Soccer legend Leo Messi makes kids’ lifelong dreams come true
Soccer legend, Lionel Messi, and his Inter Miami teammates thrill kids with a meet and greet at a special event in Miami, Florida through Make-A-Wish.
USA Today
Lionel Messi and league-leading Inter Miami will face defending champion Columbus Crew in the biggest game of the Major League Soccer season tonight.
What’s at stake? Messi and Inter Miami have a chance to win the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a victory. It would be Inter Miami’s second title of the Messi era after winning Leagues Cup in 2023.
The Supporters’ Shield, given to the MLS regular-season leader, would also be the 46th title in Messi’s storied career. The Crew, however, could delay who wins the regular-season title if they’re able to pull off a draw against Inter Miami.
“My players, yeah, they know that Miami is coming with Messi, and we know that this is a good game for both teams,” Crew coach Wilfred Nancy told reporters Tuesday. “This is good for the league, obviously. This is good for everyone.”
It will be Messi’s first game against the Crew, although both teams played each other twice already this season. And it will be Messi’s fifth game since returning from his Copa America right ankle injury.
Messi has scored three goals in four games, but Inter Miami has secured three straight draws during the span as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner improves his conditioning. It left some media wondering if Inter Miami has played better without Messi when it won 9 of 10 matches before his return.
“I am happy to have the best player in the world with us. And well, adapting to that won’t be a problem,” Inter Miami assistant Javier Morales said.
The Inter Miami match against Columbus Crew will be broadcast by FS1 in the United States.
The match will also be available for live stream via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The match will begin at 7:45 p.m. ET (8:45 p.m. Argentina time)
Yes, Lionel Messi is expected to start and play for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew tonight.
Inter Miami 4, Columbus Crew 3: Messi may have heard the talk about Inter Miami playing better without him before his injury return, and makes a statement to deliver the club the MLS Supporters’ Shield title. Messi scores two goals with an assist to Luis Suarez, and Matias Rojas will score for Miami against the Crew. Columbus might have tired legs in its seventh match in 24 days, while Miami will play its fifth in the same span. — Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter for USA TODAY.
Inter Miami won at home 2-1 in June was Messi was away during Copa America, and the Crew won 3-2 in August with Messi injured en route to winning Leagues Cup 2024.
The way how Columbus won was emphatic: Christian Ramirez scored in the 67th minute, while Diego Rossi scored a brace in the 69th and 80th minutes to steal the victory.
Inter Miami sits atop the MLS regular season standings with 65 points with three games remaining. A win tonight would give Inter Miami 68 points, and no other club would be able to reach that mark, giving them the Supporters’ Shield. If Inter Miami wins out, it would set a new MLS record with 74 points. A loss to Columbus would force Inter Miami to win its final two games to win the Shield.
Columbus Crew is in third with 57 points, but has four games remaining. A loss against Inter Miami would tap the Crew to 66 points if they win their final three games. A win against Inter Miami, however, opens a path to a maximum of 69 points.
LA Galaxy is second with 58 points with three games remaining. Three more wins would give the Galaxy 67 points.
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