Tag: Lionel Messi

Apple TV docuseries ‘Messi Meets America’ to debut October 11

The first three of the six episodes will be released on October 11, with the final three to follow

Apple TV+ has revealed the official trailer, name and release date for its upcoming six-part documentary series on Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami.

The first three episodes of “Messi Meets America” will be available on October 11, with the final three episodes to follow later in the MLS season.

Apple has promised that the series will feature exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to Messi and his inner circle, as it chronicles the World Cup-winner’s early journey with Inter Miami, which has already included a transformation of the club on the field and a Leagues Cup title.

“Messi Meets America” will be 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.

Apple TV is already developing a different documentary series on Messi, this one a four-parter that will chronicle Messi’s journey to World Cup glory with Argentina at the end of 2022.

Watch ‘Messi Meets America’ trailer

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Messi injury reports disputed by Inter Miami coach Martino

Will Messi be back for Miami’s final four games?

How bad is Lionel Messi’s injury? It might just boil down to who you believe.

Messi was in street clothes for Inter Miami’s dramatic 1-1 draw with New York City FC, a match that saw the Herons equalize in stoppage time and nearly claim a priceless victory with an even later effort that smacked off the underside of the crossbar.

Despite the wild finish to a game that was delayed by storms around DRV PNK Stadium, Messi remained the major talking point after the match.

A report from the Inter Miami Podcast (which is not affiliated with the team) said that Messi had “sustained a 2 [centimeter] hamstring tear, confirmed via MRI, likely shutting him down for the remainder of the MLS season.”

After the match, head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino dismissed the report as incorrect.

“Time will tell whether what I am saying is true or whether that person who made the report is right,” Martino said in his post-match press conference. “It is what I said. We’re going to see this game to game.

“We’re going to evaluate him. If he’s going to be on the bench, if he’s going to be [unavailable], whether against Chicago or FC Cincinnati, we’re going to see that. He’s training on the field apart from the group, but he’s feeling better and better.”

Messi has been seen at Miami’s recent training sessions doing work to at least some extent, though just how much he’s capable of remains unclear. Martino had previously declared that Messi would return before the end of the MLS season.

(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Miami still holds a glimmer of hope if Messi returns

With time running out on the regular season, the single point was not really what Messi’s side needed.

However, with the Eastern Conference playoff race being a sloppy, slippery mess, Miami actually finished the night one point closer to the top nine than it was when play started. Of the seven teams vying for the final two spots still available, only one (the Chicago Fire) won on Saturday, with three suffering defeat elsewhere.

The bad news? The Herons sit four points behind ninth-place CF Montréal (who are ahead of D.C. United and the Fire on the games-won tiebreaker). With just four games to go, there’s just no room for error.

The good? Miami has a game in hand on Montréal and Chicago, and two on D.C., meaning that it will only take a couple of slip-ups from teams that seem immune to going on any sort of positive streak for Miami to have an opening.

“We have been playing many games and they are all decisive games, not only mentally but physically,” said Martino. “What we did today was with dignity and despite all the problems, we are trying to win. When we started, we were in last place three months ago, and these guys were able to put us where we are today. We have great expectations.”

Miami has been battling late in a series of close games, even as the club’s schedule remains relentless. The club’s draw with NYCFC was its fifth match in two weeks, a figure that will climb by two within the next six days. The Herons face a trip to Chicago to take on the Fire on Wednesday, followed by a Saturday home clash with Cincinnati.

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Messi remains out for Inter Miami, missing crucial NYCFC clash

Messi won’t play any part in possibly the biggest game in Miami’s playoff chase

Lionel Messi was once again missing on Saturday, as Inter Miami faced its biggest game in a desperate MLS playoff chase.

The global icon wasn’t on head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s team sheet as Miami hosted New York City FC, with the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw at DRV PNK Stadium.

Miami had said that Messi would test his injury, said to be related to old scar tissue from a past knock, at training on Thursday and Friday, but apparently concluded that the superstar was not yet ready to participate in any capacity.

Between injury and international conflicts, Messi has now missed four of Miami’s last five matches, including Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final loss to the Houston Dynamo, since scoring a spectacular winner for Argentina on September 7. Martino assured reporters after that match that Messi would return before the end of the MLS season, but noted that the exact timeline was totally uncertain.

Without Messi, Miami’s red-hot form has cooled significantly. The Herons were capable of beating Sporting Kansas City with their No. 10 away on international duty, and routed Toronto FC 4-0 in a game that was scoreless when Messi trudged off with his current knock.

However, it hasn’t been so easy against any team above the playoff line, with Miami losing to Houston in the Open Cup and Atlanta United in league play, while settling for a draw with Orlando City as well.

NYCFC, which entered Saturday’s game in the ninth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, took the lead in the 77th minute through Santi Rodríguez.

Tomás Avilés answered for Inter Miami in the 95th minute, before David Ruiz agonizingly struck the crossbar in the dying moments when presented with a chance to give the Herons a crucial win.

Inter Miami’s Messi-free lineup vs. NYCFC

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Inter Miami vs. NYCFC: How to watch Messi in MLS

A key match for both sides in the race for MLS’s final few playoff spots

Inter Miami, whether or not Lionel Messi is available, is facing an absolutely crucial game against New York City FC in pursuit of an MLS playoff spot.

Messi’s status is the big mystery, with the Argentine superstar taking the pitch Friday to “test it out” at training for the Herons. The 36-year-old has missed four of Miami’s last five matches, and his lone appearance in that stretch saw him substituted off after 37 minutes with a recurrence of what the club has maintained is a problem with old scar tissue.

In his absence, Miami’s previously red-hot form has cooled significantly. The Herons had previously gone unbeaten in Messi’s first 11 appearances since a blockbuster summer move to MLS, and the club has not lost a match in which the iconic attacker has appeared.

However, in the four games Messi played no part in since this injury cropped up, Miami has won just once, most recently losing the U.S. Open Cup final at home to the Houston Dynamo.

NYCFC, meanwhile, is the rare MLS playoff bubble team rounding into form. Nick Cushing’s side seemed to be losing touch with the pack, but has gone five games without a loss and conceding just one goal in the process.

That form is terrible news for Miami, who sit five points behind the Bronx-based club for the final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference.

Here is everything you need to know to watch Miami take on NYCFC.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. NYCFC

When: Saturday, September 30

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: DRV PNK Stadium

Channel/streaming: Apple TV

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Messi taking it ‘day-by-day’ as he aims to play in vital NYCFC game

The Herons face a crucial test on Saturday as they aim to make a late playoff push

Lionel Messi will test his fitness at training on Friday ahead of a crucial game on Saturday against New York City FC, according to Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales.

Messi has missed three of Inter Miami’s past four games while battling what head coach Tata Martino has called “muscular fatigue” and “old scar tissue.”

The latest match Messi was forced to sit out was Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final, which Inter Miami lost 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo at home.

Martino insisted after the game that Messi would not be lost for the rest of the season, with five games remaining in Miami’s regular-season campaign.

The club’s attention will now turn toward an increasingly difficult push for a playoff berth. Any realistic hope of making the postseason will start with a win over NYCFC, which currently occupies the ninth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s game, Morales said that Messi was still holding out hope he could play a part at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday.

“We are taking it day-by-day,” he said. “We were trying up until the last moment for the final but he couldn’t make it. It’s communication with the medical staff and with him to see how he’s feeling. Now he is going to train and test it out.”

As for Jordi Alba, though, the news was less encouraging.

“Jordi is different, it’s a little longer than Leo,” Morales said. “It’s a hamstring injury and he’ll be out for this weekend.”

Like Messi, Alba’s most recent appearance came in last week’s game against Toronto FC, in which both former Barcelona stars were removed before halftime due to injury.

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Inter Miami season ticket prices skyrocket for 2024

Messi may be can’t-miss entertainment, but getting in the door is gonna cost you

Going to see Lionel Messi and Inter Miami next year isn’t going to be cheap.

Miami began supplying season ticket holders with price information and renewal forms for the 2024 season on Thursday, and prices for to see Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and the rest of the Herons have risen dramatically.

The cheapest 2023 season ticket bought when the team’s biggest names were Josef Martínez and Leo Campana cost just $485 per the Miami Herald. In 2024, that exact same ticket will cost $884, a rise of $399 (or 82%). The least-expensive option in 2024, now on the south end of DRV PNK Stadium rather than the supporters’ section behind the north goal, will run you $867. Those tickets were $592 in 2023, meaning they have increased in price by 46%.

Prices are up across the board, and these are not modest hikes. The smallest increase by percentage comes in section 121 and a portion of section 128, which went from $745 to $1,020 (a change of $275, or 37%).

Want something near midfield? How about access to club seating? Next year those seats will be $7,650, which is 112% above 2023’s price point of $3,609. “Loge” box seats start at $42,840, though at least there you get food and some drinks (not liquor, though, let’s be reasonable!). Buying a season package in those spots also comes with a parking pass and a VIP entrance, which is to say a possibly shorter line to go watch the same game everyone else is going to.

The Miami Herald’s report noted that season ticket packages come with access to open training sessions, watch parties, and discounts when spending more money on other things at the stadium via concession stands and the team store.

Fans frustrated over Inter Miami ticket prices

On one hand, it’s hardly a surprise to see Miami, now featuring a more compelling product for sale, increasing prices. It’s Messi, everyone wants to see him do his thing.

However, the reality for a run-of-the-mill fan of the club is that they’ve been coming to DRV PNK Stadium (a temporary venue that is actually in Ft. Lauderdale) to watch a team that has piled up a -44 goal difference across its MLS regular season life (overall record in those games: 42W-19D-59L) suddenly ask for far more money than ever before, all while the Herons still seem less than likely to go to the playoffs.

The average cheapest seat at a Premier League ground, by comparison, runs you around $640.

That’s only 74% of the cost for Miami’s cheapest seat, and again: that’s the Premier League, the most talent-rich league in the history of the sport. MLS is very fun, and Messi is Messi, but what’s on display is not exactly Manchester City vs. Arsenal.

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Inter Miami coach Martino insists Messi isn’t done for the season

Inter Miami has five MLS games left as it looks to push into playoff position

After Lionel Messi missed the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday, Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino insisted that the Argentina superstar would play again this season.

Messi watched on in street clothes as Miami fell 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo, with the visitors scoring two first-half goals and holding on late after the home side grabbed a goal in second-half stoppage time.

The Open Cup final was the third game out of four that Messi has missed, while he was removed before halftime of the only game he played — last week’s win over Toronto FC.

The nature of Messi’s issue isn’t fully clear. Martino has continued to say that the 36-year-old isn’t actually injured, but instead is dealing with “muscular fatigue” and “old scar tissue.”

But when Messi couldn’t even make the bench for a final, it was clear that he is dealing with an issue slightly more serious then mere fatigue.

After the game, however, Martino said that his star player’s season wasn’t over.

“It was not prudent for him to play, not even to consider him for a few minutes because we would have run risks,” Martino said in a press conference.

“And yes, he will surely play before the end of the season.

“We will go match by match defining the situation to see at what point the medical department tells us that he is fit to play without taking risks.”

Inter Miami is still alive for a playoff spot, but is 14th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. With five games to play, Miami is five points back of NYCFC in the ninth and final playoff position in the East.

Though Miami has two games in hand over NYCFC, it still has to leapfrog five teams to move into playoff position.

The Herons’ next game, coincidentally, is against NYCFC on Saturday.

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Houston Dynamo stun Inter Miami, sans Messi, in U.S. Open Cup final

Houston bossed a Miami side missing Messi and Alba en route to a trophy

No Lionel Messi? No problem…but only if you’re the Houston Dynamo.

The unfancied club from Texas, who had won just four road matches in all competitions in 2023, claimed a 2-1 victory in the U.S. Open Cup final, knocking off Inter Miami on first half goals from Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi.

The most substantial pregame question likely brought more interest to this U.S. Open Cup final than any recent edition: would Messi return for Miami?

Sadly for Miami fans and neutrals, the answer was no. Messi was left out of Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s gameday squad, apparently due to an ongoing battle with a knock relating to what the club has said was a problem with old scar tissue.

Without Messi or Jordi Alba (also out with an injury), Miami looked tepid in the opening exchanges, and paid for it when Houston took a 24th minute lead. Shortly after Drake Callender made a tremendous double save to keep the scores level, Griffin Dorsey overlapped from right back to powerfully finish off yet another superb attacking move from the Dynamo.

Before Miami could get back to its collective feet, the deficit got worse. Nelson Quiñónes, in the midst of an electric first half, was sliced down by DeAndre Yedlin, leaving referee Jon Freemon no choice but to award a penalty.

Bassi stepped up, firing his 33rd minute spot kick down the middle to stun DRV PNK Stadium.

The Dynamo’s control of proceedings was such that Benja Cremaschi’s 42nd minute shot, sliced well over the bar, was Miami’s first shot attempt of any sort.

Miami needed to make a big change, and Martino came through with a double substitution, moving from a 4-3-3 formation to a diamond 4-4-2. One of those newcomers, Josef Martínez, nearly made the Argentine manager look like a genius, only for his glancing 55th minute header to skip just wide.

The Herons were finally in the game on some level, with Andrew Tarbell finally forced to work with a smart save to deny Cremaschi’s curler on the hour mark.

Houston hung on under pressure though, briefly thinking Quiñónes had broken through with a killer third. The goal was initially given, but Freemon (after a VAR check) reversed the call after replays showed the young Colombian a step offside.

Miami predictably threw the kitchen sink at the Dynamo, but only finally snatched a breakthrough goal in stoppage time. Facundo Farías was given a split-second to size up a pass, and found Martínez to give the Herons a sliver of hope.

Miami made an almighty push in the final seconds, with Callender coming forward and attacking a late corner kick for the home side, but Houston ultimately made a superb first hour count to break a five-year trophy drought.

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U.S. Open Cup final: Messi out for Inter Miami vs. Houston Dynamo

Messi is not in uniform for Miami in the Open Cup final

Lionel Messi is not available for Inter Miami in Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo.

The Argentine star had been a significant doubt after pulling out of last Wednesday’s rout of Toronto FC. He then did not dress for the Herons’ 1-1 draw with Orlando City this past Sunday.

With a trophy on the line at DRV PNK Stadium, manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino had said on Tuesday that Miami would keep the door open for Messi until “the last minute.” However, the iconic attacker’s fight to get over an old scar tissue problem has come up short.

With Messi set to watch from the stands, Martino made four changes to his starting 11 from the draw with Orlando. Sergio Busquets, Facundo Farías, Diego Gómez, and Kamal Miller stepped into the Miami 11. The Herons, win or lose on Wednesday, will face another critical game on Saturday when New York City FC — who hold the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference at the moment — visit south Florida.

Jordi Alba, meanwhile, will miss out as expected after Martino cast serious doubt on the ex-Barcelona left back’s ability to recover from what the club has called “muscular fatigue.” His spot in the 11 once again went to youngster Noah Allen.

Houston, meanwhile, made seven changes to the side that fell 2-1 at Sporting Kansas City over the weekend, snapping an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

U.S. Open Cup final starting lineups

Inter Miami (4-3-3): Drake Callender; DeAndre Yedlin, Sergii Kryvtsov, Kamal Miller, Noah Allen; Benja Cremaschi, Sergio Busquets, Diego Gómez; Facundo Farías, Leo Campana, Robert Taylor

Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1): Andrew Tarbell; Griffin Dorsey, Erik Sviatchenko, Micael, Franco Escobar; Artur, Héctor Herrera; Adalberto Carrasquilla, Amine Bassi, Nelson Quiñónes; Corey Baird

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