Lionel Messi had two assists and converted a penalty kick as Inter Miami rallied from a two-goal deficit and beat MLS-leading Cincinnati 5-4 in penalties in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday night. Cincinnati jumped to a 2-0 lead before Messi set up a pair of goals by Leonardo Campana, tying the game at 2. Miami moved ahead when Josef Martínez scored three minutes into the first extra period, but Cincinnati tied the game at 3 when Yuya Kubo scored in the 114th minute, forcing penalty kicks. Also read : Messi leads Inter Miami to first ever trophy in Leagues Cup final Messi made Miami's first attempt in the shootout, and both teams were perfect through four rounds. Herons goalkeeper Drake Callender saved Nick Hagglund's kick in the fifth round, and Benjamin Cremaschi made his PK to send Miami to another tournament final. Miami advanced to face the winner of Wednesday's late semifinal between Houston and Salt Lake in the final in Sept. 27. Also read : Messi scores early in 1st game outside Florida for Inter Miami at FC Dallas Messi was held scoreless for the first time since joining Inter Miami in late July. His first assist of the game was on a free kick in the 68th minute to cut Miami's deficit to 2-1. He delivered a long cross into the box to set up Campana's second goal on a header that sent the game to overtime. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner who led Argentina to the World Cup crown last year, had scored 10 goals in his first seven games with Miami, leading the team to the Leagues Cup title. He is set to make his Major League Soccer debut Saturday at the New York Red Bulls. Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez scored the first two goals for Cincinnati. Also read : Lionel Messi set to make his Inter Miami debut in Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead early in the first half on a nifty flick from Acosta, its Argentine No. 10 and captain, who scored his 14th goal across all competition this season off a header from Aaron Boupendza. Vazquez, a U.S. national team forward, doubled Cincinnati's lead in the 53rd minute on a laser from outside the box, off a low cross from former Atletico Madrid and Colombia international defender Santiago Arias.

The football community was shaken on June 7 by the announcement that Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the all-time greats in the sport, will be joining Major League Soccer (MLS) and playing for Inter Miami CF following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.  The Argentine football star is set to become the newest addition to the star-studded roster of Major League Soccer. Despite rumored offers from Saudi Arabia and a potential return to Barcelona, Messi has decided to make his way to Miami, Florida in the US, for the concluding phase of his illustrious career. Messi’s Contract and Salary Detail at Inter Miami Messi was earning an estimated $45 million per year (net) during his time in Paris. However, it’s important to note that MLS has a strict salary cap and roster regulations in place to prevent excessive contracts with individual players. As a result, the specific details of the deal Messi could potentially secure in MLS would be subject to these regulations. The terms of his contract would need to follow the salary cap and roster rules set by the league. Read Mission completed: Man City beats Inter Milan to end wait for first Champions League title  According to reports, Messi has reached an agreement on a two-and-a-half-year contract with Inter Miami, with the inclusion of a 12-month option for 2026. This complex agreement, reportedly involving contributions from Apple and Adidas, has been planned to facilitate the move, benefitting all parties involved in the long term. The contract entails Messi receiving a base salary along with additional bonuses. Messi’s contract is reportedly valued at around $125 million to $150 million. MLS sponsors Apple and Adidas are said to be working on agreements that will be tied to the revenue Messi generates as a prominent figure in the league.  Additionally, there is a possibility of Messi being granted an ownership stake, similar to the arrangement given to David Beckham when he joined MLS. Read more: No homecoming for Messi as Barcelona again fails to do enough to lure him back When is Messi’s First Match with Inter Miami? The specific date of Lionel Messi’s debut in MLS with Inter Miami CF has not been officially announced at the moment. Various reports suggest different dates, but it is widely believed that Messi’s proposed debut could take place on July 21. However, alternative timeframes such as “later in July, at the earliest” or even “August” have also been mentioned. The MLS regular season will end on October 21 and playoffs will start from October 25. And the final game is set to take place on December 9. So, Messi might get a few matches in the regular season. However, July 21 is a significant date as Inter Miami will host Mexican club Cruz Azul  for the Leagues Cup. Another date to keep an eye on is July 19, as it marks the grand unveiling event: the 2023 MLS All-Star Game at DC United’s Audi Field. On this occasion, the MLS All-Star XI will face English Premier League team Arsenal in the highly anticipated annual showcase match. If Messi is not participating in this game, it is highly likely that he will be introduced to a thrilled crowd during a prime-time presentation. Read more: Lionel Messi picks MLS's Inter Miami in a move that stuns soccer after exit from Paris Saint-Germain What Kind of Impact Can Messi Make? To begin with, Inter Miami is expanding DRV PNK Stadium by adding approximately 2,500 to 3,000 seats. This development indicates that the capacity will likely increase to 22,000 spectators. Moreover, Miami Freedom Park is set to debut in March 2025. Just envision the spectacle of opening night with Messi in the starting lineup.

The Argentine football wizard Lionel Messi surprised everyone when he joined mega-rich Ligue 1 club PSG on a free transfer in the 2021 summer transfer window. After spending 21 years in Barcelona, this separation wasn’t easy for him. It hasn’t been easy for Messi to adapt to a new club, a new environment, and an institution that is in complete contrast to FC Barcelona’s ideology. His performance level has been significantly dropped since moving to Paris, which definitely embarrasses him in a larger way. Multiple reports claim that Messi is seriously considering parting ways with his current club in the 2023 summer transfer window and joining MLS, the highest level league in the USA. Lionel Messi’s current contract with PSG and rumors of joining Inter Miami Football superstar Lionel Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain on August 10, reportedly in a blockbuster 3-year contract. The Argentine magician signed a two-year contract plus an additional optional year. As per multiple reports, he will earn 110 million euros should he fulfill all three years at PSG. However, this amount will decrease if Messi decides to leave the French club next year. He can join any club on a free transfer in the summer of 2023. Also read:PSG star Mbappe wins league's best player award for 3rd time As per a recent report from Latin American broadcaster DIRECTV Sports, Lionel Messi is seriously considering parting ways with Paris Saint-Germain next summer and will not activate an additional optional year. Messi has been under par by his own standards this season and feels 2023 will be the right time to move away from Europe to join a less competitive league. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner believes Major League Soccer in the USA will be a perfect fit for him. Leo has a strong relationship with David Beckham, who is a co-owner of MLS club Inter Miami. Therefore, playing for Inter Miami is very much a possibility. As per DIRECTV Sports reports, Lionel Messi is willing to purchase a 35% stake in Inter Miami before heading to the USA. According to French Publication Le Parisien, Messi's representative has rejected such a plan. "It is completely false. Leo has not yet decided on his future," the PSG star's entourage said in a statement.  Read English soccer player Jake Daniels says he is gay What Messi could bring to Inter Miami if he joins them in 2023 Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the best footballers of all time. He has many records, and some of his football statistics are unparalleled. Apart from his playing abilities, Messi is currently one of the world's most popular sportsmen on social media. He will immediately appeal to many whenever he joins the club. Messi's arrival at Inter Miami will be extremely profitable for the team. Oppositely, Messi will be able to experience an entirely new world by playing in the MLS. It may be a fantastic experience for him to experience a larger-than-life lifestyle. So it will be a win-win situation in both ways. This will be the most historic move in MLS history If he joins Inter Miami at some point in the future. Read English Premier League 2021-2022: Scenarios for Championship, Top Four, and Relegation Lionel Messi’s overall club statistics (as on May 18, 2022) Club Appearances Goals FC Barcelona (2004-2021) 778 672 Paris Saint-Germain (2021-Present) 33 11 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi Read Late goal gives Sevilla final Champions League spot in Spain Aftermath Lionel Messi’s performance in the 2021–2022 season with his new club PSG hasn’t been impressive. Therefore, it is understandable that the little magician is quite disappointed with his and PSG’s outcome this season. However, Messi is a born winner, and he has the ability to make a strong comeback next season. In addition, the 2022 Qatar World Cup will begin in the November-December window. So, his focus is now to start well in the 2022-2023 season with PSG and prepare well for the upcoming World Cup. The 2022 edition will be his last and Leo will definitely want to finish his career by winning a FIFA World Cup trophy. Knowing this, Messi is unlikely to be considering his intentions for next season right now. However, he may reconsider this option after the 2022 World Cup, and his presence in MLS would be excellent for the region's football development. On the whole, time will say whether Lionel Messi joins Inter Miami or somewhere else. Read Erling Haaland Transfer: Five Interesting Facts About Manchester City's New Signing

Cristiano Ronaldo is rumored to be thinking of leaving Juventus because he doesn't want to miss out on the opportunity to play in the Champions League. In that case, Ronaldo would aspire to join one of Europe's top teams. He still plays with a lot of intensity and scores a lot of goals at the age of 36. Any European giant would be happy to have him into their squad. The economic aspect is an important issue here but Ronaldo is also ready to make concessions in terms of salary. This article discusses potential destinations for Ronaldo if he leaves Juventus. Ronaldo's possible destinations if he leaves Juventus Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly expressed a desire to return to Real Madrid next season, regardless of whether Juventus is guaranteed a spot in the Champions League.Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is a big fan of Ronaldo. So, Zidane will surely embrace Cristiano’s return to the team.But it's not just a case of will; economic issues are important here. It would be very difficult for Madrid to invest a lot of money to get a mega Star into the squad since they have a debt of about 1 billion Euros. In that case, Ronaldo would have to give up a large chunk of his current wages. But Madrid supporters will be overjoyed to see Ronaldo return to the Bernabeu. Read: Football Transfers 2021: Why Lionel Messi should play for Manchester City next season Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo is a person who is always up for a challenge. He prefers to play in situations that allow him to display his charisma. Considering this, Manchester United could be an ideal destination for Ronaldo if he leaves Juventus. Red Devil fans are hoping to see Ronaldo return to the team. In terms of finances, the amount of money that would have been spent on Ronaldo five years ago is not as much now. Besides, both sides would be benefitted as Ronaldo has an extra affection for Manchester United. PSG A few years back, PSG have created a stir by signing two superstar footballers Neymar and KylianMbappé. If possible, the Qatari owner Nasser Al Khelaifi would bring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Paris Saint-Germain. Although the PSG owner has no shortage of money, it will not be possible to include so many star footballers in one team due to the financial fair play. In that case, PSG will want to keep the best two footballers in the team by spending more money. They will try to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the team if Neymar leaves the team for Barcelona next season. Ronaldo would welcome the opportunity to play in Paris for a while. Among the potential destinations for Ronaldo, PSG would be a suitable option. Bayern Munich Bayern Munich has expressed no interest in buying Cristiano Ronaldo so far. However, Bayern Munich may be willing to sign him if Ronaldo shows an interest in leaving Juventus. They can make a good offer within their capacity. Ronaldo may be interested in joining Bayern Munich because it gives him the opportunity to play in the German Bundesliga and with one of Europe's biggest clubs. Read: How the European Super League could have ruled Messi and Ronaldo out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Sporting Lisbon Cristiano Ronaldo can return to his native Portugal if he leaves Juventus. In that case, Sporting Lisbon may be the best option for him as Ronaldo started his competitive football career with this club. He later became a superstar at Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. Recently, Ronaldo's mother expressed interest in returning to Portugal while talking about her son's transfer. However, Ronaldo is less likely to play for Sporting Lisbon next season. Inter Miami If the big teams in Europe fail to lure Ronaldo, then David Beckham's Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer (MLS) may be an excellent option. Ronaldo can increase the popularity of football in the United States by playing at the age of 36. Besides, Miami is a great place to live. Inter Miami would be the most perfect destination for Ronaldo at the moment if he can give up the temptation to play in a competitive league in Europe. But will a competitive footballer Ronaldo choose this option? Read: How European football is badly affected by the pandemic covid-19? Verdict Juventus are currently fighting hard to finish the top four in Serie A. Cristiano Ronaldo will remain in the squad if they can secure next season's Champions League spot at the end of the season. If not, potential destinations for Ronaldo could be the above-mentioned clubs. Therefore, he could be seen playing for another club next season. With one year left on his contract with Juventus, it is expected that interested clubs will not have to spend a lot of money to obtain Ronaldo. Read: Football Transfers 2021: The hot favorites to replace Sergio Aguero at Man City