Tag: Messi

Football icon Lionel Messi’s second day in India passed smoothly Sunday, after a chaotic opening to his three-day tour, as the World Cup winner kicked balls into the crowd and met cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Messi greeted excited fans decked out in Argentina football jerseys at a packed Wankhede stadium in India’s financial hub Mumbai, as supporters chanted his name.

The 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar took centre stage in the presence of India’s sporting royalty including Tendulkar and football star Sunil Chhetri.

Messi along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul are part of a so-called GOAT Tour of a cricket-crazy nation.

Cricket great Tendulkar presented Messi with his iconic number 10 jersey from India’s 2011 World Cup triumph at the same venue.

 “I have spent some incredible moments here,” said batting star Tendulkar. “Mumbai is a city of dreams and number of dreams has seen the finish line here on this very venue and without your support we could never have seen those golden moments in 2011.

 “And today having all three greats of game here is indeed a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India.”

Although a cricket powerhouse, the nation of 1.4 billion struggles on the football pitch and are 142nd on the FIFA rankings.

 “Thank you for being here and encouraging youngsters,” said Tendulkar. “I hope football here in India also reaches the heights that we all aspire.”

The Mumbai event went smoothly compared to Saturday’s in the eastern city of Kolkata where heavy security left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of Messi.

Frustrated fans, many having paid more than $100 for tickets, broke down barricades and stormed the pitch after the superstar abruptly left the arena.

Spectators also ripped out stadium seats and hurled water bottles onto the track.

One person has been arrested for the incident.

Security personnel try to control the crowd as Lionel Messi left Salt Lake Stadium during his GOAT Tour in Kolkata on December 13, 2025

Before the chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21-metre (70-foot) statue which shows him holding aloft the World Cup in 2022.

The footballer was in Hyderabad city later on Saturday where he addressed the crowd briefly in Spanish.

Messi wraps up his India tour today, with a possible meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The footballer won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward will spearhead Argentina’s defence of the World Cup in June-July in North America.

LAFC’s Son Heung-Min joined Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi as the only MLS players to make over $10 million in annual salary. Son, a summer acquisition by LAFC has guaranteed compensation of $11.2 million, while Messi remains the league’s highest paid player at $20.4 million.

The information is according to the MLS Players Association, which released its list of salary data Wednesday.

The figures include just what players make in salary, including any marketing bonus and agent’s fees. They do not account for any additional agreements with the team or its affiliates, or for any performance bonuses.

Messi also benefits from other revenue streams such as his endorsement deal with Adidas and a revenue sharing agreement with league broadcast partner Apple.

According to Sportico, Messi stands to earn up to $150 million over the life of the 2½-year contract that was due to expire at the end of this season. Messi, the newly crowned Golden Boot winner in MLS with 29 goals in 28 games, recently signed an extension with Inter Miami that will see him remain in South Florida through the end of the 2028 season.

Son’s LAFC contract runs through 2027 with options that could extend it to 2029.

Read Also: ‘GOAT’ Messi inks fresh Inter Miami contract

The top five earners were rounded out by Messi’s club teammate Sergio Busquets, who makes $8.8 million, followed by Atlanta United’s Miguel Almirón at $6.1 million and San Diego’s Hirving Lozano at $6 million.

All data is as of Oct. 1, 2025. The salary data was annualized for players who arrived during the summer transfer window.

Miami continues to lap the field in total team spending. Thanks to the midseason arrival of Rodrigo DePaul, Miami increased its spending to a record $48.97 million, though it missed out on a second consecutive Supporters’ Shield triumph, with the low-spending Philadelphia Union winning that trophy.

Miami’s outlay is more than double the amount spent by 27 of the league’s remaining 29 teams.

In terms of team payroll based on guaranteed base compensation, LAFC ranked second behind Miami at $30.1 million, followed by Atlanta United ($28.48 million) FC Cincinnati ($23.19 million) and the Chicago Fire ($23.11 million)

CF Montreal had the lowest payroll at $12.92 million, followed by FC Dallas ($13.15 million), the Philadelphia Union ($13.43 million), Toronto FC ($13.65 million) and Minnesota United ($14.54 million).

The average outlay per team was $19.69 million, compared to $18.41 million a year ago, an increase of 7%. The median spend per team was $18.01 million, compared with last year’s mark of $16.68 million. That represents an increase of 8%.

The most notable difference in spending year-over-year was that of Toronto FC, whose outlay plummeted from $31.81 million in 2024 to $13.65 million in 2025. This was due in large part to the midseason departures of designated players Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.

The average guaranteed base compensation for the entire MLS player pool — which included pool players and retired players still owed money — continues to climb on an annual basis, rising to $632,809, up 6.1% from the September 2024 mark of $596,226. The salaries of players at the bottom of the wage scale continue to improve, as the league’s median guaranteed base compensation was $338,347, up 9.7% from the September 2024 mark of $308,375.

MLS and the MLSPA are in the fifth year of the collective bargaining agreement that was reached in February 2021. The CBA runs through the end of the 2027 season.

Total spend per team:

1. Inter Miami – $48.97 million

2. LAFC – $30.1 million

3. Atlanta United – 28.48

4. FC Cincinnati – $23.19 million

5. Chicago Fire – $23.11 million

6. Nashville SC – $22.44 million

7. Portland Timbers – $22.44 million

8. LA Galaxy – $22.26 million

9. San Diego FC – $22.25

10. New York Red Bulls – $22.07 million

11. Columbus Crew – $19.22 million

12. New England Revolution – $19.11 million

13. Charlotte FC – $19.02 million

14. New York City FC – $18.84 million

15. Seattle Sounders – $18.25 million

16. Vancouver Whitecaps – $17.77 million

17. Sporting Kansas City – $17.61 million

18. San Jose Earthquakes – $17.08 million

19. St. Louis City SC – $16.93 million

20. Houston Dynamo – $16.77 million

21. Orlando City – $16.11 million

22. Austin FC – $15.68 million

23. Real Salt Lake – $15.66 million

24. DC United – $14.92 million

25. Colorado Rapids – $14.63 million

26. Minnesota United – $14.54 million

27. Toronto FC – $13.65 million

28. Philadelphia Union – $13.43 million

29. FC Dallas – $13.15 million

30. CF Montreal – $12.92 million

Lionel Messi has agreed a contract extension with Inter Miami,  according to Major League Soccer.

 “Official: Leo Messi will continue to be an MLS player with Inter Miami,” the league’s Spanish language account on X said.

Inter Miami’s X feed posted a video of Messi signing a contract sitting at a table in the middle of the club’s new stadium, which is under construction, with the simple caption: “He’s Home.”

The Argentine superstar’s new contract will see him remain with Inter through the end of the 2028 season, sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed to AFP.

The 38-year-old World Cup-winner’s current contract expires at the end of the 2025 MLS season.

A new deal had been viewed as a formality after club sources told AFP last month that the franchise had reached an agreement on an extension.

Read Also: Messi  set to extend Inter Miami  contract beyond 2026

Messi’s contract ensures he will remain in competitive action until and long after the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The tournament gets under way on June 11, with the final to be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.

Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023 after an unhappy spell at Paris Saint-Germain, but the bulk of his stellar career was spent at Barcelona, where he played from 2004 to 2021 after coming through the youth system at the Spanish giants.

At Barcelona, he won the La Liga title 10 times and lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy on four occasions.

In 2022, he led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar and has expressed a desire to try to retain the trophy next year.

He has scored 114 international goals and also won the Copa America twice with Argentina, in 2021 and 2024.

Messi could play at a sixth World Cup next year, which would set a new all-time record, although he could be matched by long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is also just three goals short of Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 career World Cup goals.

Argentina comfortably booked a spot at next year’s finals, finishing nine points clear at the top of the South American qualifying table.

Messi finished as the top scorer with eight goals, including a brace in what may have been his last competitive match on home soil against Venezuela two weeks ago.

He was named the MLS Most Valuable Player in the 2024 season even though Inter Miami were eliminated in the playoffs.

In 2025, he became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in MLS history.

This season, Messi has led Miami back into the playoffs after finishing in third place in the Eastern Conference.

He wrapped up Inter Miami’s regular season campaign with a superb hat-trick last Saturday in a 5-2 demolition of Nashville SC, leaving him with 29 goals from 28 matches to win MLS’s Golden Boot award.

Major League Soccer has announced the finalists for its 2025 year-end awards .

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who won last year’s Landon Donovan MLS MVP and whose three-year contract extension through 2028 was announced Thursday, is one of five finalists for the award again along with Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati) and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC).

Messi led MLS in goals (29) and assists (19) this season. The other four finalists round out the top five goal-scorers, but Dreyer and Evander are the only two that are also in the top five for assists.

The three finalists for Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year are the Philadelphia Union’s Bradley Carnell, Vancouver Whitecaps’ Jesper Sorensen and San Diego’s Mikey Varas.

Dreyer, who signed with expansion side San Diego and had 19 goals and 19 assists to lead the squad to the top seed in the Western Conference, is also one of three finalists for MLS Newcomer of the Year, alongside Son Heung-Min (LAFC) and Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire).

The MLS Young Player of the Year finalists (born on or after Jan. 1, 2003) are Orlando City’s Alex Freeman, Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna and the Seattle Sounders’ Obed Vargas.

The three finalists for MLS Defender of the Year are a pair of Philadelphia teammates in Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner as well as Tristan Blackmon of Vancouver.

Read Also: Messi  set to extend Inter Miami  contract beyond 2026

MLS Goalkeeper of the Year finalists are Matt Freese of New York City FC, Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United) and Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver), who led the league with 13 clean sheets.

The finalists for MLS Comeback Player of the Year are Houston Dynamo’s Lawrence Ennali, Nick Hagglund of Cincinnati and Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea.

Finally, the three finalists for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community during the 2025 season, are Ryan Hollingshead (LAFC), Luna (RSL) and Brad Stuver (Austin FC).

The winners for these awards will be announced throughout the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, which began Wednesday night with Chicago beating Orlando and Portland beating Salt Lake in the wild-card matches.

MLS Goal of the Year and Save of the Year will be decided by an online vote and announced on Oct. 27.

The MLS Best XI will also be revealed at a later date.

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi have agreed to extend the Argentine superstar’s contract to remain in Major League Soccer (MLS) beyond next year’s World Cup, according to a source close to the matter.

The contract extension would ensure that 38-year-old remains in competitive action until and after the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

An official announcement is expected within the next two weeks, said the source contacted by AFP late Wednesday, and would mean Messi ending his career in the MLS.

Read Also: Messi brace puts Miami into Leagues Cup final

Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023 after an unhappy stay at Paris Saint-Germain, but the rump of his stellar career was spent at Barcelona, where he played from 2004 to 2021 after coming through the youth system at the Spanish giants.

At Barcelona he won the La Liga title 10 times and lifted the European Champions League trophy on four occasions.

In 2022, he led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar and has expressed a desire to try to retain the trophy next year.

Messi was named the MLS Most Valuable Player in the 2024 season even though his team were eliminated in the playoffs. In 2025 he became the fastest player to reach 40 goals in MLS history.

Paris Saint-Germain steamrollered Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 to reach the Club World Cup quarter-finals  as the European champions proved too strong for a team of ageing stars.

Miami hoped the Argentine superstar’s magic could help them produce an unlikely result against his former club, but the Major League Soccer side were dismantled in Atlanta on Sunday by Luis Enrique’s rampant team.

Messi and his former Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba had done well to reach the last 16 but the gulf in quality between the teams was laid bare over the 90 minutes.

Joao Neves netted twice for PSG, who benefitted from a Tomas Aviles own goal, while Achraf Hakimi was also on target. After Neves opened the scoring early on Miami resisted until PSG hit three goals in 10 minutes towards the end of the first half.

“We had to play a serious game, the competition is really starting and I think we played well,” PSG winger Ousmane Dembele told reporters on his return from injury.

Messi was the main draw, as fans chanted his name and most of the 66,000 crowd were clad in Miami’s hot pink interspersed with Argentina shirts.

PSG dominated from the start, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia floating into the box and teeing up Bradley Barcola, but Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari thwarted him with an outstretched leg.

However shortly afterwards over-run Miami right-back Marcelo Weigandt fouled Desire Doue and it led to PSG’s opener.

Vitinha whipped a free-kick to the back post where Portuguese midfielder Neves ran in completely unmarked, stooping to nod past Ustari after six minutes.

With the Ligue 1 champions pressing high and keeping possession Javier Mascherano’s Miami found it hard to get Messi involved.

The 38-year-old’s intermittent interventions were not enough to hold back the Parisian tide.

PSG doubled their lead in the 39th minute when veteran holding midfielder Busquets got his footwork wrong in front of his own box.

Spanish compatriot Ruiz rapidly relieved him of the ball and combined with Barcola to set up Neves to tap home his second.

PSG grabbed their third when Aviles deflected Doue’s cross into his own net, and Hakimi netted the fourth before half-time to put PSG out of sight.

The Morocco international’s first effort was deflected onto the crossbar but he stayed alert at the air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fire home the rebound.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi lost his cool with a swipe aimed at Vitinha as the Argentine raged against the midfielder, Miami’s impotence and PSG’s swagger.

Messi produced a brilliant pass for Suarez early in the second half, chipping a ball over the PSG defence, but the Uruguayan could not finish to offer Miami a lifeline.

Despite the impossibility of a comeback – there was to be no ‘remontada’ like the one Luis Enrique’s Barcelona managed in 2017 against PSG from four goals down in which Messi and Suarez scored – the Argentine was determined to bow out with a bang.

Read Also: NFF urged to secure 18-year-old Nigeria-Argentina born River Plate star Jonathan Asuzu

Messi drew a first save from PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma after the hour mark with a low effort.

Luis Enrique sent on Dembele for his first appearance at the tournament after a hamstring injury, but the Frenchman was rusty and imprecise.

When Suarez was fouled by Lucas Beraldo on the edge of the box Messi had the chance to repeat his free-kick winner against Porto in the group stage, but his effort hit the wall.

It was not to be for Messi or Miami, but their second-half performance was respectable and the defeat was by a lesser margin than the French side’s 5-0 Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan.

“I think we were above the expectations people had for us (at the tournament), we were the best team in our group, obviously we were facing the best team in the world playing football right now, so it was difficult,” said Alba.

“Despite that in the first half we competed and above all we did in the second, we had more control of the game, more chances, and created more problems for PSG.”

PSG will face Bayern Munich or Flamengo in the quarter-finals in Atlanta on Saturday.