Latest news with #Messi
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Messi aims to keep scoring streak alive as Inter Miami faces Cincinnati on the road
Lionel Messi is on a roll entering the Inter Miami game at FC Cincinnati Wednesday, with two goals in each of his past five MLS matches. An obscure statistic could serve as extra motivation for him to keep the streak alive. The Argentine legend, who has scored 872 goals over his illustrious career, has never scored against Cincinnati, unless you count the penalty kick he converted in a shootout win on Aug. 23, 2023, in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Messi provided a pair of assists for a Leo Campana brace that day but did not score from the run of play. Two months later, Messi was returning from injury and entered the Miami game against Cincinnati as a second half sub but did not score. He was away on international duty and missed Cincinnati's 6-1 rout of Miami in early July 2024, as did Luis Suarez. Jordi Alba was not available for that game, either, due to yellow card accumulation and Sergio Busquets exited with a pair of yellows in the second half, leaving Miami with 10 men. Messi also skipped their most recent matchup in August 2024 due to injury. Informed by media members that Messi had never scored against Cincinnati, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano broke into a huge grin and said: 'That's great news you are giving me. I'm sure he already knows. But that is great motivation. We all know Leo. In every game he finds extra motivation, not only individually but collectively. He loves a new challenge. He's one of those players who, if that challenge isn't there, he will invent one. That's why he's so great. Hopefully, he can end that scoreless streak.' Cincinnati sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with 42 points from 22 games, just one point behind league leader Philadelphia Union. Cincinnati was in first place and riding a four-game winning streak last week but lost 4-2 to Columbus. Inter Miami returns to Cincinnati for the first time since that 6-1 drubbing last summer and has lost three straight games at TQL Stadium. But Miami is in good form, with five consecutive MLS victories and a strong performance in the Club World Cup. Messi and his teammates have climbed to fifth place in the East with three games in hand over their opponents and are just three points from third place and five from the top of the table. The team is coming off a 2-1 home victory over Nashville on Saturday. 'It's a similar situation as Nashville, a team that though it lost the other day, was coming off a very good streak at home, winning lots of games, and we expect a very difficult game against a team with great players and a coach with a lot of MLS experience,' Mascherano said of Cincinnati. Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said while Inter Miami is best known for its superstars, his players must beware of the entire roster. 'Their best players are really strong, but it's not just about Messi, Suarez, Busquets, Alba who are, we know, world class. They've done this their entire careers. But I think the pieces around them right now are also performing at a high level,' Noonan said. 'You see all the pieces, he [Telasco) Segovia's, the [Fede] Redondo's. On the back line - [Maxi] Falcon - these guys are, and I'm naming all of these players that are getting a lot of minutes and helping them, [Tadeo] Allende. These are really good players. So, our 11 have to be collective in everything they do to try to make them uncomfortable when we have the ball and be very connected and very strong especially in one v one moments.' Inter Miami midfielders Yannick Bright and David Ruiz and defender Gonzalo Lujan got medical clearance to play and will travel to the game after long layoffs, Mascherano confirmed. He was unsure how much they would play. Center back David Martinez's loan from River Plate expires on Wednesday, so he will not travel with the team and is headed back to Argentina. Noonan noted Inter Miami's improved defense, which is bolstered by strong leadership from goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and center back Maxi Falcon. 'I think defensively you can see, just in moments where the ball turns over, the organization and how they've defended against the ball to be tough to play against,' Noonan said. 'So, I think that's been a strength of their team and in recent months, from what we've seen' With 10 goals in his last five league matches, Messi set a league record. 'The reality is we're playing one of, if not the, greatest players that ever played, so we have to be mindful of where he is and what he does,' defender Matt Miazga said. 'But at the same time, we're playing at home. We have to focus on ourselves and push our game forward. If we do that, we'll minimize them, and that's the most important thing. So that's the focus now.' Kevin Denkey and Evander lead Cincinnati with 25 goals between them. Cincinnati also features former Inter Miami right back DeAndre Yedlin. How to Watch: Inter Miami vs. Cincinnati kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV MLS Season Pass.
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Djeidi Gassama will get Rangers fans on the edge of their seats
The former Paris St Germain player has agreed a four-year contract. Gassama, 21, made one appearance for the French side alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe before joining Wednesday in 2023 and scored 12 goals in 84 games for the Owls. The France Under-20 international has now moved to Glasgow for an undisclosed fee, understood to be about £2.2million. 💙 Welcome to Rangers, Djeidi Gassama. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 15, 2025 Martin told Rangers' website: 'We are very excited to bring Djeidi to the club. He is certainly an exciting player who will get supporters on the edge of their seats and I believe he will add an extra dimension to our attack with his qualities. 'He is hungry to improve as a player and, most importantly, is desperate to pull on the Rangers jersey and help deliver success to the club.' Gassama added: 'I am very excited to start with my new club, it is a club with a lot of history and I am very happy. This is a big club, and I need that for my next level and I think it can help me progress.' Gassama had the best of tuition as an up-and-coming player. He trained at PSG alongside world superstars Messi, Mbappe and Neymar and he believes that has stood him in good stead for his football journey, which continues in Glasgow. He said: 'I started playing when I was young and then I played for the under-19's at PSG and made my debut. 'It was crazy to be in a team with players like Messi, Mbappe, Neymar. 'It was a good experience for me to train with them, I learned a lot of things about the gym, what they do on and off the pitch. 'They give 100 per cent and when you see them, you have to do the same and even the training with them is like a game. 'The last two years moving to Sheffield, they gave me a good progression and a good experience in English football. 'I took my chance and now I am here and I think I can continue to improve here.'
The National
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Messi, Mbappe & Neymar were my teammates - now I'm a Rangers player
Rangers' latest signing was part of the Paris Saint-Germain side with those global superstars in the team. The 21-year-old was bumped up from the Under-19s side to play in the first team, but he only managed to feature in one match. The winger today agreed a four-year deal with the option of an extra 12 months at Ibrox, moving for a fee in the region of £2.2m. Now, having joined from Sheffield Wednesday, he's lifted the lid on what it was like being up close and personal with three of football's most technically gifted players. "I started there when I was young, playing for the Under-19s," Gassama told Rangers TV. "My first professional game for Paris Saint-Germain was crazy. "They had lots of players like Messi, Mbappe and Neymar. It was crazy. "This was a good experience for me to train with them. "I learned lots from them, like when they go to the gym and to the pitch, they always give 100 percent. You have to show them that you'll do the same. "Training with them was like playing in a game." Gassama moved from Paris to Sheffield Wednesday two seasons ago. He scored seven goals in the Championship last term. Gassama added: "The last two years in Sheffield has given me good progression and experience in English football. "I had the chance to play more, and I took it."
North Wales Chronicle
7 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Djeidi Gassama will get Rangers fans on the edge of their seats
The former Paris St Germain player has agreed a four-year contract. Gassama, 21, made one appearance for the French side alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe before joining Wednesday in 2023 and scored 12 goals in 84 games for the Owls. The France Under-20 international has now moved to Glasgow for an undisclosed fee, understood to be about £2.2million. 💙 Welcome to Rangers, Djeidi Gassama. — Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 15, 2025 Martin told Rangers' website: 'We are very excited to bring Djeidi to the club. He is certainly an exciting player who will get supporters on the edge of their seats and I believe he will add an extra dimension to our attack with his qualities. 'He is hungry to improve as a player and, most importantly, is desperate to pull on the Rangers jersey and help deliver success to the club.' Gassama added: 'I am very excited to start with my new club, it is a club with a lot of history and I am very happy. This is a big club, and I need that for my next level and I think it can help me progress.' Gassama had the best of tuition as an up-and-coming player. He trained at PSG alongside world superstars Messi, Mbappe and Neymar and he believes that has stood him in good stead for his football journey, which continues in Glasgow. He said: 'I started playing when I was young and then I played for the under-19's at PSG and made my debut. 'It was crazy to be in a team with players like Messi, Mbappe, Neymar. 'It was a good experience for me to train with them, I learned a lot of things about the gym, what they do on and off the pitch. 'They give 100 per cent and when you see them, you have to do the same and even the training with them is like a game. 'The last two years moving to Sheffield, they gave me a good progression and a good experience in English football. 'I took my chance and now I am here and I think I can continue to improve here.'
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Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Why Cristiano Ronaldo would want Messi to join Saudi League in the summer?
Saudi Arabia's growing ambition in global football was spotlighted by Ronaldo's signing and the Club World Cup. With heavy investment underway, bringing Messi aboard would be a bold statement again. Shashwat Nishant New Delhi Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two footballing legends with a combined 13 Ballon d'Or crowns, once energized the football world by battling it out against each other at least twice a year across El Clásico fixtures at Barcelona and Real Madrid. Though their European rivalry has since evolved, a new showdown in the Middle East might not be ruled out as of now. Cristiano Ronaldo recently extended his record-breaking contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Despite an option to stay through 2026, discussions swirl about major Saudi clubs plotting a move for Messi. With Ronaldo already in Riyadh, momentum is building. Ronaldo's United teammate Saha predicts Messi reunion Speaking to BoyleSports, ex-Manchester United striker Louis Saha argues that Ronaldo would be thrilled to see Messi join him in Saudi Arabia: 'Will Cristiano want Messi in Saudi Arabia? Definitely. Cristiano will want more big players over there… He's a competitor and he wants to win, he hasn't won as much as he would like. It'd be great to see internal competition.' Saha emphasized that Messi's arrival would elevate the league's status and intensify its competitiveness, a landscape Ronaldo relishes. Saudi's roadmap for football Saudi Arabia's growing ambition in global football was spotlighted by Ronaldo's signing and the Club World Cup. With heavy investment underway, bringing Messi aboard would be a bold statement in expanding league prestige and sporting rivalry. Messi on the move? Reports suggest Al-Ahli has tabled a lucrative offer for the Argentine superstar. However, Messi chose Major League Soccer last year, joining Inter Miami instead of moving to Saudi. As negotiations continue, Messi's next move could reshape global club football, adding another chapter to this storied rivalry. Bringing Messi to Saudi would not only unite two legends on foreign soil, it could also launch a fierce new era of competition in a league eager to make global waves.
