Soccer’s two biggest stars are in the media for all the wrong reasons this week. Lionel Messi is facing backlash from the entirety of China with the country canceling Argentina’s friendly next month, and Cristiano Ronaldo is in the news after a classic temper tantrum.
HONG KONG — Chinese sporting authorities have canceled next month's friendly international between Argentina and Nigeria amid a growing backlash against Lionel Messi's failure to play in an Inter Miami match in Hong Kong last week.
Argentina were scheduled to play Nigeria in the Chinese city of Hangzhou next month before facing the Ivory Coast in Beijing, but Messi's failure to take the field for Inter Miami in Hong Kong on Sunday caused widespread anger among fans.
Inter Miami’s horrible preseason tour had its next devasting chapter on Wednesday in Japan as the Herons lost to J-League side Vissel Kobe 4-3 on penalties, Sergio Busquets suffered a nasty injury and Lionel Messi laughed at a teammate for missing a penalty.
Messi laughing at Robert Taylor’s missed penalty kick was one of the most discussed moments of the friendly game.
Thursday’s “Last Dance” between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami ended up being a Miami massacre as the Saudi club won 6-0, Ronaldo didn’t play and Messi only featured for 15 minutes.
The one big highlight fans are discussing is Al Nassr and former Manchester City center back Aymeric Laporte scoring a ridiculous 70-yard free kick.
Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be playing against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on Thursday due to a calf injury said Al Nassr head coach Luis Castro.
Castro said that Ronaldo is in the final stages of his recovery and won’t be able to play in the friendly. Many fans had dubbed the game as the “Last Dance” between two of the greatest soccer players the world has ever seen.
Why is Ronaldo not playing vs Messi’s Inter Miami
Inter Miami’s narrow 4-3 friendly defeat to Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal in Riyadh on Monday was highlighted with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi’s first goals of 2024.
What needs to be discussed more is the incredible Messi assist vs Al Hilal in the 55th minute to set up youngster David Ruiz.
The Herons were trailing 3-1 in the second half until the 54th minute when Messi finished confidently from the penalty spot to bring his side within one. A minute later the score would be level thanks to a beauty of a goal.
Lionel Messi assist vs Al Hilal
Fans that traveled to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Monday for a preseason fixture between Inter Miami and FC Dallas likely went to the game to see Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The only goal they would see was from Jesús Ferreira assisted by Paul Arriola.
A night that was advertised with some of the world’s biggest names was beautifully stolen by two USMNT players. Incredible.
In the third minute of play Arriola and Ferreira silenced any Miami fans in attendance and gave the Dallas faithful a priceless moment.
LONDON — Argentine Lionel Messi retained the FIFA men's player of the year trophy on Monday, beating Manchester City's treble-winning Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and France's Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé to the award.
Spain's 2023 World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati was voted the best women's player of the year.
Messi, who also secured the men's award in 2022 after guiding Argentina to World Cup victory, clinched the Ligue 1 title with PSG alongside Mbappe following that success, before moving to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.
FBref.com released their annual report of the most-viewed soccer teams by state and it’s a drastic change from the 2022 map.
American soccer fans couldn’t get enough of last year’s results as a wide range of teams from the Premier League, MLS, LaLiga, USL, NWSL, the EFL Championship, the English fifth-tier National League and the U.S. national team all made the cut.
Fast-forward to 2023 and only the EPL, MLS and LaLiga are represented.
FBref soccer map of the U.S.
2023
Lionel Messi’s illustrious career is in its final chapters, and it’s widely agreed the world won’t ever see another talent like Leo. Some recent Mateo Messi highlights, the Inter Miami star’s 8-year-old middle child, have fans excited that he could fill his father’s massive shoes.
Mateo plays for Inter Miami’s youth team and scored a sensational bicycle kick that every kid goes to bed dreaming about.
Mateo Messi bicycle kick goal