Latest news with #JavierMascherano
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Messi blanked as Inter Miami slump to 3-0 defeat, De Paul set to join squad
WASHINGTON, July 17 — Lionel Messi's Major League Soccer-record streak of multi-goal games ended at five on Wednesday as his Inter Miami squad was blanked 3-0 at FC Cincinnati. The 38-year-old Argentine star forward had scored a brace, two goals, in five consecutive matches for Miami, giving him 16 goals on the season as Inter managed four wins and a draw in the run. Not since 2012 when he played for Barcelona had Messi netted a brace or more in five consecutive matches. But Cincinnati kept Miami to only two shots on goal in the contest. 'Clearly today we were outplayed from the beginning of the match,' Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said through a translator. 'It was very difficult for us to win the individual duels. Maybe one of the reasons is that physically we come with a very big hustle and bustle and in the long run we end up paying. 'Leo suffered a knock at the end but it ended well.' US 20-year-old midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela opened the scoring for Cincinnati in the 16th minute. Brazilian striker Evander followed with a goal in the 50th minute and struck again in the 70th to provide all the scoring the hosts needed. 'We didn't play the game we wanted. They put us under pressure all the time, we weren't fresh or lucid and they beat us very well,' Mascherano said. Miami fell to 11-4 with five drawn for 38 points, fifth in the Eastern Conference and eight points adrift of first-place Philadelphia, the overall MLS leader which beat Montreal to stay one point ahead of Cincinnati in the overall MLS standings. Inter Miami has three games in hand on both clubs but would need to win them all to overtake their rivals for the overall league lead. 'The opponent outplayed us from start to finish,' Mascherano said. 'The result and the way they beat us obviously worries us. Now we have to rest and think about the next game.' That will come on Saturday when Miami will visit the New York Red Bulls, who got two goals each from Cameroon's Eric Choupo-Moting and Sweden's Emil Forsberg in a 5-3 home win over New England on Wednesday. De Paul to join Miami A source close to negotiations told AFP on Wednesday that Inter Miami has agreed on terms with Argentine international Rodrigo De Paul, a midfielder for Atletico Madrid. The deal is for the next four seasons with De Paul to play the remainder of 2025 in Miami on loan from Atletico Madrid with a subsequent purchase option for Inter worth more than $12 million. De Paul could play for Miami for the first time on July 30 against Mexican side Atlas in Inter's debut match in the Leagues Cup, a tournament between MLS and Mexican League clubs. He will leave Europe after four seasons in Madrid to join countryman Messi 11 months before the World Cup to be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. Messi has not said if he will play in the World Cup. De Paul and Messi were teammates on Argentina's 2022 World Cup champions and reuniting them could help entice Messi to sign a new contract with Inter, whose deal with the superstar expires at the end of this year. The club wants Messi to stay for the 2026 season, in which Inter will open a new stadium in Miami. DePaul, 31, joins a Miami core that includes Messi, Uruguayan Luis Suarez and Spaniards Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Charlotte was named host city for the 2026 MLS All-Star Game yesterday. This year's all-star matchup will be in Austin, Texas, next Wednesday with the MLS All-Stars facing the Mexican League All-Stars. —AFP
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lionel Messi Injury Scare? Mascherano Reacts to Concerning Late Collision After Inter Miami Loss
Lionel Messi Injury Scare? Mascherano Reacts to Concerning Late Collision After Inter Miami Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Inter Miami has suffered its first MLS loss since May as FC Cincinnati defeated the Herons 3-0 at the TQL Stadium. Javier Mascherano's team has gone 12 MLS games without a clean sheet. Lionel Messi did not score for Inter Miami for the first time after six straight games with goals in the MLS. Despite going down 3-0 since the 70th minute, Messi was not subbed off the game after starting multiple games for Inter Miami. Inter Miami fans were worried near the end of the game when Messi went down in the box after a collision with an FC Cincinnati player. The Argentine star was on the floor in pain after colliding with a player's leg as he took a shot towards goal. Messi fans are concerned about the lack of rest the star is getting lately, despite having a busy schedule this summer. Messi continued the game after the collision, and Mascherano was asked if the Inter Miami star was hurt after the game. Javier Mascherano on Lionel Messi's Collision Mascherano was asked about Messi's late scare during the game against FC Cincinnati. Many fans believed the number of games had caused an injury to Messi, but the head coach of Inter Miami confirms the collision he suffered was not serious. Javier Mascherano: "Regarding Leo, I don't think it was a serious injury, it was just a knock, and he finished the match well." After this injury scare, many believe Mascherano should consider resting Messi and other players, as the team suffered another injury. The injury list in the Inter Miami squad has increased after goalkeeper Oscar Ustari came off the pitch early. Javier Mascherano on Injuries at Inter Miami In the 25th minute, Ustari was subbed off the pitch due to an injury and was replaced by Rocco Rios Novo. The goalkeeper appeared to pull a hamstring. Multiple players at Inter Miami are currently suffering from a hamstring injury. Players like Noah Allen, David Ruiz, Gonzalo Lujan, and Baltasar Rodriguez are injured due to a hamstring injury. There are now nine first-team players out of the squad due to injury. The number of games has hurt Inter Miami players, and Mascherano mentioned fatigue as a 'key role' in the loss against FC Cincinnati. Mascherano seeks answers to avoid more injuries within the squad. Javier Mascherano: "Clearly, we have played a lot of games. Clearly, we don't have a big squad. The intensity of the games that we have played, especially over a month and a half, has been at a very high level. We have to find an explanation for it and improve to avoid them because the team keeps being harmed by these injuries.' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Lionel Messi's 5-game multi-goal streak snapped in 3-0 loss to Cincinnati
After scoring multiple goals in an MLS-record five consecutive matches, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were shut out in a 3-0 loss at FC Cincinnati on Wednesday. The streak may have ended abruptly, and unceremoniously, but it underscored Messi's unmatched brilliance. No player in MLS history had ever scored multiple goals in even four straight games. Advertisement Messi's streak began on May 28, with a three-week pause for the FIFA Club World Cup between his second and third record-setting performances. During that span, the 38-year-old legend tallied 10 goals — scoring twice in each of Inter Miami's wins over CF Montréal (twice), the Columbus Crew, the New England Revolution and Nashville SC. 'There are no words,' Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the Nashville win. 'What he continues to do is incredible. It's a blessing to be a part of this stage of his career.' On the season, Messi has 16 goals and seven assists. With the loss, Inter Miami fell to 11 wins, four losses and five draws.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano gave the fans an update about the negotiations with Rodrigo De Paul.
Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano gave the fans an update about the negotiations with Rodrigo De Paul. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Inter Miami is entering a critical stretch of the season, with key matches packed into a tight window and several veteran players in need of rest. At the same time, the club's front office is actively working behind the scenes, pushing to sign Atlético Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul — a close friend and longtime Argentina national teammate of Lionel Messi. De Paul, widely regarded as one of the top defensive midfielders in the world, played a key role in Argentina's World Cup triumph, lining up alongside Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernández. Now, he could be the next star to make the move to South Florida. With the MLS summer transfer window open, Inter Miami has entered negotiations with Atlético. But manager Javier Mascherano offered a dose of reality about the situation during an interview with Inter Miami reporter José Armando. 'The truth is that we're facing difficulties making signings due to the league's salary rules, so we're looking for alternatives. Regarding this player [Brian Rodríguez], I have no idea — we haven't discussed his possible arrival,' Mascherano said. The MLS operates under a strict salary cap. In 2025, clubs are allowed to spend up to $5.9 million in total salaries, though there are exceptions — such as the use of Designated Player (DP) slots — that allow clubs to exceed that cap for specific signings. What is the current salary of Rodrigo De Paul? Rodrigo De Paul's current salary is reportedly around $6.7 million per year, according to data from AIScore — higher than any single team's full salary cap in MLS. For the deal to work, Inter Miami would need to make roster moves and De Paul would likely have to take a pay cut. It's not just about money, though. A move to MLS — especially to play alongside Messi again — could be a career-defining chapter for De Paul. Titles like the Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and even the Club World Cup are on the table for this group. Meanwhile, Messi is currently on one of his best stretches since arriving in Miami. He's been involved in multiple goals in each of the last four games, but with the schedule tightening, Javier Mascherano may need to give him a rest soon. Adding a workhorse like Rodrigo De Paul could help ease that burden. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Inter Miami line-up confirmed to face FC Cincinnati
The Herons are presented as visitors at TQL Stadium as part of the 24th day of Major League Soccer (MLS).Inter Miami has left behind its participation in the FIFA Club World Cup and is fully focused on competing in Major League Soccer (MLS), where this Wednesday it faces FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. The Herons are going through a good present after reaching the round of 16 of the Club World Cup: they have three consecutive victories, which allowed them to climb to the fifth step in the standings with 38 units, five behind leader Philadelphia Union, but with three fewer games. Inter Miami's starting eleven Javier Mascherano puts the best he has at his disposal: Lionel Messi is a starter in the attack. FC Cincinnati, on the other hand, comes from a 4-2 loss to Columbus Crew and fell from the throne of the Eastern Conference. This defeat interrupted a positive streak of four victories in a row (New England Revolution, FC Montréal, Orlando City, and Chicago Fire). FC Cincinnati's initial lineup Pat Noonan has chosen these players to receive the stellar team led by Messi. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
