MLS

Not only does Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi stand as MLS' highest-paid player at $20,446,667.00 in guaranteed compensation for 2024, but that figure is also more than the combined payrolls for 25 of the other 28 teams in the league.

Those figures (as of April 25) are per the MLS Players Association, and ESPN's Jeff Carlisle relayed them on Thursday.

However, as Carlisle noted, Messi stands to make even more money: "The amount reflects just the playing portion of Messi's compensation, with the Argentina star also set to benefit from other revenue streams such as his endorsement deal with Adidas and a revenue sharing agreement with league broadcast partner Apple."

The only teams with higher payrolls than Messi's monetary figure are Toronto FC ($31.41 million), Chicago Fire ($25.13 million) and Nashville SC ($21.4 million). Inter Miami, obviously, is atop the payroll list at $41.68 million.

Messi has clearly been worth the return on investment for Inter Miami, which sits first in the 15-team Eastern Conference with 28 points. Last year, Inter Miami was notably last in the East before Messi's midseason arrival.

In nine matches this year, Messi has scored 10 goals alongside 12 assists. Inter Miami has posted seven wins and two draws in his nine matches. Without him, the team has won just once in five matches alongside two losses and two draws.

Attendance has also ballooned with Messi aboard, as one can imagine. Inter Miami had 12,637 fans per game in 2022 (the lowest in MLS). That attendance has grown to over 21,000 this season.

Understandably, he's also a major draw for the league.

Per Asli Pelit of Sportico, 65,612 showed up to watch visiting Inter Miami play the New England Revolution. A sellout crowd of over 72,000 saw Messi and Inter Miami play Sporting Kansas City earlier this season.

So the impact of one of the sport's greatest-ever superstars stateside hasn't gone unnoticed. That was likely in mind last July when his deal was struck.

Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico noted last July that Messi's total compensation his on par with other top American sports league stars:

"Messi's Miami deal is worth between $50 million and $60 million per year from his salary, signing bonus and equity in the team. It is on par with what the top earners in the NBA and NFL make in salary. Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic's current deal is worth $55 million a year on average, while 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is at $52 million."

In essence, Messi has certainly been worth the lofty price ever since arriving to Miami nearly a year ago.

The Philadelphia Union unveiled a new signing in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to New York City FC.

A raccoon ran onto the field midway through the first half and displayed a level of elusiveness that would make Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi blush. He was briefly afforded the run of the Subaru Park turf.

Apparently the furry intruder, appropriately dubbed Raquinho, made history as well.

Raquinho's surprise appearance didn't have an uplifting effect for Philadelphia. The Union trailed 1-0 thanks to a goal from Adrián Martínez when he arrived, and Hannes Wolf doubled NYCFC's lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Julián Carranza got a goal back in the 47th minute, but the home side was unable to find the back of the net again.

So far, there's nothing to substantiate the rumors that Raquinho is on the radar of the top clubs around Europe ahead of a potential summer transfer.

Lionel Messi was not happy that new MLS rules sidelined him for two minutes following an injury scare in the first half of Inter Miami's 3-2 Saturday night win over Montreal.

"These types of rules...it's going bad," Messi said, per ESPN's Lizzy Becherano.

Messi's comments, originally made in Spanish, were made as the Inter Miami star turned to the camera and shook his head over being sidelined.

Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino agreed after the game that the rule "must be revised," per Becherano.

Messi went down clutching his left knee in the 40th minute after being fouled by Montréal defender George Campbell. After being looked at by medical staff, Messi got up and walked to the sideline.

According to the MLS rulebook for the 2024 season, "If the referee stops play due to a potential player injury in which the player remains on the ground for more than 15 seconds and the medical staff enters the field of play, the player may be required to leave the field of play for two minutes."

This two-minute period begins when the ball is back in play, according to the rules.

This does not apply if the injury is caused by a foul that resulted in a yellow or red card, according to the rulebook, but Campbell did not receive either.

This rule is meant to give "medical staffs time to treat players, while also allowing match play to resume quickly," according to the league.

But Martino expressed frustration that lack of a yellow card on Campbell impacted Messi's ability to play.

"As I understand it, the team that suffered the foul was punished," Martino said, per Becherano. "With these new rule changes, there are situations that must be revised. The infraction was clear and was a yellow card, and ultimately it was us that lost Leo for two minutes."

Inter Miami went on to win despite no scoresheet marks from Messi, who has 10 goals and 12 assists in nine games during his second MLS season. The Argentinian national star and former FC Barcelona captain leads all league players in assists despite missing four games.

FYI: There's officially a 14-year-old on an MLS roster.

Meet Cavan Sullivan ↓

Philadelphia signed Sullivan to the largest 'homegrown' contract in league history yesterday, though money specifics weren't disclosed.

• This isn't a minor-league situation: It's a first-team contract
• He's considered one of the top prospects in the world 
  

If he debuts by July 29, he'll become the youngest North American pro athlete, breaking Freddy Adu's record.

He also has a clause in his contract that allows him to transfer to Manchester City as soon as he turns 18.

So: MLS fans, enjoy him while you can.

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The Philadelphia Union announced Thursday they signed Cavan Sullivan to the largest homegrown contract in the history of MLS.

There is a notable catch, though. ESPN's Kyle Bonagura reported the deal includes a clause that allows the 14-year-old to transfer to Manchester City after he turns 18.

According to Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Borussia Dortmund was among the other clubs that pursued Sullivan and had built inroads with the family dating back to 2020.

The teenager made the final call on where he'd eventually be playing overseas, but it sounds as though it was a family decision. His father, Brendan, told Tannenwald that Manchester City made an impressive pitch.

"The level of detail that Man City went down to in terms of the plan, the development, all the different variations and pivot points at which things could change, could toggle into something else," he said. "The level of scouting they did on Cavan, the level of scouting they did against other people in other countries all over, it was ridiculous. … We truly had to look at each other and be like, 'This can't be real, that they did this amount.'"

FIFA rules, with certain exceptions, prohibit players under 18 from moving internationally. Christian Pulisic was able to join Dortmund when he was 16 because he obtained a Croatian passport.

In the case of the Premier League, the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union ushered in more stringent rules for under-18 players. Because of that, Sullivan's dream of playing for Manchester City will have to be on hold for another four years regardless of how fast his game is advancing on the field.

Even without the transfer rules in place, staying stateside would arguably be the best move for Sullivan's long-term development. The Philadelphia Union provide continuity since he has been with their academy since 2020, and playing in MLS rather than one of the top European leagues makes it more likely he gets regular first-team action when he's good enough for the senior level.

Lionel Messi broke multiple MLS records on Saturday night as the Inter Miami star dominated throughout the second half of the team's 6-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

Messi finished the evening with five assists, securing a new MLS single-game record. Shockingly enough, all five occurred in the second half which set a new league record for assists in a half as well.

The 36-year-old maintained a strong connection with former FC Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez, as the Uruguayan finished the night with a hat-trick. All three of his goals were assisted by Messi.

Messi wasn't done breaking records just yet, as he scored a goal of his own in the 50th minute. The Barcelona connection remained strong, as Suárez assisted on the goal. With six total goal contributions in a single game, Messi set a new MLS record.

The Red Bulls jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage, although Inter Miami responded with six unanswered goals across a 33-minute span in the second half. While New York tacked on one final goal after the 90th minute, the result was still a lopsided Miami win.

Messi has now recorded 10 goals and 12 assists in eight appearances this year, becoming the first Inter Miami player to record double-digit totals in both categories during a single season (h/t Paul Tenorio of The Athletic).

He's continued to set MLS records throughout the 2024 season, as he became the first player in league history to record five consecutive games with multiple goal contributions during an April 27 victory over the New England Revolution.

After Saturday's action, Messi now leads all MLS players in assists this season and is tied with Suárez for the league lead in goals.

FC Cincinnati's Aaron Boupendza was involved in an altercation at a bar Monday that resulted in the forward's jaw getting broken, according to Tom Bogert and Pablo Maurer of The Athletic.

In a police report obtained by The Athletic, a witness alleged that local professional boxer Quashawn Toler was the one who struck Boupendza. Toler has been listed as a suspect in the report.

On Wednesday, the club announced that Boupendza would undergo surgery to repair a broken jaw that would keep him out for six to eight weeks. FC Cincinnati described the situation as an "off-field injury."

While Bogert and Maurer reported that the club views the forward as a "victim" in the situation allegedly involving Toler, Cincinnati's "patience is growing thin" with Boupendza.

Prior to the latest incident, the team "was ready to move on" from the 27-year-old "this summer" and look for a transfer.

In 13 matches across all competitions in 2024, Boupendza recorded three goals. He was previously suspended by the club for disciplinary reasons and was also fined by the MLS on March 5 in violation of the league's Mass Confrontation Policy.

After missing nearly a month of action, Lionel Messi will make his return for Inter Miami's match against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, per The Athletic's Melanie Anzidei.

Messi suffered a hamstring injury in Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Nashville in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game. He had a goal before being pulled 50 minutes into the match.

According to Anzidei, Messi was nearing a return earlier this week and was a game-time decision for Miami's CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Monterrey, though he didn't make an appearance.

Now, he'll be back on the pitch this weekend to try and pick up where he left off. He's notched five goals, three assists, 18 shots and has logged an 82.5 percent pass rate through three games played this year.

In his MLS debut season in 2023, Messie logged a goal, two assists and 20 shots in six games played as Inter Miami finished with a 9-7-18 record.

This season, Inter Miami is off to a 3-2-2 start and sits in second in the Eastern Conference just behind Cincinnati. Luis Suárez, who joined the club this season, is off to a blazing start in his MLS career, notching five goals through the first seven matches.

With the duo of Messi and Suárez back on the pitch together, Inter Miami will be looking for a big match on Saturday.

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is not expected to play in Saturday's MLS match against D.C. United due to a leg injury.

According to Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald, Inter Miami assistant coach Javi Morales said Friday that Messi is "practically ruled out" as the team awaits test results.

Kaufman added that it is unclear if Messi will be able to play in Argentina's friendlies against El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 22 and against Costa Rica in Los Angeles on March 26.

Per ESPN.com, Inter Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said this week that Messi left Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions Cup's round of 16 win over Nashville SC in the 50th minute due to a "muscle overload in his right leg."

Martino also said coming out of the win over Nashville that he didn't want to "take any risks" with Messi's health and considered him unlikely to play Saturday.

Before exiting Wednesday's match, the 36-year-old Messi was his dominant self, accounting for one goal and one assist in the victory.

Since arriving in MLS last year after a two-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has appeared in 19 matches across all competitions for Inter Miami, scoring 16 goals.

That includes five goals in five matches this season for an Inter Miami team that is tied for the top spot in MLS with seven points through four matches.

Messi is perhaps entering the twilight of his career, so injuries are going to be more common and Inter Miami is likely to be cautious when there are any questions about his health.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 2022 FIFA World Cup champion is still an unstoppable force when he plays, though, and sitting him against D.C. United could help ensure that he is fit for even bigger matches as the season rolls on.

It won't be easy to replace a player who has the second-most goals in major competitive soccer history with over 800, but Inter Miami do have another veteran star they can lean on.

Luis Suárez, who was previously Messi's teammate with Barcelona, will likely be the go-to guy from an attacking perspective until Messi returns.

Suárez has over 500 career goals in his own right and four in six matches so far this season with Inter Miami, so he could be Miami's key to success against D.C. United on Saturday.

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is expected to miss the team's next match after leaving Wednesday's contest with a leg injury.

According ESPN.com, Inter Miami head coach coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino declared that Messi is likely to sit out Saturday's MLS match against D.C. United, saying: "I don't want to take any risks, but I imagine that he won't be available for Saturday's game. That's the only thing I can say about it now. We'll have some tests soon and we'll see how he feels."

Messi tallied a goal and an assist in Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup's round of 16 on Wednesday, but Martino noted that when he left the game in the 50th minute, it was due to a "muscle overload in his right leg."

The 36-year-old Messi signed with Inter Miami last year after dominating at the highest level of soccer with Barcelona and then Paris Saint-Germain for nearly two decades.

Messi has been a force when he has played for Miami, scoring 11 goals in 14 matches across all competitions last season and five goals in five matches so far this season.

However, given Messi's age and the investment Inter Miami have made in arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, they have been careful not to take any chances with his health.

Case in point, Inter Miami held Messi out of last weekend's loss to CF Montréal, which was the first defeat of the season for Miami, who also have two wins and one draw.

Martino noted that Messi missing some matches is something the club planned for, saying: "We knew when the season started that Messi was not going to play all games. If he's not playing or we have to replace him, for me it's not just missing out any other player, he's the best player of all time."

Messi is a legendary figure in the world of soccer, having won eight Ballon d'Or awards as the best player in the world. He is also a four-time UEFA Champions League winner, a one-time FIFA World Cup champion with Argentina and is second in career goals scored with over 800, placing him behind only Cristiano Ronaldo.

Inter Miami do not have a suitable replacement for Messi when he is unable to play, but they do have another veteran superstar on the roster who can pick up the slack in Uruguay's Luis Suárez.

Suárez, who is 15th in career goals with over 500, was previously Messi's teammate at Barcelona, and they have reunited in MLS.

The 37-year-old Suárez already has four goals in his first season with Inter Miami, and he was the beneficiary of a feed from Messi on a goal against Nashville.

Suárez will be tasked with leading the way for Miami if Messi cannot play against D.C. United on Saturday. After that, Messi's next chance to play will come March 23 against the New York Red Bulls.