Category: Argentina

Louis van Gaal: World Cup was rigged for Lionel Messi

The former Dutch coach is still irked by how things went down in the World Cup quarterfinal

Former Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal has charged that the World Cup was rigged so Lionel Messi and Argentina would win.

Messi finally lifted the game’s biggest prize in December, as Argentina defeated France on penalties in the World Cup final.

On its way to World Cup glory, Argentina got past the Netherlands on penalties in a contentious quarterfinal that ended 2-2. Following the game, Messi and Van Gaal had words on the sideline in what appeared to be an acrimonious exchange.

Nine months after the game and his subsequent resignation as Netherlands coach, it was clear that Van Gaal is still rather bitter about how things went down that night at the Lusail Stadium.

“I do not really want to say much about it,” Van Gaal told reporters on Tuesday. “When you see how Argentina scored their goals and how we scored our goals, and how some Argentina players overstepped the mark and were not punished, then I think it was all a premeditated game.”

Asked what he meant Van Gaal replied: “I mean everything I said.”

Van Gaal was then asked if he was saying that Messi was predetermined to be world champion.

“I think so, yeah,” was his reply.

After Van Gaal’s comments, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said he did not agree with his former manager.

“I heard it this morning, indeed. And that’s actually it,” the defender told NOS. “It is of course his opinion. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion. I do not share the same opinion.”

Ironically, after the game in December it was Messi and his teammate Emiliano Martínez who were fuming at referee Mateu Lahoz, of whom Messi said: “FIFA has to review it. They can’t put a referee who is not up to the task in this instance.”

Martínez added: “The ref was just giving everything for them. He gave 10 minutes [stoppage time]. For no reason, 10 minutes. He was giving free kicks outside the box for them, like two, three times. He just wanted them to score, that’s basically it. So hopefully we don’t have that ref anymore, he’s useless.”

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Argentina calls up nearly as many MLS players as USMNT

A record three MLS players will be joining Argentina ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Argentina has called in a record three MLS players for its upcoming World Cup qualifiers, with Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United) and Alan Velasco (FC Dallas) all getting the call.

The world champions will play Ecuador on September 7 and Bolivia on September 12 as they begin their qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

With three call-ups, Argentina is only one short of the four MLS players the U.S. national team called in for its upcoming friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman.

Ironically, one of those USMNT call-ups — Inter Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi — is still eligible to play for Argentina. The other three MLS players called in by Gregg Berhalter are Drake Callender (Inter Miami), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United) and Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes).

Almada and Messi were teammates on Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning squad. Almada, who played six minutes total in the tournament, became the first active MLS player to win the World Cup.

Messi, of course, played a considerably bigger role, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player as he finally lifted the game’s biggest international prize with Argentina.

For Velasco, the call-up represents the first time he’s been invited to join Argentina’s senior national team. The 21-year-old winger has been previously called into the Albiceleste’s U-17 side.

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Martino: Messi will miss ‘at least’ three games with Argentina duty

Inter Miami will have to win without the Argentine star to make the MLS postseason

If Inter Miami hopes to make an improbable push to the MLS playoffs, it won’t be able to count on Lionel Messi the entire way through.

Messi made a spectacular MLS debut on Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls, coming off the bench to score a late clincher in a 2-0 win at Red Bull Arena.

The win pushed Inter Miami off the bottom of the Eastern Conference table, but the club still has a mountain to climb as it sits 11 points off the final playoff spot in the East.

With Messi onboard, however, anything seems possible for the Herons. The Argentine star has led the team to a nine-game unbeaten run since his arrival, which has included a Leagues Cup title.

But speaking after the game against the Red Bulls, Inter head coach Tata Martino said that Messi would miss at least three of the club’s games down the stretch due to international duty.

“I firmly believe that it’s pivotal to appreciate the significance of this victory, as we must adapt to the reality that Leo will be joining his national team,” Martino said.

“He’ll miss at least three games this year and next year it will be the same, and we need to understand that when he’s not here the team still needs to provide results.”

Argentina will face Ecuador and Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers on September 7 and 12, and will also have World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru on October 12 and 17.

Inter Miami faces Sporting Kansas City at home on September 9, a game Messi looks certain to miss if he’s called up by Argentina. Inter Miami’s September 16 game at Atlanta United could be in question for Messi as well.

Inter Miami plays on October 7 against FC Cincinnati and then on October 18 and 21 against Charlotte FC, with Messi potentially missing one or more of those matches.

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Argentina coach Scaloni defends MLS quality as Messi keeps dominating

Messi has nine goals in just six games with Inter Miami thus far

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has defended the level of Major League Soccer amid Lionel Messi’s red-hot start to life in North America.

Messi has scored an incredible nine goals in just six Leagues Cup games since making his Inter Miami debut last month. His latest strike on Tuesday helped Miami to a shockingly easy 4-1 win over Philadelphia in the semifinal.

The ease with which Messi and his longtime Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have settled in has led to some derision over the perceived level of MLS.

But Scaloni, who coached Messi and co. to a World Cup win in 2022, has said he doesn’t think the league is low quality.

“I don’t think the level is bad,” Scaloni said at a press conference in Miami on Tuesday.

“On the contrary, I was at Inter Miami’s game versus Charlotte (FC) and I didn’t think it was bad. In fact the level was acceptable. Every football match is difficult. You have to play them. There’s no doubt that (MLS) is a league that’s trending up. It’s improving and it’s attracting footballers to come and play here. It’s a country that’s also attractive. But I can see the challenges that MLS presents and I’ve seen good teams here.

“I know that this league is going to continue to improve. There are some very good players here and even better players will make their way here.”

Scaloni was speaking at an event to mark the Argentina Football Federation’s planned expansion into North America, with a large training complex near Miami serving as the centerpiece.

The coach said that having a home base in North America would be crucial ahead of the 2024 Copa AmĂŠrica and 2026 World Cup, an event he is still hopeful Messi will play in despite having said multiple times that 2022 would be his last World Cup.

“In principle it is enough that he plays football and is happy,” Scaloni said of Messi. “For us it is already a step forward. And because of how he is, with his competitive DNA, wherever he is, he is always going to compete. So let’s hope he can be at the next World Cup. I won’t be the one to say no, have no doubt about that.”

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Messi vows that he won’t treat MLS like a retirement league

The 36-year-old says his mentality won’t change after he joins Inter Miami

Lionel Messi has said he will give his all in MLS after he completes his imminent move to Inter Miami.

The Argentine superstar is set to be presented as an Inter Miami player on Sunday at “The Unveil” — an event at which his former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are also expected to be introduced. None of the trio have officially signed as Inter Miami players as of yet.

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has said Messi will make between $50-60 million per year in his contract, and will likely debut in a July 21 Leagues Cup game against Cruz Azul.

Some have accused Messi of looking to ease into an early retirement with his move to MLS. His own former club Barcelona said in a terse press release: “President [Joan] Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.”

Before traveling to Florida to finalize his move, Messi gave an interview with TelevisiĂłn PĂşblica Argentina in which he looked to counter that perception, saying he is not going to Miami for a vacation.

“We are happy with the decision we made,” Messi said, referring to himself and his family. “Prepared and eager to face the new challenge, the new change.

“My mentality and my head are not going to change and I am going to try to give my all for myself and my new club, and continue to perform at the highest level.”

On Tuesday, Messi and his family were seen at an airport in Miami after landing on a private plane.

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Messi celebrates Inter Miami move by scoring fastest goal of career

The Argentina star has ticked a new item off his ever-shrinking career checklist

Lionel Messi has accomplished a lot in his career, but it’s never too late to tick a few new items off his ever-shrinking checklist.

One of those new feats was accomplished on Thursday in Argentina’s 2-0 friendly win over Australia in China, as Messi scored within the first two minutes of a game for the first time in his career.

In the second minute of the game, Messi collected a pass near the top of the arc, evaded a defender and curled an unstoppable shot past Aussie goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

The time on the clock was officially 1:19, marking the fastest goal Messi has ever scored. During his illustrious career, the 35-year-old has now scored in each possible minute of regulation — except for the first minute.

Messi’s goal came one week after announcing his intention to join Inter Miami in a milestone deal for the club and MLS. The signing is not yet finalized.

Messi will not travel with Argentina to Jakarta for Monday’s game against Indonesia as he and his family take time off before a move to the United States.

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Messi: I won’t play in the 2026 World Cup but also, maybe I will

The 35-year-old doesn’t appear ready to rule anything out

Lionel Messi won’t play in the 2026 World Cup, unless he changes his mind. In that case, he will.

That was basically the message that the superstar delivered to the media in China, where he is with the Argentina national team ahead of a friendly in Beijing on Thursday against Australia.

Messi has been pretty consistent over the last year, saying before, during and after the 2022 World Cup that the tournament in Qatar would be his last.

Although he basically reiterated that message on Tuesday, the 35-year-old did appear to leave open the possibility he would play at a tournament during which he’ll turn 39.

Asked by Chinese outlet Titan Sports if he’ll play in 2026, Messi answered: “I think not. This was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but as it is right now, no, I won’t go to the next World Cup.”

The interpretation of Messi’s words depends on which part you focus on. Is it the “this was my last World Cup” part or the “I’ll see how things go” part?

There may now be an added incentive for Messi to play in three years: Having recently announced his intention to join Inter Miami, Messi could have something of a home World Cup if he’s still in MLS by the time the tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada rolls around. Miami is even a host city.

Messi’s 2022 World Cup was the ideal way for him to bow out of the game’s biggest stage. But who’s to say that in three years if he’s still healthy and in form (admittedly big ifs), he won’t go for an encore.

His coach wants it. His teammates want it. The fans want it. Could it actually happen? Messi himself doesn’t look like he’s quite ready to rule it out just yet.

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Lionel Messi confirms he will join Inter Miami

It’s a landmark moment for MLS

In a landmark moment for MLS and North American soccer, Lionel Messi has confirmed he will move to Inter Miami.

The Argentine revealed his decision in an interview with Mundo Deportivo and Sport, saying that he had decided to join the MLS club, though the deal isn’t fully completed.

“I made the decision that I am going to go to Miami. I still haven’t completed it 100 percent. I’m missing some things but we decided to continue down this path,” the Argentina legend said.

The 35-year-old left PSG as a free agent after a two-year stay in Paris. Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal made Messi a lucrative offer, but he turned it down along with offers from other European teams.

Messi admitted he wanted to return to Barcelona but did not want to repeat his experience of two years ago, when he was forced to leave the club due to its financial problems.

“The truth is I obviously really wanted to [return to Barcelona], I was very excited to be able to return,” he said. “But on the other hand, after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had, I did not want to be in the same situation again.”

After a return to Camp Nou never materialized, Messi said he looked toward the United States so he could live with more “peace of mind.”

“I had offers from other European teams but I didn’t even evaluate them because my idea was to go to Barcelona,” Messi said. “And if the Barcelona thing didn’t work out, then leaving European football after winning the World Cup was what I needed to do.

“Experiencing the United States league in a different way and enjoying the day to day, but with the same responsibility of wanting to win and always doing things well, but with more peace of mind.”

In a video posted to its social media channels, Inter Miami confirmed the move by taking the opportunity to dunk on everyone who said that the all-time great would never move to MLS.

Messi denies pact with Busquets and Alba

There has been speculation that Messi was aiming to bring his longtime teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba with him to his next destination, which in recent months looked likely to be Saudi Arabia.

But Messi has denied those rumors after both Busquets and Alba left Barcelona as free agents following the season.

“That is one of the other things that was said, that I was going with Busi and Jordi to Arabia, that we already had everything arranged,” Messi said.

“No, each person looks out for own his future. Obviously, I was aware of them and what they were going to do, but we never agreed to go anywhere together. I made my decision for myself and I don’t know what they are going to do.”

MLS pulls out all the stops to land Messi

To land one of the all-time greats and compete with the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia, MLS had to throw the kitchen sink at Messi. And that is exactly what they did.

The Athletic reported that the league and Apple offered Messi a cut of the money generated by new subscribers to the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+.

Additionally, league partner Adidas offered Messi a profit-sharing agreement stemming from the expected increase in MLS merchandise sales.

Messi’s deal with Inter Miami also reportedly includes an option to purchase a percentage of an MLS team at a discounted rate — a similar clause to the one included in David Beckham’s deal with the LA Galaxy in 2007.

Beckham eventually used that clause to become a co-owner of Inter Miami.

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Oh my goodness Lionel Messi really looks like he’s coming to MLS

A landmark moment for Inter Miami and for MLS as a whole

Lionel Messi, perhaps the greatest player of all time, is reportedly coming to Major League Soccer.

According to the BBC, Messi has decided to join Inter Miami in a landmark deal for the team and the league. The Athletic reported that the deal was not done but “very close,” while Fabrizio Romano has given it the “here we go” treatment.

The 35-year-old was a free agent after spending two seasons in France with PSG, where he scored 32 goals in 75 games and won two Ligue 1 titles but ultimately fell short of the club’s ultimate goal, the Champions League.

Messi reportedly turned down a more lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal while his former club Barcelona was unable to make a proposal due to ongoing financial difficulties.

The World Cup-winner would join a side in last place in the Eastern Conference, currently coached by Javier Morales on an interim basis after it sacked Phil Neville last week.

Reports out of Argentina have stated that Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Messi’s former coach at Barcelona and the national team, is being lined up as Inter Miami’s new manager. Martino is a free agent after last coaching Mexico’s national team, which he departed after the 2022 World Cup.

It is not clear when exactly Messi would join up with Inter Miami, but despite his age he is still undoubtedly still one of the world’s most effective attacking players.

MLS pulls out all the stops to land Messi

To land one of the all-time greats and compete with the riches on offer in Saudi Arabia, MLS had to throw the kitchen sink at Messi. And that is exactly what they did.

The Athletic reported that the league and Apple offered Messi a cut of the money generated by new subscribers to the league’s streaming package on Apple TV+.

Additionally, league partner Adidas offered Messi a profit-sharing agreement stemming from the expected increase in MLS merchandise sales.

Messi’s deal with Inter Miami also reportedly includes an option to purchase a percentage of an MLS team at a discounted rate — a similar clause to the one included in David Beckham’s deal with the LA Galaxy in 2007.

Beckham eventually used that clause to become a co-owner of Inter Miami.

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Apple TV has a Lionel Messi documentary series in the works

The series promises to feature “the most personal interviews to date” with the superstar

Apple TV+ has announced that it is developing a four-part documentary series featuring Lionel Messi.

The series, which currently doesn’t have a title or release date, will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes access with the Argentine superstar and follows him on his journey to lifting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

A press release promises that the series will feature “the most personal interviews to date with Messi, alongside conversations with teammates, coaches, competitors, devout fans, and commentators testifying to the incredible influence and impact he has on a nation and world stage.”

The series followed Messi throughout the 2022 World Cup, from public events such as press conferences to private contemplative moments alone in his hotel room.

Filmed in Paris, Qatar and Argentina, the show will also document Messi’s journey with the Argentina national team — from a red card on his international debut, to an early retirement in 2016 followed by an immediate comeback and an eventual career-defining triumph in Qatar.

The series is executive produced by Emmy winner Tim Pastore (“Free Solo,” “Jane”), Emmy and Tony winners Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody, and Emmy winner Matt Renner (“Free Solo,” “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth”) of Smuggler Entertainment, alongside Jon Henion (“Welcome to Wrexham”) and Juan Camilo Cruz (“In Her Hands”)

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