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Lionel Messi is just another player ‘as long as he has two legs and two eyes,’ claims opponent 

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Lionel Messi is just another player ‘as long as he has two legs and two eyes,’ claims opponent 


‘As long as he has two legs and two eyes, he’s just another player’: Cruz Azul star Erik Lira plays down threat of Lionel Messi ahead of Inter Miami debut in Leagues Cup

  • Lionel Messi is set to make his Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul on July 21
  • Players from the Mexican side have vowed to treat the match just like any other 
  • DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

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Cruz Azul midfielder Erik Lira is not daunted by the task of taming Lionel Messi on his debut for Inter Miami, with the Mexican warning: ‘As long as he has two legs and two eyes, he’s just another player.’

Messi is expected to make his bow against the Mexican club in the Leagues Cup on July 21, having joined MLS outfit Inter Miami following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.

The signing of Argentina’s World Cup winner, considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time, is considered a huge coup for MLS and Miami.

But Lira insists Cruz Azul’s players will treat their trip to Miami just like any other match.

‘It’s a unique opportunity. It’s a new tournament, we have to fight for it,’ the 23-year-old said. 

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Cruz Azul star Erik Lira (L) is not daunted by the task of taming Lionel Messi on his US debut 

Messi is expected to make his bow against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21

Messi is expected to make his bow against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 21

‘But the truth is it’s just another game for us, (manager) Tuca Ferretti tells us that Messi is just another player – obviously he’s a bit imposing, but we’re going to win.’ 

Messi has already been joined in Miami by former Barcelona team-mate Sergio Busquets.

Ex-Barca boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has also taken over following the sacking of Phil Neville, while Jordi Alba and Andres Iniesta are also reportedly being lined up by the MLS side.

Legendary midfielder Iniesta, now 39, is on Miami’s radar according to RAC1, having called time on his stay at Japanese side Vissel Kobe.

Midfielder Andres Iniesta (right) is the latest Barcelona legend linked with a move to join Messi

Midfielder Andres Iniesta (right) is the latest Barcelona legend linked with a move to join Messi

Josef Martinez's late strike gave Inter Miami a crucial 2-2 tie against Columbus Crew this week

Josef Martinez’s late strike gave Inter Miami a crucial 2-2 tie against Columbus Crew this week

Recent reports have also claimed that Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos – who played with Messi at PSG – could move to South Beach.

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Inter Miami sits bottom of the Eastern Conference but Josef Martinez kept alive the club’s slender play-off hopes with a 90th-minute equaliser against Columbus Crew on Tuesday.

Miami twice fought back from behind to share the points.

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Diddy Day Dropped in Miami by the City’s Commission – The Source

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Diddy Day Dropped in Miami by the City’s Commission – The Source


Miami has cut “Sean Diddy Combs Day” in Miami. According to The Miami Herald, the axe of the annual celebration was called by the Miami Beach Commission.

This past Wednesday, a resolution was passed stating, “upon reflection, the Mayor and City Commission have determined that recognizing October 13, 2016, as ‘Sean Diddy Combs Day’ is no longer in harmony with the City’s values of safety, community well-being, and respect, and wish to rescind the proclamation.”

Additionally, it looks like Diddy has resolved his legal battle with Sean John LLC and GBG USA Inc., the former owners of his clothing company. 

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Remember Sean John? At one point, the brand was running the streetwear world. 

According to various news outlets, Diddy has voluntarily dropped his $60 million lawsuit against these entities after reaching an agreement. 

The dispute began in 2021 when Diddy sued the company for continuing to use his likeness and image after he sold 90 percent of his stake in 2016.

The conflict arose because Diddy felt the new owners misused his image in their marketing campaigns.

Bet, they aren’t using his likeness anymore. But we can’t confirm how Sean John is handling the brand nowadays.

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Sean Combs created Sean John in the 1990s, and the brand quickly became a powerhouse by 2001.

This lawsuit dismissal is a recent development in a series of legal issues for Diddy. 

He faces ongoing allegations of sex trafficking and fallout from the disturbing and infamous video related to the claims was released.

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Ware welcomed to Miami after NBA Draft selection

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Ware welcomed to Miami after NBA Draft selection


MIAMI (WISH) — After one year with the Indiana Hoosiers, center Kel’el Ware was welcomed to Miami Friday morning as the Heat’s only first round selection in this week’s NBA Draft.

“It’s been crazy, but I’m enjoying it,” Ware said in his introductory press conference. “I’m definitely going to use this year and next year and however long I’m here to soak everything up like a sponge and learn from (Heat President Pat Riley) and from Coach (Erik Spoelstra).”

The former Hoosier was picked at No. 15 after averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Ware started in 30 games for IU, helping fill the void that All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis left after being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2023.

“We never ever deviated from where he was on the board,” Riley said. “I hope he’s a player who will have a career of a lifetime right here in Miami.”

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“This is an organization that loves to compete and loves to play,” Ware said. “This is the best spot for me to be able to push me past my limits, to push me past that wall, to be the best player I can be on the court.”

Despite only being in Bloomington for a year, Ware gained a lot from Indiana head coach Mike Woodson — all of which he’s taking into the Association.

“There’s always more in the tank that I can always, you know, push past and to always give more,” Ware said Friday. “He always told me it’s never where my skillset stops at. There’s always more that I can improve and more that I can put on the floor and to be able to perform better.”

Ware will hit the floor for the first time as an NBA player next month in Las Vegas. The Heat’s Summer League schedule begins against the Golden State Warriors Saturday, July 6.

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Miami Heat’s Marriage To Jimmy Butler Is Messy, But That’s Fine (For Now)

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Miami Heat’s Marriage To Jimmy Butler Is Messy, But That’s Fine (For Now)


The honeymoon period is over for the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Sure, if Butler and the Heat had their choice, things would feel more comfortable than they do. His future is unsettled beyond the 2024-25 NBA season—the final locked-in year on his contract—and it sounds like things could stay that way for a while.

In theory, the two sides could negotiate a contract extension at any time, but neither appears fully sold on the concept yet. Or not on the other’s preferred terms, at least.

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Butler reportedly has no plans to ink out a contract extension (with Miami or any team he might be traded to) ahead of next summer’s opt-out clause, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Heat, meanwhile, seem unconvinced he’s worth a blank-check commitment due to availability issues that caught the public ire of team president Pat Riley.

Butler, to Riley’s point, has had trouble staying on the hardwood of late. Butler has yet to miss fewer than double-digit games with the Heat and just sat out their first-round loss to the Boston Celtics due to a knee sprain. With his 35th birthday arriving in September and some heavy tread on his tires (he was once a prized pupil of Tom Thibodeau, after all), it is reasonable to wonder whether these issues are here to stay.

None of this helps with the current climate around the club and its star swingman. Things feel tense from afar and might induce even more anxiety up close. This is decidedly not fun.

It also isn’t a nightmare, or anything close to it. In fact, it could prove to be a good thing depending on how each responds.

If Butler’s plan is to get paid after his age-35 season, then he needs to hoop in a way that makes clear not only is he still within his prime, but he has several prime years still ahead. He needs to show the superstar form he’s been able to summon during Miami’s long postseason runs with him. He has to be at his absolute best, which would provide obvious perks for his employer.

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The Heat, meanwhile, need to do the same. They must operate in a manner that convinces him his best shot at capturing the crown is found right where’s at. Maybe that’s as simple as the team performing well and Erik Spoelstra coaching his rear off. Perhaps it means making that all-in trade push that keeps being speculated about but still hasn’t happened.

Butler and this franchise have long felt like a happy couple. A hard-working, incredibly conditioned, ferociously competitive couple, but ultimately a content one.

Now, that contentment seems harder to spot. Perhaps that splits them apart, but it also might motivate them to push harder than ever to make this marriage work.

Zach Buckley works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat. He can be reached at zbuck07@gmail.com or follow him on X @ZachBuckleyNBA.

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