Tag: Lionel Messi

Inter Miami vs. Houston Dynamo: How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The status of Lionel Messi is the biggest question mark heading into Wednesday’s game

Inter Miami is set for its next opportunity at silverware since the arrival of the team’s vaunted Barcelona trio, headlined by Lionel Messi.

Miami hosts the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday. The Herons are looking to complete a double after taking home the Leagues Cup shortly after Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba arrived at the club.

But in a blow for Miami, Messi is a game-time decision while Alba is likely out. Both left Miami’s 4-0 win over Toronto FC before halftime in an MLS game last week.

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Even so, Miami has the might to hang without their stars. The Florida Derby against Orlando City SC saw Inter squeak out a 1-1 draw over the weekend. Miami has also won six of its last seven games at home.

And that’s not to say there isn’t the possibility of Messi coming off the bench. That could be a realistic option against Houston.

The Dynamo, headlined by Mexico international Héctor Herrera in the midfield, did fall over the weekend to Sporting Kansas City, but that ended a streak of seven unbeaten. That’s a good run of form for a club looking for its first trophy since 2018 (U.S. Open Cup).

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

Inter Miami vs. Houston Dynamo (U.S. Open Cup)

  • When: Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Where: DRV PNK Stadium (Miami)
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: CBS Sports Network, Telemundo, Universo, Paramount+, Peacock.

Open Cup Starting Lineups

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Aviles, Allen; Cremaschi, Arroyo, Busquets; Farias, Campana, Taylor

Houston Dynamo possible lineup:
Clark; Escobar, Bartlow, Hadebe, Smith; Caicedo, Herrera; Iturre, Carasquilla, Kowalczyk; Ibrahim

U.S. Open Cup Final Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of Draft Kings Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Tuesday 5:44 PM ET.

Inter Miami (-120) vs. Houston Dynamo (+260)

Draw: (+290)

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Messi U.S. Open Cup status ‘not really our issue,’ says Houston Dynamo coach Olsen

The Dynamo think Miami will be tough regardless of whether Messi can play

In a development that will shock precisely no one, the focus on Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final has centered on Lionel Messi’s status and what Inter Miami has planned.

If you ask anyone at Miami’s opponent, the Houston Dynamo, they’ll tell you that’s just fine.

“That’s okay,” Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen told reporters on Tuesday, not long after his side stepped off a flight to Florida. “We’re used to that. We kind of live in that space, with the Houston Dynamo, at least for the short time that I’ve been here. We don’t make a lot of headlines.”

Olsen’s opinion was bolstered by the nature of the press conference itself, which opened immediately with a question about Messi.

“Well, there seems to be a lot of talk going on about that,” deadpanned Olsen. “Of course, we know the impact he has on the field. But we also understand this is a very good team with and without him, so we certainly prepared up until this point with him in.

“If the reports are true, we have a little bit of time to also prepare for them without him. So, not really our issue, it’s theirs. We’ll continue just prepping the way we have been.”

Messi’s status is seemingly a complete toss-up. What Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino referred to as an issue with old scar tissue was enough to push Messi out of last Wednesday’s rout of Toronto FC, and keep him on the sidelines for Saturday’s draw against Orlando City.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, Martino said that Messi had trained in part, and that a decision wouldn’t be made until “the last minute.”

Olsen — who lifted the Open Cup with a D.C. United side in 2013 that was possibly the biggest underdog the tournament has seen in this century — was quick to point out that he still sees the Messi-free lineup the Herons sent out against Orlando as a massive threat.

“This team without the big three is still a very good MLS team,” said Olsen, referring to Messi, Jordi Alba (who is a major doubt), and Sergio Busquets. “We go through the exercise and [say] ‘Okay, he’s out,’ it’s like, ‘well, he’s in.’ ‘He’s out?’ ‘Wow, this guy’s in.'”

Olsen went on to name-check several Miami players, including attacking midfielder Facundo Farías, winger Robert Taylor, and strikers Leo Campana and Josef Martínez.

“So, their ability to create this team in a short amount of time, with this amount of depth? It’s pretty remarkable,” concluded Olsen. “Whoever is going to be out there, it’s going to be a very tough test for us.”

Olsen: ‘We’re the underdog’

Houston, despite having just one loss in the club’s last eight competitive matches, has decided to embrace the fact that the spotlight is almost entirely on the more glamorous home side.

“I’m not sure, this year, if we’re really sitting around and being honest with each other, [that] we thought we’d be in a final,” conceded Olsen. “But you know, things have clicked a little quicker in some areas than we thought.”

“There’s been some good stories and a little hype on us lately, but we haven’t done anything,” added Olsen. “We’ve gotten some points, but we’re not in the playoffs yet, and we haven’t won anything.”

“We’re the underdog. I don’t think a lot of people are picking us. And that’s I think, again, a space where we’ve lived, and rallied behind in some ways this year. Hopefully we can lean on that tomorrow, play free, play brave, and compete for a championship.”

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Martino: Messi game-time decision for Open Cup final, Alba likely out

Messi and Alba have both been dealing with muscle fatigue in recent weeks

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has said Lionel Messi will be a game-time decision for Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo.

Martino added that left back Jordi Alba would likely not be able to play.

Messi and Alba have both been dealing with muscle fatigue in recent weeks. Alba didn’t train on Tuesday, while Messi was a partial participant.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Martino said on Messi: “We’ll wait until the last minute to see what decision we make.”

On Alba, the coach added: “Jordi, it’s going to be difficult.”

After winning the Leagues Cup in August, Inter Miami is chasing a trophy double when it hosts the Dynamo on Wednesday at DRV PNK Stadium.

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After a flying start to life with Inter Miami, fitness issues have slowed Messi in recent weeks.

The superstar missed out on Argentina’s second match of a two-game window earlier this month against Bolivia. Upon his return to the United States, Messi would then sit out Miami’s 5-2 defeat at Atlanta United.

Messi returned for last week’s win over Toronto FC, but he and Alba both left the game in the first half. Martino said Messi was dealing with “old scar tissue” while Alba had “muscular fatigue.”

The pair, along with Sergio Busquets, sat out Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Orlando City as they looked to get as fit as possible for Wednesday’s final.

Busquets looks likely to play, as he spoke with the media alongside Martino. The midfielder said his longtime Barcelona teammate would do all he could to be ready for the final.

“I think Leo has the desire to help the team and to win another championship. But like we said earlier, he’s going to know how much he can contribute,” Busquets said. “Every day that passes is a point in favor of how much he can contribute. But like we saw the other day, even after resting during Argentina’s game and our game at Atlanta, and seeming perfectly fine, [he wasn’t fit for the Toronto game].”

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Messi-less Inter Miami keeps playoff dreams alive — for now

A draw at Orlando City is a great result in a vacuum, but it may not be enough

Time is running out for Inter Miami’s hopes of an unlikely MLS playoff berth, but the Herons put forth a valiant effort in a 1-1 draw at Orlando City on Sunday.

Without star trio Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, an away match against second-place Orlando was a daunting proposition for Inter Miami.

Thanks to an awful start to the season, Miami has had virtually no margin for error since the arrival of the former Barcelona stars. Earning a point at Orlando is a solid result in a vacuum, but wins will be desperately needed from here on out for a side still 14th in the 15-team Eastern Conference.

David Ruiz gave Inter Miami the lead just after halftime against Orlando, which earned a share of the points through a 66th-minute equalizer from Duncan McGuire.

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.

Speaking to reporters after the game, head coach Tata Martino said he was happy with the result under the circumstances — even though he admitted it may not have been enough.

“We played with three kids from the academy and one of them scored,” Martino said. “We were able to get a draw; I think at some point we could’ve lost the game, but in another moment it was there for us. Taking all of this into consideration, we’ll see if this point matters for what we’re ultimately trying to accomplish. But if you think about it solely for what the game was, truly I’m leaving very satisfied, because a great effort was made today.”

The big question now surrounds the health of Messi, Busquets and Alba — all nursing various levels of minor injuries and fatigue — ahead of Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final against Houston.

Martino wouldn’t give much away on Messi’s status, but was clear that he wouldn’t take an unnecessary risk in a game that could see Miami complete a double after winning the Leagues Cup last month.

“It’s very difficult to give him a percentage because we have to take it day by day,” Martino said. “We’ll continue to evaluate him and, as I always say, I will listen to him first and see how he’s feeling. Then we’ll also need to evaluate future risks. It’s not an easy decision, but we’re going to take the right amount of time to try to not make a mistake.”

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Messi dealing with ‘old scar tissue,’ is day-to-day for Inter Miami

Messi and Jordi Alba are out on Sunday, but could be back for the U.S. Open Cup final

Lionel Messi has an uncertain timeline to return for Inter Miami, but the MLS side seems to think he’ll be back soon.

Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino told reporters on Friday that the Argentine star aggravated an old issue during the first half of Wednesday’s win over Toronto FC. Messi and Jordi Alba both left the game in the first half.

“Leo is dealing with an old scar tissue,” said Martino. “Jordi has muscular fatigue. We will evaluate them day-by-day… Neither Alba nor [Messi] are [available to play] for Sunday.”

Messi was given a game to rest after international duty for Argentina, sitting out Miami’s 5-2 loss at Atlanta United. In his return Wednesday night, Messi walked off under his own power in the 37th minute, shortly after attempting a through ball against Toronto. That change came barely two minutes after Alba was also substituted, who like Messi walked off without assistance.

The Herons would go on to thrash TFC 4-0, keeping the club’s playoff hopes alive despite seeing two crucial players both come off before halftime.

“It’s bothersome. I don’t know if it hurts. I can’t really explain as it’s more a medical topic,” added Martino. “It’s probable it bothers him to the point, including mentally, that he isn’t able to play freely.”

Getting Messi and Alba back is a pressing matter for Miami. For one thing, the Herons have just six games to make up a five-point deficit to qualify for the MLS playoffs. While ripping TFC to shreds without those two on the field was a positive sign for Miami, the fact is that Toronto is having a terrible season.

Miami’s remaining schedule includes the U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo coming up on Wednesday, as well as daunting games against FC Cincinnati and Orlando City, two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The other four matches all include direct competition for that last playoff spot, including two clashes with Charlotte FC in the season’s final week.

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Messi looking forward to Copa América: ‘I don’t want to think about’ retirement

“I want to continue enjoying playing, I have the luck to do a job that I love”

Don’t ask Lionel Messi about retirement.

The Inter Miami star, speaking to the “Soñé que Volaba” show on the Olga YouTube channel, said that he is focusing on the present moment and enjoying his life rather than any thoughts of a career off the field.

“I didn’t think (about retirement),” said Messi on his summer decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain for south Florida. “I don’t want to think about it either, because I want to continue enjoying what I do. I took an important step by leaving Europe and coming here, and I don’t want to continue thinking about the next step.

“I want to continue enjoying playing. I have the luck to do a job that I love and, although I have responsibilities and objectives, it is still something that I enjoy.”

Whenever Messi decides to hang his boots up, he says he doesn’t plan on going too far away from the pitch.

“What I am going to do? I don’t know. I like everything related to football,” said Messi. “I like being with kids, teaching, [but could be a] sporting director also.”

Messi has unsurprisingly taken MLS by storm, producing 11 goals and five assists in just 12 appearances since joining Miami this summer. The Herons have already lifted a trophy, with Messi starring as the club claimed the 2023 Leagues Cup, and are somehow still in the mix for an MLS playoff spot despite being eight points adrift before the Argentine icon arrived.

That said, a heavy schedule may put those hopes on ice. Messi was given a game off last weekend, yet had to leave Wednesday’s home win over Toronto FC with what manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino maintained was just “muscular fatigue.”

Messi at the 2026 World Cup? ‘We will see’

Messi had previously said that a triumphant 2022 World Cup would be his last. A few months later, though, and now the legend isn’t so sure.

“I do think about the Copa América,” said Messi, who said that he’s looking forward to the 2024 tournament, which will be held in the United States. “It will be nice because the Centenario match that we played here was very nice. Although we lost the final, we enjoyed the process a lot.

“After the Copa América we will see, it depends on how I feel… We have to see how I feel. I will see how I feel day-by-day, there are three years left [on his Miami contract].”

Messi added that he hasn’t spent much time pondering whether he’s a lesser player than he was while starring with Barcelona, but admitted that Father Time remains undefeated.

“I don’t think about if I’m lowering my level, I…play as always,” said Messi. “But there is a reality: I’m older, a thousand games behind me, and time passes for everyone.”

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Messi and Alba leave Inter Miami win early, will miss next match

The star pair each left Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Toronto FC in the first half

Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba both departed Wednesday’s win over Toronto FC in the first half, and have been ruled out for Miami’s next match on Sunday against Orlando City.

The Argentine superstar trudged off in the 37th minute of the match at DRV PNK Stadium, with Robert Taylor replacing him. The Herons would go on to win 4-0, with all four goals coming after both players exited.

The reason for Messi’s exit was not readily apparent. The Barcelona legend attempted to play a through ball for teammate Josef Martínez that was intercepted, and slowed measurably in the aftermath. After a few moments of slowly walking as Miami dropped into a defensive shape, Messi put his hands on his knees and stopped moving.

Within seconds, the ball went out, with Messi immediately walking to DeAndre Yedlin to hand over the captain’s armband before leaving the match.

Furthering the club’s worries, Alba was substituted three minutes earlier than Messi.

After the game, head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino admitted that taking Messi and Alba off “wasn’t part of the plan,” but added that the duo hadn’t sustained any new issues and were not suffering from any muscular injuries.

“They trained normally and we felt like they were ready to play. I don’t believe it’s anything new or anything worse than what they have. It’s fatigue. I don’t think it’s a muscular injury,” Martino said.

The coach added that both Messi and Alba would miss Sunday’s league match against Orlando City.

Messi missed Miami’s last game on Saturday with what Martino called  “muscular fatigue” following the international break. During that window, Messi played in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Ecuador, but did not step on the field for a 3-0 victory at Bolivia.

Timing couldn’t be worse for Miami

Messi and Alba’s health issues are coming at a particularly rough time for Miami, which is chasing a playoff spot and a U.S. Open Cup title.

Miami has six games to go in the club’s immensely difficult pursuit of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Herons currently sit five points behind D.C. United, who hold the ninth and final postseason berth at the moment.

On top of that, Miami has a shot at its second trophy since Messi’s arrival coming up, with the U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo on September 27.

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Callender: Messi ‘just wants to be one of the guys’

“I just did my best to help him feel welcome. I tried not to fanboy or anything”

Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender has praised Lionel Messi’s humility, saying the Argentine superstar “just wants to be one of the guys” at his new club.

Messi has transformed Inter Miami since his July arrival, with the club going on a 12-game unbeaten run that was snapped last weekend after a 5-2 defeat to Atlanta United — a game Messi sat out.

The Argentina legend has been on an individual tear as well, scoring 11 goals in the 11 games he’s played so far with Inter Miami. Despite Messi’s status as an all-time great, Callender said that his new teammate has simply tried to be a normal member of the team since his arrival.

“He’s a great teammate. He’s kind of shy and, you know, soft-spoken. I always have to think that this guy is coming to a whole new league, a whole new country. He’s probably trying to get settled. Everything is new for him, you know?” Callender told U.S. Soccer’s website ahead of next week’s U.S. Open Cup final against Houston.

“So I just did my best to help him feel welcome. I tried not to fanboy or anything and I think we’ve developed your pretty average standard teammate relationship.

“I see his dedication to the sport and to this team. In the short time he’s been with us, he’s really bought into what we’re trying to do and he’s made some great contributions on the field and off. He just wants to be one of the guys, you know? He wants to be one of our teammates and he’s very humble and that’s something that I respect a lot.”

Callender has been on a rapid rise himself, going from a third-stringer in Miami to one of the best goalkeepers in MLS and now a three-time U.S. men’s national team call-up.

The 25-year-old said that he’s learned a lot from his USMNT camps as he looks to absorb as much as he can from experienced international stars.

“You’re wearing the crest. You’re playing with the best players in your country and you’re competing against some of the best competition in the world,” he said. “There’s just something special that comes with representing your country.

“I’m learning from guys who’ve been to World Cups, who’ve played in different competitions around the world and represented our nation plenty of times. I’m learning from their mentality. Their approach to the game has really helped me become a more competitive player.”

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Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC: How to watch as Messi could make return

Will Messi return to action for Inter Miami’s match against Toronto FC on Wednesday?

Can’t win ’em all — at least, not when Lionel Messi is missing from the lineup.

Atlanta United handed Inter Miami its first defeat in all competitions since Messi’s arrival over the weekend via a 5-2 result.

Miami will look to get back to winning ways against Toronto FC in a midweek clash on Wednesday. Since the arrival of Messi in July (in addition to Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba shortly after), Inter had gone unbeaten in 12 matches.

However, Messi and Alba ended up not playing in Atlanta, with head coach Tata Martino saying both missed the match due to “muscular fatigue.”

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With the loss, the Herons dropped to nine points behind ninth-place D.C. United in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto is a fantastic opportunity at a rebound, though, as the only team below Miami in the Eastern Conference standings. Going into the game, the status of Messi and Alba is still in doubt.

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

Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC (Major League Soccer)

  • When: Wednesday, Sept. 20
  • Where: DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale)
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Apple TV

MLS Starting Lineups

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Aviles, Miller, Allen; Arroyo, Busquets, Cremaschi; Taylor, Campana, Farias

Toronto FC possible lineup:
Romero; Franklin, Rosted, Bradley, Petretta; Ibarra, Coello, Osorio; Insigne, Kerr, Bernardeschi

MLS Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Tuesday at 9:04 a.m. 

Inter Miami (-310) vs. Toronto FC (+650)

Draw: (+440)

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Martino provides Messi update ahead of Toronto FC match

The Argentine superstar could be set to miss a second straight game

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has said that Lionel Messi will be evaluated after Tuesday’s training session to determine if he’s able to play on Wednesday against Toronto FC.

Messi missed out on Saturday as Miami fell 5-2 at Atlanta United, snapping a run of 12 unbeaten games since the 36-year-old arrived in July.

Martino said that Messi and Jordi Alba both missed the match due to “muscular fatigue,” after Messi had also missed Argentina’s game against Bolivia over the international window. The head coach had previously insisted that Messi was not injured.

The defeat in Atlanta was damaging to Miami’s already shaky playoff hopes, with victory at home against TFC — the only team below Miami in the Eastern Conference standings — a must for the club to maintain a shot at the postseason.

But in a statement shared with the media, Martino couldn’t provide any assurances that Messi and Alba would be ready to face TFC at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday.

“Every player on our roster wants to play every match. That is the mentality of our group,” Martino said. “We have a lot of important matches in a short window of time, and one of my responsibilities as the coach is to care for my players and help them make the hard decisions that will give us the best chance of keeping everyone healthy during this busy run.

“Beginning on Wednesday, we have six matches in 18 days, which is one match every three days, including the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. Regarding Messi and Alba, both players will train in the full session today with the team and after that we’ll see if they’re available to play and to what extent.”

Martino has previously hinted that his club will prioritize the Open Cup final on September 27 against Houston, as Inter Miami looks to win a second trophy since Messi’s arrival after its Leagues Cup triumph last month.

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