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Football: Messi returns from injury as Miami lose friendly to Kobe

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Football: Messi returns from injury as Miami lose friendly to Kobe


Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi made a second-half cameo for U.S. Major League Soccer club Inter Miami in their 4-3 penalty shootout loss to J-League champions Vissel Kobe following a scoreless draw at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Wednesday.

The friendly was the final leg of a preseason tour for Miami that became mired in controversy after record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was unable to play during an earlier stop in Hong Kong.

An adductor issue prevented the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker from taking the field Sunday against a select team of Hong Kong players, prompting fans from the city and elsewhere in China to vent online about what they perceived to be disrespectful behavior by the visiting club.

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi (C) takes a shot against Vissel Kobe during the second half of a preseason match at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Feb. 7, 2024. (Kyodo)

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At a press conference on the eve of the match in Tokyo, Messi said he was unsure if he would be fit to play for Miami, who are part-owned by former England star David Beckham, and doubts remained after he was named on the bench by manager Gerardo Martino.

But the 36-year-old began warming up early in the second half and drew a roar from the crowd of 28,614, far below the stadium’s roughly 68,000 capacity, when he entered in the 60th minute.

He forced a save shortly after coming on and was cheered each time he touched the ball.

Adult tickets for the Tokyo match ranged from 10,000 yen ($68) to 200,000 yen, with “special experience” packages priced higher.

While Messi started on the bench, Miami’s starting lineup included former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba.

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In a first half that produced few chances for either side, the loudest cheers were heard when the big screens at each end showed Messi sitting on the sideline.

Busquets exited the game midway through the opening period after his late challenge on Yuya Osako resulted in him being inadvertently kicked in the leg by the Kobe striker.

Messi was not among the penalty takers for Miami, who missed their last three spot kicks.

Alba, who previously visited Japan with Barcelona, said the match had been valuable preparation for the MLS season kicking off later this month.

“The hospitality from everyone in Japan has been fantastic,” he said. “Our opponents today were a really good team. This was an opportunity to prepare really well for the upcoming season.”

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Kobe will be back at the National Stadium on Feb. 17 to face Emperor’s Cup winners Kawasaki Frontale in the traditional curtain-raiser to the Japanese domestic season, the Super Cup.


Related coverage:

Football: Messi uncertain to play against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo

Football: Japan’s well-traveled squad taste bitter pill at Asian Cup

Football: Iran eliminate Japan from Asian Cup last 8 on late penalty

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Tommy Paul’s Fiancée Paige Lorenze Stuns in Pink Crop Top at Miami Open

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Tommy Paul’s Fiancée Paige Lorenze Stuns in Pink Crop Top at Miami Open


There have been some surprising results to this point at the Miami Open. Perhaps the most surprising of all was when world No. 1-ranked player Carlos Alcaraz suffered a defeat to Sebastian Korda of the United States in the Round of 32.

While the clear favorite to win is Italy’s Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz bowing out of the tournament earlier than anticipated means that the playing field is much more open than it often is in these tournaments. It also means that American tennis stars like 28-year-old Tommy Paul have an opportunity to make a major splash in Miami.

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Tommy Paul | Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Paul (who is currently the world’s No. 23-ranked player, according to the ATP) secured a victory in straight sets against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry on March 24. This means he’s set up to face France’s Arthur Fils in the Quarterfinal.

Tommy Paul is trying to build off perhaps the best professional year of his career in 2025. He became the first American man in 23 years to reach the quarterfinals of the Paris Open before losing to Alcaraz, but this successful tournament vaulted him all the way up to No. 8 in the world rankings at the time.

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Tommy Paul of the United States | Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

What’s for certain is that Paul has the unconditional support of Paige Lorenze, his influencer and entrepreneur, who is best known for the lifestyle brand Dairy Boy.

The couple has been dating since 2022, and Paul has made many appearances on Lorenze’s social media channels. Paul and Lorenze were engaged in July of 2025, and she is constantly seen on tour with him.

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Paige Lorenze | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Tommy Paul’s Fiancée Paige Lorenze Turns Heads in Bold Pink Miami Open Outfit

Lorenze is with Paul at the Miami Open right now. And an outfit she wore earlier in the week is causing quite a stir.

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Lorenze made a March 21 Instagram post that showed her in a pink and yellow crop top outfit with matching pants while at the Miami Open. The post was captioned, “🩵🌴🎾🌸,” which appears to be a nod to the floral color scheme and the general vibe of the Miami Open.

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It’s a good thing that this outfit didn’t take Tommy Paul’s attention away from the court while he was trying to make it to the quarterfinals.

All eyes will be on Paul to see whether he can secure a victory over Arthur Fils on March 25 to cement what could be a good start to the 2026 campaign. Lorenze will be rooting him on.





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Motorcyclist killed in crash on Biscayne Boulevard, deputies say

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Motorcyclist killed in crash on Biscayne Boulevard, deputies say


A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in northeast Miami-Dade on Tuesday morning, deputies said.

The crash happened on Biscayne Boulevard near Northeast 127th Street and involved a vehicle and a motorcycle, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office officials said.

The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene. Their identity was not released.

The condition of the driver in the vehicle was also not released.

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Aerial footage from Chopper 6 showed a yellow tarp covering the body next to the damaged vehicle. The motorcycle was on the ground nearby surrounded by debris.

All southbound lanes on Biscayne Boulevard from Northeast 126th Street to 128th Street have been closed.

The crash was under investigation.



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‘Confident’ Bencic takes out Anisimova, eyes Gauff next in Miami

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‘Confident’ Bencic takes out Anisimova, eyes Gauff next in Miami


A “super clean and confident” performance from Belinda Bencic earned her an upset of one Top 10-ranked American at the Miami Open on Monday night — and she’s hoping that form carries over into another in less than 24 hours.

Miami: Scores | Draws | Order of play

The No. 12 seed led nearly wire-to-wire in a 6-2, 6-2 thumping of No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova to put her through to a 12th career WTA 1000 quarterfinal, and second in Miami after she reached the 2022 semifinals. She’ll face another Florida resident, No. 4 seed Coco Gauff, on Tuesday night in the hopes of matching her tournament best from four years ago.

Bencic had good reason to praise her play against Anisimova, in a match that was projected to be a late-afternoon affair but ended up taking the court at 9 p.m. after three of the four matches preceding it on Grandstand stretched to three sets. She landed 87% of her first serves, winning 72% of those points, and hit 19 winners in 14 games to break a 2-2 head-to-head tie against the two-time Grand Slam singles finalist.

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She saved the only break point she faced, too, which came when she was already ahead 6-2, 4-1. 

Bencic next looks to complete a personal Sunshine Double of sorts against Gauff as she eyes back-to-back Top 10 victories on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz.

Though the American has won four of their previous six meetings, Bencic’s most-recent win came in the Round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open last year.

More to come…

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