Tag: Argentina

MLS player saves Argentina with stunning free-kick winner

Argentina needed a hero. You can probably guess what happened next

Argentina needed a hero as its opening 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ecuador neared its latter stages still scoreless.

If Lionel Messi wasn’t already the most likely person to fill that role, it became nearly inevitable when Argentina was given a free kick right at the top of the box in the 78th minute.

It was the kind of range from which Messi stepped up in his Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul in July.

And just like he did in that Leagues Cup match in Fort Lauderdale, and as he’s done countless other times when the pressure was at its highest, Messi delivered.

Ecuador goalkeeper HernĂĄn GalĂ­ndez wasn’t able to even offer a courtesy dive as Messi’s free kick sent the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires into raptures.

The legend’s free kick would be the game’s only goal, as Argentina’s run to a World Cup title defense got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory.

It was the kind of moment that once again underscored how wild it truly is to have a player of Messi’s stature playing in MLS while he still possesses these kinds of powers.

“We know that they are difficult matches in the qualifiers,” Messi told reporters after the match. “Ecuador has very good players, they know what they are doing and they are very good physically. It was a very tough match, very physical.

“Not long ago, we were world champions, but it seems like a lot happened since then. We have to keep going, competing and qualifying for the next World Cup, take it game after game.”

Messi was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 89th minute. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said that Messi “felt something” and asked to come off, though Messi himself insisted he was just tired.

“I was a bit tired. It just happened and it probably won’t be the last time I come off during a match,” Messi said. “But I felt very good, even though it was very difficult to play.”

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Argentina defender Pezzella subscribed to MLS Season Pass to watch Messi

The Apple TV service is seeing a huge jump in subscribers, including some of Messi’s Argentina teammates

Argentina defender GermĂĄn Pezzella said he’s signed up for MLS Season Pass in order to follow Lionel Messi’s progress with Inter Miami.

Messi has been a major success since his move to the United States, leading Inter Miami on an 11-game unbeaten run and scoring 11 goals in the process.

The Argentina legend has made a major impact off the field as well, with Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas saying last month that subscriptions to Season Pass on Apple TV had more than doubled after Messi’s move to MLS in July.

One of those subscribers appears to be Pezzella, who was Messi’s teammate on Argentina’s World Cup-winning side last year and is now back with the national team alongside the Inter Miami star for World Cup qualifiers.

Asked if he was watching Messi in MLS, Pezzella told reporters: “Yes, I had to sign up for the subscription because I didn’t have it.”

Pezzella added: “It motivates you because you see everything he has achieved and he continues with the same hunger and desire to compete, wherever he is, in the national team, his previous club, or now in the United States. He always wants more. We have to learn from what he shows, not only with the ball at his feet, but on and off the field.”

MLS and Apple signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion media rights deal last year which saw the technology giant acquire the rights to every game in English and Spanish on its Season Pass subscription service.

In a boost for the partners and for Pezzella, who plays in Spain with Real Betis, there are no geographic restrictions on any of the matches.

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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 América 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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The top five goals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup (so far)

There were some unbelievable strikes in the group stage

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has been quite eventful thus far, providing a healthy mix of drama, highlight-reel plays, and late-game heroics. And now that the group stage of the tournament has come and gone, let’s take a beat to reflect on some of the best goals of the tournament so far.

But before we do that, here is yet another reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! You can get the full TV/streaming schedule, a complete list of the finalized group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s take a look at the top five goals of the tournament thus far.

2023 Women’s World Cup Day 14 Recap: South Africa and Jamaica make history

South Africa and Jamaica have reached the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup for the first time

Day 14 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup marked the second-to-last day of the group stage, as the final pieces of the puzzle have begun to fall into place.

However, before we get into all the action from Day 14, here is your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! You can get the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see how the games played out on Day 14.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 9 Recap: England’s win comes at a cost

The Lionesses defeated Denmark, but star midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off

Day 9 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a fairly straightforward affair, as three games led to results that many could have predicted beforehand. Argentina faced off against South Africa, England took on Denmark, and China battled it out against Haiti.

But before we take a look at the games, here is your daily reminder that you can keep up with the entire World Cup right here on Pro Soccer Wire! You can check out the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s get into the action from Day 9.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 5 Recap: Germany, Brazil earn blowouts

On Day 5 of the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup, Germany and Brazil earned blowout wins.

Another day, another exciting slate of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup action to break down. There were three games on Day 5 of the event. Italy played Argentina, Germany took on Morocco, and Brazil faced off against Panama. And in the latter two games, there was no shortage of goals.

But before we check out the games, here’s your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! Make sure to read up on the TV/streaming schedule, check out the updated list of the group stage standings, and stay up to date with the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s dive into the games from Day 5.