaila)

Manchester United have been enamored by the heroic shotstopping display of Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill. United are in need of greater goalkeeper depth and could be inclined to make an approach for the 26-year-old San Lorenzo custodian. (Source: Fichajes)

Liverpool and Manchester United are both credited with interest in Juventus midfielder Khéphren Thuram, who is expected to cost at least $57.2 million (£42.8 million, €50 million). (Source: Tuttosport)

Sporting CP’s dismissal of an opening offer from Atlético Madrid for the talismanic midfielder Morten Hjulmand can be viewed as a major boost for Arsenal, who are also thought to be in the race. (Source: O Jogo)

Chelsea center back Trevoh Chalobah has attracted rival Serie A interest from Como and Inter Milan. The England international is expected to cost upwards of $46.7 million (£35 million). (Source: Gazzetta dello Sport)

Any team hoping to secure the services of Bournemouth’s highly-rated Alex Scott, who has been chased by Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, will have to stump up $106.7 million (£80 million). (Source: BBC Sport)

High-profile Arsenal target Bruno Guimarães is thought to have “serious concerns” over the future of Newcastle United. Whether the player can convinced his club to accept a transfer offer is another matter entirely. (Source: Football Transfers)

Sergio Arribas has emerged as a surprise target for Liverpool after starring during Almería’s La Liga promotion run in attacking midfield. (Source: Ideal)

Should any concrete interest emerge, Chelsea’s Pedro Neto would not necessarily reject an approach from Liverpool. (Source: Indykaila)

Tottenham Hotspur’s spending spree could still include an approach for Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush. The Egypt international is valued at $68.6 million (£51.4 million, €60 million) and is also a target for several Bundesliga clubs, Juventus and Galatasaray. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Liverpool are reportedly sniffing around Mexico’s prodigious teenager Gilberto Mora. Only time will tell if an offer arrives on the table for the Club Tijuana star. (Source: Fichajes)

La Liga

In another effort to tempt Bayern Munich into parting ways with Michael Olise, Real Madrid are prepared to put together a package worth a mind-boggling $251.6 million (£188.5 million, €220 million) which would be the second most expensive transfer fee of all time, only narrowly below Neymar Jr’s €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain. (Source: Fichajes)

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has always kept a candle burning for Rafael Leão. In order to finance a deal for the AC Milan superstar, the Spanish champions are preparing a similar loan deal to the one which saw Marcus Rashford join from Manchester United last season. (Source: El Nacional)

Real Madrid have been given the chance to prise Adam Wharton away from Crystal Palace for the eye-watering sum of $137.3 million (£102.8 million, €120 million). It remains to be seen if Madrid prioritize Wharton after so publicly rejecting the chance to sign Enzo Fernández. (Source: Defensa Central)

An injury to Ismael Saibari during Morocco’s World Cup campaign has cast doubt over his availability for Bayern Munich at the start of next season. In light of his likely absence, Barcelona have all but given up hope of snagging Harry Kane, who will be needed back in Bavaria. (Source: El Nacional)

Atlético Madrid have elbowed their way into the race to sign Dani Ceballos, who had appeared to be heading towards a return to Real Betis after the expiration of his Real Madrid contract. (Source: Fichajes)

In response to the failed acquisition of Bernardo Silva—who will instead be joining Real Madrid—Barcelona are eyeing up a move for Valencia’s 23-year-old gem Javi Guerra. (Source: El Nacional)

Rest of the World

Inter Miami are supposedly showing “strong interest” in reuniting Lionel Messi with another World Cup star of the summer, Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. (Source: Indian Sports Network)

Ruben Amorim’s rebuild of AC Milan is expected to continue with the acquisition of his former Sporting CP center back Gonçalo Inácio, who has been a previous target for Chelsea. (Source: Daniele Longo)

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER RUMORS FROM THE PAST FEW DAYS

• Transfer Rumors: Man Utd’s Shock Fernandes Asking Price; Barcelona Plan Gyokeres Bid
• Transfer Rumors: Foden Offered to Clubs; Liverpool Identify Salah Replacement
• Transfer Rumors: Shock Club Plan Rashford Move; Olise Makes Real Madrid Decision
• Transfer Rumors: Man Utd Chase Arsenal Forward; Haaland Plots Real Madrid Meeting
• Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid’s Olise Boost; Arsenal, Liverpool Face $205 Million Barcola Battle

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Messi Eyes Shock World Cup Gem; Real Madrid Offer Neymar Money for Olise.

The 39-year-old scored his 20th World Cup goal during Friday night’s enthralling win over Cabo Verde, extending his own record set earlier in the tournament—remarkably, 14 of those have come since turning 35. Messi is currently on a streak of eight successive World Cup matches with a goal. He also became the first player—male or female—to score seven or more goals in two World Cup.

Beyond the confines of the World Cup, Messi’s appearance for Argentina against Cabo Verde was his 203rd for the national team at senior level. That is already an Argentina record that will likely never be touched—Messi is 56 ahead of Javier Mascherano in second place, all-time.

Overall, Messi is now second for senior national team appearances in men’s soccer.

He tied Kuwait forward Bader al-Mutawa on 202 caps by coming off the bench against Jordan during the World Cup group stage. Luka Modrić then also moved onto 202 when he played in Croatia’s round of 32 defeat to Portugal in the last few days.

Messi moved ahead of both on Friday. Long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo is the only man that has played in more senior international soccer matches. His appearance against Croatia was a 232nd for Portugal, a number which will keep growing as long as he’s in the World Cup.

However, 41-year-old Ronaldo is expected to retire from Portugal duty after the tournament, both tipped by his sister to do so and a natural stopping point when his career as a whole is increasingly unlikely to extend beyond 2027. So, his record won’t grow by much more.

Most International Appearances in Men’s Soccer—All-Time

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Messi started from the bench as Giovani Lo Celso bent in a great free kick and Lautaro Martínez doubled La Albiceleste’s advantage from the penalty spot.

But when Mousa Al-Tamari brought Jordan back in contention with a tap-in, Lionel Scaloni unleashed Messi. Ten minutes from stoppage-time, Argentina’s talisman—with some help from both Jordan’s wall and goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila—scored only the second free-kick goal of his World Cup career, bagging his sixth strike of the group stage to take a commanding lead in the Golden Boot race.

The goal also saw Messi become the first player ever to score in seven consecutive World Cup games. In a meaningless match, Messi still needed to add to his legacy.

Messi’s 19th career World Cup goal clinched a perfect group stage for Argentina. The defending champion is among the clear contenders and its knockout stage journey begins with a clash against Cabo Verde in the round of 32.

The Moment That Defined The Match

In a game that had no bearing on Argentina’s World Cup future, nor Jordan’s for that matter, the feel-good moment of the match came when Lo Celso found the top corner 19 minutes in.

The midfielder has been an important piece since the start of the Scaloni era with Argentina, playing a key role in both of La Albiceleste’s Copa América crowns, including assisting Lautaro Martínez’s match-winner in the 2024 final.

But an injury just weeks before the tournament meant Lo Celso wasn’t part of the side that conquered Argentina’s third World Cup title in Qatar 2022. Four years earlier, Jorge Sampaoli controversially decided to leave the then-Paris Saint-Germain midfielder out of Argentina’s 2018 World Cup squad.

His presence in 2026 was uncertain as fitness issues plagued him this season at Real Betis. Scaloni waited for him until the bitter end and Lo Celso managed to recover. Finally, the 30-year-old made his World Cup debut and bent a beautiful free kick that was wildly celebrated by the entire Argentina squad.

The dead rubber allowed Scaloni to rotate his side, and Lo Celso was the biggest winner from that, at last getting his moment on the world stage.

Argentina Player Ratings vs. Jordan (4-4–2)

*Ratings Provided by FotMob*

GK: Emiliano Martínez—6.3: Was never truly tested until he got a hand to but was overpowered by Al-Tamari’s tap-in. Tidy in possession.

RB: Exequiel Palacios—7.6: The Bayer Leverkusen man played out of position but was flawless. He constantly ventured forward and combined with other midfielders well while handling his defensive duties with ease.

CB: Nicolás Otamendi—7.5: A walk in the park for Argentina’s defensive leader, who was able to impose his will on an unimpressive attack.

CB: Marcos Senesi—7.4: Solid defensively and fearlessly dove for a header that didn’t result in a goal but he did win a penalty that Martínez buried. Solid World Cup debut.

LB: Nicolás Tagliafico—6.9: The good news is that he was able to play a full match after starting the tournament in the infirmary. The bad news is that he still looks very rusty.

RM: Giuliano Simeone—6.6: Galloped down the right flank tirelessly, regularly beating his man only to be let down by his erratic deliveries.

CM: Nico Paz—7.1: Flashed some of that playmaking quality that’s made him one of European soccer’s shiny new toys. Still, his performance felt like a bit a of a tease, lacking end product.

CM: Leandro Paredes—6.9: Could’ve had one of the assists of the tournament had Martínez timed a run better. He then failed to track his runner behind him, leading to Jordan’s goal.

LM: Giovani Lo Celso—7.7: Stunning free kick to open the scoring on his World Cup debut—helped by a simply laughable effort from Jordan’s goalkeeper.

ST: Julián Alvarez—6.5: Maybe the ongoing, highly-scrutinized transfer saga he’s headlining is affecting him because it’s been an uninspiring tournament from Alvarez so far. Perhaps that ankle injury he suffered late in the season is still a concern.

ST: Lautaro Martínez—8.2: Nearly scored with a brilliantly subtle finish that hit the crossbar. Fortunately for him, the entire action ended in a penalty that he dispatched to score his first career World Cup goal.

SUB: Alexis Mac Allister (60’ for Paz)—6.9: Being on the receiving end of what looked like a very painful kick was the highlight of his cameo.

SUB: Thiago Almada (60’ for Lo Celso)—6.4: Comfortable simply passing the ball around waiting for the minutes to pass.

SUB: Lionel Messi (60‘ for L. Martínez)—7.7: You just knew he was going to find a way to make the price of admission worth it for fans at AT&T stadium.

SUB: Valentín Barco (71’ for Simeone)—6.6: Missed a few simple passes in his World Cup debut—probably the nerves.

SUB: José Manuel López (82’ for Alvarez)—N/A

Subs not used: Gerónimo Rulli (GK), Juan Musso (GK), Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Nicolás González.

What the Ratings Tell Us

• Nicolás Otamendi had yet another stout World Cup performance, leading Argentina’s backline. With plenty of doubts surrounding Cristian Romero’s fitness, the veteran showed he can still be a very worthy replacement.
• On a night where Scaloni played his two world-class center forwards, Lautaro Martínez fared significantly better than the struggling Julián Álvarez. The Inter Milan man has been the starter all tournament and it doesn’t seem like that will change in the knockout rounds.
• Leandro Paredes clearly hasn’t recovered his best form since the injury he suffered playing for Boca Juniors on the eve of the World Cup. He might be one of Argentina’s leaders, but there’s simply no place for him on the pitch when La Albiceleste deploys its stongest XI.

The Numbers That Explain Argentina’s Comfortable Win

• Argentina put the game to sleep from the start by dominating possession, finishing the game with a 73% edge over its rivals.
• Jordan could only muster one shot on goal all night and had just four touches in Argentina’s box.
• It wasn’t the most spectacular attacking performance from Scaloni’s side, but if you score from two free kicks that had a combined xG of 0.18, everything is easier.

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

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• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Argentina Player Ratings vs. Jordan: Messi Topples Staggering New World Cup Record.

Mbappé is currently at the World Cup with France, where he has scored four goals in two games to sit alongside Erling Haaland and just one behind the ageless Lionel Messi, and could finish the tournament as the highest goalscorer in the competition’s history, should he manage to outscore Messi by two or more.

Regarded as the best striker in the world alongside Kane, Mbappé has plenty still to achieve at current employers Real Madrid—but he didn’t shut down talk of a possible move to the U.S. at some point in the future when questioned by reporters.

“Will I come here before the end of my career? Maybe, I do not know,” Mbappé said. “David asks me if I want to come to the United States. We will see. It is a country I like, it is a pleasure to be here. The United States has a different culture from ours. I have always liked this culture where ambition has no limits, where people are not afraid to say what they can and want to do. It does not work everywhere.”

Messi’s Brilliance, MLS Calendar Shift

With MLS switching to a winter-based calendar to align with the rest of the world’s top leagues, the financial might of the league’s richest owners could be on show more than ever—and U.S. sports executives will push to sign stars like Mbappe, even before the twilight years of their careers.

Although Lionel Messi’s MLS tenure didn’t begin until he was 36, his success in the league and now at the World Cup is undoubtedly helping the case for MLS and the world’s biggest stars. 

Even with an impressive World Cup past, Messi’s goal rate has never been better in the biggest tournament, and comes amid an MLS campaign that has seen him score 12 goals and contribute eight assists in 14 games. Last season, he helped Inter Miami win MLS Cup while also earning his second straight MLS MVP award for 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 games. 

While the 27-year-old Mbappe is tied to Real Madrid through 2029, an MLS move could come earlier than expected. With the calendar flip and the league’s rising profile, there should be an expectation of MLS teams pushing for Mbappe’s next contract—and some clubs, backed by European teams or NFL franchises, will be able to battle financially with the world’s most lucrative offers.

The sticking point will, undoubtedly, be Mbappé’s desire to continue competing against the best. MLS play is rapidly improving but there’s still a sizable jump between what’s on offer at Real Madrid, who compete in the Champions League against the cream of Europe every year, and where the league is at now.

Where Would Mbappe Fit in MLS?

Picking the perfect spot soccer-wise for Mbappe at this point is a fool’s errand, considering how much teams will change in the coming seasons and how clubs can deal with the new calendar, as well as the restructuring of salary systems that may come with the change. 

But, it’s not too early to hypothetically pick out the teams that would most likely be in the mix.

Inter Miami, co-owned by led Beckham, will be looking for a new headline superstar after Messi’s contract ends in 2028, and could offer Mbappé a similar deal—with revenue-sharing from broadcasting and countless other benefits beyond his playing salary. Yet, they might have to compete with a few other MLS teams. 

Already enjoying the American culture in New York-New Jersey at this World Cup, New York City FC could be in the mix, given their financial power through City Football Group and the possibility of having a superstar at what will still be a new Etihad Park in Queens. At the same time, LAFC and the LA Galaxy will be able to offer the lavish lifestyle of Southern California. 

A wild card team in the mix, though, could be CF Montréal. A decade ago, the then Montréal Impact signed Didier Drogba and Alessandro Nesta, but have since dropped off in their marquee signings. With the calendar switch, MLS commissioner Don Garber is pushing the team and local governments to complete renovations to the 1976 Olympic Stadium, which would provide a climate-controlled indoor environment in one of the league’s coldest markets. 

If Montréal can complete the Olympic Stadium, there could be an enticing factor to bringing a French superstar with African roots to the multicultural, French-speaking and diehard sporting market that is Montréal. 

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘David Asks Me’—Kylian Mbappe Hints at Future MLS Move, Reveals Beckham Talks.

By whatever viewpoint the football gods above, or over 70,649 in the building, took in the action during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday afternoon, they can surely be thankful they were allowed more than a glimpse at history—they witnessed an ascension of the highest order on the pitch. The greatest of all time became, as if there was any question about it, the undeniably greatest of all time.

Courtesy of a mesmerizing brace against the Austrians, Lionel Messi firmly put everyone else in the sport in his rearview mirror to become the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup. What’s more, the soon-to-be 39 year old appears to be showing no signs of stopping with his 18 goals either as the tournament’s biggest star looks more than capable of defending his title next month.

“He is alone on the summit and we have to enjoy it,” confirmed smiling La Albiceleste center back Lisandro Martinez. “He’s not comparable to anyone.”

Lionel Messi Stands Alone

Indeed, Messi has done the unthinkable and essentially completed football—as if it’s some video game worth conquering and not a sport without a firm ending. To argue otherwise is only down to personal preference for a competitor. Even then, there must be a begrudging respect, deep down, that you’ve been dealt a losing hand.

Messi stands by himself in nearly every respect of his remarkable career. The number of trophies he’s collected borders on the absurd. The accolades given to him may well need an aircraft hanger if you’re to line them up next to each other. The heaps of records already to his name before this week run his resume longer than the sprawling lines of Argentinian fans who flocked to North Texas just to be in the same postal code as their beloved star.

Good things come to those who wait. pic.twitter.com/gQYUUsHFyr

— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) June 22, 2026

Now he does so alone atop the all-time leaderboard at the most prestigious competition on the globe after moving past German striker Miroslav Klose, on 16.

“If someone is [nearly] 39 years old and can score two goals, and five goals overall in the beginning of a World Cup, that makes a difference,” Austrian coach Ralf Rangnick said with barely a shrug. “We knew that he is on a level of his own and Lionel Messi showed us today that he is the best.

“He doesn’t need many situations to actually decide a match.”

Not Everything Went to Plan

What’s more remarkable is that Messi also looked, truth be told, somewhat mortal in doing so at times.

Just four minutes into the second match of Group J, Argentine forward Lautaro Martínez was taken out inside the box after Austrian defenders Stefan Posch and Xaver Schlager both slammed into the forward’s ankle. VAR eventually determined it was a penalty and camera phones around the billion dollar stadium-–most held by those wearing a blue and white No. 10 shirt—instantly started recording en masse.

As expected, Messi stepped up to take the kick before doing something just as improbable as scoring in a sixth consecutive World Cup game (also a record): he sailed one of the more puzzling penalties of his entire career to the right of the post and well beyond even the outstretched hand of keeper Alexander Schlager.

It was the third missed penalty in seven attempts across Messi’s six World Cup appearances and the first that was truly missed, and not saved, from the spot.

“The penalty that I could have scored, maybe if I had done that, I wouldn’t have scored the others,” said Messi with a slight grin. “You never know, but I’m happy about the results.”

Poetry in Motion

The miss was emblematic of the man himself, a dichotomy which sees Messi as both a perfect player but equally as flawed as every other human is.

He would appear far from the ideal athlete—for this sport or any other—with a 5’7” frame and yet he is incredibly well suited to making every opponent look foolish when making any attempt to contain him. The highest stage in world soccer was previously home to heartbreak and an occasional frailty where it mattered most for those of his caliber, now it is the arena which has only reconfirmed his greatness.

So perhaps it was apt that after one puzzling setback, he delivered enough brilliance to make you shake your head at what came next.

Set up by Thiago Almada making a driving run toward the box just inside the 38th minute, the Atlético Madrid midfielder was able to find a marauding Facundo Medina wide to the left. The latter promptly crossed it back through the box, which was brilliantly dummied by Almada through his legs directly to an unfathomably unmarked Messi.

A yard behind the penalty spot where he had just gone wide a quarter hour before, the soccer great was inevitable and slotted it slightly to his left for a historic 17th World Cup goal that was a perfect way to capture a historic record in a manner only he could.

Messi’s second to give him the brace was far from as aesthetically pleasing as his first, capping off a hectic rebound from a pair of deflections in second half stoppage time to eventually find the net in the 95th minute. That kept him atop the current World Cup Golden Boot race (with five) at the same time and left many waiting around more than an hour before exiting the stadium discussing where each ranks in the pantheon of his finishes.

“I’m tired, I don’t have a lot of strength and it’s hard for me to think right now,” said Messi, declining to name his favorite of the 18 World Cup goals he’s scored after completing his first full 90 minutes since injuring his hamstring in mid-May against MLS side Portland Timbers. “I’m just enjoying this moment.”

He was not alone.

Appreciating Every Messi Moment

Despite the fairly early local start time for the game, Argentina fans took advantage of the slightly cooler temperatures of mid-morning in North Texas to flock to the sprawling parking lots and strip malls that surrounded AT&T Stadium by the thousands.

If they were not joining in with the numerous chants frequently heard during La Albiceleste matches, they could often be seen wrapping the sun-spotted Argentine flag around their shoulders. Many kept wandering in circles to find a spot where they might be able to take a picture beforehand, the kind that you can pull up years later to show others as proof that you were indeed there to see Messi do something never done before.

Argentina fans have taken over Dallas. pic.twitter.com/5Rh20hAXH9

— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) June 22, 2026

Fittingly, the heroics on Monday came 40 years to the day that countryman Diego Maradona scored his famous—or infamous depending on who you ask—’Hand of God’ goal against England in the World Cup. Beneath hundreds of signs and murals picturing both of the national heroes together, it was Messi who reminded all that he needed no divine intervention to see his reputation solidified with everyone watching near or afar.

“I have no more words to talk about Leo,” said winning manager Lionel Scaloni.

He is not wrong. There are no more retorts left to utter when discussing Messi himself.

Argentina’s World Cup-Winning Credentials

There may, however, be a few more about Scaloni’s team which the forward captains. While many have viewed this run by the reigning title holders as something akin to a last dance at another championship—something literally written on the bottom of Messi’s boots—it was done so almost derisively. It’s hard enough to win one World Cup, to repeat for the first time in decades is the stuff only die-hard fans talk themselves into.

Much less with a roster full of players on the wrong side of 30 years old and their best player running the show in the domestic MLS league.

Alas, such banter can be fully retired after Argentina’s first two games at this World Cup. Not only are they capable of winning it all next month, they and their talisman should rightfully be viewed as the biggest obstacle for the rest of the field going into the final next month in New Jersey.

If you want the golden trophy, you are going to have to beat the ones who still have it first.

Rangnick, for his part, had a simple answer that spoke to what he just witnessed and the chances of back-to-back titles: “Of course.”

“It has to be said that we played against one of the best teams in the world,” added Bayern Munich midfielder Konrad Laimer, who was forced to play far more defensive for his national team than he ever does for his club. “I think that we did an excellent job.”

Excellent, unfortunately for Laimer and his roster, only goes so far when Messi also happens to be on the field at the same time.

That is something else entirely, something special beyond belief which is easy to see from any angle.

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

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• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Record Breaker Lionel Messi Proves Age Is Just a Number.

Fabrizio Romano states the Herons already have a deal in place to sign the experienced midfield anchor. The veteran Brazilian will join Miami as a free agent having starred for United just last season.

Many pleaded for him to stay at Old Trafford, given his impeccable form for the Red Devils throughout 2025–26. Fans even serenaded him, “One more year, one more year, Casemiro!” Nevertheless, a verbal agreement between all parties has been reached for the 34-year-old midfielder to join Lionel Messi in South Florida.

Casemiro is already in the U.S., having started in each of Brazil’s first two matches of the 2026 World Cup, and it seems all that’s left to do is to put pen to paper. According to Romano’s information, all that’s left is for Casemiro to put pen to paper before Miami announce him as their new signing, yet several major questions remain.

Will Casemiro Join Inter Miami As a Designated Player?

Inter Miami currently have all three of their Designated Player (DP) roster spots occupied, meaning Casemiro isn’t expected to join the team as a DP. Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and winter signing Germán Berterame are Miami’s current DP’s.

Casemiro would have to join the club on a significantly reduced salary compared to what he earned during his time for United and Real Madrid. Unless, of course, one of Miami’s DP's leave the club this summer. Although unlikely, Berterame’s vastly underwhelming start to his MLS career could put him on the outs.

If all three top-earners remain, then Miami will have to get creative to fit Casemiro in their wage-bill and the player will likely have to make some sacrifices. It’s not uncharted territory for Miami, though. When De Paul joined last summer, the club also didn’t have a DP spot open. They had to initially sign him on loan to fit him into the roster. It will take exploring similar uncharacteristic avenues to land Casemiro this time around.

Furthermore, LA Galaxy own Casemiro’s Discovery Rights—the priority among MLS clubs to negotiate with the player. Miami will have to give compensation to the Galaxy for Casemiro’s rights, yet this is common practice in MLS. When Marco Reus joined LA Galaxy two years ago, they bought his rights from Charlotte FC.

The complications involving Miami landing Casemiro made the transfer seem impossible for a while. However, the player's desire to join the club, along with the Herons’ willingness to explore alternative routes appear to be making the dream close to reality.

What Jersey Number Will Casemiro Use At Inter Miami?

If Casemiro does indeed join Miami, he will have the choice of the three numbers most attached to him during his illustrious career.

Casemiro used No. 14 during the bulk of his enormously successful Real Madrid career. Since he returned to the club from his loan at FC Porto, the Brazilian donned No. 14 from 2015 until his exit in 2018, winning four Champions Leagues in that span. That number has been vacant at Miami since the departure of Fafà Picault.

During his four-season stint at Old Trafford, Casemiro wore the No. 18 on his back. Jordi Alba wore that number during his Miami career, but it has remained vacant since his retirement a a season ago.

Casemiro has exclusively worn the No. 5 for Brazil since 2016, spanning three World Cups (2018, 2022, 2026). It’s a number heavily linked to his position as the midfield anchor and one that was left vacant at Miami by the man he’d arrive to replace, Sergio Busquets.

What Next for Manchester United and Their Midfield?

Casemiro’s departure not only boosts Miami’s ranks, it leaves a sizable hole in United’s midfield. Nine goals in 34 Premier League appearances show how important he was as the Red Devils secured their place in next season’s Champions League, with his threat from set pieces unparalleled.

Kobbie Mainoo also benefitted hugely from playing alongside Casemiro, regaining his confidence after being frozen out by former manager Ruben Amorim while also learning some important game management tools from the veteran.

United look set to spend big on a new central midfielder, with a number of players linked. Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes are two are dominating gossip columns, while there’s also been links to Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson, though the latter appears likely to join United’s neighborhood rivals City in a deal worth in excess of $133 million (£100 million).

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Casemiro’s Potential Shirt Numbers at Inter Miami.

Premier League

Chelsea are considering a move to reunite manager Xabi Alonso with Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz, but will only try to strike a deal if they sell Enzo Fernández. (Source: Football Insider)

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to break their wage structure to convince Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali to join them in a deal that is expected to be worth around $132 million (£100 million). (Source: David Ornstein)

Meanwhile, Tottenham are close to an agreement over personal terms with West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes. (Source: Matteo Moretto)

Fernandes is Manchester United’s top midfield target, but alternatives, such as Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Fulham’s Sander Berge, have both been discussed recently. (Source: Ben Jacobs)

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha is another target for Man Utd and is thought to be open to a move to the Premier League, where Liverpool have also joined the race for his signature. (Source: TEAMtalk)

The agent of Chelsea right back Malo Gusto has held talks with both Manchester City and Inter. The Blues are open to offers for the right price. (Source: Si Phillips)

Liverpool are looking at Rayo Vallecano right back Andrei Rațiu, believing his release clause of $29 million (€25 million, £22 million) represents excellent value for the money. (Source: Anfield Index)

Arsenal are readying a bid of $92 million (€80 million, £69 million) to try to convince Paris Saint-Germain to part ways with winger Bradley Barcola. (Source: CaughtOffside)

Leaving Arsenal could be Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Christian Nørgaard, all of whom have been made available for transfer. (Source: Fichajes)

Aston Villa and Leeds United are both tracking Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. (Source: Gianluigi Longari)

Liverpool could be tempted to sell midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, a target for Real Madrid, due to the lack of progress in talks over a new contract. (Source: El Nacional)

La Liga

Barcelona are interested in Man Utd striker Benjamin Šeško as an alternative to Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez. Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Levante’s Etta Eyong are both under consideration as well. (Source: MARCA)

Lionel Messi has made it clear he plans to retire with Inter Miami but is expected to make one final appearance in a Barcelona shirt. Miami are in talks over facing Barcelona in their annual Joan Gamper Trophy fixture in preseason and Messi would play one half for each team. (Source: El Nacional)

Borussia Dortmund center back Nico Schlotterback has made it clear he wants to join Real Madrid and link up with international teammate Antonio Rüdiger. (Source: El Debate)

José Mourinho has expressed a willingness for Real Madrid to sell Álvaro Carreras, Fran García, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Franco Mastantuono. (Source: Fichajes)

Gonzalo García, meanwhile, could remain with Real Madrid if he can impress Mourinho during preseason. (Source: ESPN)

Andreas Christensen’s new Barcelona contract includes a break clause to terminate the deal at the end of the 2026–27 season, actionable by both the player and the club. (Source: Mundo Deportivo)

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Transfer Rumors: Messi’s Barcelona Return Plan; Sesko Offered Man Utd Exit.

On Tuesday, as Messi scored three goals in Argentina’s 3–0 win over Algeria, starting his sixth World Cup and tying Miroslav Klose’s all-time men’s World Cup goal record, Müller watched intently. The German legend and 2014 World Cup winner—a trophy he won against Messi—is working as a TV pundit on this year’s World Cup, broadcasting alongside Jürgen Klopp and other German legends. 

While Müller was in East Rutherford, N.J., to report on France vs. Senegal, he shared a message of congratulations on Instagram after Messi’s star showing took him to 16 World Cup goals.

“This guy,” Müller posted to his story, alongside a goat emoji. 

The two legends have battled in some of the most important games, including the 2014 World Cup final, which marked Klose’s last World Cup match. They also played against each other several times in the UEFA Champions League. They most recently battled in the 2025 MLS Cup, where Messi’s Inter Miami defeated Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps to win the Florida club’s first championship. 

“We don’t know each other very well,” Müller told Süddeutsche Zeitung after losing the MLS Cup. “We’re companions, but it’s never really become personal between us or degenerated into a huge rivalry.

“I’ve been part of teams that played against teams for whom Messi was much bigger than I was for my teams. But I have managed to tease him a few times! Because I was involved in a few goals that he felt ... let’s just say there’s mutual respect. From my perspective, that goes without saying. He’s unique, irreplaceable, and, as I see it, the best!”

Could Messi Play Müller Again?

While both are still plying their trade in MLS, Messi and Müller are unlikely to play against each other again. Müller, who has four goals and four assists in 12 games in his second season with the Whitecaps, will return to the team after his foray into broadcasting, but his team plays in the Western Conference, and there are no cross-conference games that would see them play Miami. 

Müller’s contract also expires at the end of the 2026 season. 

Messi, after winning MLS MVP the last two seasons, is signed with the Herons through the 2027-28 season, and has 12 goals and eight assists in 12 games in 2026. Yet, the only way he and Müller could meet would be if the teams advance to the MLS Cup final for a rematch, or at some point in the Leagues Cup, which also features Liga MX teams. 

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

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
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• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Muller Sends Two-Word Message After Messi Ties World Cup Goal Record .

For the first time ever, Messi enters the World Cup without the enormous pressure of ending Argentina’s title-drought. The weight and burden of delivering La Albiceleste’s first global triumph since Diego Maradona in 1986 finally disappeared as Messi produced a memorable campaign in Qatar in 2022 to bring the World Cup trophy back to Argentina at the fifth time of asking.

Messi completed soccer on that iconic night on December 18, 2022. At 35-years-old, many expected the 2022 final to mark his last tournament appearance. But three and a half years after that momentous occasion at Lusail, a 38-year-old Messi is ready to captain Argentina’s title defense.

Relieved of the pressure that harassed him for his entire international career, Messi started the 2026 World Cup with arguably the greatest tournament performance of his career scoring his first ever hat-trick in competition history to go level with Miroslav Klose as the joint top-goalscorer in World Cup history with 16.

Adding a fourth star to the jersey is the primary mission, but Argentina’s No. 10 is also within touching distance of World Cup records that could elevate his own legend to unimaginable heights.

Every Record Messi Could Break In 2026 World Cup

On the same day Kylian Mbappé scored a brace to reach 14 World Cup goals, Messi one-upped him and bagged a hat-trick to overtake the Frechman, Gerd Müller, Ronaldo and go match Klose’s 16. One more goal is enough for Messi to become the outright top goalscorer in World Cup history.

His memorable performance also saw him set the new record as the oldest player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick. He also joined Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players ever to score in five different World Cups.

If Argentina wins one more match in its 2026 Wolrd Cup campaign, then Messi will become the winningest player in tournament history with 18, overtaking Klose’s 17.

Messi is already tied for the most assist in World Cup history with eight, a record he shared with the man he has been compared to incessantly during his international career, fellow Argentina all-time great Diego Maradona. One assist is all Messi needs to get full ownership of the record.

The Inter Miami man already owns the record for the player with the most men’s World Cup appearances with 26, a record he’ll continue padding this summer. He also joins Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa and career-rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the only male players to be selected for six different World Cups, yet only Ronaldo and Messi will have actually played in all six.

If Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final, he’d join four other players in history to play in three different finals, after previously getting there in 2014 and 2022. He could become the oldest goalscorer in World Cup final history and the first player to captain two World Cup-winning sides.

Lionel Messi’s Final One-Word Message Before 2026 World Cup Debut

On the eve of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup debut, Messi delivered one final message before the start of his last dance. “Together,” Messi wrote on Instagram, calling on an entire nation to band together in an effort to push ahead towards another magical run.

“Lionel Messi has always been on the pitch when Argentina needed him most, and tomorrow will be no exception,” manager Lionel Scaloni said on the eve of the match against Algeria, via Gastón Edul.

“The entire world wants to see him play,” Scaloni said. “The entire world wants to see him on the pitch because he generates an effect not only on people from Argentina, but on supporters from all over the world.”

Messi will be aiming to shatter even more records and once again lead Argentina to glory like he did in Qatar. For the entire soccer world, though, it’s the last chance to watch the consensus greatest player of all time showcase his magical quality in the sport’s biggest, most iconic tournament.

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

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Incredible All-Time World Cup Records Lionel Messi Could Break This Summer.

Ronaldo’s wealth was first reported by Bloomberg to have surpassed $1 billion in the fall of 2025, firmly propelled over the 10-figure threshold by his earnings playing in Saudi Arabia, where a world-leading $235 million annual salary from Al Nassr is tax free.

According to Forbes in 2026, the Portuguese is expected to earn $300 million this year overall. It makes him the highest-paid sportsperson in the world, underpinning a net worth of $1.2 billion.

But Messi has achieved billionaire status, too. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.1 billion, despite being paid considerably less than Ronaldo from his contract with Inter Miami.

In 2026, Messi is Major League Soccer’s highest earner, guaranteed $28.3 million. Inter Miami Jorge Mas revealed to Bloomberg in March this year that, through other mechanisms including his ownership shares in the club, Messi gets paid up to $80 million annually.

Forbes estimates that Messi’s billion-dollar fortune has been built “primarily from cash accumulation and appreciation throughout his career,” as well as team equity included in his contract. Messi would have become a billionaire faster had he followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia over the U.S., having been given a choice when his Paris Saint-Germain contract ended in 2023.

Messi and Ronaldo are the first active players across team sports to become billionaires. Other soccer players have achieved this only in retirement. Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham was given the billionaire tag last month—becoming the U.K.’s first billionaire sportsman—13 years after his career on the pitch ended and driven by post-playing business deals.

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has made almost all of his alleged $14 billion net worth in retirement, having traded soccer for biochemical entrepreneurship when he quit pro sport in 2019. Meanwhile, estimated valuations for the agency, AxisStars, that former Premier League striker Louis Saha co-founded in his retirement exceeded $5 billion in 2025.

Who Will be Soccer’s Next Billionaire?

Among active players, the next soccer billionaire could well be Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé, based on a number of factors. The Frenchman is already the 12th highest paid athlete in the world in 2026—and fourth in soccer, according to Forbes, set to bank $95 million this year alone.

His net worth at the age of 27 is estimated at around $250 million. In a sport that is the planet’s favorite and only getting richer, and in which careers and earning potential are being extended, he could have another decade or more as one of the faces of soccer worldwide.

This generation was once billed as a Messi-Ronaldo-like battle for supremacy between Mbappé and Erling Haaland. But while the latter is certainly a fierce rival on the pitch, he is less than two years younger and has a wealth of around one-third the size.

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

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi Matches Huge Cristiano Ronaldo Achievement in Soccer’s Ongoing G.O.A.T. Battle.

Inter Miami superstar Messi, who will be 39 by the time the game comes around, cracks his third All-Star roster since joining MLS in 2023, but there remains doubt around whether or not he will play, given he skipped the league’s marquee event last season. Son, meanwhile, features for the first time, after joining LAFC last summer. 

Alongside them will be two World Cup-bound USMNT stars, including captain and Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter. Should they, Messi or any other player opt to miss the event, they will be suspended for their club’s next MLS match. 

Led by Dean Smith, the manager of Charlotte FC, the MLS All-Stars will face off against the best from Liga MX in a skills-based competition on July 28, ahead of the annual showcase game on July 29, both taking place at Bank of America Stadium. 

MLS All-Stars—How It Works

The league’s brightest stars. ⭐

Meet the First XI for the MLS All-Star Game pres. by @chime pic.twitter.com/DaefafwnkC

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 5, 2026

The final squad will feature 26 players, with only the first eleven unveiled this week. Already, though, the roster features five players set to play at the 2026 World Cup, with Messi headlining Argentina’s title defense, Son with South Korea, Berhalter and Ream with the USMNT and Mbekezeli Mbokazi with South Africa. 

For the MLS side, the entire roster is selected from a mix of fan votes, 13 coach picks from Smith and two picks from MLS commissioner Don Garber. After several weeks of voting, Chicago Fire center back Mbokazi led the line and is set to become the second South African player to be named to an MLS All Star squad, while Son matches the achievement for South Korean stars.

Of the 11 fan-voted selections, five were previously MLS All-Stars, with each of Berhalter, Messi, Hany Mukhtar, and Andy Najar representing the league in 2025, while Tim Ream earned a call to the 2011 MLS All-Star Game, which pitted the selection against Manchester United.  

2026 marks the fifth time in the last six seasons that the event will use the MLS vs. Liga MX structure, after previously hosting matchups between the Eastern and Western Conferences as well as against highly touted European teams, including Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the past.

Last season, the MLS All-Stars prevailed 3–1 over Liga MX in Austin and won the skills challenge, after losing both events in 2024.

MLS All-Stars—First Selections

Goalkeepers

• Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)

Defenders

• Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United)
• Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire)
• Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) 
• Andy Najar (Nashville SC)

Midfielders

• Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps) 
• Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake)
• Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)

Forwards

• Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire)
• Son Heung-Min (LAFC)
• Leo Messi (Inter Miami)

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 2026 MLS All-Star Game: First Picks Revealed as Messi, Son, USMNT Stars Headline .

Messi has endured and enjoyed a fluctuating relationship with the Argentina national team. So often held up as the team’s underwhelming central figure, the diminutive idol twice retired from international duty before Scaloni even took on the job.

In the aftermath of a disappointing 2018 World Cup, Scaloni rang Messi up to try and convince him to come back. “You guys are crazy,” he told the new manager. However, after watching a new team built on a fresh young core impress in his absence, the feted figurehead was tempted back into the fold.

Argentina won the 2021 Copa América and Messi went into the following year’s World Cup insisting it would be his final outing as at international level. Yet, the euphoria of that triumph in Qatar extended his career and Argentina’s success, which earned the nation the 2024 Copa América. Despite never offering concrete confirmation of his involvement at this summer’s World Cup, Messi was an unsurprising pick for Scaloni’s roster—which may not even be his last.

“He’ll keep playing as long as he wants because we already know what he’s capable of,” the Argentina coach told Olé. “It’s no surprise that he’s playing in his sixth World Cup. How could that be a surprise? What is surprising is that he’s won only four titles with the national team.”

“He hasn’t changed much,” Scaloni continued, “he’s still the same, he’s still competitive, he’s going to play in his sixth World Cup, and he has the same drive. And I don’t think he’ll change; he’s the example you want to set for a soccer player. Look, it’s not what you win, it’s not how you play, but how you handle things, and that’s what we try to help the kids understand. They’re starting to get it.”

The Incredible Power Messi Wields for Argentina

The plane waiting for Argentina’s roster at Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires which would take them to the U.S. for this summer’s World Cup had been specially wrapped in the national team’s colors. They could have left it at just some sky blue stripes on the tail but a number was also included. There would only be one choice.

Some may say that the Argentina squad being literally carried to the tournament in a plane dedictated to Messi is a little too obvious of a metaphor. Yet, given his influence on the team’s players and coaching staff, perhaps it’s a fitting tribute.

“Every decision we’ve made, we’ve discussed it with him,” Scaloni freely admitted. “It’s pointless for me to just say here that I’m the one who decides: in his case—and I think he deserves it—I always talk it over with him, ask how he’s doing, and see if we can reach an agreement.

“I think that’s how it has to be, because, I repeat, even though he’s been on the field facing a lot of difficulties, he’s given us so much. So sometimes it’s even better that he’s struggling because of everything he brings to the table.”

Messi has been nursing a minor muscular injury heading into this summer’s tournament after being forced off in his final pre-World Cup game for Inter Miami. Scaloni didn’t provide a concrete update on his star man’s fitness but hinted at the concerns which he harbors.

“I imagine all the national teams are in the same boat, worried about the start of the World Cup, about making sure most of their players arrive in good shape, that they're in the best possible condition,” the World Cup winner mused. “It’s very difficult to reach 100%, to reach your full potential, but we’re doing well.”

As Scaloni was at pains to stress, Messi will dictate his own recovery.

However, it’s not an entirely one-way relationship between the two former teammates.

Why Scaloni Has the Edge Over Every Previous Argentina Manager When It Comes to Messi

Messi has had nine international managers during his two decades as an Argentina player. From the tender affection of José Pékerman, his former youth team coach, to the intimidating presence of the legendary Diego Maradona, none seemed capable of getting the best out of the modern generation’s greatest player. Until Scaloni.

The unique quality which the retired right back could lean upon was a history of playing together with Messi for the national team.

“Having been a teammate, there are things that work in your favor, because ultimately you got to know him in a different light,” Scaloni explained. “Because in the end, you have to maintain a certain distance—there’s always a gap between the coaching staff and the players. But having experienced his day-to-day life, having shared a locker room, gives you a certain advantage.

“And then there’s also being natural: there are times when you need to talk to him just as you would any other player, and always with honesty as your guide. I think it’s important to be sincere.

“It’s essential not to just talk about soccer. Their lives involve a lot of things, not just the ball. They have problems just like the rest of us. Sitting down to drink some mate [a traditional South America hot drink], as we’ve done with a lot of the guys, including Messi, and talking about life. I think that break from focusing solely on the ball is important.”

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

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi’s Post-World Cup Future Teased by Argentina Boss.

Premier League

Pep Guardiola has turned down David Beckham’s proposal to take over Inter Miami and be reunited with Lionel Messi. The outgoing Manchester City boss instead looking forward to a break from the managerial grind. (Source: The Mirror)

Liverpool’s priority target to replace Mohamed Salah, Yan Diomande, has snubbed the manager-less Reds to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer. (Source: Foot Mercato)

There has been a “gentle enquiry” from Chelsea into the future of Ibrahima Konaté following confirmation of his Liverpool exit. Real Madrid, however, currently looks like his most likely destination. (Source: The Athletic)

The prospect of Julián Alvarez remaining at Atlético Madrid next season is described as “almost impossible.” Arsenal, Barcelona and PSG will be on high alert. (Source: Gastón Edul)

Following an initial $116.3 million (£86.5 million, €100 million) bid from Barcelona, Arsenal are willing to splash $174.5 million (£129.7 million, €150 million) on Alvarez. (Source: Fichajes)

Amid strong interest from Arsenal, Bournemouth’s prodigious forward Junior Kroupi has chosen PSG as his preferred destination next summer. The Cherries, however, are demanding $116.3 million (£86.5 million, €100 million). (Source: Foot Mercato)

There is also talk that Arsenal are considering an alternative approach for PSG forward Bradley Barcola. A lump sum of $93.1 million (£69.2 million, €80 million) is being lined up for the France international. (Source: Fichajes)

Manchester City are willing to splash €90 million) on Real Madrid’s all-action midfielder Federico Valverde. (Source: El Chiringuito)

As his Liverpool career whittles away, Federico Chiesa has been tipped for a move to Champions League qualifiers, Como. (Source: Calciomercato)

Andoni Iraola’s first transfer demand for Liverpool is expected to be a reunion with Dean Huijsen. The Reds are lining up a $81.4 million (£60.5 million €70 million) offer for Iraola’s former Bournemouth center back. (Source: Fichajes)

Lewis Hall of Newcastle United is considered a target of genuine interest for Manchester United. However, it would take $67.3 million (£50 million) to prise the left back away from St. James’ Park. (Source: The Athletic)

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Leeds United have all been credited with interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s young gem Kerim Alajbegović. A potential star of the upcoming World Cup is already on his way back to Bayer Leverkusen, but the Bundesliga outfit could look to cash in on a very saleable asset. (Source: Daily Mail)

In response to mounting interest, Chelsea have deemed academy graduate Josh Acheampong to be “untouchable,” an exclusive status shared by Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Moisés Caicedo. (Source: BBC Sport)

Conversations, however tentative, have been opened between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City regarding a permanent deal for Savinho. (Source: Globo)

La Liga

Tottenham’s Pedro Porro and Iván Fresneda of Sporting CP are being considered as right back options for Real Madrid in a scary new world without Dani Carvajal. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

The shortlist for Real Madrid doesn’t end there. Denzel Dumfries, a pillar of Inter Milan’s modern success from his train tracks up and down the right wing, is another ambitious target for Madrid. (Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)

Dumfries has also been linked with Liverpool. However, the departure of Slot has altered the club’s stance. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

Real Madrid’s scarcely-spotted forward Brahim Díaz has inspired admiring glances from Serie A giants Juventus. (Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)

Should Alvarez leave Atlético Madrid as expected, Diego Simeone’s side would be inclined to reinvest those riches into Victor Osimhen. Manchester United have also been tipped to make a move for the Galatasaray striker who is valued at $87.3 million (£64.9 million, €75 million) (Source: AS)

Not content with Osimhen, Atlético Madrid have made enquiries into the outgoing PSG duo of Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)

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: Messi Snubbed by Guardiola; Arsenal’s $175 Million Alvarez Bid.

The U.S.’s top flight, with three Canada-based clubs as well, will have 44 active players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, the most in league history and up from then-record 36 active players at the 2022 Qatar edition, proving the league as a burgeoning hub for elite soccer’s stars. Those 44 players represent 21 of the league’s clubs and 17 countries.

The upcoming tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, will see 103 total players that have spent time in MLS, also showcasing the league as a successful developmental pathway.

The U.S. men’s national team alone has eight MLS players on its roster, including probable starting goalkeeper Matt Freese of New York City FC and veteran captain Tim Ream of Charlotte FC. Canada’s national team also includes eight MLS players, including Inter Miami star goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Most famously, though, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul of Inter Miami, will pursue their title defense for Argentina.

With soccer under a special spotlight in the U.S. this summer, MLS has a tremendous opportunity to promote its league, as several World Cup matches will be played in MLS home stadiums, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to Atlanta United; Lumen Field, home to the Seattle Sounders; and BC Place, home to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Plus, with many active players competing on the global stage, that will only further promote the growing league.

Healthy Competition Between MLS Teammates

Vancouver Whitecaps star midfielder Sebastian Berhalter has taken MLS by storm this season to seal his World Cup fate. The 25-year-old, son to current Chicago Fire manager and former USMNT World Cup manager Gregg Berhalter, has recorded six goals and seven assists in 14 league games thus far and will make his World Cup debut for the USMNT this month.

After largely anticipated to be a substitute off the bench for the likes of superstars Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman, Berhalter may be in the midst of earning himself a starting position. He started in the USMNT’s latest friendly, a 3–2 victory over Senegal on Sunday, logging 76 minutes, the most of any player in Stars and Stripes, while showcasing his lethal box-to-box movements.

Should he take the pitch in the U.S.’s opening match against Group D foe Paraguay on June 12, he may come head-to-head with fellow Vancouver midfielder, Andrés Cubas, one of three MLS players representing Paraguay. Atlanta United’s Matías Galarza and Miguel Almirón will also compete for the South American side.

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 Sets Historic Record Ahead of 2026 World Cup.

However, the paradox of choice suggests that an abundance of options actually requires more effort to choose. More roster slots have rendered decisions all the more difficult, with supporters inevitably left unsatisfied by those selected and focusing more on the players left out.

Some managers have deeper talent pools to pick from than others, and those aiming to inspire the pre-tournament favorites to glory this summer have been forced to overlook several high-profile figures.

Injuries and qualifying woes mean a long list of absent stars from the 2026 World Cup has already been crafted, and here are the most notable roster omissions.

1. Cole Palmer (England)

The candid Thomas Tuchel didn’t mince his words when explaining why Cole Palmer failed to make his 26-man World Cup roster.

The Chelsea playmaker, supposedly underused by Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024, endured a rough season with the Blues, largely because of a nagging groin issue.

“He [Palmer] was not as decisive or as influential as he was in the last seasons, throughout the whole season,” Tuchel said after England’s roster was announced. “Second of all, he was not very influential with us.”

The maverick creator has scored twice in 14 caps for the Three Lions, and has appeared just three times for the national team since Tuchel took charge. While many expected Palmer to make the German’s roster, England’s manager has prepared for a World Cup without the 24-year-old.

2. Phil Foden (England)

The writing was on the wall for Phil Foden in March, when Tuchel was publicly critical of his performances for the national team. While the German praised Foden’s efforts in training, he also said the playmaker “struggles to show it on the pitch.”

Foden has long been regarded by English pundits as “too talented” to leave at home, but the Manchester City star proved to be a tactical issue for Southgate, especially once Jude Bellingham became undroppable. Shoehorning Foden into the starting lineup came at the detriment of balance, especially at Euro 2024.

Tuchel has opted to avoid controversy by not picking Foden at all, and his decision was made easier by the 26-year-old’s awfully quiet 2026.

3. Harry Maguire (England)

A figurehead of the previous regime, Harry Maguire looked poised to compete at his third World Cup after enjoying a resurgent campaign with Manchester United.

Maguire was selected by Tuchel for England’s March friendlies, and did little in the aftermath to convince the Three Lions that he wasn’t worthy of being selected.

However, Maguire was instead left “shocked and gutted” by England’s confirmed roster, as Tuchel went down a different route. John Stones has been trusted despite his injury woes, while young Jarell Quansah is a surprise inclusion. Marc Guéhi will most likely be partnered by Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa.

While never the most athletic, Maguire is an excellent box defender with plenty of major tournament experience. His threat from set-pieces will be missed, too.

4. Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)

Southgate succumbed to media and fan pressure in Germany two summers ago by using Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield. It didn’t work.

The experiment was quickly shelved, with Kobbie Mainoo partnering Declan Rice throughout the knockout stages. Still, Trent did at least provide the winning moment in England’s quarterfinal victory over Switzerland on penalties.

He’s featured just once since Tuchel took the reins, with the German generally avoiding England’s right back wildcard. Alexander-Arnold didn’t have a particularly great season with Real Madrid, but he boasts a passing range that few of his contemporaries can match.

The former Liverpool star would’ve been a luxury pick, and Tuchel clearly didn’t believe he was worth the potential hassle.

5. Eduardo Camavinga (France)

When Eduardo Camavinga was turning Champions League knockout ties on their head off the bench in 2021–22, it looked like Real Madrid had acquired Europe‘s next dominant midfield force.

Camavinga, who burst onto the senior stage at the tender age of 16, has had his moments with Los Blancos. Injuries and a lack of focus have, however, prevented the Frenchman from developing into something special.

Instead, he’s become somewhat of a nuisance in the Spanish capital. Camavinga’s omission from France’s World Cup roster must serve as a wake-up call, because his career is starting to drift.

It’s not like he’s been edged out by an array of world beaters. Adrien Rabiot and a 35-year-old N’Golo Kanté were picked by Didier Deschamps.

6. Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands)

Arne Slot didn’t quite know what Jeremie Frimpong was, and Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has also had similar issues discerning how to maximize the former Bayer Leverkusen wingback.

Frimpong also dealt with multiple injuries during a disappointing first season with Liverpool, and those were cited by Koeman as key in his decision to overlook him.

“It is the pattern of this season that he has been injured regularly. Against Ecuador, he came on as a substitute and was taken off again very quickly.

“That is a physical issue, but I also chose someone else as right winger—[Crysencio] Summerville. That comes as no surprise to me, because I wanted to select him back in March.

“I like those kinds of players, players who are reliable in their game. He can also play very well on the right side, but he is particularly good in his work ethic.”

Frimpong needs to work out exactly what he is. Otherwise, he’ll be chasing around managers who play a back three for the rest of his career.

7. Dean Huijsen (Spain)

After starring for a season at Bournemouth and earning a dream move to Real Madrid, Dean Huijsen must’ve rendered a place at the 2026 World Cup as borderline inevitable.

He worked his way into Luis de la Fuente‘s thinking after Spain’s successful Euro 2024 campaign and has earned seven caps since the start of 2025. Huijsen was also named in Spain’s roster for their March friendlies.

However, the young, nonchalant defender was overlooked in favor of alternative center back options, with Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí unsurprisingly picked and Atlético Madrid’s Marc Pubill getting the nod after an excellent season. Huijsen was merely indifferent in the Spanish capital, and it cost him.

8. Mateus Fernandes (Portugal)

West Ham United’s plight had little to do with Mateus Fernandes, who shone in the middle of the park for the Hammers after joining from Southampton last summer.

Fernandes glimmered on the south coast and took greater responsibility in the East End, even if the Hammers were pitiful for much of 2025–26.

A dynamic and aggressive midfield operator with a lovely weight of pass, Fernandes’s rise was recognized by Roberto Martínez in March, but the former Everton and Wigan Athletic manager opted against including the 21-year-old on his World Cup roster.

Fernandes will soon complete a big-money move to likely remain in the Premier League.

9. Franco Mastantuono (Argentina)

Like Huijsen, Franco Mastantuono must’ve considered soccer‘s grandest stage when he joined Real Madrid from River Plate a year ago.

The left-footed maestro arrived at Madrid having made his national team debut the week before, with Lionel Scaloni seemingly fast-tracking Mastantuono into his long-term plans.

However, his debut season with Los Blancos returned just three goals and a red card. Mastantuono merely played a secondary role for Argentina in qualifying and only just made their preliminary squad for their March friendlies.

The 18-year-old’s time will hopefully arrive, but he’ll have to wait another four years, at least, for his first taste of the World Cup.

10. Paulo Dybala (Argentina)

While Mastantuono has been regarded as a potential Lionel Messi heir, Paulo Dybala struggled to operate in tandem with Argentina’s leading man during his glorious apex.

’La Joya’ recorded 40 caps for the Albiceleste from 2015–24, but scored just four times. He appeared at the previous two World Cups, keeping his cool from 12 yards in the penalty shootout that decided the 2022 final against a Kylian Mbappé-inspired France.

Dybala hasn’t appeared for the national team since 2024, with his career drifting out of the limelight. Still, he proved on the final day of the 2025–26 season with Roma that the supreme quality of his Juventus heyday remains.

11. João Pedro (Brazil)

Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to leave João Pedro out of Brazil’s World Cup roster was regarded as egregious by many.

The Brazilian has only featured sparingly for the national team since making his debut in 2023, and while Chelsea endured a pretty wretched season, Pedro didn’t allow his standards to slip. He was named the Blues’ Player of the Year, scoring 20 goals.

It seemed as if he was a shoo-in not merely to be included on Ancelotti’s roster, but to be Brazil’s starting center forward.

The Italian admitted that Pedro ”probably deserved” to be included, but went down a different route. Neymar is back for his ’last dance,’ and Brentford’s Igor Thiago will get the chance to impress in North America.

12. Luis Suárez (Uruguay)

There will be a Luis Suárez competing at the 2026 World Cup, but he’ll be donning the vibrant colors of Colombia after a productive season with Sporting CP.

Uruguay’s older and more revered iteration had hoped to work his way into Marcelo Biesa‘s plans, having scored six times in 11 MLS games for Inter Miami this year.

However, Bielsa resisted the temptation of welcoming back Uruguay’s record goalscorer for this summer’s tournament. Suárez last played for his country in 2024.

13. Tanner Tessmann (USMNT)

Mauricio Pochettino certainly ruffled a few feathers with his USMNT roster selection, with the return of Giovanni Reyna among the most notable surprises.

Poch has been hindered by injuries heading into the tournament, and the Argentine was forced into a big call regarding Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann.


The 24-year-old has been regarded as a shoo-in for the World Cup, especially after Johnny Cardoso sprained his ankle, but Tessman suffered a muscle strain at the start of May and missed the end of Lyon’s 2025–26 season.

While the midfielder had been expected to recover in time for the start of the tournament, Poch hasn’t taken any chances.

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

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as The 13 Most Shocking Omissions from 2026 World Cup Rosters.

While a No. 10 is typically the creative playmaker, a No. 6 anchors the midfield and a No. 11 brings pace out wide, the No. 9 is usually the team’s primary scorer—the player tasked with finishing moves and delivering the goals that win games.

There’s always some overlap, but more often than not, a player wearing the No. 9 shirt is a classic striker: a clinical finisher who thrives in and around the penalty area.

Here, Sports Illustrated ranks the greatest No. 9s in soccer history, focusing on players who wore the jersey for the majority of their careers.

20. Silvio Piola

Italy’s first true soccer superstar, Silvio Piola remains Serie A’s all-time top scorer with 274 goals, a record that has stood since his retirement in 1954. He achieved this feat across spells with Pro Vercelli, Lazio and Novara, finishing as the leading scorer for each of those clubs.

Piola also made his mark on the international stage, scoring twice in the 1938 World Cup final to help Italy defeat Hungary 4–2.

Fittingly, his legacy is honored in Italy with two stadiums named after him—the Stadio Silvio Piola in Novara and another of the same name in Vercelli.

19. Samuel Eto’o

Samuel Eto’o holds a unique place in soccer history as the only player to win back-to-back European trebles with two different clubs in consecutive seasons—lifting La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League with Barcelona in 2008–09, before repeating the feat by winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League again with Inter Milan the very next year.

He is also the all-time leading scorer in Africa Cup of Nations history and a two-time winner of the tournament with Cameroon.

Blisteringly quick, technically gifted and comfortable with either foot, Eto’o scored 421 goals during his career—more than enough to secure his status among the game’s all-time great No. 9s.

18. Erling Haaland

Since bursting onto the scene with RB Salzburg in 2019, Erling Haaland has scored at a truly absurd rate—already surpassing 350 goals for club and country, including prolific spells with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.

Records have fallen wherever he’s gone. Still in the early stages of his career, the Norwegian goal machine already holds the Premier League single-season scoring record with 36 goals in 2022–23, and is the fastest and youngest player to reach 40 Champions League goals.

If his current trajectory continues, his final goal tally—and trophy haul—will be staggering, and his place on this list will only rise.

17. Harry Kane

Tottenham Hotspur’s all-time leading scorer, Harry Kane’s ability in front of goal was never in doubt—but questions lingered over whether he could replicate that success at a true European powerhouse prior to his 2023 move to Bayern Munich.

He’s since answered those doubts in emphatic fashion, scoring over 40 goals in each of his first three seasons in Germany—including a remarkable 61-goal campaign in 2025–26.

A striker who needs only the slightest opening to find the net—whether with his right foot, left foot or head—Kane combines ruthless finishing with elite playmaking ability, making him one of the most complete forwards of his generation.

16. Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer remains the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with 260 goals—a record that still looks untouchable today.

He may not have always been the most graceful striker, but he was relentlessly effective: powerful, quick, perfectly positioned and armed with a thunderous right foot that could almost rip the net apart.

15. Jean-Pierre Papin

Before Paris Saint-Germain’s rise to dominance in French soccer, it was Marseille who ruled the late 1980s and early ’90s—and Jean-Pierre Papin was their talisman. His 184 goals for the club powered them to four consecutive Ligue 1 (then Division 1) titles.

Renowned for his sharp movement, explosive pace and devastating volleys, Papin also enjoyed success with AC Milan and Bayern Munich during a glittering career that saw him score over 400 goals.

14. Uwe Seeler

A true one-club icon, Uwe Seeler spent virtually his entire career with boyhood side Hamburger SV—aside from a brief one-match cameo with Cork Celtic—scoring an incredible 496 goals to cement his place as the club’s all-time leading scorer.

He was just as reliable on the international stage, netting 43 goals in 72 appearances for West Germany and making history as the first player ever to score in four separate World Cups.

13. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimović scored goals everywhere he went—573 in total for clubs including Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, PSG, Juventus, Inter, Manchester United, LA Galaxy as well as for Sweden—but it wasn’t just the volume that set him apart. It was the outrageous manner in which he did it.

From acrobatic kung-fu strikes to perfectly executed scissor kicks, thunderous volleys and dazzling solo runs, Ibrahimović built a highlight reel few could rival. His unpredictability, supreme confidence and towering presence made him a constant nightmare for defenders.

12. Gabriel Batistuta

Gabriel Batistuta’s trophy haul—featuring just one Serie A title, a Coppa Italia, two Copas América and a handful of lesser honors—hardly does justice to his true quality.

With 56 goals in 78 appearances for Argentina, he remains his nation’s second all-time top scorer behind only Lionel Messi, while the majority of his 299 club goals came during a legendary spell with Fiorentina. Remarkably loyal, he stayed with the Italian side for nearly a decade, even following their relegation to Serie B, despite strong interest from Europe’s elite clubs.

Renowned for his positional intelligence and a thunderous right foot, “Batigol” blended elegance with sheer power in a way few strikers ever have.

11. Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema led the line for a dominant Real Madrid side that captured four La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies during his 14-year spell at the club from 2009–23. In that time, he racked up an incredible 354 goals—surpassed only by Cristiano Ronaldo in the club’s history.

Gifted with exceptional technique, vision and the ability to link play, Benzema was far more than just a finisher—he also ranks among Madrid’s all-time assist leaders.

His all-around brilliance was finally rewarded with a Ballon d’Or in 2022.

10. Robert Lewandowski

Since the turn of the century, only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more goals than Robert Lewandowski, who has racked up over 740 (and counting) for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Poland.

A ruthlessly efficient finisher who needs barely half a chance, Lewandowski was at his most devastating with Bayern, scoring an astonishing 375 goals in just 344 appearances as he helped the club win everything available, including eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League.

He is also the most unfortunate player never to win a Ballon d’Or, having been the overwhelming favorite in 2020 after a 55-goal season—only for the award to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

9. Hugo Sanchez

When discussing Real Madrid’s greatest forwards, names like Karim Benzema, Raúl, Ferenc Puskás, Alfredo Di Stéfano—and even Cristiano Ronaldo—are often the first to come to mind. Hugo Sánchez, however, firmly belongs in that conversation, even if he’s sometimes overlooked.

Widely regarded as Mexico’s greatest ever player, Sánchez scored 208 goals in 282 appearances for Real Madrid from 1985–92, playing a key role in the club’s run of five consecutive La Liga titles, along with several other major honors.

A prolific scorer wherever he went—including spells with Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Pumas UNAM—he finished his career with an impressive 513 goals.

8. Paolo Rossi

Paolo Rossi was something of a hybrid No. 9—while he often wore the shirt and knew exactly where the goal was, his game blended the intelligence and subtle playmaking of a No. 10 with the quick feet and movement of a wide attacker.

The 1982 Ballon d’Or winner had a career that, much like his playing style, was brief but brilliant—disrupted by injuries and a match-fixing scandal.

But his performances at the 1982 World Cup remain the defining chapter. Rossi scored six goals, including a famous hat-trick against Brazil, a brace in the semifinal against Poland, and the opening goal in the final against West Germany, as Italy lifted the trophy. A tournament run for the ages.

7. George Weah

George Weah remains the only African player in history to win the Ballon d’Or, claiming the award in 1995 during a spell that saw him represent both Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

With PSG, he helped guide the club to the Champions League semifinals while finishing as top scorer with eight goals, before moving to Italy and continuing his dominance at the San Siro.

While not a traditional out-and-out poacher like others on this list, Weah was instead a powerful, unstoppable force—capable of driving through entire defences as if they weren’t there and producing match-winning moments out of nowhere, with a level of individual brilliance few, if any, others possessed at the time.

6. Gunnar Nordahl

The legendary Gunnar Nordahl scored exactly 500 goals during his career, including 221 for AC Milan—a club record that still stands today. His five Capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer) awards also remain unmatched.

A powerful, physically dominant striker with superb positioning and clinical finishing, Nordahl also helped Sweden win gold at the 1948 Summer Olympics, where he finished as joint top scorer.

5. Luis Suarez

Whether in the Netherlands with Ajax, England with Liverpool, Spain with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, Brazil with Grêmio, or the United States with Inter Miami—goals have followed Luis Suárez wherever he’s gone.

The Uruguayan striker—powerful, relentless, never afraid to attempt the extraordinary and fiercely (if sometimes overly) competitive—has scored more than 600 goals for club and country throughout his illustrious career.

A remarkable 121 of those came during just three incredible seasons at Barcelona between 2014–15 and 2016–17, where he formed the focal point of arguably the most lethal attacking trio in soccer history alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr.

4. Marco van Basten

Had his career not been cut short at just 28 by injury, it’s fascinating to imagine what Marco van Basten might have achieved.

Even so, by the time of his early retirement, he had already accomplished more—and scored more—than most forwards could ever dream of: 307 goals, three Ballon d’Or awards, four Serie A titles, two European Cups and the 1988 European Championship.

His iconic tight-angled volley for the Netherlands against the Soviet Union in the final of the latter remains one of the greatest goals in soccer history, and the perfect encapsulation of his technical brilliance and finishing ability.

3. Gerd Muller

Gerd Müller scored an incredible 565 goals in just 607 games for Bayern Munich between 1965 and 1979. Remarkably, 66 of those came in a single season (1972–73), a record that still stands at the club today.

“Der Bomber” also netted 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany, including the decisive strike in the 1974 World Cup final.

Few strikers in history have been as lethal inside the box as the German icon, who was the ultimate fox in the box—possessing a goalscoring instinct that simply can’t be taught.

2. Alfredo Di Stefano

When Real Madrid won an unprecedented five consecutive European Cups from 1956–1960, Alfredo Di Stéfano was the driving force behind every triumph. He scored five, seven, 10, six and eight goals across those campaigns respectively, finding the net in every final and even recording a hat-trick in the last.

That level of dominance remains almost unmatched in soccer history—and quite possibly always will be—which more than justifies his place among the greatest No. 9s the game has ever seen.

1. Ronaldo Nazario

Ronaldo Nazário was nicknamed “R9” for a reason. He was the very definition of a No. 9—and quite simply the greatest to ever wear the shirt.

Although injuries ultimately curtailed his career, in his prime there was nothing and nobody who could stop the Brazilian. He made a career out of taking on defenders, rounding goalkeepers and relentlessly finding the back of the net—something the two-time World Cup winner did over 400 times for club and country.

He had it all: blistering pace, raw strength, outrageous skill, explosive power, and that unmistakable touch of star quality that you simply couldn’t define.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Greatest Soccer No. 9s of All Time—Ranked.

Uruguay’s manager pulled veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera out of retirement, naming the 39-year-old to his fifth World Cup (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), a Uruguayan record, after previously hanging up his sky blue and white gloves in 2024 after 133 caps and a 2011 Copa América win.

Although Bielsa flipped through the history books and called up Muslera, the same cannot be said for Luis Suárez. The 39-year-old striker, who also retired from international soccer in 2024, did not earn a re-call, leaving Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer (69 goals in 143 appearances) as the most notable omission.

Uruguay is ranked No. 17 globally as of Sunday and is anticipated to make a strong run, despite one steep obstacle in group play: Spain. Uruguay drew Group H, battling the European giants as well as Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.

Uruguay 2026 World Cup Squad Confirmed: Full List of Players

Goalkeepers

• Sergio Rochet (Internacional)
• Fernando Muslera (Estudiantes)
• Santiago Mele (Monterrey)

Defenders

• Guillermo Varela (Flamengo)
• Ronald Araújo (Barcelona)
• José María Giménez (Atlético Madrid)
• Santiago Bueno (Wolves)
• Sebastián Cáceres (Club America)
• Mathías Olivera (Napoli)
• Joaquín Piquerez (Palmeiras)
• Matías Viña (River Plate)

Midfielders

• Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United)
• Emiliano Martínez (Palmeiras)
• Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
• Agustín Canobbio (Fluminese)
• Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake)
• Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Fluminese)
• Nicolás de la Cruz (Flamengo)
• Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga)
• Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos)
• Maximiliano Araújo (Sporting CP)
• Brian Rodríguez (Club America)

Forwards

• Rodrigo Aguirre (Tigres)
• Federico Viñas (Real Oviedo)
• Darwin Núñez (Al Hilal)

Luis Suarez Left Out After Recent Pleas

Suárez was not called up by La Celeste, meaning he will miss the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when he made his tournament debut in South Africa.

Although the Inter Miami striker announced his retirement from international duty back in September 2024—marked by an emotionally-charged farewell ceremony in his honor—the Uruguayan legend has recently made it clear that it was door he regretted closing.

He made multiple hints in recent months that indicated his desire to represent his nation again on the sport’s grandest stage, an opportunity that would have seen him stand beside Muslera on the Uruguayan podium for the most tournament appearances (five). It would have also likely seen him break the record for the most individual World Cup match appearances, as Suárez is currently tied for second in Uruguay’s history books with 16, just one away from Edinson Cavani’s record of 17.

“I wanted to be called up,” the star said in early May.

“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.”

Suárez earning a late nod, although certainly a stretch given his long absence, seemed possible. He currently has a full bill of health and is experiencing an impressive club resurgence, re-entering Inter Miami’s starting lineup as a key asset. He has six goals and four assists in just seven starts this season, proving himself indispensable despite initially being overshadowed by $15 million transfer of Germán Berterame at the start of the season. However, Bielsa proved capable of looking past him.

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

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• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Uruguay 2026 World Cup Roster Confirmed: Full List of Players, Luis Suarez Pleas Ignored.

A unified Argentina team rallied around the all-time great in Qatar to ensure he captured the crown that his career deserves. Messi produced one of the finest individual World Cup campaigns in 2022, inspiring La Albiceleste to their first global conquest since Diego Maradona dominated in Mexico 36 years before.

But the international retirement some suspected after enjoying his crowning glory never arrived. Still performing at a freakishly high level despite approaching 40, it then seemed inevitable that Messi would target history in North America this summer.

And not merely because he’ll be competing at his sixth World Cup. Argentina is aiming to become only the third nation in the tournament’s 96-year history to defend its title.

Every Nation to Win Consecutive Men’s World Cups

Lionel Messi’s Argentina Chasing Brazil’s World Cup History

Doubts remained right up until Lionel Scaloni named his final 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup whether Messi would be included, especially after he suffered an apparent hamstring injury in Inter Miami’s final MLS outing before the mid-season break.

While Argentina has shown signs of evolution in the absence of their delightful No. 10 over the past 12 months, Scaloni was never going to leave Messi out if he made himself available.

The 38-year-old is one of 17 players in Scaloni’s roster who were also present in Qatar, with the savvy national team manager opting for continuity. Messi will play a leading role for the holders, who are aiming to become the first team in 64 years to retain the World Cup.

Only eight nations have ever gotten their hands on the trophy since the tournament‘s 1930 inception, yet Brazil, in 1962, is the most recent to win back-to-back World Cups. Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy also won twice in succession in 1934 and 1938.

Argentina has come close once before, with Maradona’s uninspiring holders reaching the final in 1990 before being edged out by the superior West Germany in a drab contest decided by Andreas Brehme’s penalty. 1994 champions Brazil were cast aside in the showpiece event by France four years later—a final overshadowed by the prematch drama surrounding superstar Ronaldo.

Les Blues won the World Cup for a second time in 2018, and, off the back of a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick, took the 2022 final to penalties. Regarded as one of soccer‘s greatest games, Argentina held its nerve from 12 yards to thrust Messi’s legacy into an impenetrable realm.

Excluding France in Qatar, the holders have generally struggled at World Cups in the 21st century. At four of the six tournaments, they’ve failed to make it out of the group.

Messi Fighting Champions’ Curse

How Brazil Retained the World Cup in 1962

A teenage Pelé helped Brazil vanquish the demons of the defeat to Uruguay on home soil when he scored six times in the knockout stage to help the Seleção win the World Cup for the first time in 1958.

When Brazil made the short trip across South America to defend its crown four years later, soccer had changed. The free-scoring bliss of the 1950s was long gone, with the sport now dominated by more cynical approaches that emphasised opponent nullification by any means.

Brazil wasn’t all that different from the team that triumphed in Sweden, although a key tactical switch fought against stagnation. The aggressive 4-2-4 that dominated four years earlier became more of a lopsided 4-3-3, supplying greater defensive stability.

A groin injury meant Pelé wasn’t counted upon, with the idiosyncratic Garrincha instead coming to the fore. The winger was believed to have been inspired by the arrival of his partner, the glamorous singer Elza Soares, midway through the tournament. Garrincha put a slow start to the World Cup behind him and took the mantle from the stricken Pelé.

Brazil won their group unbeaten before overcoming England 3–1 in the quarterfinals thanks to a Garrincha brace. Hosts Chile sought to kick the dazzling winger out of the semifinals, eventually forcing Garrincha to deliver an uncompromising knee that resulted in his dismissal. Before that, though, he’d struck twice in a 4–2 Brazilian victory. The star man’s red card was subsequently rescinded by Peruvian referee Arturo Yamasaki, meaning he was available for the final against Czechoslovakia.

The Czechs were no more than gritty and functional. Brazil may not have been as swashbuckling as the Swedish sojourn, but the reigning champion nonetheless had too much in the final. Brazil fought back from a goal down to win comfortably, 3–1. Vavà became the first player in World Cup history to score in two finals.

The Seleção’s superiority over the rest of the world remained distinct until their disastrous campaign of 1966, although few were enamored with the overall quality of the tournament. There were glimpses from Garrincha, but the glorious individualism of the 1950s was beginning to wane.

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 Lionel Messi Chasing 64 Years of History After World Cup Call-Up.

Multiple factors are considered in the ranking, including revenue generated for the 2024–25 season (or 2025 campaign in MLS), operating income, stadium economics and debts, each value rounded to the nearest $1 million.

Unsurprisingly, European behemoths dominate the rankings, but clubs in the United States are growing as genuine competitors.

Here is a breakdown of the world’s most valuable soccer sides in 2026.

30–21

Over a third of the clubs within the top 30 are English. Even the Premier League’s middle class are capable of financially overpowering the majority of teams across the planet. Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham and Everton rank from 27th to 25th in that order, falling just short of a $1 billion valuation.

Despite Napoli being crowned Serie A champions in 2024–25, it’s Roma who are the fourth-most valuable side in Italy. The capital giants place 24th, marginally behind Benfica—the only club from Portugal to make the cut.

Stuttgart in 28th continue to flourish as their on-field resurgence converts to hugely improved revenue streams. They are now officially Germany’s third-most valuable club.

MLS sides Austin FC and Seattle Sounders just creep into the list after value increases from 2024, but, unlike Atlanta United and New York City FC, they fail to reach the $1 billion valuation mark.

20–11

Californian giants LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC sneak into the top 20, the latter’s value of $1.32 billion only slightly less than Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF—the most valuable MLS franchise on the market. All three have seen their value increase from the previous rankings.

Aston Villa have overseen an incredible 56% growth over the past year as Unai Emery continues to work wonders. Champions League qualification played a massive part in their financial progression, making them England’s most valuable club outside of the traditional ‘Big Six’. They lead Newcastle United, who are perched in 19th.

Despite a higher revenue than their arch rivals, 2024–25 Champions League finalists Inter still trail AC Milan, who are valued at $500 million more than their neighbors. Both clubs are still overshadowed by Juventus, however, whose value sits at an impressive $2.4 billion despite on-pitch struggles.

Borussia Dortmund continue their tradition of being second in Germany, their value paling in comparison to that of Der Klassiker rivals Bayern Munich. Atlético Madrid, one of only three Spanish clubs, find themselves in a similar situation, trailing adversaries Real Madrid by billions.

10–1

Atléti only narrowly miss out on their place in the top 10 at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, but there is quite the jump from Spurs to their city rivals Chelsea. The Blues are $1.2 billion more valuable, although that’s the exact sum they find themselves behind recently crowned Premier League champions Arsenal.

The Gunners could well surpass Manchester City, as they did in the 2025–26 Premier League, in next year’s list. The Cityzens are only $100 million ahead of Arsenal, although they find themselves playing catch-up to Liverpool and Manchester United.

England’s most successful clubs are both valued at over $6 billion, putting them ahead of reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain and German behemoths Bayern Munich. The Red Devils are valued at $1 billion more than Liverpool and will benefit from Champions League revenue next season.

Spain’s top two once again headline the rankings, with Real Madrid enjoying their fifth successive year at the summit. Their $9.5 billion valuation is marked by an incredible $1.27 billion made in revenue across 2024–25, which is a record total for any sports team measured by Forbes (without adjusting for inflation). Unlike on the field, Barcelona find themselves behind their Clásico adversaries.

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

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• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as The 30 Most Valuable Soccer Teams in 2026—Ranked.

Messi was forced to leave the insane MLS match against Philadelphia Union in the 79th minute, with the score tied at 4–4. Miami’s initial medical report then revealed “muscle fatigue in the left hamstring” to set alarm bells ringing so close to the 2026 World Cup.

Even closing in on his 38th birthday, Messi is still central to Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team in more than 60 years to successfully retain the men’s World Cup. It would also be a blow to the tournament as a whole not to have one of the all-time greats at full health.

Scaloni doesn’t appear that worried, but more tests are required. He and his staff were watching the Miami match from their base in Argentina, immediately aware there was a potential problem when Messi left the field in the moment that he did.

“We were watching the match at the training ground. We realized he asked to be substituted, that he wasn’t well,” the 2022 World Cup-winning manager told DSports.

“The first reports are not that bad. Logically, we would prefer that nothing had happened to him. Now, we have to wait and see how he progresses. Above all, they’re going to run tests on him, I imagine, and see if it’s as they say.

“We would have liked him to arrive [in camp] without any kind of problems, but that is not the case with him and with most of the players who have had problems. They are not fully recovered. Our goal is to try to recover them and have them arrive in the best possible condition.”

All-Time World Cup Record Beckons for Messi

Even if Messi could not play early-round matches, his selection for Argentina seems virtually guaranteed—for all that he has done for the national team in 21 years and the impact he might still have later in the tournament’s knockout rounds.

Scaloni is yet to publicly name Argentina’s roster but that announcement is imminent.

History is within reach for Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. This is going to be his sixth World Cup, which is a record for the men’s tournament that he will jointly break with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has already been named in Portugal’s squad for a sixth time. Each played their first World Cup in 2006, when Ronaldo was 21 and Messi was turning 19.

But in terms of individual World Cup matches, a new record could be Messi’s alone by July. He has already played more World Cup matches than anyone in men’s soccer, making his 26th appearance in the 2022 final against France. But the overall World Cup record belongs to USWNT legend Kristine Lilly, who played 30 times at the women’s tournament from 1991–2007.

Four appearances for Messi in 2026 equals it, and five breaks it. In total, Argentina could play up to eight times if La Albiceleste reach the final or third-place playoff.

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

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi Injury: Argentina Boss Reveals Next Steps As World Cup Roster Looms.

This weekend’s Matchday 15 slate of MLS saw some teams allow World Cup-bound players to sit out, while others fielded top-choice lineups with hopes of heading into the extended international break with a win and good vibes around the club. 

From outstanding showdowns on the West Coast to Lionel Messi’s concerning exit in a record-smashing 6–4 Inter Miami victory over the Philadelphia Union, the final pre-World Cup weekend of MLS didn’t disappoint. 

Here, Sports Illustrated dives into the weekly MLS Power Rankings, with the league set to resume with a six-game Matchday 16 slate on July 16, between the World Cup semifinals and the July 19 final. 

MLS Power Rankings Matchday 15: Clubs 30–11

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

10. FC Dallas (Previous: 12)

While some teams are limping into the World Cup break, things couldn’t be going any better for FC Dallas. This weekend saw the Toros grab a 2–1 win over the Colorado Rapids, bringing them to four wins in their last five and up to fourth in the Western Conference. 

Even without talisman and World Cup-bound Croatian international Petar Musa, they found a way to nab a pair of goals through Logan Farrington’s sixth of the season and Santiago Moreno, both of whom made no mistakes from the penalty spot. Outside of the top-tier attack, Jonathan Sirois has found some form between the sticks, giving manager Eric Quill a true battle between the Canadian and Michael Collodi. 

9. FC Cincinnati (Previous: 11)

Talk about heading into the World Cup with a bang. FC Cincinnati took full advantage of a dismal Orlando City defense, putting up six goals in a 6–2 win, now having scored at least three goals in four of their last five matches. 

After starting the season at a lower level of production than his usual self, Evander has found his form in the past several weeks. In the Orlando beatdown, he posted an outstanding two goals and three assists, while also stringing together 10 key passes. That has him at nine goals and six assists this season, trailing only Messi in total goal contributions.  

Cincinnati returns to MLS action in July against Western Conference leaders, Vancouver Whitecaps, in what looks to be a thrilling matchup.

8. Real Salt Lake (Previous: 7)

Zavier Gozo sets up Zach Booth for his first Salt Lake goal! 👊

📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/0hr43uDfub pic.twitter.com/MpGjNvOXGR

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 23, 2026

The biggest news for Real Salt Lake came pre-match on Saturday, when reports revealed that star midfielder Diego Luna and outstanding teenager Zavier Gozo would not make the U.S. men’s national team squad for the upcoming World Cup. 

Gozo played as if he took that to heart, ramping up his energy down the right flank even more so and setting up Zach Booth for the 22-year-old right wingback’s first MLS goal in the 22nd minute.

While Luna wasn’t in the matchday squad, the Claret and Cobalt allowed a 93rd-minute equalizer; they shouldn’t worry too much. It’s three wins and four games undefeated in their last five, with two players bound to show some vigor for the rest of the season.

7. Chicago Fire (Previous: 8)

It wasn’t the start to Saturday’s match that the Chicago Fire would’ve wanted, allowing Toronto FC’s Josh Sargent to rip through the backline before firing a blistering shot past goalkeeper Chris Brady. Yet, Gregg Berhalter’s men can take solace in their bounce-back and came out victorious, while also celebrating Brady’s reported nomination to the USMNT’s World Cup squad. 

It marked the end of Hugo Cuypers’s immense 10-game win streak, but seeing Robin Lod and Andrew Gutman step up with goals should give the Fire some confidence as well, knowing they are far from a one-man show.

6. Seattle Sounders (Previous: 5)

The Seattle Sounders had a massive opportunity to prove themselves as a Supporters’ Shield and Western Conference contender over the past two weeks. Instead, they failed to score a goal and lost 2–0 to the LA Galaxy and 1–0 to LAFC. 

Is it time to worry? Maybe a little. As much as late-summer surges practically define Brian Schmetzer’s era at Seattle’s helm, they won’t be on the pitch again until July and let a vital six points slip. At the same time, the midfield duo of Cristian Roldan and Hasanni Dotson is showing cracks, while 19-year-old Snyder Brunell can’t yet be relied upon every week.

5. LAFC (Previous: 6)

It wasn’t glorious, but LAFC are back in the win column for the first time in four games, as they snapped a three-game losing skid with a 1–0 victory over Seattle Sounders on Sunday night. Tim Tillman hit the back of the net in the 86th minute, finishing off a chance from Tyler Boyd. 

The win puts the Black and Gold fifth in the Western Conference but offers little respite from a rather underwhelming first few months under manager Marc Dos Santos, a longtime assistant to Steve Cherundolo. 

Now, the future is in question. How secure is Marc Dos Santos’s role? How will the team forge ahead without Stephen Eustáquio in midfield, given his plans to return to FC Porto after the World Cup? And how about Son Heung-min, who took seven shots but hasn’t scored in 13 MLS matches this season? Lots to be answered in LA.

4. Inter Miami (Previous: 4)

6-4 thriller! One of the craziest MLS games of all time! 🤯

▪️ Highest scoring first half ever (4-4)
▪️ Second most goals in a game (10)
▪️ Hat tricks from Milan Iloski and Luis Suarez pic.twitter.com/iit666kFao

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

Absolute chaos. Many teams that welcome Inter Miami to town have described the experience as a “circus,” with the fanfare and spotlight that comes with Lionel Messi and the star-studded Herons. That circus, albeit in a different way, has already firmly established itself at Nu Stadium. 

First, it was three straight winless showings at the new ground. Last week, it was a silent protest from the supporters, and this week, it was a 6–4 win over the Philadelphia Union, which was 4–4 at halftime, marking the first time eight goals had been scored in an opening frame in MLS history. 

Miami, at their best, can score—and they’re very good at it, thanks to Messi. Yet, they are extremely volatile defensively. There have been improvements with the center back pairing of Gonzalo Luján and Micael, in place of Maxi Falcón, but the amount of shots and chances given up isn’t that of a championship-style team. In no world should Dayne St. Clair allow four goals and still have a “goals prevented” of +0.98, indicating a net positive performance despite the four goals allowed. 

Sunday’s showing was one of Luis Suárez’s best in MLS, scoring a hat-trick and a wonderfully taken chested volley, while Germán Berterame may have played himself onto Mexico’s World Cup squad with a brace. Yet, as much as Miami are faulty, they can win, and that has them second in the Eastern Conference and fourth in MLS.

3. San Jose Earthquakes (Previous: 3)

That's ✌️ for Preston Judd in less than 15 minutes 😱 pic.twitter.com/ZKZsSHxjQa

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 24, 2026

The San Jose Earthquakes continued their heavy schedule this week and started with continued disappointment, falling to the Colorado Rapids in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, their third straight loss across all competitions. This weekend though, saw them return to form, securing a 3–1 road win against the Portland Timbers to stay tied on points atop the Western Conference with Vancouver. 

With a brace, Preston Judd brought himself to 11 goals on the season, and the 26-year-old, who previously boasted an MLS career high of seven goals in the 2025 season, finds himself firmly in the MLS Golden Boot race, one goal behind Messi and Musa for second and two goals behind Chicago’s Cuypers for the lead. 

Under the tutelage of Bruce Arena, the Earthquakes have been the defining story of the first half of the 2026 season. With likely no players heading to the World Cup, they’ll have some time to get healthy and practice before the summer and fall stretch towards the MLS Cup playoffs.

2. Nashville SC (Previous: 1)

Three wins in a row, nine games undefeated and just a single loss in their 14 regular-season games so far—it’s been an incredible year for Nashville SC, buoyed even further by the fact they’ve weathered significant injury absences without Sam Surridge, Edvard Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek in recent weeks. 

This week saw Nashville pick up all three points against New York City FC, with Cristian Espinoza picking up his eighth assist of the season and getting goals from center backs Maxwell Woledzi and Jeisson Palacios from corners, even though they struggled to break down NYCFC’s defensive setup. Surridge also returned to MLS action and should be fully fit come the summer.

1. Vancouver Whietcaps (Previous: 2)

Blackmon ➡️ Müller ➡️ White to give @WhitecapsFC the lead!

📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/ueTxxvTrbR pic.twitter.com/oZkqqyK7TQ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 24, 2026

Vancouver Whitecaps had a relatively easy start to the season, considering the heavy home schedule before handing over BC Place to FIFA for seven World Cup matches, including two knockout games this summer. It means that Vancouver has spent the last five matches on the road and has managed to pick up eight of a possible 15 points, an extremely tough feat in MLS. 

This weekend’s 4–2 win over San Diego FC also marked one of their best performances of the season in an attacking sense. Thomas Müller was excellent in linking plays through midfield, Brian White’s deft finishing touch returned to its best form and Bruno Caicedo continued to impress, with the 21-year-old scoring his second goal, bringing him to four goal contributions in just 301 minutes. 

Already enjoying a standout attacking showing, the Whitecaps managed to put in a strong enough defensive effort, despite backup goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer filling in for the suspended first-choice Yohei Takaoka and without Andrés Cubas, widely considered one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. 

For a team dealing with a heavy road schedule and with rumors of relocation, finding this level of success on the pitch has been exceptional, and they will now get to see likely Cubas and Sebastian Berhalter at the World Cup with Paraguay and the USMNT, respectively. 

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

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• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: Muller’s Whitecaps Dominate, Miami Wins Chaotic Pre-World Cup Finale and More After Matchday 15.

Inter Miami’s talisman, who grabbed two assists in a wild 6–4 victory over the Philadelphia Union, was forced out of the game with 17 minutes remaining, grabbing at his leg and heading to the sidelines.

While nothing suggested Messi’s injury was particularly serious, it was the timing that left fans worried. Argentina get their World Cup campaign underway against Algeria on June 17 and just seven weeks separate the date of the injury and the World Cup final on July 19.

Here’s the latest on Messi’s injury scare.

What Injury Does Lionel Messi Have?

Messi was seen grabbing at the back of his thigh before his substitution, indicating a potential hamstring injury. He was quickly sent for tests and Miami have since confirmed a problem with Messi’s left hamstring.

At the time of Messi’s exit, the two teams were tied at 4–4, so the sight of the team’s superstar forward heading to the bench when they still needed a goal led to obvious concerns about the severity of the injury.

The well-connected Gastón Edul was first to report that Messi’s withdrawal was more of a precaution, rather than a response to an injury blow. Crucially, the post states Messi “has no muscle injury.”

Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos was equally keen to calm the tensions.

“As far as I know, we don’t have a report on that yet, but he really was fatigued,” Hoyos told the media. “Yes, it was fatigue.

“He was tired, the field was heavy, and rather than doubt, you always say not to take the risk.”

The club’s update clarified Messi’s injury as “muscle fatigue,” rather that a strain or a tear.

Will Lionel Messi Play at the 2026 World Cup?

We’re still awaiting confirmation of Argentina’s final World Cup roster, and we have not even had formal confirmation from Messi that he will actually go to this tournament, having previously insisted he would wait and see how his body feels before making a final decision.

That being said, all the signs suggest Messi will make Argentina’s final roster, and his decision to exit the Philadelphia game to preserve his fitness would point to a desire to remain healthy for this summer’s tournament.

The focus then turns to whether Messi will be fit enough to play. Hamstring injuries can vary wildly in terms of recovery timelines, which are dictated by the severity of the issue itself. A minor sprain can heal in a couple of days and a major tear can take the best part of six months.

It would appear as though Messi is right at the bottom end of that spectrum, with his hamstring soreness unlikely to require much time on the sidelines.

That will come as good news for fans as they await Messi’s appearance at the World Cup this summer. Argentina has just over three weeks to prepare for its first game and, as it stands, there are no reasons to believe Messi will not be fit enough to feature.

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

• Spain vs. Argentina: Complete Head-to-Head Record Ahead of World Cup Clash
• The 2026 World Cup Final Deserves Better Than MetLife Stadium
• Lionel Messi’s Record for Argentina in World Cup Finals
• Mauricio Pochettino Sets Timeline to Decide USMNT Future
• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi Injury: Progress, Potential Return Date After World Cup Scare.

The match got off to a blistering start, with Philadelphia’s Milan Iloski beating Miami’s Dayne St. Clair in the fourth minute, taking advantage of a defensive breakdown. Minutes later, St. Clair surrendered a misjudged penalty, and Miami found themselves behind 2–0 by the 10th minute.

The struggles wouldn’t last long. Lionel Messi began to charge forward and lead Miami’s attack, first setting up Germán Berterame for a tap-in goal, his first of two in the victory. Luis Suárez netted a hat-trick as well, highlighted by an acrobatic finish, as he chested the ball to himself off Ian Fray’s cross, before smashing a shot past Union backstop Andre Blake. Rodrigo De Paul scored late, sealing the victory on a counterattack for the 6–4 win.

OMG what a goal by Luis Suárez 😱 pic.twitter.com/F3wckQuchB

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 24, 2026

The 4–4 first half marked the first time that eight goals had been scored in the opening period of an MLS match, with the final 10 combined goals falling just short of the match record, which sits at 11combined in a single game.

Yet, the major storyline coming out of the night was Messi’s missing presence later on. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner abruptly left the match with discomfort in his leg in the 73rd minute, clutching his hamstring. He quickly walked towards the locker room for medical treatment, throwing doubt into his availability for the 2026 World Cup in less than 20 days.

Here, Sports Illustrated breaks down the match, grading every Inter Miami player who saw the pitch in the victory.

Inter Miami Report Card vs. Philadelphia Union (4-3-3)

GK: Dayne St. Clair—C-:  The Canadian had troubles early in the match, but finished the night with seven saves and was arguably the best defensive player for Inter Miami, keeping the team in the match.

RB: Ian Fray—B: Ian Fray continued to take on significant minutes with Inter Miami and was dynamic down the wing, leading to his assist on Suárez’s acrobatic finish on the 3–2 goal.

CB: Gonzalo Luján—C-: Luján continued to grow into his defensive responsibilities with Inter Miami, but struggled to keep up with 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan and the other Philadelphia attackers.

CB: Micael—F: The Brazilian center back had one of his worst games in an Inter Miami kit, struggling to keep up with Iloski, while other attackers simply side-stepped past him.

LB: Sergio Reguilón—D: Sergio Reguilón’s presence with Inter Miami has been underwhelming, and Sunday was no different. On a night where attacking potential was wide open, he failed to make any significant contribution.

RM: Rodrigo De Paul—A: Rodrigo De Paul has been putting in double-workout days with Lionel Messi in preparation for the World Cup and looks as fit as ever. Having recently celebrated his 32nd birthday, the Argentine veteran is in stellar form and scored the eventual winning goal.

CM: Yannick Bright—B: The most consistent Miami player of 2026, Bright jumped into the attack throughout Sunday, but failed to provide any real threat. However, his nine defensive contributions were vital to bringing some semblance of control to the chaos.

LM: Telasco Segovia—D: Telasco Segovia had a performance to forget, struggling to make any attacking inroads and being beaten several times by Iloski and Sullivan.

RW: Lionel Messi—B: In a 10-goal game, it’s shocking to see Messi left out of the goalscoring. Yet, that’s exactly what happened on Sunday, even though he picked up a pair of assists before leaving the match with an injury.

ST: Germán Berterame—B+: Germán Berterame is still in the mix for the Mexico World Cup roster and a brace, as much as Messi did most of the work, to get him to seven MLS goals this season gives him a strong chance of cracking the squad.

LW: Luis Suárez—A++++!!!!: The Uruguay legend was outstanding! A brilliant finish on his second goal to control it with his chest before smashing a half-volley into the goal. His movements and positioning in the box were also stellar, completely turning the clock back to the best moments of his career.

SUB: David Ayala (67’ for Segovia)—C+: Ayala made sure he did not throw Miami off their game in the final 23 minutes.

SUB: Facundo Mura (67’ for Reguilón)—C: Mura made a confident 26 passes after entering the match in the 68th minute and silenced the wing, which Reguilón had struggled to shut down.

SUB: Mateo Silvetti (73’ for Messi)—A+: Stepping in as an Argentine for Messi is far from easy, but Silvetti did so with flying colors. He played a key role in the winning goal and insurance marker, picking up an official assist on De Paul's counterattacking 6–4 goal.

Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Maxi Falcón, Noah Allen, Alex Shaw, David Ruíz

One Thing We Can’t Ignore: The Messi Injury

Nearly every league in the world played games this weekend. There is no blame on MLS for doing so, even as it is expected to send a record-number of players to the World Cup on home soil this summer.

For interim manager Guillermo Hoyos, though, there is some concern. Yes, Miami wants to win every game, and yes, Messi probably wants to play every minute he can—yet, this was also a game against the worst team in the league and one that Miami could, technically, afford to lose. It’s what ensures Messi saw the pitch that makes it so perplexing. Why risk a player like that in a game like this? Miami could probably have played other players and still secured three points—and if they fell short, well, then they can look to the rest of the season in the hunt for a top seed in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Messi and his teammates are ultra-competitive. That’s why they’ve hit the levels that they have in their careers. Still, he is 38 years old with an intrepid injury history—how was that not more of a concern? At this point, it’s water under the bridge, with Argentina and soccer fans from across the world holding their collective breath.

What’s Next For Inter Miami?

The World Cup! Several of Inter Miami’s stars are likely World Cup-bound, with goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair potentially serving as co-host Canada’s starting goalkeeper, with that roster set to be unveiled on Friday. Other World Cup stars include Argentina’s Messi and De Paul as well as Mexico's Berterame.

Inter Miami will resume MLS action on July 22 against the Chicago Fire.

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 Grading Inter Miami’s Record-Smashing Win Over Philadelphia Amid Messi Injury .

Messi appeared to call towards Miami’s bench and signal his need for a substitution, grabbing the back of his leg after taking a free-kick. He quickly made his way off the field before storming down the players’ tunnel and into the locker rooms at Miami’s new Nu Stadium.

While there has been no official update on his status, there will undoubtedly be concern for the 38-year-old, who sustained the injury just 18 days before the World Cup. After the match, he and Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul were expected to join Argentina’s pre-tournament training camp in Kansas City on June 1, having already taken on additional workouts to prepare for the tournament, alongside their usual Inter Miami regimen. 

Messi is headed straight to the locker room after getting subbed out in the 73rd minute pic.twitter.com/BIpKA4M3TW

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 25, 2026

Messi, who will turn 39 midway through the tournament, has not yet verbally committed to the World Cup. He was waiting until the last second to “see if [he] really can be 100%,” and Sunday’s injury may have thrown a wrench into that plan. If so, his last World Cup match would be the title-winning moment over France in Qatar four years ago. 

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has yet to announce the World Cup 26-man roster, reportedly scheduled to be released sometime between May 28 and May 30. All nations’ squads must be announced by June 2, meaning Scaloni will have his team by the time Argentina faces Honduras and Iceland in pre-tournament friendlies on June 6 and June 9. La Albiceleste open World Cup play against Algeria on June 16. 

Messi’s Tournament Injury History

Messi’s World Cup presence is not yet in doubt, with Inter Miami’s staff and trainers yet to confirm his status or provide an official medical report.

Inter Miami interim manager Guillermo Hoyos stated post-match that he believes Messi’s condition is actually fatigue, a result of the heavy pitch due to the rainy weather conditions. Other reports suggest that the substitution was precautionary because Messi felt his muscle tighten up.

Messi suffered a severe right ankle injury in the last major international tournament, the 2024 Copa América, and was limited to 66 minutes in the final as Argentina prevailed over Colombia to win the title. As a team, Argentina would still remain a contender without Messi, but would lack one of the world’s greatest playmakers and goal scorers. The world would miss out on seeing the legend in a sixth and (almost certainly) final World Cup.

Up until this point of the season, Messi has maintained full health and has been exceptional in his play, giving zero indication of slowing down despite being in the twilight of his career. The back-to-back MLS MVP is the favorite to win the 2026 award, with 13 goals and seven assists in 16 games across all competitions.

This story will be updated.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lionel Messi Suffers Worrying Injury 18 Days From World Cup.

A select few, however, go far beyond that, taking home truly staggering sums that are enough to make your eyes water.

So, just how much are the world’s biggest stars actually earning?

Fortunately, Forbes releases an annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, including soccer’s top earners.

Here are the seven highest-paid players in world soccer (from May 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026), including how much they make and where the bulk of their fortunes come from.

How Do Soccer Players’ Earnings Compare to Other Sports?

Soccer is one of the most lucrative sports on the planet, but it is far from alone. Many stars from other sports also earn similarly astronomical sums.

According to Forbes’ list of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes, seven are soccer players.

That is two fewer than the number of NFL players on the list—and significantly fewer than basketball, which boasts 19 athletes in the top 50, more than any other sport.

Tennis players, Formula 1 drivers, baseball stars, golfers and boxers also feature heavily among the world’s highest earners, with elite athletes across multiple sports commanding staggering salaries and endorsement deals.

That said, two of the top three highest-paid athletes in the world are soccer players—both of whom will be very familiar names.

Highest Paid Athletes Who Aren’t Soccer Players

*Figures are from May 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026.

Highest Paid Soccer Players—Ranked

7. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Total Earnings: $55 million

An all-time Premier League great, Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah is the first soccer player entry in the top 50.

He earned $55 million, with around $35 million coming from wages and bonuses at Liverpool. The remaining $20 million came from endorsement deals with brands such as adidas, Pepsi and Vodafone.

With a potential move to Saudi Arabia on the horizon, his position on this list could rise significantly in the coming years.

6. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Total Earnings: $60 million

Most of Vinicius Junior’s earnings came from his contract at Real Madrid, worth around $40 million in wages and bonuses. The rest came from sponsorship deals with brands including Gatorade, Luxottica Group, Marriott International, Nike, Pepsi, Unilever and Visa.

5. Erling Haaland (Man City)

Total Earnings: $80 million

Erling Haaland is the fifth-highest-paid soccer player in the world and the top earner in the Premier League.

He earned $80 million, with around $60 million coming from his Manchester City contract.

The remainder came from endorsement deals with brands including Beats by Dre, Breitling, Dolce & Gabbana, Electronic Arts, Marriott International, Midea, Nike, Supercell, Unilever and Visa.

4. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

Total Earnings: $95 million

Kylian Mbappé stands out as the top earner in Europe.

Around $70 million came from his contract at Real Madrid, with the remaining $25 million generated through endorsement deals with brands including Dior, Electronic Arts, Hublot, Nike, Oakley and Sorare.

3. Karim Benzema (Al Hilal)

Total Earnings: $104 million

A surprise entry at number three, veteran striker Karim Benzema broke nine digits.

Around $100 million came from his contract with Al Hilal, while the remainder was thanks to endorsement deals, mostly through his partnership with adidas.

2. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Total Earnings: $140 million

Coming in second, Lionel Messi is the third-highest-paid athlete across all sports.

The World Cup winner’s income was split roughly evenly between his contract with Inter Miami and his off-field earnings. Messi’s endorsement portfolio includes long-standing deals with adidas, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Apple, Beats by Dre, Epic Games, Hard Rock Cafe, Lowe’s, Mastercard and Panini.

He also owns a clothing line, beverage brand and hotel chain.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)

Total Earnings: $300 million

Cristiano Ronaldo is not only the highest-paid soccer player in the world, but also the highest-paid athlete on the planet.

He earned a staggering $300 million, more than double Messi and around $130 million more than his closest rival, boxer Canelo Álvarez.

Around $65 million came from endorsements with brands including Binance, Herbalife, Lego, Nike, Therabody, Whoop and his personal investment portfolio.

The remaining $235 million came from his contract with Al Nassr, whom he helped lead to the Saudi Pro League title.

That equates to roughly $5.77 million per week, $822,000 per day, $34,000 per hour, $566 per minute and around $9–10 per second.

Highest Paid Soccer Players 2026

READ THE LATEST SOCCER NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MORE

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• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Seven Highest Paid Soccer Players in the World—Ranked.

Manchester United’s defensive totem has enjoyed a career renaissance at Old Trafford this season. After tumbling towards mockery during the dark days of the 2023–24 campaign, Casemiro has embarked upon a remarkable individual rejuvenation, returning to the heights which helped him win five Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

The 34-year-old’s form has been so impressive United’s fans and several players have openly appealed for “one more year” of his services. Those pleas have fallen on deaf ears as Casemiro sails towards free agency and, as reports have repeatedly trailed, a move to MLS. Now there has been some premature (and unplanned) confirmation that his landing spot will be Miami.

During a conversation with assembled reporters, Miami forward Segovia reiterated his desire to play in Europe at some point in his career after sharing training sessions with some of the best to ever feature on the continent. Lionel Messi’s teammate now has a new star to count upon. “I know Casemiro is coming—he’s a great player,” Segovia let slip, as captured by Olé.

In a half-hearted attempt to backpedal, the 23-year-old added: “If he does come, he’s more than welcome; he’ll bring a lot to the team, and I think he’s going to give us so much.”

Segovia’s revelation is not entirely out of the blue. Recent reports have described Miami as on the cusp of securing Casemiro’s official agreement after outmaneuvering MLS rivals LA Galaxy, who are thought to have seen multiple contract offers rebuffed by the in-demand Brazilian. However, the accidental confirmation can now allow fans to picture Casemiro in a pink shirt with more certainty.

When Could Casemiro Makes His Inter Miami Debut?

Like all MLS clubs, Inter Miami will take a break during the World Cup. After Sunday’s clash with Philadephia Union at Nu Stadium, the Herons won’t be back in action until July 22 when Chicago Fire come to town.

Should Casemiro’s Brazil make it all the way to the World Cup final on July 19, it’s unlikely he will be called upon for that visit from the Fire. The ageing midfielder has been granted a reprieve for United’s final game of the Premier League to best prepare for the upcoming tournament, which is expected to be his last for Brazil, and will need ample time to recover after playing a full European club season which began back in August.

United have been subjected to an unusually uncluttered schedule thanks to their past failings. A lack of any continental competition coupled by a pair of early cup exits ensured that the Red Devils would sometimes go three weeks between fixtures. However, at this advanced stage of his career, Casemiro’s physical preparation cannot be rushed, especially considering his potential importance to Inter Miami.

Following the retirement of Sergio Busquets, the reigning MLS Cup champions have proven to be desperately leaky. Miami have conceded a division-high eight goals from fast breaks in just 14 league games this year. Casemiro’s first objective will be to shore up that soft center.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ‘I Know’—Casemiro’s Next Club After Man Utd Accidentally Confirmed by New Teammate.

While many leagues won’t resume until after a country lifts the World Cup trophy in New Jersey on July 19, MLS will return to play a little earlier, with six games scheduled between the semifinals and finals with hopes of capturing soccer’s heightened fandom.

First, though, MLS sides must forge through Matchday 15, earning a final result before they head for the couch for a restful break or to soccer’s greatest stage.

Here’s what Sports Illustrated predicts for the 15th matchday of MLS in 2026.

St. Louis CITY SC vs. Austin FC

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:40 a.m. PT

St. Louis CITY SC have not had the perfect MLS season with just three wins to this point, but have their eyes on a trophy after advancing to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals midweek, knocking out the Houston Dynamo on penalties. While that’s no doubt a focus, riding that new momentum to claim points against Austin FC at home could put them in a solid position to stay on the edge of playoff contention in the fall.

Austin FC, meanwhile, hit the road after parting ways with manager Nico Estévez and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell, with veteran manager Davy Arnaud tipped as the interim voice. With new leadership on the way, it’s the start of a new era for Los Verdes.

Prediction: St. Louis CITY SC 2–0 Austin FC

Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT

Two of the borderline contending teams in the Western Conference go head-to-head this weekend, with Minnesota United already beginning their post-James Rodríguez era, looking for a result against a Real Salt Lake unit that hopes to see both Zavier Gozo and Diego Luna representing the USMNT at the World Cup.

Will either of the midfielders stand out in the final push for the squad, set to be unveiled on Tuesday?

Prediction: Minnesota United 1–4 Real Salt Lake

Charlotte FC vs. New England Revolution

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Wilfried Zaha missed out on the 2026 World Cup and will no doubt be frustrated about that reality as he takes to the pitch for the final game of the spring with Charlotte FC, looking to secure a victory alongside Pep Biel and Idan Toklomati.

On the other side, the Revolution looks for better road form after a stupendous start to the season at home, with goalkeeper Matt Turner set to put on one more performance before the USMNT World Cup squad unveiling.

Prediction: Charlotte FC 1–1 New England Revolution

FC Cincinnati vs. Orlando City

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Orlando City are riding a high coming into this weekend, after thrashing Atlanta United 4–1 midweek to advance to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. While they can taste victory in that competition, finding any ground in MLS play remains a challenge.

This weekend will be a big one for Marco Pašalić and Maxime Crépeau, both looking to find form ahead of representing their respective nations, Croatia and Canada, at the World Cup. FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, hopes to allow fewer than two goals for the first time in three games.

Prediction: FC Cincinnati 3–4 Orlando City

D.C. United vs. CF Montréal

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

CF Montréal has been a surprising team this season. While the managerial era of Marco Donadel ended early, they have had a boost under interim boss Philippe Eullaffroy and now sit on four wins after 13 games heading into this weekend. Prince Owusu, Matty Longstaff and Daniel Ríos have been good, but can they find a win on the road against an in-form Louis Munteanu and D.C. United?

Prediction: D.C. United 2–2 CF Montréal

Chicago Fire vs. Toronto FC

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

The injury bug has been a tough blow for Toronto FC, missing both Djordje Mihailovic and Josh Sargent in a group of 12 players that were sidelined in last week’s loss to Charlotte FC.

The World Cup break couldn’t come at a better time for the Reds, but they will hope to secure a send-off road win this weekend against a stingy Chicago Fire side, headlined by Hugo Cuypers’s 10-game goal streak.

Prediction: Chicago Fire 3–1 Toronto FC

Sporting Kansas City vs. Red Bull New York

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union are battling for the possibility of having the worst MLS season in MLS history in 2026, but a win for SKC this weekend against Red Bull New York would help them push further from that possibility.

Dejan Joveljić remains largely the lone hope for SKC, as they look to ride home advantage against Julian Hall, Adri Mahmeti and a youthful, but inconsistent Red Bull New York.

Prediction: Sporting Kansas City 1–3 Red Bull New York

Nashville SC vs. New York City FC

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Former USMNT interim manager B.J. Callaghan has his Nashville SC side playing with immense commitment to style and form, regardless of which players are available. Still likely without Sam Surridge, Edvard Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek this weekend, hopes rely on far more than just the recent standout play from Hany Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza.

Taking on USMNT World Cup hopeful Matt Freese and a Maxi Moralez-less New York City FC this weekend shouldn’t be any cause for concern.

Prediction: Nashville SC 3–0 New York City FC

Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

FC Dallas is the most viral team in MLS right now, thanks to Sam Sarver’s antics, having scored three goals in his last four games, all after the 80th minute, including last week’s beer-chugging celebration in a 3–2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

This weekend sees Dallas back on the road, looking to take down a Colorado Rapids side that beat the Earthquakes 2–0 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals earlier in the week, setting up a semifinal clash against St. Louis.

Prediction: Colorado Rapids 2–2 FC Dallas

Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

The season started off so well for the San Jose Earthquakes, but injuries to key players have seen Bruce Arena’s team fall on hard times. They’ve given up two goals in the final five minutes for back-to-back MLS losses and were eliminated in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals against Colorado this week.

Hitting the road against an in-form Kristoffer Velde, James Pantemis and the Portland Timbers won’t be easy, but a win is critical to keep pace in the Supporters’ Shield race.

Prediction: Portland Timbers 1–2 San Jose Earthquakes

San Diego FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

The Vancouver Whitecaps sit atop the Western Conference table and will look to find their way back atop the Supporters’ Shield standings this weekend, but face a tough task in a visit to San Diego FC. The Canadian side will be without key World Cup-bound midfielder Andrés Cubas due to yellow card accumulation and starting goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka due to a red card in last week’s 1–0 loss to the Houston Dynamo.

While San Diego doesn’t present the same challenge they did in 2025, they should be favored to pick up all three points at home, led by Marcus Ingvartsen’s 11 goals.

Prediction: San Diego FC 2–1 Vancouver Whitecaps

LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo

• Date: Saturday, May 23
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

The LA Galaxy are the definition of inconsistent. Through the last 10 games, they have not had the same result (win, loss or draw) back-to-back, meaning this week probably won’t see them capture a second-straight victory after beating Seattle Sounders last weekend.

Nevertheless, Marco Reus is in form and they will hope to ride the power of the home crowd against the Houston Dynamo, also enjoying a standout spell after beating the Whitecaps last week.

Prediction: LA Galaxy 1–1 Houston Dynamo

Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United

• Date: Sunday, May 24
• Time: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

Columbus Crew enters a new era under the interim lead of Laurent Courtois this weekend, after the club parted ways with manager Henrik Rydström after just 14 games on Monday. While injuries have beset some of the club’s key players, there is hope that a new coach bump could bring the team back to the edge of MLS Cup playoff contention.

This weekend, they’re at home against an Atlanta United side that fell 4–1 to Orlando City in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals midweek.

Prediction: Columbus Crew 1–1 Atlanta United

Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union

• Date: Sunday, May 24
• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT

Inter Miami picked up a critical first win at Nu Stadium last weekend with a 2–0 victory over the Portland Timbers, but played in front of a silent crowd for most of the night due to a fan protest, with supporters frustrated with the team’s lack of appreciation for the fans. This week, instead of on-pitch focus, has been dominated by stories of club leadership meeting with supporters and by the clash between Inter Miami fans and those who only follow Lionel Messi and the stars across the roster.

With links to Manchester United’s Casemiro heating up and the pressure of keeping several players healthy for the World Cup, it’s clear this weekend’s match does not headline the list of priorities. Still, the World Cup-bound talents will want to head to the tournament in strong form, and it won’t take much against a Philadelphia Union side on pace for the worst season in MLS history.

Prediction: Inter Miami 5–0 Philadelphia Union

LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders

• Date: Sunday, May 25
• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

The schedule makers saved the biggest match of the weekend for last, with LAFC hosting the Seattle Sounders as both teams look to make up ground in the race for the top of the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield.

Yet, neither side is in particularly good form, with the Sounders boasting one win from the last four games and LAFC struggling with fixture congestion, now with a single win in their last eight MLS contests.

Prediction: LAFC 2–2 Seattle Sounders

MLS Predictions: Matchday 15

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Predictions: Matchday 15 As Final Send-Off Before 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Once Casemiro confirmed that he would not extend his Manchester United contract, despite widespread outcry for “one more year,” a long list of suitors quickly formed. Despite continuing to impress in the Premier League and ahead of a summer in which he will anchor Brazil’s midfield at the World Cup, the 34-year-old appears content to leave the European elite.

Offers from the Saudi Pro League have been forthcoming, but it appears as though Casemiro is intrigued by a move to MLS. LA Galaxy acted quickest, securing the Discovery Rights for the five-time Champions League winner. This uniquely MLS procedure entitles clubs to the right of first refusal and was designed to prevent rival teams from competing against one another for the same player.

Inter Miami appear to have ignored that convention and are in advanced discussions with Casemiro, according to The Athletic.

While this is not in the spirit of laws, the Herons wouldn’t be the first club to snag a player on a rivals’ Discovery List. Financial compensation is typically deployed to smooth over this wrinkle, but no agreement has yet been reached in the case of Casemiro.

The report confidently declares that the Brazil international “wants” to play for Miami and “a deal is expected to be reached.” However, it has not been a straightforward process to get there.

Casemiro Rejects ‘Multiple’ Contract Offers

Casemiro's resurgence is a testament to his character.@LyesBouzidi10 can't speak highly enough of the Man United midfielder. pic.twitter.com/h2z9SBxZCo

— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) February 7, 2026

LA Galaxy did not let their Discovery Rights pass idly by. The West Coast franchise are thought to have conducted “numerous conversations” with Casemiro and his camp, putting “multiple” offers on the table only to have each rebuffed.

No agreement has yet been struck with Miami, but hopes are high that an arrangement can be found. Unlike the Galaxy—or any club on the continent—the Herons boast the allure of playing alongside a player of Messi’s caliber.

Casemiro, as a Brazilian former Real Madrid star, has spent his entire career competing directly against the Argentine Barcelona icon. As Casemiro has admitted himself, he would welcome the chance to play alongside Messi for once.

Casemiro’s Salary Complication

Moving to MLS comes at a cost—or rather, a lack of one. As Miami have already filled up their three Designated Player slots (Messi is joined by Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame as the club’s top earners), Casemiro would be restricted to a contract of less than $2 million until the end of 2026. For context, United’s highest-paid player is currently thought to collect around $20 million each year.

However, if there is any club that can find a workaround, it’s Inter Miami. The side co-owned by David Beckham have structured delayed deals with the likes of De Paul and Jordi Alba in the past which have come with DP status at a later stage of their careers on South Beach.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Casemiro Closes on Man Utd Exit Which ‘Runs Afoul’ of MLS Transfer Rules.

The concept of halting time for injuries or unforeseen stoppages is familiar across multiple U.S. sports, such as NFL or NBA matches. However, soccer has traditionally been governed by a continuous clock monitored by the referee, with any added time for delays tacked onto the end of each half by the fourth official.

That hasn’t always been the case. The first three years of MLS’s existence (1996–99) saw the implementation of a countdown clock. Each half began at 45:00 on the stadium clock and would be stopped for in-game delays before ending on zero, bringing everything to an immediate halt.

The league ultimately reverted to international regulations at the end of the 20th century but, in an attempt to combat the modern rise of time-wasting, meetings have taken place about a return.

Ali Curtis, MLS’s executive vice-president of sporting development, released a statement to The Guardian which revealed that there have already been “preliminary conversations with IFAB around future areas of innovation, including concepts such as a stopped clock, increased transparency around timekeeping, and other measures designed to improve consistency and fan understanding.”

Vice-president of competition for MLS, Paul Grafer, added: “We’re open to trials around the world, and working with IFAB.”

Why Would MLS Want to Bring Back the Stopped Clock?

Grafer explained that the stopped clock would be a way to “address gamesmanship and match manipulation” which currently isn’t being tackled by the current “stopgap procedures“ that have been introduced in recent years.

There has been a surge in concerns over time-wasting in recent years. There was an active drive ahead of the 2023–24 season to counteract the amount of minutes whittled away by adding much larger chunks of stoppage time to the end of each half. “I am convinced time wasting will be reduced when players know it is meaningless to waste time because that time is compensated,” legendary former official and current chair of FIFA’s referees committee, Pierluigi Collina, declared at the time.

It hasn’t quite panned out that way. There was an initial increase in the amount of time the ball was in play during the 2023–24 season but the trend has been downward over the subsequent two seasons. The stain of time-wasting is one which has been thrown at Arsenal, for example, during their Premier League title-winning campaign.

“These discussions [with IFAB] are exploratory,” Curtis added. “But they reflect a broader commitment across the global game to examine how the sport can continue to modernize while preserving what makes soccer unique.”

Why Did MLS Get Rid of the Stopped Clock?

A countdown clock was not the only innovation MLS brought in when the league was formed in 1996. There were extra substitutions for goalkeepers, the wage limit was $192,500 and, most famously, regular season matches which ended in a tie were decided by 35-yard penalty shootouts.

Don Garber’s appointment as MLS Commissioner in August 1999 almost immediately coincided with a swift curtail to these novelties. The countdown clock (and penalty shootouts) were even removed before the end of the 1999 season, with European convention implemented for the MLS Cup in November.

“Our core audience has spoken,” Garber explained. “And we have listened.”

Will the Stopped Clock Come Back?

MLS have successfully lobbied for several advancements in recent years, most notably standing out as a pioneering voice for VAR (video assistant referees). However, expectations are that this change will be one step too far. The Guardian cited sources from within IFAB, soccer’s lawmakers, who flagged concerns over the “sacrosanct” nature of a 90-minute match.

More compelling, however, may be concerns from broadcasters about the unpredictable length of games. Given the influence that TV sponsorship has over the sport at the elite level, this stance is one to consider.

There is thought to be “very little support” for the proposal at this point in time.

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Discuss Bringing Back NFL-Style Rules From 1990s.

Since the last Sports Illustrated Power Rankings after Matchday 12—just seven days ago—MLS has seen the following happen.

• Columbus Crew fired newly hired manager Henrik Rydström after 14 games, the third team to fire a coach this season.
• Austin FC fired manager Nico Estévez and sporting director Rodo Borell after three wins in 14 games.
• Sam Sarver celebrated by shotgunning a beer after scoring a late winning goal.
• The previously Supporters’ Shield-leading San Jose Earthquakes lost twice, allowing final goals after the 87th minute twice.
• Matchday 13 saw 58 goals scored across 14 games for the most on a single night of MLS.
• Lionel Messi scored four goals in two games, as Inter Miami dealt with a massive fan protest.
• Thomas Müller returned from illness.
  

And I’m sure we’re still missing something. To say it’s been a wild week would be an understatement. Now, there is just one game remaining for each team before the 2026 World Cup, as each side looks to enter the break in the best form possible before reconvening in July. 

Here, Sports Illustrated takes a look at the week that was and where things stand after Matchday 14.

MLS Power Rankings Matchday 14: Clubs 30–11

30. Philadelphia Union (Previous: 29)
29. Atlanta United (Previous: 27)
28. St. Louis CITY SC (Previous: 28)
27. Sporting Kansas City (Previous: 30)
26. Colorado Rapids (Previous: 26)
25. CF Montréal (Previous: 24)
24. Austin FC (Previous: 20)
23. D.C. United (Previous: 23)
22. Toronto FC (Previous: 22)
21. Orlando City (Previous: 25)
20. Portland Timbers (Previous: 21)
19. Columbus Crew (Previous: 19)
18. Red Bull New York (Previous: 19)
17. San Diego FC (Previous: 16)
16. Houston Dynamo (Previous: 17)
15. LA Galaxy (Previous: 14)
14. Minnesota United (Previous: 12)
13. Charlotte FC (Previous: 13)
12. FC Dallas (Previous: 15)
11. FC Cincinnati (Previous: 7)

10. New York City FC📈 (Previous: 11)

New York City FC move up in this week’s power rankings after defeating Charlotte FC midweek and playing to a 1–1 draw against Hudson River Derby foes, Red Bull New York, on the weekend. However, it’s anything but good vibes for the blue side of New York right now. 

The draw itself offered little to define either team, but featured a heartbreaking moment for NYCFC fans after Maxi Moralez went down in midfield right before halftime with a non-contact injury. It took several minutes before he was stretchered off the pitch, potentially sidelining him for an extended period of time—and at 39 years old, potentially ending his career, after scoring a goal and adding six assists this season. 

If NYCFC have to move forward without Moralez, things get very challenging. They have already missed Costa Rican striker Alonso Martínez this season, and without the veteran Argentine, there is simply too much reliance on Nicolás Fernández to achieve significant success.

9. New England Revolution📈 (Previous: 10)

The New England Revolution are a very good team this season.

Wednesday’s performance against Nashville SC, however, was anything but. That 3–0 loss highlighted the massive gap that remains between the Revs and a bona fide MLS Cup contender. Yet, they are still at the top of the tier just below that, proving their worth in a 2–1 win over Minnesota United on Saturday, headlined by five saves from USMNT World Cup hopeful Matt Turner, and the offensive cast of usual leading characters, Carles Gil and Luca Langoni—both of whom hit the back of the net. 

Gil, in particular, has been in tremendous form. There’s an argument that he has been the best player in MLS outside of Messi through the past half decade, and against Minnesota, he showed every element of that. He had four dribbles and created three chances, while also scoring from the penalty spot. 

The Revs have seven wins in eight home games this season and will now hit the road for one more match before the World Cup break, taking on Charlotte FC with hopes of surpassing Inter Miami for second in the Eastern Conference.

8. Chicago Fire📈 (Previous: 9)

Hugo Cuypers scores for the 10th consecutive game! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IPtsR55P0u

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 16, 2026

Entering the two-match week off the back of a three-game losing skid, the Chicago Fire did plenty of good to improve their ranking, beating CF Montréal 2–0 on the weekend after a 3–1 win over D.C. United midweek. Both results came on the road as well, a notoriously tough task to do in MLS play. 

Manager Gregg Berhalter used two formations this week, starting with a 4-2-3-1 against D.C. and then reverting to an experimental 4-4-2 against Montréal. While he has moved away from the 4-3-3 he began the season with, it hasn’t held back star striker Hugo Cuypers, who scored in both matches and extended his goal streak to 10 consecutive games. 

The Fire should have a relatively straightforward task against Toronto FC next week, potentially setting them up to head into the World Cup break on a three-game winning run.

7. Real Salt Lake📈 (Previous: 8)

Zavier Gozo scores his fourth goal in four games!@realsaltlake are level! pic.twitter.com/LS3PiobTxJ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 17, 2026

What more can Real Salt Lake ask for right now? USMNT World Cup hopeful Diego Luna is in form, and Zavier Gozo, the 19-year-old starlet, who has also become a World Cup hopeful, is playing as if he is one of the league’s top players at the moment. Everything is going great, and this week saw a 3–1 win over the Houston Dynamo and a 2–1 win over the Colorado Rapids. 

Luna’s minutes are being managed as the World Cup approaches, as he played just the second half in the win over Houston and didn’t see the pitch on Saturday. Gozo, however, has become the leader, scoring a brace against the Dynamo and adding a goal against the Rapids. 

As those two stand out, fullback DeAndre Yedlin has also hit his stride, assisting on Gozo’s opening goal against the Dynamo. Could the club want to see more from Juanma Salabria and Victor Olatunji? For sure, but the current status, with Gozo and Luna leading the way, has them in a good spot heading into next week’s clash against Minnesota United. 

6. LAFC📉 (Previous: 5)

LAFC are falling fast. First-year manager, but longtime assistant coach, Marc Dos Santos began his tenure in the top role by rolling out a first-choice lineup for each game, regardless of MLS or Concacaf Champions Cup play. While that approach brought a run to the Champions Cup semifinals and some early-season MLS success, it has caught up with the group in terms of fatigue and suspensions. 

The 2–1 loss against St. Louis CITY midweek was a disaster, with Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga failing to gel in a 4-3-3, alongside Tyler Boyd in the attack. The Black and Gold followed it up with a positive performance against Nashville SC on Sunday, but became the latest victim of Hany Mukhtar’s incredible Nashville career, as the German scored a hat-trick, including two free-kicks. 

LAFC are still an MLS Cup contender, but the lack of production from both Son and Bouanga has to be concerning, and they desperately need a win against the Seattle Sounders to build any confidence heading into the break.

5. Seattle Sounders📉 (Previous: 4)

The weather is getting warmer, and the Seattle Sounders are getting better. Like clockwork, almost every MLS season over the past decade, the Sounders hit their stride midway through the campaign, then become a red-hot team through the summer and potentially into the MLS Cup playoffs. 

If there’s any team that should be concerned about the switch to a fall-to-spring calendar, it’s them—but that’s besides the point. 

The Sounders picked up an impressive 3–2 win over the Supporters’ Shield-leading San Jose Earthquakes midweek, with Osaze De Rosario netting an 89th-minute winning goal, after Albert Rusnák and Jesús Fereirra scored earlier on. 

On the weekend, they looked tired—a shock considering the run of home games since May 2—as they fell 2–0 to the LA Galaxy, marking the end of their 22-game unbeaten run in MLS play at home. 

Next week sees a massive clash against LAFC, where the Sounders will try to create space between themselves and the Black and Gold, potentially putting themselves in a position to chase the Supporters’ Shield after the World Cup.

4. Inter Miami📈 (Previous: 6)

Messi assists, Berterame finishes. Wow. What a run. 😎 pic.twitter.com/RGsxFTcVS9

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 17, 2026

Lionel Messi did it again. The 38-year-old Argentine stunned this week, scoring three goals and two assists to lead Inter Miami to a 5–3 road win over FC Cincinnati and a 2–0 win over the Portland Timbers for their first victory at the new Nu Stadium. In Messi’s last four games, he has five goals and six assists—simply exceptional. 

While the team is still reliant on Messi, there were other positives this week. Maxi Falcón’s absence from the lineup continued, allowing Gonzalo Luján and Micael to claim a clean-sheet win in front of goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair against the Timbers, and Germán Berterame might have his scoring boots, with goals in both matches, albeit largely in part to Messi’s brilliance. 

The wins have the Herons second in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the Supporters’ Shield, giving them plenty of form heading into the final pre-World Cup Matchday, where they will hope to beat the last-place Philadelphia Union and potentially push to the top of MLS heading into the summer. 

Off the pitch, things are less than great. Fans remained silent until the 85th minute against Portland, protesting the players’ treatment of supporters, which eventually prompted Messi and Rodrigo De Paul to acknowledge the fans mid-game, before others—not including the Argentines—went to celebrate with the crowd post-match.  

3. San Jose Earthquakes📉 (Previous: 2)

The San Jose Earthquakes had two of the most in-form players in MLS this season with Niko Tsakiris and Timo Werner. Now that both are sidelined with injuries, manager Bruce Arena’s men are missing a clear difference maker, and that was evident in this week’s last-gasp losses to Seattle and FC Dallas. 

On Wednesday, a match in which Arena came close to receiving a red card amid his late-game frustrations, the Earthquakes conceded in the 89th minute, losing 3–2 to the Sounders. Then on Saturday, it was the 93rd minute against FC Dallas, before Sam Sarver made himself an MLS legend with his goal celebration for the Toros. 

The issues aren’t incredibly dire for the Earthquakes yet, but this week was six critical points lost, bringing them to four games without a win, after draws against Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps. Luckily, the World Cup break will give the team a chance to get back to a healthier state.

2. Vancouver Whitecaps📉 (Previous: 1)

BERHALTER AGAIN ✌️

Vancouver retakes the lead. pic.twitter.com/5VwjQJOGjP

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 14, 2026

Sebastian Berhalter can’t do much more to make the USMNT at this point, and Wednesday night’s 3–2 Vancouver Whitecaps win over FC Dallas, in which he scored a brace with two goals from outside the box, showed just how critical he could be to a World Cup effort this summer. 

The 24-year-old midfielder has been tenacious throughout the past two seasons. His long-range shooting abilities and set-piece distribution also continue to stand out, while his defending skillsets alongside Andrés Cubas make Vancouver’s defensive midfield a league-leading force. 

While the Whitecaps came away with all three points against Dallas and saw Thomas Müller return to the team after illness kept him out for the two previous matches, it wasn’t the same story against the Houston Dynamo on the weekend. 

In Houston, they fell 1–0 after Guilherme scored in the 96th minute, ensuring the Dynamo secured all three points after playing with an advantage from the 64th minute, following Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka’s red card for DOGSO (denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity) after taking a player down outside of the box. 

The Whitecaps remain atop the Western Conference and a point back of Nashville for the Supporters’ Shield, but will be missing their first-choice backstop in next week’s final pre-World Cup clash against 2025 Western Conference final foes, San Diego FC.

1. Nashville SC📈 (Previous: 3)

Take a bow, Hany Mukhtar. The German superstar netted a hat-trick in Saturday’s 3–2 win over LAFC, including two free kicks, which made him the eighth player in MLS history with multiple direct free kicks goals in the same game since it began being tracked in 2003.

While the performance against a conference rival like LAFC will stand out, the 3–0 demolition against New England midweek also marked a vital step into contender status, with Bryan Acosta stepping up with a brace and Warren Madrigal hitting the back of the net.

The wins launched the Coyotes to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings, making them the first team to 30 points in 2026 while also showing their depth amid the continued absences of star striker Sam Surridge, key midfielder Patrick Yazbek and Edvard Tagseth. 

At the same time, 24-year-old backstop Bryan Schwake made two saves against New England and seven against LAFC and could be in the USMNT goalkeeper conversation in the next World Cup cycle, as soon as this fall. 

Next week, Nashville takes on an injury-riddled NYCFC, giving them a chance to extend their lead atop the league heading into the World Cup.

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

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• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: Nashville SC Dominate, Multiple Managers Fired and More After Matchday 14.

With supporters’ groups frustrated by recent results and a lack of recognition from the club since the stadium move from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, many stayed silent for the majority of the match, not standing or waving flags except to celebrate when a goal was scored, with Portland’s Timbers Army evidently louder and more audible through the international broadcast.

On the pitch, the Herons gave their fans many reasons to cheer. Chief among them was another outstanding performance from Lionel Messi, who scored the opening goal after a chance-creating move from Telasco Segovia. Messi later completed a skillful dribble to assist Germán Berterame’s 2–0 goal to end halftime up a pair of goals.

The win marked Miami’s first at home since opening the new stadium early last month, having previously played to two losses and two draws in the first four games at the downtown Miami venue. At the same time, it brought them six points of a possible six from this week, after beating FC Cincinnati 5–3 in midweek action.

Here, Sports Illustrated breaks down the match, grading every Inter Miami player who saw the pitch in the victory.

Inter Miami Report Card vs. Portland Timbers (4-3-3)

GK: Dayne St. Clair—A:  The Canadian kept his second clean sheet of the season and first at home with Miami, making four saves while also acting as the initial piece in offensive transition.

RB: Ian Fray—C: Ian Fray has dealt with plenty of injuries through his career and had to leave the match at halftime with discomfort.

CB: Gonzalo Luján—B-: Maintaining his starting role over Maxi Falcón, Luján played a key role in shutting down Kevin Kelsy and ensuring many of Portland’s attacks came from outside the penalty area.

CB: Micael—B-: The Brazilian center back is still developing a partnership with his left back, Sergio Regulión, but impressed in neutralizing many of of the Timbers attackers.

LB: Sergio Reguilón—D: Signed as a replacement for Jordi Alba, the former Premier League and La Liga fullback has not stood out as of yet. While he scored his first goal in last week’s win over Toronto FC, he was unable to muster impressive transition moments against Portland.

RM: Rodrigo De Paul—B: Rodrigo De Paul has made every effort to make the Argentina World Cup squad, and Sunday saw him impress once again, creating a game-high five chances while helping to shut down both Antony and Kristoffer Velde.

CM: Yannick Bright—A: By far Miami’s most consistent player not named Lionel Messi, Bright dominated the midfield battle against Portland DP, David da Costa, through his 82 minutes.

LM: Telasco Segovia—B+: Dynamic and elusive down the left flank, the Venezuela international set up Lionel Messi for the opening goal and finished the night credited with three shots.

RW: Lionel Messi—A+: What else is there to say? The 38-year-old scored a perfect finish and then stunned with a skillful dribble for an assist. The 2022 World Cup winner is up to 12 goals and five assists in 13 games this season and is already a runaway favorite to win his third straight MLS MVP award.

ST: Germán Berterame—B+: Germán Berterame still struggled to finish throughout the night, but found the back of the net off of Messi’s brilliance, bringing him to five goals and two assists on the season.

LW: Luis Suárez—D-: The Uruguay legend has had some standout moments in 2026, but looked off the pace for the second game in a row, lasting only an uneventful 66 minutes.

SUB: Facundo Mura (46’ for Fray)—C+: Mura stepped in and was active down the right flank, while also ensuring the Herons saw out the clean sheet.

SUB: Dániel Pintér (66’ for Suárez)—C: The 18-year-old has slowly been tasked with more minutes under first Javier Mascherano and now Guillermo Hoyos. He had two shots and put in a committed effort defensively.

SUB: David Ayala (82’ for Bright)—C: Taking on his former team, Ayala was uneventful in his minutes, making up for his mistake against Toronto last week.

SUB: Preston Plambeck (83’ for Berterame)—C: The 20-year-old academy product helped Miami see out the clean sheet in the final minutes.

Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Maxi Falcón, Noah Allen, Alex Shaw, David Ruíz

One Thing We Can’t Ignore: The Fan Protest

The silence was clear in the first 85 minutes of Sunday’s match, with Inter Miami’s supporters groups, which make up “La Familia,” staying silent for the majority of the game. 

Fans explained to local press that they had been frustrated by the lack of home results since opening the stadium, and by the players for not clearly showing their thanks to the supporters’ groups after the matches. 

Noah Allen, a Miami homegrown and often the player facing the post-game press, was the only one to wave to supporters after the last home match against Orlando City, when Miami surrendered a 3–1 lead and lost 4–3. 

🚨The fans were singing: “Players respect your fans and acknowledge your people. And now both Messi and De Paul with gestures towards the fans. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/a2MCu8LePP

— Inter Miami News Hub (@Intermiamicfhub) May 18, 2026

On Sunday, Messi made it clear that he understood the issue, saluting supporters in the 88th minute, prompting a roar from the crowd. Later on, De Paul went up to fans as Messi waited for a corner kick, embracing several and making clear gestures of appreciation.

After the game, several players, including Bright, stayed to sign autographs before leaving the pitch, but that group did not involve Messi, De Paul or Suárez, prompting boos from the supporters.

While the previous results left a sour taste for many of the players and fans, Sunday’s win was critically important. It marked the penultimate home game before the World Cup and helped re-establish trust with supporters. For some, the Inter Miami experience centers on Messi’s status. Still, for many, the club’s history from 2020 is its primary importance, and ensuring a connection to those fans is vital for the team’s future outlook in a post-Messi existence. 

What’s Next For Inter Miami?

Inter Miami will have one more match before players go their separate ways for the 2026 World Cup, taking on the Philadelphia Union next Sunday, looking to continue their rise up the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings. Miami’s first game after the World Cup will be July 22 at home against the Chicago Fire.

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

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• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Grading Inter Miami’s First Home Victory Amid Eerie Fan Protests.

Messi led La Albiceleste to 2022 World Cup glory in Qatar, Argentina’s third time winning the competition (1978, 1986). The former FC Barcelona star, then 35, won the Golden Ball after scoring seven goals and adding three assists en route to the trophy, making history as the only player to ever win the Golden Ball twice (2014).

To much reluctance, many fans accepted that Messi’s heroic affair may be the perfect curtain call for the world’s best player, understanding it was likely his last outing at the World Cup, and it still might be.

The eight time Ballon d’Or winner, however, has continued to feature for the sky blue and white since Qatar, donning the nation’s jersey as recently as the March international window in friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia, even scoring a goal in a commanding 5–0 victory over the latter.

On Friday, Argentine teammate and fellow Inter Miami superstar Rodrigo De Paul revealed the intense training regimen that he and Messi are following together in Miami in order to be in the best possible shape for the upcoming World Cup. Argentina is a heavy favorite coming into the tournament, ranked No. 3 globally as of Sunday and will compete in Group J, facing Algeria, Austria and Jordan before the knockout stages.

Double Training Commitment

According to De Paul, he and Messi have drastically increased their training sessions beyond their standard duties with club side Inter Miami, even investing in a separate trainer.

"Between two and three months ago, we have had a training plan beyond what we do at the club, and the two of us kill ourselves to reach the best physical shape," the defensive midfielder told Lo del Pollo on Friday.

"We proposed a double shift for ourselves and we have our trainer there, and we give it our all,” he added.

Although implemented with an eye towards the summer, the extra training sessions are having an immediate positive effect for both Messi and De Paul.

Messi has notched 12 goals and five assists in the first 12 matches of the new MLS season, smashing a league record last week by becoming the fastest player in its history to reach 100 regular-season goal contributions, doing so in 64 matches—31 fewer than the former record-holder required. He also scored a hat trick on Wednesday for a theatrical 5–3 win over FC Cincinnati on the road.

After a slow start to the season, De Paul has significantly improved his form, likely in an effort to confirm his spot on Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni’s final roster. The 31-year-old has been a commanding force at the back of the midfield and even shown bursts of speed and agility moving up into the attack. He has three goals and seven assists himself thus far this season.

Both Messi and De Paul were named to Scaloni’s preliminary 55-man roster, and the Argentine boss will announce the official 26-man squad soon, as all competing nations are required to do so by June 1 at the latest. Some powerhouse nations, such as France, have already revealed their final rosters.

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

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• What Could the USMNT’s Starting Lineup Look Like at the 2030 World Cup?

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Messi’s Intense World Cup Training Regimen—Revealed.

After a busy, record-breaking midweek slate that saw 58 goals for the highest scoring matchday in league history, this weekend’s round of action promises to bring some thrilling contests as well.

Headlined by the first regular season Hudson River Derby of 2026 and a race atop the Western Conference, the two days of games provide some must-watch soccer, with 12 matches on Saturday and three on Sunday.

Here’s what Sports Illustrated predicts for the 14th matchday of MLS in 2026.

CF Montréal vs. Chicago Fire

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT

CF Montréal weren’t supposed to contend for the MLS Cup playoffs in 2026, but with just two games to go until the World Cup break, they’re right in the mix. Led by Prince Owusu’s six goals and some positive play from Matty Longstaff, they have three wins, a draw and a loss in their last five.

At home this weekend, they try to take advantage of a recently loose Chicago Fire backline, while looking to neutralize the threat of Hugo Cuypers, who has scored in nine straight games.

Prediction: CF Montréal 2–2 Chicago Fire

Charlotte FC vs. Toronto FC

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

After a nine-game homestand, Toronto FC are back on the road for the final two weeks ahead of the World Cup, as BMO Field becomes Toronto Stadium while it prepares to host six tournament games this summer.

The Reds are coming off a dismal week, losing to Inter Miami and to CPL side Atlético Ottawa, dropping them out of the Canadian Championship. This week, they remain heavily injured and likely without Josh Sargent, as they hope to break down Charlotte FC, who will lean on a frustrated Wilfried Zaha, after he missed out on the Côte d’Ivoire World Cup squad.

Prediction: Charlotte 1–1 Toronto FC

D.C. United vs. St. Louis CITY SC

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

D.C. United had a nice spell of two wins and a draw before a midweek loss to Chicago Fire, but will hope to turn things around quickly when they host struggling Western Conference side, St. Louis CITY SC.

Romanian striker Louis Munteanu has four goals this season and is in form, giving D.C. another attacking focus in addition to Tai Baribo heading into this weekend.

Prediction: D.C. United 2–0 St. Louis CITY SC

New England Revolution vs. Minnesota United

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

The New England Revolution are off to a record start on home turf at Gillette Stadium. They won the first six home games before losing 3–0 to Nashville SC on Wednesday and will look to re-establish their fortress form against Minnesota United this weekend.

While Luca Langoni and Carles Gil lead the attack for the Revs, goalkeeper Matt Turner and his backline won’t have to worry about Minnesota’s James Rodríguez, who has now left the club for Colombia’s World Cup training camp and is not expected to return after the tournament.

Prediction: New Englnd Revolution 3–1 Minnesota United

Red Bull New York vs. New York City FC

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

The first MLS Hudson River Derby of the season takes center stage on the Saturday schedule with both teams tied on 18 points in the middle of the Eastern Conference. Red Bull New York were the better team midweek, with Julian Hall becoming the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick.

Yet NYCFC are in strong form as well, with back-to-back wins over Columbus Crew and Charlotte FC. They also hold the leg up after winning the U.S. Open Cup battle between the Tri-State sides 3–1 on April 29.

Prediction: Red Bull New York 3–2 New York City FC

Orlando City vs. Atlanta United

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

For two teams at the bottom end of the Eastern Conference, there’s a surprising amount of potentially World Cup-bound talent between Orlando City and Atlanta United. For Orlando, Maxime Crépeau (Canada), Marco Pašalić (Croatia), and Braian Ojeda (Paraguay) are expected to be at the tournament. At the same time, Atlanta’s Paraguayan duo of Miguel Almirón and Matías Galarza could also join them. 

If you’re a World Cup fan, especially a Paraguayan one, tune into this game. Otherwise? It’s probably a relative stalemate between two sides that haven’t quite hit their stride this season. 

Prediction: Orlando City 1–1 Atlanta United

Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Just a year ago, the Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew matchup would have been must-watch TV between two potential Eastern Conference contenders. Now, it’s a battle for positioning in the middle of the table, with valuable points in the playoff race up for grabs.

The Union are likely already out of playoff contention after one win in 13 games, but can some World Cup-bound players, like Haiti’s Danley Jean Jacques, begin to find some form?

Prediction: Philadelphia Union 1–1 Columbus Crew

Austin FC vs. Sporting Kansas City

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

Sporting Kansas City might just be what the doctor ordered for Austin FC. After falling 5–0 to San Diego FC on Wednesday, Los Verdes need a big bounce back, so who better to play than a team that has won just twice this season?

SKC are coming off a win against the LA Galaxy midweek, but do not have many threats outside of Dejan Joveljić, who said, “Can we play them every week?” when asked about the Galaxy—the only side his team has beaten this season. 

Prediction: Austin FC 1–0 Sporting Kansas City

Houston Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

The Vancouver Whitecaps got back into the win column midweek with a stupendous brace from USMNT World Cup hopeful, Sebastian Berhalter and the return of Thomas Müller from illness in a 3–2 win over FC Dallas.

This weekend, they continue the Texas vibes, heading to Houston, where Berhalter will look to ball out against 2025 Gold Cup teammate Jack McGlynn, who is looking for a last-gasp effort at the USMNT World Cup squad.

Prediction: Houston Dynamo 2–2 Vancouver Whitecaps

Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 9:15 p.m. ET / 6:15 p.m. PT

The LA Galaxy have a Sporting Kansas City problem. SKC have beaten just one team this year, and it’s happened twice, with the Galaxy falling to the worst team in MLS on both occasions, including on Wednesday night.

Luckily, they’re taking on the Seattle Sounders this weekend, holding hopes that Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec can keep up some strong attacking form against an elite Western Conference team, which knocked off San Jose midweek.

Prediction: Seattle Sounders 3–1 LA Galaxy

Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

Has Zavier Gozo done enough to play himself onto the USMNT as an 18-year-old? After a brace in Wednesday’s win over the Dynamo, the dynamic youngster is up to five goals and four assists this season. He’s leading his Claret and Cobalt into this Saturday’s clash against the Colorado Rapids, where he likely has a better chance at the national team for the World Cup than opponents Paxten Aaronson and Zack Steffen, who at one point looked like locks for the roster. 

Prediction: Real Salt Lake 4–1 Colorado Rapids

San Diego FC vs. FC Cincinnati

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

San Diego FC got exactly what they needed: a big win. After struggling as a sophomore team and dealing with the sidelined, expensive situation surrounding Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, the group finally found an offensive explosion, beating Austin FC 5–0 at home.

With the feeling of scoring still fresh, they’ll hope to continue that this weekend as they face a testing FC Cincinnati side, which has seen immense play from Evander since the Brazilian took over the captaincy.

Prediction: San Diego FC 3–3 FC Cincinnati

San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas

• Date: Saturday, May 16
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

The San Jose Earthquakes fell for just the second time in 2026 on Wednesday, losing 3–2 in the final minutes to the Seattle Sounders in front of over 28,000 at Lumen Field. The loss and Vancouver’s win saw the Earthquakes fall off the Supporters’ Shield lead, and they will hope to find their way back into the mix this weekend against FC Dallas, the team Vancouver beat midweek. 

Yet, manager Bruce Arena’s side will forge ahead without Niko Tsakiris, who is out for several months, as well as Timo Werner while he continues to work his way back from injury.

Prediction: San Jose Earthquakes 2–1 FC Dallas

Inter Miami vs. Portland Timbers

• Date: Sunday, May 17
• Time: 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT

Inter Miami are back in form. Guillermo Hoyos, the interim manager, has figured it out. 

After dropping Maxi Falcón from the starting center back pairing, Inter Miami has had far fewer defensive lapses, allowing Lionel Messi even more space to provide the spectacular in attack. The 38-year-old Argentine scored a brace in the 5–3 win over FC Cincinnati midweek, bringing him to 11 goals and five assists on the season. There’s no reason that should slow down this weekend either, taking on a struggling Portland Timbers, who are led by former Miami manager Phil Neville.

Prediction: Inter Miami 5–1 Portland Timbers

Nashville SC vs. LAFC

• Date: Sunday, May 17
• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT

Nashville SC and LAFC meet each other at the perfect time. After enduring deep runs into the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the two sides have struggled with fatigue, injuries and adjustments, as they find their rhythm back in regular-season MLS competition.

LAFC lean on Denis Bouanga, given Son Heung-min’s underwhelming form in 2026, while Nashville turn to Hany Mukhtar and Cristian Espinoza, as well as Warren Madrigal and Bryan Acosta, with talismanic striker Sam Surridge unavailable. It’s two similar sides at this point, with Sunday providing an opportunity for both. 

Prediction:  Nashville SC 2–2 LAFC

MLS Predictions: Matchday 14

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

• ‘Special’—Son Heung-min Snaps Goal Drought As El Tráfico Earns European Derby Comparisons
• L.A.’s World Cup Fever Moves to MLS Rivalry As LAFC, Galaxy Clash in Nationally Televised El Trafico
• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Predictions: Hudson River Derby Headlines Matchday 14 .

The game in Cincinnati, Ohio was anticipated to be action-packed and goal-filled, bringing together the two highest-scoring teams in the Eastern Conference. It certainly did not disappoint, featuring a hat trick for Lionel Messi—the third hat trick of his MLS career, which brings his total career goals to a whopping 910.

The Argentinian legend opened the inevitable scoring frenzy. He charged the box and punished a mistake from flustered Cincinnati center back Matt Miazga, blasting the ball past goalkeeper Roman Celentano in the 24th minute. The first half was relatively quiet thereafter, until Cincinnati star striker Kévin Denkey nailed in a penalty kick in the 41st minute.

The match quickly became a dramatic back-and-forth battle in the second half, though, seeing the hosts return from the break firing on all cylinders to take a 2–1 lead, before Messi took personal offense and bit back to equalize eight minutes later.

Cincinnati’s star player Evander sent the crowd into an eruption of cheers with his perfect-picture upper-90 finish from outside of the box, which gave the hosts the lead yet again in the 64th minute, 3–2. Fans in blue and orange surely thought they would leave home happy, but Inter Miami added three more thereafter to prove them wrong, including a Germán Berterame volley off of a wild collision between Cincinnati’s goalkeeper and center back and Messi’s third of the night in the 89th minute.

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. FC Cincinnati (4-3-3)

GK: Dayne St. Clair—D-: The Canadian impressively got a full palm on Kévin Denkey’s penalty kick before it went in, but Cincinnati completely overpowered him in the second half.

RB: Ian Fray—B: Back from injury, after missing the Toronto match at the weekend. Did well to get up the right flank and into the attack, allowing Messi to slide centrally into dangerous positions.

CB: Gonzalo Luján—C-: Replacing Maxi Falcón once again in an effort to shore up the defensive outlook, he proved to be a much more stable, consistent option in the Herons’ backline. Gave up the penalty kick, though, after tugging on the jersey of star striker Denkey.

CB: Micael—C-: The Brazilian center back struggled in his communication with Reguilón, with the duo often overwhelmed by the creativity of Denkey and Evander or simply not stepping to them early enough.

LB: Sergio Reguilón—D: Made just his third start in league play this season after plagued with a series of knocks earlier in the season. Looked a bit out of sorts, especially in the early minutes while trying to contain Denkey, but soon settled in. Left Bucha unmarked on the back-post though, leading to Cincinnati’s second goal.

RM: Rodrigo De Paul—B: Rodrigo De Paul’s efforts to make the Argentina World Cup squad continued on Wednesday. The 31-year-old looked agile and explosive. He frequently got into the attack, despite his typical defensive positioning.

CM: Yannick Bright—C: Continuing to take on a more central role in the 4-3-3 as De Paul shifts to the right. He looked overwhelmed by Evander’s offensive prowess at times.

LM: Telasco Segovia—A: Dynamic through the middle and everywhere on the pitch. He combined well with Bright and De Paul and made up for Suárez’s lack of mobility on the left flank.

RW: Lionel Messi—A+: Third straight match with at least three goal contributions. Third hat trick of his MLS career.

ST: Germán Berterame—C: Germán Berterame was largely ineffective in this match. Often forgot he was even there, until he capitalized on Cincinnati’s fateful collision.

LW: Luis Suárez—D: Looked largely immobile, but had a few bursts of speedy brilliance. They were to no avail, though.

SUB: Facundo Mura (65’ for Reguilón)—C: Provided much needed relief from Reguilón.

SUB: Mateo Silvetti (76’ for Suárez)—A+: Returned from a hamstring injury. Needed just three minutes to prove how much Inter Miami missed him.

Subs not used: Rocco Ríos Novo (GK), Maxi Falcón, Cesar Abadia-Reda, David Ruiz, David Ayala, Preston Plambeck, Dániel Pintér.

One Thing We Can’t Ignore

Although Inter Miami ultimately secured the win, Wednesday marked the third consecutive game in which they let their guard down after an early lead, seemingly an unfortunate habit they are developing, and one that makes their lives much harder than they need to be.

The habit was first—and most brutally—on display in Inter Miami’s humiliating 4–3 loss to Orlando City on May 2. The South Florida side led 3–0 by the 33rd minute, but were soon completely overtaken by the usually-underperforming Central Florida side, after consecutive moments of complacency and carelessness.

Although Inter Miami did secure a 4–2 win against Toronto FC in their following outing over the weekend, that match was likewise plagued by late carelessness. They had a dominant 4–0 lead up until the 82nd minute, but once again lost focus, allowing the Canadian side to nail two in the final eight minutes of the game.

The squad in pink will need to hone in on the mental side of their game and tighten up on defense if they have any desire of winning back-to-back MLS Cup titles this fall.

What’s Next For Inter Miami?

Inter Miami head back to South Florida for the last two games before the 2026 FIFA World Cup international break. Still desperately seeking their first win at Nu Stadium since the permanent home base opened in early April, they first welcome the Portland Timbers on Sunday, followed by another shot at home victory against the Philadelphia Union the following week.

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

• ‘Special’—Son Heung-min Snaps Goal Drought As El Tráfico Earns European Derby Comparisons
• L.A.’s World Cup Fever Moves to MLS Rivalry As LAFC, Galaxy Clash in Nationally Televised El Trafico
• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Grading Inter Miami’s Theatrical Win Over FC Cincinnati As Messi Records Hat Trick.

While the 2022 World Cup saw 35 MLS players selected across 12 countries—a record representation for the league—the 2026 tournament will see far greater participation. Not only has the World Cup grown, but the league has too, with two more teams than in 2022. 

The U.S. men’s national team and Canada men’s national team are most likely to feature the heaviest contingent of MLS talent, but plenty of other nations will as well. At the same time, nearly every club has a chance of being represented on the world stage. 

Here, Sports Illustrated takes a look at each MLS club, picking out one player from their roster who is the most likely to go to the World Cup next month.

Atlanta United FC — Miguel Almirón (Paraguay)

The Paraguayan veteran could very well be on the pitch against the USMNT in the World Cup opener, set to add to his 79 international caps, previously highlighted by 13 Copa América appearances. While he has lost a step since his starring days with Newcastle United, he stands as an Atlanta United legend and an invaluable piece to a country returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.

Likelihood: 9/10

Austin FC — Facundo Torres (Uruguay)

Previously a regular presence on Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, Torres came under intense fire from the Uruguayan public when he returned to MLS this season with Austin FC. He was an unused sub in recent March friendlies against England and Algeria, but should crack the World Cup squad, at least as a depth player.

Likelihood: 7/10

CF Montréal — Prince Owusu (Ghana)

Prince Owusu has gotten off to a stellar start in MLS this season, with six goals and five assists in his first 11 games of the season. While the physical striker has not been a regular for Ghana, he has made two international appearances and only recently made his debut in the November 2025 window. Few other players on CF Montréal stand a chance of making a World Cup squad.

Likelihood: 5/10

Charlotte FC — Tim Ream (USMNT)

Veteran center back Tim Ream stands as the most likely call-up to the World Cup on Charlotte FC’s roster, and the 38-year-old could start for the USMNT in the first matchup against Paraguay. With 80 USMNT caps, he is one of the most experienced players currently in the U.S. player pool.

Likelihood: 9/10

Chicago Fire FC — Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa)

Mbekezeli Mbokazi is one of the most highly touted young defenders in the world and is expected to star at the World Cup with South Africa, having become a regular defensive stalwart for the Chicago Fire this season. While his move to MLS was heavily judged back home, he has helped establish the Fire as one of the finest defensive sides in MLS.

Likelihood: 8/10

Colorado Rapids — Lucas Herrington (Australia)

There aren’t many teenagers who crack World Cup squads, with tournaments often favoring veteran players, but Colorado Rapids center back Lucas Herrington stands a chance of playing for the Socceroos this summer at just 18 years old. He became the youngest player to debut for Australia in over 40 years in March and started each of the first 11 games for the Rapids this season.

Likelihood: 8/10

Columbus Crew — Steven Moreira (Cabo Verde)

The Columbus Crew will likely have a few players at the World Cup, but none will take on as much national spotlight as Steven Moreira, one of the top players for African minnows, Cabo Verde. The World Cup debutants and the second-smallest nation at the tournament have few top-tier players, with the veteran MLS right back standing out. He has 17 caps and is expected to start.

Likelihood: 9/10

D.C. United — Kye Rowles (Australia)

Kye Rowles is a potential starter for Australia at the World Cup this summer, with 25 international caps and having played for the Socceroos at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. One of the top defenders to come out of the Australian A-League, Rowles has significantly solidified D.C. United in their improvements at the back this season.

Likelihood: 9/10

FC Cincinnati — Miles Robinson (USMNT)

Miles Robinson is the highest-paid center back in MLS and is likely to start for the USMNT this summer, having played a key role in nearly every system in Pochettino’s managerial tenure. While he will battle for time with Tim Ream and others, his tactical versatility should allow him to play plenty of minutes, building on his 2022 World Cup experience.

Likelihood: 8/10

FC Dallas — Petar Musa (Croatia)

Petar Musa could be leading the line for some of the best midfielders in the world this summer, standing out as the best Croatian forward across world soccer. He has been a consistent international presence in his 10 recent caps and has been one of the most productive offensive players in MLS over the past two seasons. Standing at 6’3” and with a knack for goalscoring, he’ll hope to give Luka Modrić one last World Cup to remember.

Likelihood: 8/10

Houston Dynamo FC — Jack McGlynn (USMNT)

The UEFA World Cup playoffs weren’t friendly to the Houston Dynamo’s hopes of having a player at the World Cup, with star winger Mateusz Bogusz falling short of qualifying for the tournament with Poland. Instead, U.S. midfielder Jack McGlynn holds an outside shot of making the USMNT after impressing at the 2025 Gold Cup and scoring against Group D opponents, Türkiye, in a pre-Gold Cup friendly.

Likelihood: 3/10

Inter Miami CF — Dayne St. Clair (Canada)

You were expecting Lionel Messi in this spot, weren’t you? The Argentine legend has not committed to playing in the World Cup with La Albiceleste this summer, potentially favoring his final World Cup moment being the title-winning day in Qatar. Instead, we’ve gone with a lock for the tournament in Canadian backstop and Inter Miami starting goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, who is in contention to start for the co-hosts after splitting games with Orlando City’s Maxime Crépeau since manager Jesse Marsch took over in 2024.

Likelihood: 9.5/10

LA Galaxy — Joseph Paintsil (Ghana)

Joseph Paintsil has not been a regular for Ghana throughout his career, but with 15 caps and recent strong form with the LA Galaxy, he stands a chance of cracking the roster. He recently found the back of the net against Vancouver Whitecaps, bringing him to two goals and two assists in seven games, potentially making him an attractive depth option for manager Carlos Queiroz.

Likelihood: 5/10

Los Angeles FC — Son Heung-min (South Korea)

The most significant South Korean superstar and one of the greatest Asian players in soccer history, Son Heung-min, is bound for his fourth World Cup after helping LAFC to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. While he has struggled to score in 2026, his creativity continues to stand out, and the now 33-year-old will remain a key piece of his nation's hopes at the tournament.

Likelihood: 9.5/10

Minnesota United FC — James Rodríguez (Colombia)

James Rodríguez hasn’t enjoyed the most successful spell with Minnesota United, but the target has always been to be in top form for the World Cup, set to be his third time at the tournament, which sparked his stardom in 2014. While he has struggled for minutes in MLS and doesn’t quite have the same edge he did in his younger years, he remains a key leadership piece on Colombia’s squad, even at 34 years old. 

Likelihood: 10/10

Nashville SC — Woobens Pacius (Haiti)

Nashville SC’s best players come from nations with immense soccer talent: Hany Mukhtar from Germany, Cristian Espinoza from Argentina and Sam Surridge from England. As such, the most likely World Cup player in the group is forward Woobens Pacius, who grew up in Canada and developed through the Canadian system, but represents Haiti through his parents. The former Canadian Premier League star has earned regular callups to Haiti since switching his allegiance from Canada, but has made only one official appearance.

Likelihood: 8/10

New England Revolution — Matt Turner (USMNT)

Matt Turner is set to head to his second World Cup with the USMNT and could be the starter for the host nation, having enjoyed an impressive season with the New England Revolution so far. The 31-year-old fell out of favor with Pochettino and his staff, but the recent form and a strong showing in a March friendly against Belgium could see him afforded the starting honors once again, as he had at the 2022 World Cup.

Likelihood: 9/10

New York City FC — Matt Freese (USMNT)

Matt Freese is bound for the World Cup with the host USMNT, having been the starting backstop for the majority of Pochettino’s time leading the program. After taking the starting role at the 2025 Gold Cup, Freese started all but one match for the USMNT through to March of this year. While he has taken a slight dip in form with New York City FC this season and has allowed Turner to re-enter the starter’s conversation, the 27-year-old remains the most likely man between the sticks for the opener against Paraguay.

Likelihood: 9/10

Red Bull New York — Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (Canada)

Red Bull New York could have no World Cup players on the roster, or potentially two, with both Swedish veteran attacker Emil Forsberg and Canadian full-back Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty in contention for their respective nations. We’ve gone with Marshall-Rutty as the most likely, as the 21-year-old left back already boasts over 120 MLS appearances at such a young age and could shore up the defensive aspect of Canada’s left flank, with superstar and captain Alphonso Davies now in doubt for the tournament.

Likelihood: 6/10

Orlando City — Maxime Crépeau (Canada)

Orlando City have been anything but outstanding defensively this season, but will see their goalkeeper head to the World Cup as Maxime Crépeau approaches his first tournament, after missing out on Canada’s first World Cup in 36 years in 2022 due to a now-legendary broken leg in LAFC’s 2022 MLS Cup win over the Philadelphia Union. With 30 Canada caps and a penchant for the big save, Crépeau stands a chance to start the most important games in his nation’s soccer history, having already started through the 2024 Copa América.

Likelihood: 9/10

Philadelphia Union — Danley Jean Jacques (Haiti)

One of the top players for Haiti, Philadelphia Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques, will be a starring center piece for his nation this summer, leading them back to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. The controlling and defensive midfielder has represented his nation 29 times and played a regular role on the Union’s Supporters’ Shield-winning squad of 2025—and has continued to play regularly, even as the team’s form has dipped significantly in 2026. 

Likelihood: 9/10

Portland Timbers — Finn Surman (New Zealand)

The Portland Timbers will see center back Finn Surman heading to the World Cup with New Zealand, who were one of the first teams to qualify for the competition back in March of 2025. The 22-year-old has started regularly for the Timbers over the past two seasons, including every match in 2025, becoming one of the few New Zealanders playing in a top-10 league worldwide. On the most recent March squad, he was one of just 10 players playing outside Australia or New Zealand. 

Likelihood: 9/10

Real Salt Lake — Diego Luna (USMNT)

Diego Luna missed out on the March camp for the USMNT due to injury, but has been one of the greatest benefactors of Pochettino’s era, earning plenty of trust through 2025, highlighted by his role in the 2025 Gold Cup. Since returning from injury, the diminutive and skillful midfielder has been stellar with Real Salt Lake, scoring three goals and three assists in his first seven games, while showcasing elusive dribbling skills few other players in the U.S. pool possess. While he’s not a lock, the 22-year-old stands a good chance of making the team.

Likelihood: 7/10

San Diego FC — Aníbal Godoy (Panama)

Aníbal Godoy played for Panama at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and will likely return to the tournament this summer, now a 36-year-old veteran who still has plenty left to give. While San Diego FC has struggled in 2026 after an outstanding 2025, Godoy has been a key player throughout and is a machine in the team’s midfield transition. Boasting over 250 MLS appearances since making his 2015 debut, he will build on his 159 international caps this summer, taking on the UEFA giants of Croatia and England in the group stage, as well as Ghana.

Likelihood: 9/10

San Jose Earthquakes — Timo Werner (Germany)

The San Jose Earthquakes have been stellar this season, but are unlikely to have any players at the World Cup. Before Niko Tsakiris’ recent injury, which manager Bruce Arena says will “keep him out a while,” he stood as the best chance for the USMNT, having scored two goals and seven assists this season. Now, there are no players on the team who stand even an outside shot, unless Germany makes a shock turn to Timo Werner, who has four goals and three assists in seven games.

Likelihood: 0.25/10

Seattle Sounders FC — Cristian Roldan (USMNT)

Cristian Roldan is one of the most divisive players in the USMNT sphere when it comes to his potential inclusion on the World Cup roster. At 30 years old, with World Cup experience and a calmness on the ball, he likely stands a strong chance of making it. While he may not play at all, his presence and leadership have been vital to Pochettino’s tenure, and he could be one of the final names on the roster for this summer.

Likelihood: 7/10

Sporting Kansas City — Zorhan Bassong (Canada)

Sporting Kansas City is amid what could be a historically bad MLS campaign, leaving few options for a World Cup squad. The most likely to make the tournament would be Zorhan Bassong, the fullback who boasts seven caps with Canada and is seen as a third option at right or left back, a potential position of concern for the co-hosts due to injuries. 

Likelihood: 5/10

St. Louis CITY SC — Lukas MacNaughton (Canada)

St. Louis CITY SC has struggled this season and has no likely World Cup players. However, Canadian center-back Lukas MacNaughton could work his way into Marsch’s squad if several injuries strike the Canadian pool, despite not representing the senior squad since 2022. 

Likelihood: 1/10

Toronto FC — Derrick Etienne Jr. (Haiti)

Derrick Etienne Jr. has been a consistent player for Haiti’s national team over the past year and has amassed 49 caps since his senior international debut in 2016, scoring eight goals. While he is not likely to be a starter, his two-goal contributions and consistent minutes with Toronto FC this season should put him on the squad, with the potential to showcase himself against the global titans that are Brazil and Morocco, as well as against Scotland in both nations' return to the World Cup for the first time in the new millennium.

Likelihood: 9/10

Vancouver Whitecaps FC — Andrés Cubas (Paraguay)

Andrés Cubas is arguably one of the most important players on his team in MLS, playing a commanding defensive midfield role with Vancouver Whitecaps, while holding a similar responsibility in Paraguay’s setup heading into the World Cup. A tough-tackling central presence, he has shut down Lionel Messi for both club and country on several occasions and could be the key to his nation in a challenging group against the USMNT, Türkiye and Australia. 

Likelihood: 9/10

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 Most Likely Player From Every MLS Team to Play in the World Cup.

What may have been a surprise, though, was the giant pay raise Messi received, not because he doesn’t deserve it, but rather, because of the sheer total: $25 million base salary with a $28.3 million guaranteed compensation. Despite being in the twilight of his career, the 38-year-old led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup last winter, setting a historic postseason record for goal contributions with 15 total, six goals and nine assists. He also became the first player to win back-to-back MLS MVP awards. The lavish salary makes sense.

Inter Miami don’t just dole out the cash for Messi, though. They pay a pretty penny for fellow Argentinian superstar Rodrigo De Paul too, although his wage feels like petty cash compared to what Messi gets. De Paul earns a $7.5 base salary with $9.6 million guaranteed compensation this season, the third most of anyone in the league. With two of the league’s top three earners, the Herons were bound to be the club with the most expensive payroll, paying a whopping $54.6 million in guaranteed compensation, nearly half of which goes to one of the greatest players of all time.

LAFC come in at second, yet they are over $20 million in spending behind Inter Miami. The Western Conference side spends one-third of its grand bill of $32.7 million in guaranteed compensation on South Korean star forward Son Heung-min, who has the second-largest salary in MLS, sandwiched between Messi and De Paul with a base salary $10.3 million and $11.1 million in guaranteed compensation.

Inter Miami and LAFC are by far the two biggest spenders, but it seems to be worth the investment. The Herons have had great success since Messi’s arrival, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield ahead of the league title last season, and LAFC have dominated the Western Conference in past few years, with deep postseason runs and even winning the MLS Cup in 2022.

Sporting Kansas City and the Philadelphia Union both have the least expensive payrolls this season at $12.4 million and $11. 7 million in guaranteed compensation respectively, perhaps one of several reasons both currently sit at the bottoms of their conferences.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Payrolls in MLS

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, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as The 10 MLS Clubs With the Most Expensive Payrolls—Inter Miami Reign Supreme.

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.

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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.

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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• Recent Stadium Developments Give Two of MLS’s Oldest Clubs Hope for Long-Term Future
• ‘We Would Think’—MLS Club Confirms Christian Pulisic Interest After World Cup
• Why Robert Lewandowski’s MLS Debut Against Thomas Muller Was Postponed

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

• How Lionel Messi Ended Up Bathing a Baby Lamine Yamal
• Lamine Yamal Injury: Spain Boss Provides Update for 2026 World Cup Final
• Transfer Rumors: Man Utd’s Shock Fernandes Asking Price; Barcelona Plan Gyokeres Bid
• Transfer Rumors: Foden Offered to Clubs; Liverpool Identify Salah Replacement
• 11 Players Who Play Better for Their Country Than Club

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

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.

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 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.

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

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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.

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 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.”

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 ‘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 .

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.

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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?.