Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi scored a second-half equalizer and Inter Miami claimed a 1-1 draw against Charlotte FC in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Saturday night.

Miami (19-4-8, 65 points) played to a draw for the third straight time following a five-match winning streak from July 17-Sept. 14.

Charlotte (11-11-9, 42 points) was denied back-to-back victories, which would have marked the club's first winning streak since mid-June. Still, Charlotte FC are unbeaten over their past two matches on the heels of a three-match skid.

A former referee has admitted to have spared Lionel Messi from a second yellow card in return for his match-worn shirt.

Chilean refereee, Carlos Chandía, has confessed to having purposefully avoided giving Messi a booking. And all in the plan to receive the Argentine’s jersey at the end of a match.

Chandía was in charge of the 2007 Copa America semifinal match between Argentina and Mexico, with the Albiceleste blowing past El Tri with a 3-0 scoreline. 20-year-old Messi scored a beautiful lob to seal his country’s spot in the final.

For the first time since 2003 neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi have been included in the nominees for the men's Ballon d'Or award, which were announced on Wednesday, with England's Jude Bellingham among the 30 players named.

Portugal's Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, also failed to receive a nomination last year, while Messi, who won for a record eighth time in 2023 and has been nominated 16 times, misses out despite Argentina's Copa America win this year.

Messi and Ronaldo not nominated for Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi made a cameo in Inter Miami’s training on Wednesday as the Argentina superstar is working his way back from injury.

Messi’s last appearance for Inter Miami was on June 1 and he’s missed Miami’s last eight games due to being away for the Copa América and a ligament injury he suffered during the final of the South American tournament.

Fans will be pleased to see that Messi was back in the training for the first time in months.

Messi returns to Inter Miami training

Messi’s long-awaited return to MLS is taking longer than expected. And Inter Miami aren't exactly telling us when he’s coming back.

Argentina and Inter Miami captain, Lionel Messi, suffered an injury during the 2024 Copa América final last July, forcing the 37-year-old off the pitch with a reported right ankle ligament injury.

Injured Argentina captain Lionel Messi was left out of the squad announced on Monday by the Argentine FA for next month's South American World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

The 37-year-old Messi was not included in the 28-man squad following an ankle injury sustained during last month's Copa America final in the United States.

The Inter Miami player is currently recovering at his club.

Messi not playing for Argentina this September

The biggest star in MLS will not participate in the league's All-Star Game, with Inter Miami's Lionel Messi bowing out of Wednesday's contest at Columbus, Ohio, with an ankle injury.

Also ruled out of Wednesday's contest is Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez, who is dealing with knee discomfort.

Why is Messi not playing in All-Star Game?

Inter Miami have confirmed that Leo Messi and Luis Suárez will miss the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday.

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi is out indefinitely because of a ligament injury in his right ankle, the team announced Tuesday.

He sustained the injury during Argentina's 1-0 victory against Colombia on Sunday in the Copa America final in Miami.

Lionel Messi ankle injury

Injury Update x @BaptistHealthSF

EAST RUTHERFORD — Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the Copa America final after goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi gave them a 2-0 win over Canada in Tuesday's semi-final in New Jersey.

Argentina have won a joint-record 15 Copa titles and reached the final six times in the past eight editions but Canada caused them problems in the opening 20 minutes, Jacob Shaffelburg twice shooting wide from promising positions.