Miami, FL
Lionel Messi saves Inter Miami from Champions Cup exit with stirring fightback
In 2017, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Javier Mascherano spearheaded one of Barcelona’s most thrilling comeback wins. The Catalan side entered the Champions League round of 16 second leg with a four-goal deficit to Paris Saint-Germain. It was a near-impossible task to advance despite the enormous amount of talent that Barcelona fielded.
Suarez and Messi scored, and Barcelona pulled off a remarkable 6-1 win to move on, 6-5 on aggregate. La Remontada (“The Comeback”) was etched in Barcelona lore.
Wednesday night, Mascherano, now the manager of Inter Miami, relied on Messi and Suarez once again. Now in their final years as professionals, the two South Americans helped Miami defeat LAFC 3-1 on aggregate to advance to the Concacaf Champions League semifinals.
Messi scored twice, the first a thunderous strike from just inside the penalty area to beat LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and give Miami life in the first half. After Fernando Redondo’s glancing header gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute, Miami were awarded a penalty kick after LAFC defender Marlon handled the ball in the 84th minute.
Messi stepped up and beat Lloris again from the penalty spot. It was a flashback to the 2022 World Cup final at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar, where Messi scored twice from the spot to help Argentina win a thrilling final. Wednesday, Messi used a similar start and stuttered run-up to keep Lloris guessing before causally placing the ball into the net as the former French international looked on in despair.
At kickoff, the deficit for Miami seemed like a much more manageable challenge than what Messi and Barcelona faced in 2017. LAFC held a 1-0 lead entering the contest, but when defender Aaron Long scored in the 10th minute, the hole Miami would have to dig themselves out of got considerably deeper. They would need three unanswered goals to advance, and at that moment, it felt like Miami would crash out of the tournament, raising questions about the future of its star-studded project.
Mascherano was entrusted by Miami managing owner Jorge Mas to succeed Tata Martino and take a team that broke the MLS points record in 2024 — and won the Supporters’ Shield — to new heights. His inexperience as a head coach at the professional level and previous failures as Argentina’s U-23 coach will follow him until he wins a trophy with Miami. A loss Wednesday would have exacerbated those concerns. A loss would’ve recalibrated Miami’s season expectations as well.
For a club that wants to earn international clout on the pitch, the Champions Cup is a tournament they must contend for. Being a contender at the Club World Cup this summer, featuring some of Europe’s and South America’s best teams, might be a bar that’s too high for an MLS team to reach. Miami are still in contention to win the MLS Cup final and an international trophy. Smiling ear to ear in his postgame news conference, Mascherano reminded reporters about what he had said Tuesday in terms of what would be needed to advance.
“A cool head and your heart in your hands,” Mascherano said. “If I’m going to lose, I want to lose like that: with the players giving everything. We wanted to be in the semifinal, and it showed, making mistakes but also playing well. I just told Jorge Mas that luck is needed for these types of comebacks. That’s why football is so beautiful. The coin landed on our side.”
Marcelo Weigandt heads the ball while under pressure from Denis Bouanga. (Megan Briggs / Getty Images)
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo rued his side’s inability to stop Miami when they had the chance. But the match had a bit of everything. It was a fast-paced affair in which LAFC at times looked like the better side. When it appeared that Miami might not find the goals to advance, the headlines were writing themselves, all in favor of LAFC, a Hollywood-inspired club with experienced internationals and their pair of World Cup winners in Lloris and Olivier Giroud.
Denis Bouanga, 30, a player who has been an MVP candidate since his arrival in 2022, put on a show in the first half and was a danger to score throughout the night. He terrorized Miami’s right side and should have gotten on the scoresheet.
Yet, it was Messi, 37, whose clinical play and nonstop engine (albeit sputtering at times) drove Miami to victory. They were helped by Bouanga’s missed chances in front of goal, of course.
“They couldn’t put the game away. They gave us life,” Mascherano said.
When he was asked about Messi, Mascherano told reporters that talking about the Argentina captain makes him a bit uncomfortable. They’ve known each other for more than 20 years, first as teammates with Argentina and Barcelona, and now in a very different situation as player and coach.
Still, Mascherano’s adulation for Messi was untempered.
“He’s the soul of this team. There’s no doubt about that,” Mascherano said. “He has won everything in this sport. He’s the greatest of all time, and he’s still showing what it means to want to win. He’ll do the impossible to win. He keeps you in the game. He scored the winning penalty. I just try to help him continue to win and to continue to be happy.
“I knew it would be an unforgettable night because I know my players, even though the veterans have won everything. The young players are hungry to put this club at another level.”
Miami will face either Mexico’s Pumas or the Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinal round, with those teams also battling it out Wednesday night. Meanwhile, their MLS season will continue, and preparation for the Club World Cup will come sooner than later. For now, however, Miami will celebrate a hard-fought win that keeps their dream of international glory alive. Mascherano made the right tactical decisions on the night and showed he has a clear understanding of what this group’s strengths and weaknesses might be early in 2025. As a player, Mascherano played with a knife between his teeth. Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, his team did the same.
“We cannot think about the Club World Cup,” Mascherano said. “We have Chicago Fire on Sunday, but this is the way.”
(Top photo of Lionel Messi celebrating after scoring the team’s first goal: Rich Storry / Getty Images)
Miami, FL
North Miami Beach 6-year-old who was allegedly severely abused dies: Family
A 6-year-old boy with autism who police said was severely abused by his mother’s boyfriend in North Miami Beach has died after spending weeks in the hospital, family members said.
The boy, Mason, had been hospitalized in critical condition last month, but his grandmother told NBC6 on Friday that he’d been taken off a ventilator and passed away.
Police had responded to a home in the 1400 block of Northeast 179th Street for a report of a child in cardiac arrest.
In body camera footage released by police, Mason was seen wrapped in a blanket and had no detectable pulse.
North Miami Beach Police, Family Photo
North Miami Beach Police, Family Photo Mason
Mason was given CPR until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived and regained a pulse, and he was taken to Jackson North Hospital in critical condition.
Doctors reported internal bleeding in the brain, lacerations to the liver and kidney, a broken arm, and bruises covering his entire body.
His mother’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Daniel Eduardo Romero, was accused of severely abusing the boy, and was later arrested on charges including aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm involving torture, child neglect causing great bodily harm, and tampering with a victim.
According to an arrest report, Romero gave conflicting stories about how Mason was injured, first claiming he was teaching the boy how to ride a bicycle when he fell, then changing his story and claiming they were using a wagon.
Romero said the boy didn’t appear to be seriously injured and medical care was not sought but he woke up lethargic the next day and progressively weakened and when he became unresponsive they called 911, the report said.
Miami-Dade Corrections Miami-Dade Corrections Daniel Eduardo Romero

The boy’s mother, 32-year-old Cynthia Hernandez, was later arrested on charges including child neglect, failure to report child neglect and providing a false statement to law enforcement, officials said.
Police had previously said Hernandez was cooperating with the investigation and told officers Romero would become frustrated with Mason because of his neurodevelopmental condition. Records also show Romero has two prior convictions for domestic violence.
In the arrest report, Hernandez told detectives that Romero had a short temper and anger problems.
Hernandez’s attorney criticized her arrest, saying she was also a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Romero.
Her mother also said Hernandez was a domestic violence victim.
Romero pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond while he awaits trial. It’s unknown whether he’ll face new charges following Mason’s death.
Miami, FL
The Prime Cleaner Opens New South Miami Location, Expanding Premium Cleaning Services Across Miami-Dade County
Miami’s most trusted family-owned cleaning service opens a new South Miami location at 2000 S. Dixie Hwy. Serving Brickell, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, and surrounding areas.
MIAMI, FL – The Prime Cleaner, one of Miami’s fastest-growing residential cleaning services, officially announces the opening of its new South Miami office located at 2000 South Dixie Highway, Suite 100B-A, Miami, FL 33133. The expansion marks a major milestone for the family-owned business, which has completed over 9,000 cleanings and earned 500+ five-star reviews since its founding in 2021.
The new South Miami location positions The Prime Cleaner to deliver faster response times and same-day availability to homeowners and property managers across South Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Miami Beach, Edgewater, Midtown Miami, the Miami Design District, and Aventura.
A Family Business Built on Trust
Founded by Jay and his mother Ana, The Prime Cleaner was built on a straightforward belief — that every Miami homeowner deserves a cleaning team they can genuinely trust. From day one, the business has operated with background-checked professionals, non-toxic products safe for families and pets, and a consistent crew model that ensures clients see familiar faces on every visit.
“Opening our South Miami office is something we’ve been working toward for a long time. South Miami and the surrounding neighborhoods have been part of our story since the beginning. Having a physical presence here lets us serve our clients faster, respond same-day, and continue building the kind of relationships this community deserves.”— Jay McGough, Co-Founder, The Prime Cleaner
Comprehensive Cleaning Services for Miami’s Finest Homes
From the South Miami office, The Prime Cleaner offers its full suite of professional cleaning services:
- Deep Cleaning — Top-to-bottom resets for homes that need a thorough refresh
- Standard Recurring Cleaning — Weekly, biweekly, and monthly housekeeping plans
- Move In / Move Out Cleaning — Built to landlord and property standards
- Post-Construction Cleaning — Dust, debris, and construction residue removal
- Event Cleaning — Pre and post-event cleanup for homes and venues
- Exterior Window Cleaning — Streak-free results for interior and exterior glass
- Tile & Grout Restoration — Deep cleaning that restores original color and shine
- Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning — Stain removal and odor elimination safe for pets and kids
- Post-Fumigation Cleaning — Full sanitization after pest control treatments
- Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Cleaning — Turnover cleaning to maintain five-star ratings
Every service is backed by The Prime Cleaner’s 100% satisfaction guarantee — if a client isn’t satisfied, the team returns and corrects it at no additional charge.
Rapid Growth Driven by Five-Star Service
Since launching in 2021, The Prime Cleaner has become one of Miami’s most reviewed and most trusted residential cleaning services. With over 9,000 cleanings completed and more than 500 five-star Google reviews, the company continues to grow month over month — driven entirely by client referrals, repeat bookings, and a reputation built one home at a time.
The South Miami expansion is part of a broader growth strategy that includes new neighborhood service pages, an expanded team of background-checked cleaning professionals, and an ongoing commitment to raising the standard of residential cleaning across Miami-Dade County.
About The Prime Cleaner
The Prime Cleaner is a family-owned residential cleaning service based in Miami, Florida. Founded in 2021 by Jayger and Ana, the company specializes in deep cleaning, recurring housekeeping, move in/out cleaning, post-construction cleanup, and specialty cleaning services across Miami-Dade County. Licensed, insured, and BBB accredited, The Prime Cleaner serves homeowners, landlords, Airbnb hosts, and property managers across South Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Key Biscayne, Kendall, Miami Beach, Edgewater, Midtown Miami, the Miami Design District, Aventura, and surrounding neighborhoods.
New South Miami Office
2000 South Dixie Highway, Suite 100B-A | Miami, FL 33133 | (786) 420-4273 | www.theprimecleaner.com/location/south-miami
Media Contact
Company Name: The Prime Cleaner
Contact Person: Jay Tomasino
Email: Send Email
Phone: (305) 575 – 2776
Address:2701 Biscayne Blvd
City: Miami
State: FL
Country: United States
Website: www.theprimecleaner.com
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Miami, FL
Inside Miami’s billionaire bunker, a manmade island for the .01% where billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg shell out for total privacy | Fortune
In a city known for flash and nine-figure price tags, Miami’s most coveted waterfront neighborhood features addresses that start at $60 million—and a near guarantee that you’ll never be able to visit.
Indian Creek Island, also known as Billionaire Bunker, is a 300-acre, manmade strip of land in Biscayne Bay just north of Miami Beach that has attracted the ultra-rich in droves. Its monied residents include NFL quarterback Tom Brady, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump.
The main island contains a mere 40 lots of purely waterfront property, adding another layer of exclusivity on top of the inflated cost to entry. The island’s interior is dominated by the Indian Creek Country Club and its private 18-hole golf course. Those looking to rub shoulders on the links will have to reportedly pay a $500,000 initiation fee and go through a lengthy admissions process.
Though properties could be had for less, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg became the latest billionaire to reportedly snatch up a newly completed mansion at an estimated price tag of between $150 million and $200 million earlier this month. And of the ultra-wealthy who can afford to shell out millions for a home, many often tear down the existing structure to build a new one, said Michael Martirena, cofounder of the Ivan and Mike Team at real estate brokerage Compass.
The Price of Exclusivity
With only 84 residents as of 2020, Indian Creek Island is one of the most exclusive enclaves in America, and a big reason why is the privacy and security that it affords its ultra-wealthy residents.
Indian Creek is an independent municipality with its own government and a police force that patrols the island 24/7 not only by land but also by sea. A single guarded bridge connects it to the mainland, and any visitors must show their ID and may even undergo vehicle inspection, said Martirena, who has toured properties there with clients.
“It’s a bubble, and no one can get on and off, unless you have a reason,” said Martirena, who specializes in ultra-luxury real estate.
Unlike nearby South Beach celebrity enclaves such as Palm, Star, and Hibiscus Islands—where boat tours regularly pass by waterfront mansions—Indian Creek’s marine patrols keep onlookers away, Martirena told Fortune.
Because of the island’s location and strategic landscaping, very few homes in the surrounding areas, like the Bay Harbor Islands or Surfside, have a clear view of Indian Creek Island. This makes it very private, said Martirena, and very desirable.
“It’s the place to be,” said Martirena. “People of that caliber feel safe and not bothered.”
And yet, wealth alone doesn’t guarantee access. All the listings are done “off market,” said Martirena, meaning a buyer’s agent will have to deal directly with a property owner’s representatives, and contact them multiple times if they are not quite ready to sell.
“It’s a small community, and just to keep the chatter at a low level, they do it all internally and very private,” he said.
In an already exclusive community, the western side offers an even more seclusive experience because the lots border the intracoastal waterway separating the island from the mainland, Mick Duchon, a Miami Beach–based real estate agent with the Corcoran Group, previously told Fortune. On this side of the island, home to two of the five richest people in the world, Zuckerberg and Bezos, the lots measure about 80,000 square feet, compared to 50,000 square feet which is the norm on the island, Duchon said.
Since announcing his move from Seattle to Florida in 2023, Bezos snapped up three properties on the island for more than $230 million combined. He’s turning two western lots into a compound while he lives in a Mediterranean-style house on the third lot on the other side of the island.
The billionaire migration to Indian Creek reflects a broader influx in South Florida luxury real estate, which Martirena described as “COVID 2.0.” Thanks in part to Florida’s lack of a state income tax, interest from high end buyers is exploding even as activity at the lower end of the housing market slows.
Another factor is the proposed 5% billionaire wealth tax, which is gathering steam in California. Google co-founder Larry Page has reportedly begun shifting assets, including his family office, out of California. The billionaire recently paid $173 million for two waterfront mansions in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood.
Martirena said his own business has picked up over the last couple of weeks, with three recent inquiries that he attributed directly to the potential wealth tax.
“They’re kind of pre-planning ahead of time. They don’t want to move here,” he said. “They want to stay in the state of California, because they love where they’re at, and they never thought of moving. But they work very hard for their money, and they said they like their pocketbook much more.”
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