The race for the upcoming Ballon d’Or is going to be close.
As anticipation builds for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, the battle for soccer’s most coveted individual award is shaping up to be thrilling.
After a long 2023-24 campaign, paired with a summer full of international play with the Euros and Copa América, the number of contenders for the award has only increased.
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
The new Inter Miami Dolphins jersey was revealed on Tuesday as one of five new Major League Soccer Archive Collection kits. All five of the new third kits are beautiful, but Miami’s has caught the most attention.
Matching the same colors as the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, Lionel Messi and company will have the option of wearing aqua, orange and white for the rest of the 2024 season and 2025. The “MIAMI” font on the front is a nod to the 80’s show “Miami Vice.”
These are stunning.
Inter Miami Dolphins jersey
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.
Racism is still the biggest plague of the “Beautiful Game”, and it reared its ugly head on Thursday as Argentina and Lionel Messi fans racially abused Canada’s Moïse Bombito on social media.
Fans weren’t happy about the tackle on Messi from the Colorado Rapids star during the Copa América opener between Canada and Argentina. During the second half Messi went down and received treatment following this tackle from the Canada defender.
The Copa América kicked off with Argentina defeating Canada 2-0 on Thursday, however a FOX audio delay frustrated fans who tuned into FS1.
For the entire first half of the opening match commentators John Strong and Stu Holden were on a roughly two second delay.
FOX has had audio issues in the past, but thankfully this time at least the audio was behind rather than two seconds ahead. There’s nothing worse than the commentators spoiling what you’re about to see.
Here were some examples of what the audio delay looked like in the highlights during the first half.
The Copa América will have a taste of MLS this summer.
MLS is slowly, but surely becoming one of the most competitive leagues in North and South America, with players representing the league at some of the highest levels of play in the world.
Argentina defeated Guatemala 4-1 Friday night at FedEx Field near Washington D.C. in a friendly with Lionel Messi scoring twice. The first Messi goal vs Guatemala came after a terrible goalkeeper blunder and gave the Inter Miami star the easiest goal of his career.
In the 12th minute Guatemala had a surprise 1-0 lead against the defending world champions. Disaster then struck in the Guatemalan penalty area as goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen had a careless giveaway.
If there’s one guy you don’t want to give the ball away to in front of your goal, it’s Messi.
Lionel Messi has hinted to his retirement as he shared with ESPN Argentina on Wednesday that Inter Miami will be the last club he plays for.
Messi will turn 37 on June 24 and will likely be playing in his final major international tournament with Argentina this summer in the Copa América. The 2022 World Cup winner hasn't set an official retirement date but said that Inter Miami will be his curtain call.
His contract with the Herons runs until the end of 2025.
Lionel Messi Inter Miami final club quote