Tag: Atlanta United

Restaurant that delivered Messi’s pizza now unsurprisingly mobbed

Messi tagged Banchero Miami in a post sent to his 487 million Instagram followers

Business is booming at Banchero Miami, and the Argentinian pizza restaurant has more than 487 million reasons to explain it.

That is the approximate number of Instagram followers Lionel Messi shared his pizza delivery with on Friday night, as the Inter Miami star ordered the “Don Antonio” pizza that comes with mozzarella, tomato sauce, tomato slices, onion, anchovies and olives.

Messi was roundly mocked online for the pizza that only slightly resembled a pizza, though it should be noted that Banchero specializes in the Fugazza, a focaccia-like pizza popular in South America.

The truth is, it doesn’t really matter how appetizing said pizza does or does not look. If Messi posts about it and tags the restaurant, the customers will follow.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxTo3r9Oj5T/?hl=en

“The corner of 71st and Collins Ave, look at it!” the restaurant said on Instagram alongside a picture of a line out the door. “Thanks to everyone for choosing us, thanks [goat emoji] for life.”

The restaurant also changed its bio to read “Leo Messi’s favorite pizza.”

Messi’s pizza delivery seemed to confirm the rumors that he didn’t travel for Saturday’s MLS matchup against Atlanta United. After his post on Friday night from Miami, Messi’s absence was confirmed the following day as his side fell 5-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

After handing Inter Miami its first loss of the Messi era, Atlanta United’s social team was ready.

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Messi confirmed out for Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, enjoys very Floridian day instead

Messi’s enjoying a day off with some pizza and youth soccer

Inter Miami faced yet another more or less must-win game in the club’s pursuit of a playoff spot, but Lionel Messi wasn’t there to help.

The iconic No. 10’s status for Saturday’s game against Atlanta United was the subject of some speculation, with Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino saying that the club wouldn’t decide on whether Messi would travel or not until after Friday’s training session.

“We will be careful with him because we have a lot of important games in a short span,” Martino told reporters. “But the idea is to not get Leo or any other player injured.”

Martino later declared that Messi doesn’t have an existing injury, but the realities of international travel while playing in MLS remain daunting. Messi produced a free kick goal in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador, then traveled but did not play in a 3-0 road win over Bolivia.

Before sitting out that World Cup qualifier in La Paz, Messi had played 12 games in a 48-day span thanks to Miami’s Leagues Cup run, a congested MLS regular season slate, an Open Cup semifinal, and the Albiceleste’s win in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Given all that, hints started to emerge that Messi might not be heavily involved against Atlanta. Following Martino discussing Messi’s status, Messi posted an Instagram story Friday night showing what appeared to be a “Don Antonio” pizza from Banchero, a Miami Beach pizzeria known for its Argentine-style pies.

Credit: Leo Messi on Instagram

Messi then turned up at his son Thiago’s match with Inter Miami’s Under-12 team with what looked for all the world like a full cup of maté and some rolled-up jean shorts.

Banchero is located right on Miami Beach, while Inter Miami’s academy teams play at the club’s training facility. Both of these places are nowhere near Atlanta.

There were also reports from ESPN Argentina saying that Messi did not make the 664-mile trip north, but whatever, that’s not as fun. What’s on a Don Antonio? Jorts? That’s the good stuff.

(By the way, the Don Antonio comes with mozzarella, tomato sauce, tomato slices, onion, anchovies, olives, and the official position of Pro Soccer Wire is that it looks a little odd, but we’d try it for sure)

Anyway with kickoff approaching, the club delivered confirmation: no Messi in the starting 11, or on the bench.

Without Messi, Martino started Robert Taylor and Facundo Farías to either side of Leo Campana.

Following what ended up being a 5-2 Atlanta rout, Martino said that both Messi and Jordi Alba (who, like his former Barcelona teammate, played no part in the defeat) were simply in need of some rest.

“They both have muscular fatigue,” Martino told reporters after the match before alluding to the artificial turf playing surface. “It has nothing to do with the field.” Messi had previously shrugged off worries about playing on plastic.

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Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami: How to watch as Messi returns to MLS play

A massive crowd is expected at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the marquee matchup

The international break felt a lot different this time around in Major League Soccer.

Plenty of players in the league reported for international duty, but few have ever done so after riding the highs Lionel Messi has been hitting recently with Inter Miami.

Despite having to play a match against Sporting KC over the international break without Messi (a 3-2 win), Miami remains unbeaten in 12 games since the Argentine arrived — with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba joining shortly after.

Now Messi and Co. return to MLS play against Atlanta United, with a massive crowd expected at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

In the Leagues Cup in July, Inter cruised to a 4-0 win over Atlanta in a contest where Messi bagged a brace. However, it’s expected to be a much tighter affair in MLS play.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United on Apple TV” link=”https://apple.co/3sSTT7L”]

In fact, in a rare occurrence, Miami is the slight underdog. Atlanta, sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, has a decent shot to become the first team to beat Miami since Messi’s arrival.

Meanwhile, Inter Miami is on 28 points after 26 matches, sitting six points behind D.C. United in the final postseason position.

Here is everything you need to know to catch all the action:

Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami (Major League Soccer)

  • When: Saturday, Sept. 15
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
  • Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Apple TV

MLS Starting Lineups

Atlanta United possible lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Robinson, Abram, Wiley; Sosa, Sejdic, Wolff, Almada; Giakoumakis, Lobzhanidze

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Miller, Aviles, Alba; Arroyo, Busquets, Gomez; Taylor, Martinez, Messi

MLS Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Friday at 1:39 p.m.

Atlanta United (+135) vs. Inter Miami (+150)

Draw: (+300)

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Messi and Inter Miami on Apple TV” link=”https://apple.co/3sSTT7L”]

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Martino to make late Messi call for Atlanta United match

The Inter Miami coach insisted that his star is not injured

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino said Lionel Messi is healthy and available for his side’s match at Atlanta United on Saturday, but cautioned his team would still have to be careful with the Argentina star.

Messi only played in one of Argentina’s two matches over the recent international break. The 36-year-old scored the winner against Ecuador last week before being substituted late due to what he called fatigue.

Though he traveled to Bolivia, Messi would then sit out Argentina’s second match of the window — a 3-0 victory for the World Cup champions.

With his team’s superstar back for a playoff push, Martino said he would make a decision on his involvement after training on Friday.

“[Messi] is fine. But we will wait until after training today to make a decision,” Martino told the media on Friday, adding that Messi trained with the team on Thursday as well.

“We will be careful with him because we have a lot of important games in a short span. But the idea is to not get Leo or any other player injured.”

When asked if Messi was injured at all, Martino replied: “He doesn’t have an injury.”

(UPDATE: Messi reportedly didn’t travel to Atlanta, which he appeared to confirm on Friday night by posting a video on Instagram of his pizza order in Miami)

Currently on a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions, Inter Miami is getting closer to climbing back into MLS playoff position. Martino’s side is still second-bottom in the Eastern Conference, but is now only six points back of D.C. United in the last playoff position, with two games in hand.

The match against Atlanta was set to be the first time Messi played on artificial turf since his arrival to Inter Miami. Though there had been some speculation he could opt out of such matches, Messi said last month he was happy to play on turf.

“I played all of my youth career on artificial turf,” Messi told reporters. “It’s been a long time since I played on turf, but I don’t have a problem with it.”

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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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Messi gets first Inter Miami start, rips Atlanta United to shreds

Messi is off and running with Miami

Lionel Messi’s start to life as an MLS player is going about how everyone expected.

Namely, Messi is already in dominant form, scoring two more goals as Miami trounced Atlanta United 4-0 in the Leagues Cup Tuesday night. Messi’s first-half brace added to the direct free kick he buried in an almost too perfect introduction as an Inter Miami player.

Facing the Five Stripes, Messi scored twice in the first 22 minutes, then got a direct assist on Robert Taylor’s second goal (as well as playing a big role in the Finnish winger’s first).

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Messi’s next game on Apple TV” link=”https://apple.co/3XX06t5″]

In 78 minutes, the closest anyone came to Messi ended up being a pitch invader who got sort of generally near the Miami bench as the superstar strolled off to thunderous applause at DRV PNK Stadium.

Needless to say, the internet enjoyed the show.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United: How to watch Lionel Messi’s next game

How to watch Messi’s next game with Miami after a stunning debut

How about that for a debut?

And now Lionel Messi gets to do it all over again.

In his first game with his new club Inter Miami, Messi did what Messi does: he dazzled.

The all-time great scored a game-winning, stoppage-time free kick against Liga MX side Cruz Azul to give Inter a 2-1 win in its Leagues Cup opener on Friday night.

Messi and his new side won’t have to wait long for their next outing, either, with Atlanta United up on Tuesday in another Leagues Cup match at DRV PNK Stadium.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Messi’s and Inter Miami on Apple TV” link=”https://apple.co/3Q8BcGG”]

It’s possible both Messi and Sergio Busquets make their first start with the club after the longtime Barcelona teammates came off the bench in the second half against Cruz Azul.

Here is everything you need to know to catch all the action:

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United (Leagues Cup)

  • When: Tuesday, July 25
  • Where: DRV PNK Stadium
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Apple TV

Leagues Cup Starting Lineups

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender, Yedlin, Miller, Kryvtsov, Allen, Arroyo, Busquets, Ruiz, Messi, Campana, Taylor

Atlanta United possible lineup:
Guzan, Robinson, Purata, Abram, Lennon, Sosa, Rossetto, Wiley, Mosquera, Almada, Etienne

Leagues Cup Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Monday at 11:38 a.m ET.

Inter Miami (+125) vs. Atlanta United (+180)

Draw: (+260)

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Messi’s and Inter Miami on Apple TV” link=”https://apple.co/3Q8BcGG”]

We recommend interesting sports viewing/streaming and betting opportunities. If you sign up for a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

Lionel Messi is already captain of Inter Miami

The Argentine legend began his Inter Miami career with a dramatic free-kick winner in stoppage time

Upon entering the field for his Inter Miami debut, Lionel Messi was immediately given the captain’s armband by its previous occupant, DeAndre Yedlin.

It appears that move will be a permanent one.

At a press conference on Monday, Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino confirmed that the Argentina superstar will be the club’s captain moving forward.

When asked if Messi would continue to captain Miami, Martino responded: “The other day he was (captain) too, when he entered. Yes, he will be.”

Messi came off the bench in the 54th minute of Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on Friday, making his club debut alongside his longtime Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets.

With the match tied in stoppage time, Messi won a free kick in an ideal spot for a shot on goal. With a sold-out crowd full of anticipation, the 36-year-old stepped up and delivered.

Yedlin has been wearing the armband this season after Inter Miami’s usual captain Gregore went down in March with a season-ending foot injury.

After opening the Messi era with a 2-1 win over Cruz Azul, Inter Miami is back in Leagues Cup action on Tuesday night with a home game against Atlanta United.

Martino said that after Messi and Busquets played nearly a full half against Cruz Azul, the pair would be in line for more minutes against Atlanta and could even start the game.

“It is very likely that both Leo and Busi will play more time,” Martino said. “I even think that if they are going to play more (then) we will change the dynamic and they will go maybe from the beginning. But we all know that when Leo starts, that amount of time we would be talking about is 90 minutes.”

Martino added: “But everything will depend on how they feel, it is only the second game that they are going to play.”

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Forbes ranks 20 most valuable soccer teams in the world

Valuations of the world’s biggest clubs are sky high

Who are the most valuable soccer teams in the world?

With success being more and more tied to an ability to spend, being a “big” club — at least in financial terms — is the clearest indicator of whether a given team is going to contend for trophies in the world’s top leagues.

That said, what defines value doesn’t necessarily require a team to be in the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga, or Serie A. MLS has three teams in the top 20, including LAFC becoming the first club to break the $1 billion valuation barrier.

That said, Europe is still the home of the world’s biggest clubs, and its most valuable. In particular, eight of the top 20 hail from the Premier League, which will not be a particular surprise given the league’s global reach.

Here are Forbes’ 20 most valuable teams in global soccer.

Atlanta United tickets: Where to find seats during the 2023 MLS season

The club has led MLS in average attendance every year since its first season in 2017

Since their entry into MLS, Atlanta United tickets have been among the hottest in the league.

The Georgia-based club has led MLS in average attendance every year since its first season in 2017, a testament to the team’s success on and off the pitch.

Atlanta United usually does not have Mercedes-Benz Stadium set up to full capacity, with a curtain over the upper level. However, the club will open the upper level up for high-demand games like the home opener and playoff matches.

Even with the upper level closed, the stadium’s soccer-specific configuration has a capacity of 42,500. With the upper level open, that can expand up to 71,000.

Here is a list of Atlanta United’s remaining home games in 2023, along with how to purchase tickets.