Lionel Messi to MLS?.. The Saga Starts Part 1 [R]

Rooted for Miami to win because my rooting loyalty is whatever is best for my team, which in this case is zero points for Colorado, the conference rival for Quakes’ playoff spot.

 

But hate-non-watching means you don’t enjoy the sport at all…

 

Ah, no, you see, you enjoy (and root for) bad things to happen to the players / teams you hate. It's a beautiful thing. Not injuries or anything like that, but just losses and poor play and stuff. It's fishing for schadenfreude.

 

Not true. I'm going to enjoy every minute of Forest's relegation struggles, it almost makes up for Notts County's promotion failures.

 

Ok but if you’re not watching the games, then technically it is hate-mongering or just schadenfreude.

 

Forest fans singing in joy at the City Ground yesterday.

 

So, I read online that even though Javier Mascherano said he quit for "personal reasons" , multiple reports are saying he left because of internal fighting and a string of poor early-season results.

Following the 2-2 draw with the NY Red Bull just days before his exit, rumors surfaced of a growing rift between Mascherano and Messi, Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul.

Some reports reported that Mascherano had loud disagreements with Messi regarding tactics.

So I guess he didn't leave for “personal reasons” after all.

 

Yeah, I think the word on the street is that the "personal reasons" were that he was tired of being harangued by Messi and others, and expected by ownership to win everything. The root cause of the fact that Miami can't hold onto a coach is that they fundamentally don't really understand and respect the league. They think because they have the GOAT and spend all that money they should win everything. But MLS is not that simple. It's not La Liga, Ligue 1, or EPL. There's a lot of parity and a lot of different ways to win besides spending the most money. They've been ousted from tournaments by Atlanta, Seattle, and Nashville, each of whom has found a different way to win in the league (except for Atlanta, not so much these days).

 

Masche is a cerebral guy and probably wants to have a serious career as a coach instead of being an accessory figure to Messi FC. If he just wanted the bag I'm sure he would get calls from Saudi.

He has the chance to do the funniest thing: go manage a rival MLS club.

 

His personal reason for leaving was that he wasn't getting along with key players. I suspect the CCC exit was also a major factor. MLS allows you to recover from a bad start.

 

Yeah, Mascherano was hired solely because he was close friends with Messi but soon their relationship soured.

That is not uncommon with big teams in Europe but yes, MLS normally (as we saw with Almeyda) gives coaches a chance as they hate paying two of them simultaneously.

 

Mascherano for the Timbers?

 

Continually disagreeing with Messi sounds like a very personal reason to me.

 

I'm wondering if AI inflated attendance for today's match?

Lionel Messi presence at BMO Field drove attendance for the Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami CF match on May 9, 2026, was over 45,000, setting a new record for the largest attendance in stadiums!

The stadium's capacity was expanded to approximately 45,000 for the upcoming World Cup.

 

Because MLS never inflated attendance before AI?

 

They always inflate attendance with Quakes games.

BMO supposedly has been expanded to 45k for the WC with temporary grandstand seating.

 

Per Wikipedia, TFC drew over 47k for home game against Galaxy in 2012. Sky dome, though, not the CNE stadium for today’s game.

 

HISTORY! Lionel Messi shatters MLS 100 goal contributions record




Fastest players to 100 goal contributions

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF): 59g/41a in 64 games
2. Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC): 58g/42a in 95 games
3. Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy): 62g/39a in 96 games
4. Carlos Vela (LAFC): 62g/38a in 98 games
5. Josef Martínez (Atlanta United, CF Montréal, San Jose Earthquakes): 88g/12a in 105 games
6. Denis Bouanga (LAFC): 69g/31a in 108 games

 

Messi, De Paul show World Cup class in Inter Miami rout




Watch: Luis Suarez scores controversial goal, held onside by injured player

 

It looked full. The temporary World Cup seats were open.

Toronto FC draw historic crowd for Lionel Messi & Miami visit | MLSSoccer.com https://share.google/iH1yKG6o1XasuzWUo

 

It publishes tickets distributed, like every other major league team (plus Man City, Arsenal, Man United, West Ham, Leicester City and many more).

 

Buy a 9-ft inflatable Messi for your yard and your WC

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/72...unlocked_article_code=1.klA.8XBI.BqSDDYADeVaJ

 

Or you can get Josh Allen instead, without the Lowe’s promo kit.

 

So double life size?