Veteran Haiti international Fafa Picault headed in the winning goal in the 89th minute to give Miami a precious victory that extended their unbeaten start to the season.

It marked the third straight game that Messi failed to feature for Miami after he did not travel to Houston for last week's 4-1 win in MLS before watching the 2-0 victory over Jamaica's Cavalier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg game on Thursday.

Luis Suarez scored a goal and assisted on three others to lead Inter Miami to a dominant 4-1 victory over the host Houston Dynamo on Sunday night.

Messi scored in the 1-0 first-leg win in icy Kansas City last week and it took him only 19 minutes to find the target at a much warmer Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale in the return.

The Argentine World Cup winner was caught on camera in a confrontation with NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy after the final whistle.

Messi provided the assists for both Miami's goals including the leveler which came in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

Messi struck in the 56th minute at Children's Mercy Park, showing superb individual skill before rifling a low angled shot past Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp.

The Argentinian midfielder, who plays for FC Porto, will get the chance to line up against national icon Lionel Messi at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, when the Portuguese giants take on Inter Miami at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on 23 June. It’s a challenge he’s eager to tackl

Although Belgian striker Robert Lewandowski scored the decisive goal in the 61st minute, it was Yamal who stole the spotlight at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.

For now, the Argentine is focused on Inter Miami’s upcoming season and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2026.

The award is given to individuals who have made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, public or private endeavors," according to the White House.

Cristiano Ronaldo could become the first man in history to register 950 official career goals. The 39-year-old is currently on 916. Ronaldo hit 43 goals for Al Nassr and Portugal in 2024. Second-placed Lionel Messi in on 850.

Messi and his Argentinian team-mates put an end to their trophy drought by winning the Copa America in 2021 – and haven't stopped winning since.

The winners of the ninth edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 will be revealed in the early hours of Thursday (Bangladesh time). The awards recognise the year’s top players in women’s and men’s football at club and national levels and celebrate their performances.

Six players from Champions League winners Real Madrid and four from Manchester City feature in this year’s FIFPRO World 11 announced on Monday by the global players' association, with Lionel Messi absent for the first time in almost 20 years.

Ronaldo is one of the 77 players nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s 11 of 2024, joining Messi among 22 forwards competing for a spot.

Mascherano, 40, is a former teammate of Miami star Lionel Messi. The two were teammates at FC Barcelona from 2010-18.

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero lashed out at the referees following their slender 1-0 defeat against reigning world champions Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, claiming that the Albiceleste skipper Lionel Messi received special treatment while fouls against the Peruvian players went unnoticed.

"Messi has been the type of boost that MLS has needed. The issue for MLS has been attracting stars at the end of their career," said Andrew Zimbalist, a professor at Smith College and co-author of National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Football.

Miami had won the regular season campaign with a record points total but after losing twice in the best-of-three series, the MLS Cup favourites and their eight-times Ballon d'Or winner are out.