The fact that Inter Miami has lifted both the Supporters’ Shield and the Leagues Cup since Messi’s arrival tells you almost everything you need to know about his impact. Before the Argentine joined, the club—founded in 2018—had never won a single piece of silverware.

Inter Miami forward Luis Suárez has said he wants to retire alongside longtime teammate Lionel Messi, before maintaining that each player's future does not depend on the other.

Palmeiras striker Jose Manuel Lopez also received his first Argentina callup on Monday for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador. Lopez caught the eye of coach Lionel Scaloni for his goal-scoring output at Palmeiras, where he joined in 2022 from Lanús. The center forward has 15 goals in 42 matches this year.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has praised the maturity of teenage newcomer Franco Mastantuono. The 18-year-old joined Madrid on a six-year deal and has already impressed Alonso with his confidence and quality.

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Argentina's national team unveiled a revamped 31-man squad on Monday, led by Lionel Messi, for the South American qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador for the 2026 World Cup.

Inter Miami and Tigres UANL meet this Wednesday in the Leagues Cup 2025 quarterfinals, with a special storyline: Ángel Correa will face his Argentina World Cup–winning teammates Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul.

Lionel Messi, of course, is currently the best player in MLS -- and he's 38. At Inter Miami, the current betting favorites for MLS Cup, he's flanked by 38-year-old Luis Suárez, 36-year-old Jordi Alba, and 37-year-old Sergio Busquets.

Former Manchester United defender-turned-pundit Patrice Evra believes a World Cup final between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal would be one that the whole world would stop t