File photo of Lionel Messi© AFP

File image of Inter Miami star Lionel Messi© AFP

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano expects to bring in several new faces to support Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer next season but says it is “impossible to think about” Brazilian Neymar being one of them. Rumours linking Neymar with a move to Miami to recreate the old ‘MSN’ Barcelona front line with Messi and Luis Suarez have resurfaced in recent days. The Brazilian, who is currently under contract to Saudi club Al-Hilal, addressed the talk in an interview.

“Obviously, playing again with Messi and Suarez would be incredible. They are my friends, we still speak to each other,”  Neymar said, according to CNN. 

“It would be interesting to revive this trio. I’m happy at Al-Hilal, I’m happy in Saudi Arabia, but who knows. Football is full of surprises,”

But MLS’s salary and squad rules mean that Miami is not currently in the position to add Neymar on a ‘Designated Player’ contract similar to Messi’s deal.

Mascherano said that the realities of the club’s squad situation meant that there was currently no possibility to bring in the 32-year-old.

“Obviously, Ney is a great player. Every team in the world wants him. But, at this moment, you know the MLS salary rules. So, for us, it’s impossible to think about him right now,” said Argentine Mascherano, who played on the same Barca team as the trio.

Mascherano was speaking at an MLS media event in Miami where Suarez was also asked about the potential arrival of his old teammate.

“Well, obviously everyone knows what Neymar is as a player, what we generated when we were together. Today we are in a different era, much older than we were at the time, but you are always excited to have a player like him and for the quality he can bring to the team,” said the Uruguayan.

“Afterwards, as he said and as everyone will say, anything can happen in football, but, well, they are expectations and hopes… but it is difficult and very complicated to make them come true.”

While Miami would have to offload some players to open up a spot for Neymar on a high-paying contract, Mascherano has more modest goals.

Miami, which suffered a shock exit at the hands of Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs after dominating the regular season, has sold several defenders since Argentine Mascherano took over from compatriot Gerardo Martino in late November.

Asked whether he was looking to bring in reinforcements to the back line, Mascherano said: “We are working on that, we are working on that.

“We have had several departures due to loans that have ended, due to some sales, due to people that we have not been able to renew and we are trying to finalise some additions,” he said.

“I have faith and I’m almost certain that in the next few days some of the reinforcements we have asked for will be finalised and from there we can start to shape the squad to be able to start the pre-season.”

To be held in the United States between June 15 to July 13, 2025, the revamped continental football club competition, FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will see 32 clubs from around the world compete to be crowned world champions. The draw took place in Miami on Thursday, featuring a plethora of continental and domestic champions from every continent, as per the Olympics.com. Among the big teams competing are UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid of Spain, Brazil’s Botafogo who won the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and Al Ahly of Egypt, who have claimed three of the last four CAF Champions League titles.

For the first time in the tournament’s 24-year history, 32 clubs will take part in the Club World Cup in the same format used in the World Cup, which is contested by nations.

Typically, the Club World Cup has been contested with six to eight teams, but the new format will see the most teams in the competition’s history.

Qualified teams were determined by the winners of the continental club competitions, such as the Champions League, and the confederation’s four-year rankings.

Of the 32 teams, Europe (whose confederation is UEFA) has the most representation with 12 teams, followed by South America (CONMEBOL) with six teams.

There are then four teams each from Asia (AFC), Africa (AFC) & North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF).

Finally, Oceania (OFC) has one team present, while the final slot was allocated to the host nation’s domestic champions, which was Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

The teams will be divided into eight groups of four, playing a round-robin group stage with the top two advancing to the knockout stages, as per Olympics.com.

Although the tournament layout is confirmed, the full schedule is yet to be announced. The opening match will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 15 June 2025, while the final will be on 13 July 2025 at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.

Groups of FIFA Club World Cup 2025:

Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly and Inter Miami CF

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders FC.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis, Chelsea andLeon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey and Internazionale.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad AC, Al Ain and Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca and RB Salzburg.

File photo of Lionel Messi.© AFP

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will kick off FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup when the Major League Soccer side take on Egypt’s Al Ahly in the June 15 opener, the draw for the tournament revealed on Thursday. Brazilian team Palmeiras and Portugal’s Porto complete Group A alongside Argentina World Cup winner Messi, whose Miami team were handed a spot by FIFA after finishing top of the regular season standings in MLS. Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate, Brazilian Neymar, will have a reunion with La Liga rivals and European champions Real Madrid in Group H.

Twelve European clubs will feature in the tournament with Manchester City facing Juventus in Group G of a tournament which FIFA president Gianni Infantino said would “start a new era in club football”.

Paris Saint-Germain were drawn in a tough group with Atletico Madrid, Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo of Brazil and Seattle Sounders.

FIFA has had to deal with some scepticism over the need for the tournament and the chances of it capturing the imagination of fans but there was plenty of support for the competition among those at the draw.

Club officials and former players gathered for Thursday’s draw and US President-elect Donald Trump sent his best wishes in a video message before the ceremony, which took place during a 90-minute live broadcast from a television studio in Miami.

“The event is going to be incredible,” said Trump in his message where he praised Infantino as a “winner”.

“We’ve known each other a long time and I’m so honoured to have this kind of relationship because soccer is going through the roof as everyone knows,” he added.

The USA will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.

Clubs supportive

Trump’s daughter Ivanka took part in the draw which was presented by former Juventus and Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero and featured celebrities such as model Adriana Lima.

The final of the tournament will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13.

FIFA had struggled to find sponsors and broadcasters for the new tournament but on Wednesday announced a global deal with streaming company DAZN, who will show the games for free.

The world governing body has faced opposition from some in the game over the new tournament.

FIFpro and the European Leagues body filed a joint complaint to the European Commission against FIFA over the introduction of the tournament into the international match calendar.

Opponents of the new tournament have said it adds further congestion to an already crowded schedule and increases the workload of players.

But there was little but backing for the competition from the clubs and leagues who will be represented next year.

“We are very supportive of this tournament, We are excited,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also chairman of the European Clubs Association.

Al-Khelaifi said the tournament was a better way for clubs to perform in the USA than in pre-season friendly tours and would help PSG to spread their brand.

There was also support from Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer and vice-chair of the World Leagues Association.

“The tournament took time to generate all the interest that you are seeing here today,” said the American.

“Good things come to those that sort of put in the work and FIFA put in the work and we’re going to have lots of our stadiums involved, 

“There are 100 million fans who follow what we call league (club) soccer and they’re going to be interested to see MLS teams and Mexican teams and see teams from all Europe, South America and the rest of the world, so I’m excited about it, I really am,” added Garber.

On-fire Lionel Messi scored his second hat-trick of the week and Luis Suarez scored twice as Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution 6-2 to smash MLS’s regular season points record. Miami’s win, in their final game of the regular season, took them to 74 points – one more than the previous record, set by New England in 2021. Messi, who came off the bench in the 58th minute and led the late flurry of goals, has now scored 20 goals in 19 appearances in MLS with his former Barcelona team-mate Suarez also notching 20, from 27 games.

The challenge of breaking the record added some spice to the final game of the regular season with Inter having already secured the Supporters’ Shield for the best record in the regular season to stamp themselves clear favourites in the MLS Cup playoffs which start next week.

¡Messi aplastante!pic.twitter.com/X1lLki6t8B

— MLS Español (@MLSes) October 19, 2024

Miami had trailed 2-0 before Suarez scored twice before half-time to send Gerardo Martino’s team in level at the interval.

Goals from Argentine Luca Langoni and Colombian Dylan Borrero in the 34th minute had the home crowd chanting for Messi’s introduction from the bench but it was Uruguayan Suarez who began the comeback.

A firm left-foot finish from the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker, pulled one back, after good work from David Martinez.

Then Suarez levelled with a fine solo finish, making space for himself and switching to his right foot before drilling home.

Messi, who had scored a hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia on Tuesday, came off the bench in the 58th minute and immediately helped put the team ahead finding Jordi Alba who set up Benjamin Cremaschi for a tap-in.

New England thought they had drawn level with a goal from striker Bobby Wood but the effort was disallowed for handball following a VAR review.

Messi then made it 4-2, collecting a back-heeled pass from Suarez before brilliantly blasting into the far bottom corner.

The Argentine was on target again when he latched on to a superb pass from Jordi Alba and made no mistake and then he completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute when he met a volleyed cross from Suarez with a precise first time finish.

Messi’s three goals came within an 11-minute spell and after his two month injury absence after the Copa America he now looks back to his best.

“After the major injury we had to be very careful with his recovery and reintegration into the team and both the national team and ourselves here were very careful with that issue,” said Martino.

“I have the feeling that we have him in an ideal situation to face the most important part of the year,” added the Argentine.

Martino said that while Miami needed to cut out some of their errors, the squad head into the playoffs on a high after breaking the points record.

“For the team this is another boost of confidence. These 74 points were not something we had planned, or had as a goal when the season started, but when it was in front of us we tried to go for it,” he said.

At the post-game celebration of the Supporters Shield success, club co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas were joined by FIFA president Gianni Infantino who announced that the Shield had earned the team a place in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Elsewhere in the last round of the regular season in MLS, Montreal clinched a place in the playoffs with a 2-0 win over New York City.

The victory secured eighth place in the Eastern Conference and the Canadian side will play ninth-placed Atlanta United in the wildcard round on Tuesday for a chance to play Miami in the first round.

Atlanta took the final spot in the East with a 2-1 win at Orlando City.

Lionel Messi in action for Inter Miami© AFP

Lionel Messi grabbed the equaliser as a misfiring Inter Miami were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer on Saturday. Elsewhere, the Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, New York City, LAFC and Orlando City all secured their places in the playoffs. Despite the setback of a third straight draw, Miami — already assured of a place in the playoffs — remain top of the Eastern Conference and the Supporters Shield regular season standings.

Charlotte, coached by former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith, took the lead in the 57th minute when a low shot from Brandt Bronico deflected off Karol Swiderski and beat Miami keeper Drake Callender.

The goal added some needed urgency to Miami’s approach and Jordi Alba found his former Barcelona team-mate Messi with a cross from the left, but the Argentine’s header was straight at goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.

The Croatian keeper then did well to keep out a Messi drive from the edge of the box.

Moments later Messi, just outside the area, carved out just enough space for a shot and buried his left-foot drive into the bottom corner for his 15th goal in as many games this season.

Miami thought they had won a penalty in the 77th minute when Diego Gomez went down under challenge from Charlotte’s French defender Adilson Malanda and referee Ramy Touchan pointed to the spot.

Malanda received a second yellow card but he and his team were saved by the VAR, who ruled he had played the ball.

Deep in stoppage time, Miami had a great chance to take all three points when Alba headed across goal, but Luis Suarez under pressure from Kahlina fired over the bar from a yard out.

Miami are on 65 points with three games remaining, champions Columbus Crew have 57 and Cincinnati 56 in the East.

Miami can clinch the Supporters’ Shield with a victory or a draw away to Columbus on Wednesday and head coach Gerardo Martino said that frustration with another draw should be kept in perspective.

“We were a team that habitually lost for years, and now, we are a team that habitually wins, and that raises expectations,” he said.

“We have worked very hard to change the perception of this team, and we’ve done it having to use many different line-ups due to injuries and national team duty.

“Yes, we are frustrated with three draws in a row… but it’s not like we did not have chances to win,” he added.

In the ‘Hudson River derby’, New York City romped to a 5-1 win at the New York Red Bulls with two goals from Alonso Martinez as the visitors led 4-1 at half-time.

The win secured NYCFC a place in the playoffs and other results meant the Red Bulls had the consolation of also getting into the post-season.

Orlando City are also in the mix for a run at MLS Cup after an impressive 3-1 win at FC Dallas and LAFC, beaten by Columbus in last year’s final, booked their place in the playoffs with a 2-1 win at FC Cincinnati.

Results in other games meant that Seattle and Houston were sure of their place in the post-season even before their game later on Saturday.

Inter Miami’s charge towards Major League Soccer’s single-season points record suffered a setback on Saturday after a last-gasp injury-time equalizer from James Sands snatched a 1-1 draw for New York City FC against the Eastern Conference leaders. Miami, who are already assured of their post-season berth, looked to be storming towards their 20th win of the season after Lionel Messi helped set up a 75th-minute goal for Ecuadorian international Leonardo Campana at Yankee Stadium to make it 1-0.

But with victory beckoning for the away side, New York defender Sands leapt high to meet a Santiago Rodriguez corner in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time with a thumping header that flew into the net past Herons goalkeeper Drake Callender.

The result puts a dent into Miami’s hopes of beating New England’s all-time single season points tally of 73 set in 2021.

The draw leaves Miami with 64 points from 30 games, meaning that Gerardo Martino’s men must take nine points from a possible 12 remaining to equal the Revolution’s record, or 10 from 12 to beat it.

Despite the late equalizer, Miami could have few complaints after New York grabbed a deserved point from Saturday’s early fixture.

The hosts could easily have taken the lead earlier in the game only for poor finishing that let Miami off the hook.

Messi looked lively from the outset and almost opened the scoring with a fourth-minute free-kick from just outside the area that whistled past the post.

However, New York continued to create the better chances and almost took the lead when Rodriguez’s free-kick in the 11th minute rattled off the post and ricocheted off Miami goalkeeper Callender for a corner.

Keaton Parks missed a glorious chance to put New York ahead in the 47th minute, blazing well wide with the goal at his mercy in a huge let-off for Miami.

Miami looked to have made New York pay for their profligacy 15 minutes from time. Messi swept a pass out wide to Jordi Alba in space, and the former Barcelona man squared for Campana to tuck away a close-range finish.

That goal against the run of play looked to have decided it, but after a late New York attack resulted in a corner, Rodriguez swung in a pinpoint cross from the set-piece to allow Sands to head home.