Tristan Muyumba and Brooks Lennon each scored first-half goals as Atlanta United also took advantage of an own goal to earn an impressive 5-2 victory Saturday over victory Inter Miami, who were without Lionel Messi. Despite the loss, Leonardo Campana's sombrero flick to goal combination in the first half to open the scoring was an absolute masterclass. Check it out below.
Lionel Messi exited Saturday night's Leagues Cup match against visiting Necaxa in the 11th minute due to a right leg injury. After Inter Miami completed its 2-2 draw, manager Javier Mascherano declared Messi felt "hamstring discomfort."
The 38-year-old Messi's exit brings a halt to an exceptional run of clean health, the longest since he joined Miami in July 2023.
Lionel Messi’s bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, has been banned from all technical areas for the remainder of the 2025 Leagues Cup following a post-match incident after Inter Miami’s opening game against Club Atlas on July 30.
The controversy erupted at the final whistle when Cheuko was seen pushing and shoving members of the Atlas squad in an apparent effort to shield the Inter Miami players amidst a conflict between clubs.
The incident, widely circulated on social media, drew sharp criticism and led to disciplinary action from tournament organizers.
Inter Miami’s dramatic 2-1 victory vs. Atlas in the Leagues Cup on Wednesday reached a boiling point after the final whistle when Lionel Messi was seen on camera celebrating in the face of Atlas’ Matías Cóccaro.
The Atlas striker cleared the air in an interview after the game saying there’s no bad blood between him and the Argentina icon.
Timeline of events
1. Messi was reportedly unhappy with Cóccaro’s celebrations after Atlas equalized in the 80th minute. Cóccaro was seen yelling at the Inter Miami fans in the stands at Chase Stadium.
Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game after sitting out the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, the league said on Friday.
The Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured, even though they were included in the All-Star roster.
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas described both players as "consummate professionals" who were "extremely upset" about the suspensions.
Messi upset about MLS ban
UPDATE: Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba HAVE been suspended one game for snubbing the All-Star Game.
UPDATE: Lionel Messi is ABSENT from the updated MLS All-Star roster and WON'T play in Wednesday's game.
Lionel Messi’s absence for the MLS All-Star training day has many fans worried that the Inter Miami star could miss Wednesday’s clash with the Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Lionel Messi had two goals and two assists to lead Inter Miami to a bounce-back 5-1 victory over the host New York Red Bulls on Saturday night in Harrison, N.J.
Messi and Inter Miami (12-4-5, 41 points) erased a 1-0 first-half deficit with a flurry of goals late in the first half — two of them coming off the foot of Telasco Segovia — that staked the Herons to a 3-1 halftime lead.
Lionel Messi delivered yet another masterclass on Saturday night, scoring both goals in Inter Miami’s 2-1 home win against Nashville SC at Chase Stadium.
Inter Miami lost a 2-0 lead in the closing minutes of their final Club World Cup group stage match against Palmeiras, throwing away a golden opportunity to top Group A and secure a more favorable Round of 16 draw.
Despite leading for most of the match at a packed Hard Rock Stadium, the MLS side collapsed under late Brazilian pressure, dropping to second place in dramatic fashion.