Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are together again, this time with Inter Miami.

The former Barcelona and Argentina teammates have reunited, with Inter Miami announcing Tuesday that Mascherano’s hiring as the club’s new coach is complete. The sides struck a deal late last week for Mascherano to replace Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who stepped aside for personal reasons.

Mascherano most recently was Argentina’s under-20 team and Olympic coach. He’s signed a three-year contract and will take over when his work paperwork is completed.

“This job requires somebody with the experience to be able to maximize our unique collection of talent — from our global superstars, to our burgeoning homegrown players, to our young international prospects, and everything in between,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said. “Javier has amassed unmatched experience in his career, from playing on the world’s biggest stages, to coaching at the youth international level.”

It’s not just Messi that Mascherano is joining forces with again. Mascherano, when he was with Barcelona, also played alongside current Inter Miami standouts Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez — all of whom are expected back for the 2025 season.

“To be able to lead a club like Inter Miami is an honor for me, and a privilege I will strive to make the most of,” Mascherano said. “I was drawn to the organization’s undeniable ambition, and the infrastructure it has to support it. I’m looking forward to working with the people at Inter Miami to help the club reach new heights, and to give the fans more unforgettable moments.”

Mascherano, at one time, was the all-time leader for Argentina’s national team in international appearances; Messi has since broken that record. After Martino told the team he was stepping down, Messi was consulted about who he would want as the next coach — so it’s more than reasonable to think this hiring came with his blessing.

“I asked him, ‘What is important to you? And what do you think is important to get the best out of our roster and out of our 11 and how do we improve?” Mas said last week. “And Leo shared with me his thoughts. … Without a doubt, a familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect. Obviously, I want Leo to feel comfortable with the new trainer, with the new coach coming in.”

Mascherano is inheriting a team that had the best regular season in Major League Soccer history this year. Inter Miami went 22-4-8, setting league records for points (74) and winning percentage (.765). But the team fell short in the playoffs, falling to Atlanta United in a best-of-three first-round series.

Martino said he made the decision before the playoffs began that he would not be back in 2025. Like Mascherano, he had deep ties to Messi before coming to Inter Miami; Martino coached the world’s most decorated men’s player and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner with Barcelona and Argentina’s national team.

Mascherano was part of those Martino-coached teams as well.

“Throughout his career as one of the world’s best players and as an experienced coach, Javier has always demonstrated what makes him great — relentless determination with the knowledge, instincts and understanding to back it up,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said. “We’re very excited to welcome him to lead our team.”

The 40-year-old Mascherano also played for five seasons in the Premier League, most of that with Liverpool. He played in the World Cup four times for Argentina — 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.

He will face a daunting first year, one that could be Messi’s last with the club; the team hopes he will play in 2026 when it moves into its new home near Miami International Airport — but does not have Messi locked into a contract for that season.

The 2025 slate may include 50 matches or more for Inter Miami. There’s the 34-match MLS regular season, along with tournament appearances in Leagues Cup, the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. The team also has a preseason tour, though few details on that have been revealed other than a match in Tampa, Florida, in February.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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When your father is hailed as one of the greatest footballers to ever grace a pitch, there is a high likelihood you will follow in his footsteps, right?

Well, that appears to be the path that Thiago Messi, the son of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel, is taking.

Thiago, aged 12, turned out for Inter Miami’s under-13 team in the Newell’s Cup in Rosario, Argentina, on Monday, wearing his father’s iconic number 10 shirt.

It is the 10th edition of the youth tournament, which sees eight clubs from North and South America compete across five days.

Father Lionel was born in Rosario, where Newell’s Old Boys are based, and spent five years in the academy of the Argentine outfit prior to joining Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy as a 13-year-old.

The 37-year-old, who spent most of his career at Barcelona before moving to Paris St-Germain and then on to Inter Miami, has achieved incredible things in the sport – winning 13 league titles and the Champions League on four occasions.

He also captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and Copa America success in 2021 and 2024.

Although Messi Sr was not in attendance at the Jorge B Griffa Sports Complex, a banner showing him kissing the World Cup was watching over Thiago.

Thiago’s mother, Antonela Roccuzzo, and grandparents Jorge and Celia Messi, watched from the stands as Inter Miami lost 1-0 to host club Newell’s Old Boys.

Benjamin Suarez, the son of Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez, also featured alongside Thiago.

Inter Miami are back in action on Tuesday against Uruguayan club Penarol 91.

How unpredictable has the 2024 college football season been?

Kansas has one of those records that tells bold-faced lies to your face. We knew the Jayhawks were good. That’s why they were ranked among the 25 best teams in the country heading into this season by both myself and the Associated Press. So, while KU became the first team ever with a losing record in the FBS to win three games in a row against top 25 programs, it shocked few that Lance Leipold’s team accomplished this feat. It’s been more shocking that this team only began to find its form after the halfway mark of the season. Kansas could just as easily have been a CFP-projected selection like Arizona State is now, even after a 3-9 2023 season.

But that’s how unpredictable this year has been and how expectations for what a team can achieve remain volatile — even with the postseason just one week away. Colorado, a team that went 4-8 last year and lost to unranked Kansas last week, can still make the CFP. Indiana, a team that had won just nine games over the previous three years combined, is one win from securing its first 11-win season in program history. And, yes, the Hoosiers can make the CFP.

And now its rivalry week — the last week of a regular season that has seen all but one team suffer a loss. Unlikely upsets have been a common theme and 2024’s most exciting trait. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out my projections suffer from that volatility at least one more time.

With that said, here are my updated CFP projections:

1. Oregon
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 11-0

2. Texas
Conference: SEC
Record: 10-1

3. SMU
Conference: ACC
Record: 10-1

4. Arizona State
Conference: Big 12
Record: 9-2

5. Ohio State
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 9-1

6. Notre Dame
Conference: Independent
Record: 10-1

7. Penn State
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 10-1

8. Indiana
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 10-1

9. Georgia
Conference: SEC
Record: 9-2

10. Miami (Fla.)
Conference: ACC
Record: 10-1

11. Tennessee
Conference: SEC
Record: 9-2

12. Boise State
Conference: Mountain West
Record: 10-1

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS

1. Oregon: Bye (would then play the winner of 8. Indiana vs. 9. Georgia)

2. Texas: Bye (would then play the winner of 7. Penn State vs. 10. Miami)

3. SMU: Bye (would then play the winner of 6. Notre Dame vs. 11. Tennessee)

4. Arizona State: Bye (would then play the winner of 5. Ohio State vs. 12. Boise State)

FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS

5. Ohio State vs. 12. Boise State

As Ashton Jeanty continues to move toward breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record — needing just 566 rushing yards — a date with an Ohio State team could make for an explosive affair.

The Buckeye defense has proven stingy, holding teams to just 241.7 yards per game this season, but no team has proven capable of stopping Jeanty.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has helped lead the Broncos to a 10-1 record this season. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

6. Notre Dame vs. 11. Tennessee

Each program boasts an outstanding tailback. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has rushed for 850 yards at 7.0 yards per carry this season, while Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson has rushed for 1,307 yards with 22 touchdowns through 11 games. The last time the Vols played at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish won 41-21 in 2005.

Notre Dame sits at 10-1 heading into the final week of the regular season. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

7. Penn State vs. 10. Miami

Cam Ward and the Hurricanes would take their high-powered offense to Happy Valley against Penn State’s capable defense. The Hurricanes have the No. 1 scoring offense in the country (44.7 points per game), while the Nittany Lions rank No. 11 in scoring defense (14.6 points per game). 

Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes feature the top-ranked scoring offense in the country. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

8. Indiana vs. 9. Georgia

In what might be the surest test of the Big Ten’s mettle against SEC power Georgia, this game could help set a new standard for not just how the Big Ten must be considered in the future, but Indiana as well. Hoosier fans would not have expected to play in the CFP in August.

Georgia QB Carson Beck has thrown for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. (Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him at @RJ_Young.

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