Category: Lionel Messi

By PAUL NEWBERRY ATLANTA (AP) — Alexey Miranchuk scored on a booming shot in the 84th minute to give Atlanta United a 2-2 tie with MLS-leading Inter Miami, which brought on Lionel Messi as a substitute Wednesday night looking to move a step closer to the Supporters’ Shield. After making a triumphant return to the Miami lineup with two goals and an assist last weekend, Messi started this game on the bench. Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of his 37-year-old star, who is coming back from an injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch. Messi trotted on in the 61st, shortly...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi made a successful return after a lengthy absence, scoring two goals and assisting on the third to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night. The Argentine star winger and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had not played with Inter Miami since June 1 because of national team commitments and a right ankle injury sustained in a 1-0 victory over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14. “A little bit tired because of the heat and humidity of Miami but I wanted to return so much after such a long time away,” Messi said...

CHICAGO (AP) — Luis Suárez scored two goals in a second straight match to spark Inter Miami to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night. Inter Miami (18-4-5) led 1-0 at halftime thanks to an own goal by Chicago defender Tobias Salquist in the 25th minute. Then, Suarez scored in the first minute of the second half for a two-goal lead and the 37-year-old forward made it 3-0 in the 65th minute with his single-season club-record 16th goal in his first season in the league. Diego Gómez notched his seventh assist on the first goal. Defender Jordi Alba earned his eight assist on the second...

FORT LAUDERDALE  — Luis Suárez scored 30 seconds into the match and again in the sixth minute and that was all goalkeeper Drake Callender needed as Inter Miami beat FC Cincinnati 2-0 on Saturday night to become the first team this season to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Inter Miami (17-4-5) avenged a 6-1 drubbing in Cincinnati earlier this season and moved eight points ahead of second-place Cincinnati (15-8-3) in the Eastern Conference and in the Supporters’ Shield race. Rookie defender Marcelo Weigandt picked up his first career assist and fellow rookie defender Yaniick Bright notched his...

FORT LAUDERDALE — Rookie Federico Redondo scored the first two goals of his career in the second half after assisting on a first-half score by Diego Gómez and Inter Miami posted a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday night. Neither team scored until Redondo fed Gómez for a goal in the 43rd minute to give Inter Miami (15-4-5) a 1-0 lead at halftime. It was the third goal for Gómez and the third assist for Redondo. Redondo’s goals came in a six-minute span. The 21-year-old midfielder used an assist from defender Julian Gressel in the 53rd minute to forge a two-goal lead and found the net again...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Teenager Benjamin Cremaschi scored late in the second half to rally Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC on Wednesday night, extending a club-record unbeaten run on the road to eight. Inter Miami (14-3-5) maintained a two-point lead in the Supporters’ Shield race over FC Cincinnati with its fourth straight 2-1 victory despite playing all four without Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. The pair, playing for Argentina and Uruguay, respectively, in the Copa America, have accounted for 12 goals apiece and 18 assists — 13 by Messi. Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Defenders Ian Fray and Jordi Alba scored four minutes apart late in the first half and Inter Miami held on for a 2-1 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night. Neither team scored until Fray, making his second start and appearance of the season for Inter Miami (13-3-5), took a pass from defender Julian Gressel in the 40th minute and found the net for the second time. It was the third goal of his career after making seven starts and 11 appearances last season as a rookie. Gressel’s helper was his eighth of the campaign. Alba added some insurance with a spectacular long-range...

FORT LAUDERDALE — Ian Fray and Leo Campana each scored in the opening 22 minutes, and short-handed Inter Miami beat the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Wednesday night without Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. Miami (12-3-5) played without Messi, Suárez and midfielder Matías Rojas due to international duty in the Copa América. Columbus (7-3-6), the reigning MLS Cup champions, had won its last four road games. Columbus hasn’t played at Lower.com Field since May 11, a string of six straight games. Fray, in his first MLS game since July 15, 2023 due to an ACL surgery, opened the scoring in the 10th minute by...

CHESTER, Pa. — Leonardo Frugis Afonso scored a goal in stoppage time, Julian Gressel added a goal and short-handed Inter Miami beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1 Saturday night. David Ruiz, a 20-year-old midfielder, was shown his second yellow card in the 69th minute and Miami played a man down until the 84th, Tomás Avilés was shown his shown a red card, leaving Miami down two men the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez did not play (international duty) for Miami (11-3-5). The duo is tied for third in MLS with 12 goals apiece this season. Afonso, on a breakaway, beat defender...

By ALANIS THAMES (AP Sports Writer) FORT LAUDERDALE — Lionel Messi scored his 12th goal of the season in his last Major League Soccer match before the Copa America, and MLS-leading Inter Miami came from behind to tie St. Louis City 3-3 on Saturday night. Miami (10-3-5, 35 points) took a two-point lead atop the Eastern Conference standings and in MLS overall, ahead of second-place Cincinnati (10-3-3, 33 points), which did not play Saturday. Luis Suárez also scored his 12th goal for Inter Miami, and Jordi Alba had the tying goal in the 85th minute. Suárez and Messi are now tied for the team lead...