Latest news with #2023LeaguesCup
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lionel Messi Suffers Worst Loss of Inter Miami Career
For a few minutes in the second half of Inter Miami CF's MLS match against Minnesota United FC on Saturday, there was hope. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi combined with one of his trusted teammates Jordi Alba for a goal that cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 48th minute. Advertisement From there, it all came crashing down. In the 68th minute, Marcelo Weigandt's inexplicable own goal put the writing on the wall for the Herons. Minnesota's Robin Lod landed the final blow two minutes later, putting the Loons up 4-1. It was hard to imagine things getting worse for Inter Miami after a crushing CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps, but the loss in Minnesota proved it was possible. When the 90 minutes was up, Messi's goal could not save his team from the lopsided 4-1 defeat that went down as the worst scoreline of any game he has played since joining the club in July 2023. Advertisement It was only the eighth loss in Messi's 53 appearances for IMCF across all competitions. Previously, the worst scorelines with the Argentinian World Cup winner on the pitch were 3-1 defeats to Vancouver in 2025 (Champions Cup), Monterrey in 2024 (Champions Cup) and Atlanta United in 2024 (MLS regular season). Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) looks on during the first half against Minnesota United at Allianz Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images In those 53 games, Messi has tallied 43 goals and 21 assists. He has lifted the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield and the 2024 MLS MVP award along the way. One can imagine how much a rare three-goal loss stings for Messi, considering he sulked off the field after a 4-1 win last weekend against New York Red Bulls — a frustration head coach Javier Mascherano attributed to "his level of demand, not only with himself but with all around him.' The result against Minnesota made it two losses in the last three league games — and four out of five in all competitions — for Inter Miami after an undefeated start through eight matches. Advertisement The Herons are fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with 21 points. It is a quick turnaround before another MLS away match on Wednesday night against the San Jose Earthquakes. Related: Lionel Messi's Issue With Inter Miami Teammates Revealed Related: Lionel Messi's Behavior Toward Inter Miami Fan Draws Strong Reaction
New York Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Inter Miami's pressing questions after a painful Concacaf Champions Cup ouster
In the days after Lionel Messi was first introduced as an Inter Miami player, and before he made his memorable debut against Cruz Azul, club owner Jorge Mas was asked what would constitute a success in the Messi Era of Miami and MLS. 'We're successful,' he said. 'We've succeeded. Expectations are something else, but we've succeeded. The fact that Lionel Messi is here, that Sergio Busquets is here, that others are going to come here, that we're opening new chapters for the sport in this country, we've succeeded.' Advertisement Mas was right, of course. That Messi signed in MLS was a massive win for the league, and Messi's presence playing for Inter Miami will never be measured solely by on-field results. The commercial impact has been beyond even the highest expectations, with Miami selling out stadiums across the league and setting attendance records in multiple markets. Miami's revenues ballooned to record levels. Messi's pink shirt was Adidas's top-selling jersey in any sport, MLS commissioner Don Garber said last year. The Argentine legend's presence has also influenced discussions at the board level about how MLS will move forward into its next phase of growth. Ultimately, though, Messi's MLS legacy will be framed by one thing: how many trophies does he lift in that pink shirt he made so famous? That's what made Wednesday night's 3-1 dismantling by the Vancouver Whitecaps in Fort Lauderdale so painful. The Whitecaps' win was the exclamation point on a 5-1 aggregate thrashing in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. It was the second consecutive defeat in an elimination series at home for Miami, which was stunned last year by Atlanta United in the MLS Cup playoffs. 'You have to accept that they were better,' Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. 'They were much better than us. It's for that that they are in the final and we aren't.' Messi and Co. have now had a chance to win seven trophies in his two-plus years in MLS, forgiving the 2023 MLS Cup that was a longshot considering Miami's last-place standing when the World Cup winner arrived. They have won just two of those trophies: the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters' Shield. Respectively, there are two prizes that supersede the others: the MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup. So far, Messi and Miami are 0-for-3 in those competitions. Advertisement It is easy after a loss to fall into the trap of hyperbole, that Miami should be in panic mode. Let's not forget that Miami has still lost just one game in MLS play this season. Mascherano, who played more than 90 games for Liverpool, had north of 200 appearances for Barcelona and was capped 147 times by Argentina, has seen it all before and acknowledged the task ahead. 'When we started the season and went so many games without losing, we didn't go crazy or think we were something extraordinary,' Mascherano said. 'Quite the opposite. I've always said we have to be prepared for when the bad times come. And well, now we're in bad times and we have to live with this. It's very easy to live with the good times. The issue now is to get out of the bad times, and surely to get out of bad times we have to give it our all. We have to give it our all. We know we have to do more, that this isn't enough for us.' This team, in all likelihood, will challenge for another Supporters' Shield and for MLS Cup. But they are also starting to look their age — which is unsurprising considering the history of MLS teams that have struggled to stay at their best after navigating through the gauntlet of Champions Cup and MLS games to start the season. For a team built around four stars at the tail end of their careers, the task to rebound from the brutal grind to start the season is even tougher, and Miami will have the added stressor of competing in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. The Vancouver series exposed some real issues that Inter Miami is going to have to figure out for the rest of 2025 – and if Messi re-signs in MLS, as expected, into 2026 and beyond. It shouldn't be surprising that Miami looks, at times, like a team still trying to find itself. In many ways, it is. Advertisement Miami had a turbulent offseason. Inter changed coaches. Tata Martino stepped away, and Mascherano was hired. The front office went through a significant makeover, too — more than once. Sporting director Chris Henderson went to Atlanta. Then Raul Sanllehi, president of football operations, moved out of a day-to-day sporting role in January. Longtime Messi ally Guillermo Hoyos was named sporting director, and, in April, Alberto Marrero was hired as chief soccer officer. More than a dozen players from last year's roster are gone. Eight new players, including four who started against Vancouver, arrived. Miami is playing a different style than it did in 2024, opting for what often resembles a 4-2-3-1 in possession. The makeover isn't finished yet. At the close of the window, Miami traded Robert Taylor and waived Julian Gressel. That opened up two senior roster spots for the club to add pieces in the summer window. Miami had more than $3 million in allocation money when the league last published figures in March. It then signed Baltasar Rodríguez and Allen Obando on loan, which ate into that reserve, and also traded for international spots. But the Taylor trade to Austin FC brought in more money, and clearing Gressel's million-dollar cap number created space, too. Miami is going to add pieces in the summer. Where will it look to fortify the roster? Vancouver was able to slow Miami's attack in part by overloading central spaces and forcing Miami wide. Inter could try to target a left winger that brings pace and verticality to the attack. That might ease some of the attacking demand on Messi and Luis Suárez, who has now gone nine consecutive games — all starts — without a goal for Miami. Center back has been another problem area. Maxi Falcón had a solid start to the MLS season, but struggled against Vancouver. With David Martínez and Toto Avilés on the bench, Miami has options. Would it add another? Advertisement Some of these problems could be helped by allowing Miami to continue to work into Mascherano's system and give the new faces time to continue to develop. Rodríguez, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder signed in March, has yet to play. Giving this team a bit more time will help some of these problems. The bigger questions await in 2026. As The Athletic reported last month, Inter Miami is nearing a contract extension for its primary superstar. Keeping Messi in town for another few years ensures that Messi will be there to open the club's new stadium next season. It also opens up some questions about what that means for the roster. Jordi Alba, Busquets and Suárez are all out of contract at the end of the season. Busquets and Alba take up two of Miami's three designated player spots. The question isn't just whether Miami brings all three former Barcelona stars back; it's also about at what cost? All of these conversations are sensitive. These are four legends of the game. They have always been seen as a sort of package deal with Messi. But there is an argument to be made that Messi would get a boost from having a younger or in-prime player that could help take this Miami team to the next level. Imagine, for example, an Inter Miami team with Cucho Hernández starting up top. So what does Miami do? Alba, 36, has been very good for Miami. He was an MLS Best XI player last season, with four goals and 14 assists, and carried the load at times in 2024. Miami certainly gives something up in allowing Alba to venture forward as much as he does, but the former Spain captain is still productive. He converted to a DP deal in 2025 and it's a safe assumption that if he renews it'll be under similar terms, especially since he played the first year and a half in Miami on a $1.2 million base salary. Advertisement Busquets is a tougher call. The Spanish midfielder will turn 37 this summer, and in a league in which DPs are hopefully helping you score goals, Miami will have to consider whether it can afford to have Busquets occupy a DP slot. If he returned on a TAM deal, it'd be far more appropriate – and, crucially, it would allow Miami to go out and spend big on a player. Suárez is another conundrum. That he's been able to produce so much despite his age and knee issues is remarkable. He had 20 goals and nine assists last season, but that production has dropped off this year. He has just one goal in eight league starts so far this season. As Messi's closest friend on the roster, this is a complicated decision — and ultimately it may be Suárez's call more than Miami's — but there's no doubt Miami should at least be considering whether it can add a younger, high-end striker to the team whether or not Suárez comes back. Miami opening its stadium in 2026 with Messi in the lineup was a must. Adding another star designated player to the team would be the right step to keep the team moving forward.
New York Times
01-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Javier Mascherano: Inter Miami Champions Cup exit is just not good enough
Even when their team suffers defeat, it's customary for a coach to try backing their players' effort. It's a custom with understandable intention, to keep a fanbase from turning on a team or to reassure players that their jobs won't suffer for one bad result. Still, some games make it difficult to dawdle through answers padded with such niceties. Javier Mascherano faced that reality after his Inter Miami crashed out of the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday, losing the semifinal home leg 3-1 to cap a 5-1 aggregate toppling. Advertisement 'I think we competed—but let's be honest, it's hard to say that when you lose 1-5,' Mascherano said after his team was eliminated. Trailing 2-0 after last week's opening leg in British Colombia, Miami aimed to send a message early in front of their own fans. Their proactive nature led to a swift opening goal, with Jordi Alba powering a shot off of Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka in the ninth minute. Soon after, they saw midfielder Tadeo Allende force Takaoka into a diving save. Surely, it seemed, they'd keep on pressuring until Lionel Messi made a typically brilliant and decisive mark. After all, Messi's heroics led them to a stunning victory in the 2023 Leagues Cup. So, too, was he at the fore as they claimed the 2024 Supporters' Shield with Messi winning MVP honors at season's end. And yet, with Vancouver keeping Messi from notching a goal or an assist across 180 minutes, Miami's supporting cast was unable to swing the result. The Whitecaps scored twice early in the second half, and there was never any real hope that Miami could reach this tournament's final after the 51st minute. 'In games like this, the price of mistakes is brutal,' Mascherano said. 'You're playing a team that has the edge, and they don't let you off the hook. We made errors, and they hit us with two goals in three minutes. That's just not acceptable in a semifinal — especially right after halftime. It happened to us against Dallas a few days ago, and it happened again tonight. 'I could maybe understand a lapse 15 minutes from the end, but not at the start of the second half. That's just not good enough.' Mascherano arrived in November, weeks after Miami was eliminated from the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs in a first-round upset against Atlanta United. Before that postseason even concluded, Miami was hard at work to reinvent itself and go again, having missed on winning arguably the two biggest trophies on offer in Messi's first eighteen months. Advertisement The first, MLS Cup, is the league's top honor. Even a record points haul in a regular season only gives a team so much of an advantage. Their first round opponent knows they just have to win two games of three to overcome a considerable deficit forged from the preceding 34-game season. However, it should go without saying that the field of possible winners is relatively narrow and easy to size up, no matter how often the league launches a new expansion side. The league's schedule hasn't been balanced since 2014, but the format is identical across all 30 teams in competition. The ground rules have been laid; may the most worthy team win. The second, the Concacaf Champions Cup, has historically been far more difficult for an MLS team to claim. The league's roster rules are curated to maintain competitive parity, and include facets like salary caps, international slots and a hard limit on how many players can earn above the annual senior maximum salary (as negotiated with its players union in collective bargaining). Other leagues in Concacaf aren't curated in this way. Liga MX, in particular, benefits from its far more relaxed roster rules, with its clubs' pull and historical prominence making it a marquee destination for many players on both sides of the Atlantic. Clubs like Club América, Monterrey and Tigres UANL could nearly fill a starting lineup of players exceeding MLS's senior maximum salary. As such, the talent on-hand has kept Liga MX in the regional driver's seat, winning 18 of the 19 most recent Concacaf Champions Cups. The one exception came in 2022, when the Seattle Sounders bested UNAM in the final. It was the culmination of one era for the club, one that saw the team win MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019 while finishing as runner-up in 2017 and 2020. That club earned its place among the region's elite across years of coming through on big stages. Advertisement All of which made it more notable, then, that the latter-stage storylines of the 2025 Concacaf Champions League were told with Miami at its fore. For all of the talent on the roster and the global pull that has followed, Miami had not backed up that reputation with results. That 2023 Leagues Cup was a highly entertaining oddity, the launch year of a competition that saw every game played in MLS stadiums, with both Messi and every Liga MX opponent learning how to navigate each round on the fly. The Supporters' Shield is a good indicator of each season's greatest team, but the trophy doesn't have the same caché as MLS Cup. To wit, MLS itself didn't officially recognize the Supporters' Shield as a major trophy until its fourth season, in 1999. When FIFA president Gianni Infantino crashed last year's presentation after a Miami win, the decision to use the Shield as justification to include Miami (and Messi) in the 2025 Club World Cup was met with derision. However, Miami would be forgiven for thinking they'd found a lucky break in the bracket. Although the Vancouver Whitecaps have been the league's best team to date this season, this was another team operating under MLS's roster guidelines. With the two semifinalists from Liga MX facing each other, even the top-ranked team in their own league was perhaps built from a more level standing. And besides, they didn't have Messi; their headliners were far more anonymous domestic players, like Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter. Well, reputation and bona fides only get one so far in a street fight. The Whitecaps were motivated for the task at hand, with coach Jesper Sørenson instilling belief in his players to back themselves against any opponent. When Miami failed to equalize before halftime, Vancouver still had the advantage in the series with just 45 minutes left to retain it. The visitors scored twice and never looked back. 'What we didn't expect was to be knocked out of the tournament by two moments right after halftime,' Mascherano said on Wednesday night. 'We should've been more composed. We were only one goal down, we'd done the hard part by scoring first, and what was needed then was calm, calculated football. But that's not how it played out. 'Football, especially in semifinals, is about details. When you make small mistakes, teams at this level—teams that are in a semifinal for a reason—will punish you. And that's what happened tonight, clearly.' While Mascherano referred to Miami as 'a young club' in his press conference, it's worth remembering that both teams were relatively untested at this stage of continental play. It was Miami's first Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal, but Vancouver's only appearance at this stage (and no further) came in 2016 — a year when a 15-year-old named Alphonso Davies was just making his senior debut. For both clubs, reaching the final would have represented a historical first, let alone winning it all. Now, that's the Whitecaps' trend to buck. Miami is left to focus on MLS. 'We have to move forward,' Mascherano said. 'Right now, our main focus is the MLS. I'm not even thinking about the Club World Cup yet—we've still got a month and a half before that. It would be a major mistake to shift our attention there now. All that matters at this moment is the league. 'Yes, we won the Leagues Cup, but we know the most prestigious tournament in the Concacaf region is the Champions Cup. We wanted to establish ourselves among the best. But sometimes, you have to admit when the opponent played the better hand. Tonight, we couldn't beat them—they won more individual battles, more one-on-ones—and that tells the story of this match.' Advertisement While Mascherano is a first-year club head coach, he inherited with immense expectations. The roster has been finely curated to acclimate Messi at this stage of his career, with friendly veterans who've played alongside him and youthful players around them to do the hard yards. He's made a couple of crucial changes to last year's Shield side. Before the opening match, he dropped longtime starting goalkeeper Drake Callender for 38-year-old Oscar Ustari. He also left Julian Gressel, a two-time MLS Cup winner who trailed only Messi and Jordi Alba for chances created in 2024, out of his 20-man squad entirely. The veteran was waived by the club after they were unable to trade him, with Minnesota United eagerly claiming him and highly promoting his arrival. For all of the chopping and changing, the story of Miami's season will still be defined by its headliners. Messi has now gone four straight games (in MLS and Concacaf) without a goal contribution. Luis Suarez hasn't scored in his last nine games, all of which were starts. Both legends of the game are valuable designated players, two of three possible players above the salary limit who often make or break a team's chances in the biggest moments of a season. Miami would be forgiven for not expecting two of the modern era's most prolific big-game players to not make such a difference — but that's the hand Mascherano was dealt at this stage. So now, it's up to Miami to back up its reputation and the changes from last year's squad with results. As Mascherano said, another Leagues Cup won't do it. Nor, likely, will defending the Supporters Shield. In order to be 'among the best,' it means winning the biggest competitions on offer. MLS Cup is roughly seven months away. Perhaps no team is more desperate to win it and change their big-game reputation than the side with the league's biggest stars.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inter Miami Fans Upset Over Major MLS Trade Decision
Inter Miami CF fans were caught off guard on Wednesday when the team traded beloved attacker Robert Taylor to Austin FC in a player-for-cash swap, marking an end to his legendary career at the club. Taylor, 30, was a key part of IMCF's history before Lionel Messi's arrival. Taylor leaves as the field player with the most appearances across all competitions in Inter Miami history, notching 18 goals and 18 assists in those 116 appearances. He also played a key role in winning the club's only two major trophies: the 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield and the 2023 Leagues Cup. Advertisement Only Messi, Luis Suarez and Leo Campana had more goal contributions (goals plus assists) in MLS play for the Herons across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Inter Miami fans let the team hear it after finding out the Finnish forward had played his last game in pink and black. Inter Miami CF goalkeeper Drake Callender (1) and midfielder Robert Taylor (16) hold up special jerseys for playing one hundred game after the game at Chase Kirouac-Imagn Images "Miami sells good players and buy nonsense players," criticized a supporter on Instagram. "Poor Taylor, when Messi arrived he was the only coherent partner he had!" a fan wrote in Spanish, as translated by Instagram. "Very bad of you!" "NOO BRO FIRE THE PERSON WHOS MAKING THE DECISIONS," urged a response. "Why? I mean, why? Why him? Why Campana?" asked another, referencing the other prolific forward who Inter Miami traded to an MLS rival recently. "he was one of the few that showed up with and without Messi, hope this move means Inter is looking to make a major move…" wrote a comment with more than 100 likes on Inter Miami's Instagram. Advertisement "That's honestly foul," one fan replied bluntly. It was a move the Herons were reportedly eyeing for over a year, but that did not make it sting any less for fans to see their beloved winger go. Inter Miami's return of up to $750,000 general allocation money could help the club acquire an expensive star like Kevin De Bruyne in the future, but the money will not do much good in the immediate future, as the MLS transfer window closes Wednesday night and does not reopen until July 24. Related: Inter Miami Sends Message After Trading Beloved Attacker Related: Lionel Messi's Wife Turns Heads at David Beckham's Birthday Party
