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MANCHESTER — Players could be close to strike action over the amount of games they are required to play, Manchester City midfielder Rodri warned on Tuesday on the eve of their Champions League opener against Inter Milan.

Expanded Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup formats, alongside enlarged national team competitions, has made for a greater number of games for top teams and players, and Rodri is the latest to say the workload is too great.

Rodri strike claim

Lionel Messi is back ladies and gentlemen. At least, that’s the report from Inter Miami and head coach Tata Martino.

The Herons head coach announced that Messi is available for selection as Inter Miami host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

"Yes, he's fine now," Martino said. "Yesterday he returned to training, he's under consideration for (Saturday). We'll define our strategy for him after today's session, but he's available."

The club also posted that he’ll be back for the Union showdown.

Lionel Messi return from injury

New United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino believes that one of his team’s biggest inspirations should be the U.S. women’s national team.

Pochettino spoke at his first press conference on Friday since officially being announced as the new USMNT head coach. Expectations are high for the world-renowned manager as he tries to get this team in poor form prepared for the biggest tournament of their lives in two years.

New United States coach Mauricio Pochettino can bring a fighting spirit to the national team, Christian Pulisic said after Tuesday's 1-1 draw with New Zealand.

Pulisic's goal was canceled out by Ben Waine's late equalizer in Cincinnati and the AC Milan winger said that he is hopeful Pochettino can instill the fierce mentality and risk-taking edge the team need to compete at the highest level.

Looks like Gregg Berhalter wasn’t the only problem, folks.

The U.S. men’s national team suffered a 2-1 loss against Canada on Saturday, becoming the only defeat against the Maples on U.S. soil since 1957. They did so with American manager, Jesse Marsch, leading Canada on the bench.

Cristiano Ronaldo created a firestorm on social media earlier in the week as he scored his 900th career goal, a milestone no player in history has reached before.

When being asked about the new landmark, Ronaldo spoke about the idea of playing in the 2026 World Cup and if he's motivated to play in one last World Cup.

"Portugal winning Euros is equivalent to winning a World Cup," Ronaldo said. "I've already won two trophies for Portugal that I really wanted. I'm not motivated by that. I'm motivated by enjoying football and the records come naturally."

Manchester City midfielder and Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne said money talks louder to FIFA and UEFA as he raised concerns over the impact of a crammed calendar on players' health and performance.

All three European club competitions have been expanded to 36 teams this season and FIFPRO's European member unions have started legal action against FIFA over the expanded men's 32-team Club World Cup, starting next June in the United States.

Alex Morgan will play her final soccer game on Sunday with San Diego Wave FC and won’t ever make a return to the field. In a Friday press conference, the United States women’s national team legend said she had no plans of perusing coaching.

“I don’t think coaching is in my future,” Morgan said. “I’ve found my calling in investing in women’s sports and doing as much as I can to give as big as a platform to women’s sports as possible.”

Jesse is heating up the match this weekend.

Canadian men’s national team manager, Jesse Marsch, had some things to say about the U.S. men’s national team ahead of the upcoming clash between Canada and the United States.

On CBS Sports’ “Call It What You Want” Podcast, Marsch was asked all sorts of questions revolving around the USMNT, this amidst the upcoming friendly fixture between Canada and the USMNT on Saturday, Sept. 8.