Messi wins FIFA's Best Male Player award on a technicality
Lionel Messi was named Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards, beating Erling Haaland on a technicality.
unbranded – Sport
Soccer fans in Dallas saw a No. 10 make its mark Monday night.
But it wasn't Inter Miami star Lionel Messi.
Instead, it was FC Dallas star Jesus Ferreira who scored a goal three minutes into the preseason gamewhich resulted in a 1-0 defeat for Messi and Inter Miami at the Cotton Bowl Stadium on Monday night.
Messi and Inter Miami stars Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and new signing Julian Gressel, MLS Cup winners with Columbus Crew last season, played the first 64 minutes of the game before being substituted.
Messi and Suárez certainly seemed like a pair of former teammates who inherently knew where the other would be during their time together on the pitch. But their passes intended to set up each other for shots on goal failed to reach the net to change the score or remind football fans of their glory days with FC Barcelona.
Messi missed two shots towards the net, while Suarez missed three opportunities during the game, including one where Suarez had to stretch and contort his body to receive an excellent pass from Messi outside the penalty area.
Messi, wearing long sleeves under his black Inter Miami jersey, walked off the pitch toward the locker rooms in a heavy black jacket in the 87th minute, waving to fans who braved the wet 40-degree night to watch him play to watch.
It was a far cry from the thriller Messi and Inter Miami played against FC Dallas last August, when Inter Miami bounced back from deficits of 3-1 and 4-2 and Messi equalized in the 85th minute. Inter Miami beat FC Dallas 5-3 on penalties in the League Cup tournament game.
Instead, it was a second preseason game for Messi and Inter Miami, which has a busy schedule leading up to and during the 2024 MLS season.
When will Messi and Inter Miami play again?
Messi and Inter Miami return home on Monday evening and have four days before setting off on an extensive pre-season tour to Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Inter Miami will play two games in the Riyadh Season Cup, starting on January 29 against Al Hilal and on February 1 against Al Nassr, where Messi will face his rival Cristiano Ronaldo in what could be the last game together in their illustrious careers.
Inter Miami's pre-season continues with games in Hong Kong on February 4th and Tokyo on February 7th. The club's final preseason game will be played at home against Newell's Old Boys at DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) on February 2nd. 15 (time to be announced).
What you should know about the Messi vs Ronaldo match on February 1st
Football fans around the world are preparing for Messi and Ronaldo to meet in what could be their final clash. The MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will broadcast the game.
Messi's Inter Miami will face Ronaldo's Al-Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 1. And organizers promoted the game as “The Last Dance” when it was first announced.
The game will only further fuel the heated Messi-Ronaldo debate around the world over who is the best football player in the world.
Inter Miami will fly more than 25,000 miles in preseason
Messi and Inter Miami's global pre-season tour will make stops in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Tokyo over the next three weeks.
Inter Miami will fly 25,165.54 miles, USA TODAY Sports officially announced – enough distance to travel around the world.
When does Inter Miami's regular season start?
Messi and Inter Miami will begin the 2024 MLS season against Real Salt Lake on February 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The club will also conclude the MLS opening weekend with an away game against the Los Angeles Galaxy on February 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Click here to find out more about Messi's expected schedule in 2024, including Inter Miami and Copa America games.
Leo Messi's evening is over and the other Inter Miami stars have also left the game.
Leo Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and new signing Julian Gressel all left the field in the 64th minute of the game as they lost 1-0 to FC Dallas.
Just before they left, they had one last shot on the net.
The order was: Messi to Robert Taylor, Messi to Suárez, but the ball was stopped right at the net.
Messi misses a left foot shot in the 55th minute: FC Dallas 1, Inter Miami 0
Leo Messi attempted a shot just outside the penalty area, but his left foot was stopped by the Dallas goalkeeper before the 55th minute.
Inter Miami's stars are certainly finding their style and shaking off the rust as their second pre-season game enters the second half.
We'll see how long Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will play in this game.
Two minutes later, Alba missed a cross pass to Suárez, who was behind in the middle. Inter Miami was called offside.
Maybe it's the deficit.
Maybe it's because Inter Miami still has a week until their next pre-season game in Saudi Arabia.
But Messi, Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are on the pitch for Inter Miami at the start of the second half.
Inter Miami's tempo and style of play certainly became more engaging after Dallas star Jesus Ferreira scored three minutes into Monday's preseason game at Cotton Bowl Stadium.
Leo Messi and Luis Suárez connected on several passes but couldn't find the back of the net in the first half.
It is unclear whether Inter Miami's big four of Messi, Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will ever have time in the second half. They did not play in the second half of their first preseason game last Friday in El Salvador.
But after a 1-0 deficit, it would be conceivable that Inter Miami would face its star players in the first few minutes of the second half.
Messi sent Suárez a shot to the left side of the goal area, but Suárez had to contort his body in a certain way to block a shot.
Suárez had contact, but the ball swung to the right instead of towards the goal. It was a nice pass from Messi and a nice attempt from Suárez, but to no avail.
Dallas star Jesus Ferreira was obviously injured on the field, but was able to get out of the game under his own power and come on.
It's preseason again and just as Inter Miami needs to keep its star players healthy and available for the season, Dallas is doing the same.
Ferreira leaves after making a name for himself, scoring in the first three minutes of this preseason game against Messi and Inter Miami.
Asier Illarramendi misses the shot on goal in the 29th minute: FC Dallas 1, Inter Miami 0
FC Dallas midfielder Asier Illarramendi saw an opportunity to score, and this time Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callendar was ready.
It was FC Dallas' second shot on goal in the game.
The only thing is that Dallas scored its first goal three minutes into the preseason game against Messi and Inter Miami.
Messi, Suarez connection shakes off rust: FC Dallas 1, Inter Miami 0
Messi could only smile and give Luis Suárez a thumbs up.
Suárez ran to the right corner and fired a pass into the middle of the penalty area for Messi.
Messi hit the ball, but it flew into the stands.
It's been a few years since they played together, but it's still a sight to see the former Barcelona stars bonding on the pitch like old times.
Luis Suárez, Luis Ruiz missed before the 15th minute: FC Dallas, Inter Miami 0
Luis Suárez missed a shot on goal with a kick that didn't quite have enough power, while youngster Luis Ruiz also missed a chance at the outside of the net.
Inter Miami has significantly increased its aggression after the early 0-1 deficit.
Messi misses the shot on goal in the 12th minute: FC Dallas 1, Inter Miami 0
Sergio Busquets brought Messi between several Dallas defenders for a free shot into the net, but Messi was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
Messi's shot skidded to the right side of the net as he grimaced after missing the shot.
Messi shot towards the net a sequence earlier, but the goalkeeper blocked him in the penalty area.
Messi puts the ball into the net from a corner kick, but no goal: FC Dallas 1, Inter Miami 0
Messi prepared for a corner kick in the 8th minute and the ball reached the center of the net, where the Dallas goalkeeper made sure it didn't get through.
While Inter Miami's Sergio Busquets was in the game near the net, FC Dallas was able to keep them scoreless.
A scene later, Luis Suárez fell after a challenge and limped as he worked his way back into the game.
A number 10 scored. But not for Inter Miami.
FC Dallas star Jesus Ferreira scored in the third minute of Monday night's game, giving Messi and Inter Miami an early deficit.
Inter Miami is behind for the first time in two games and has now won 1-0 in the preseason.
An hour before the game, Inter Miami announced that Messi would be in the starting lineup against FC Dallas alongside Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Inter Miami goalie Drake Callendar will also be in the squad after training with the US national team.
Here is the starting lineup:
Could the game between Inter Miami and FC Dallas be epic again?
Messi put on a show in his first game against FC Dallas during the Leagues Cup tournament last August.
Messi and Inter Miami – in only their fourth game together – appeared to be tied at 3-4 in the final minutes of normal time until he delivered.
Messi scored twice in the first six minutes of the game and equalized in the 85th minute to make it 4-0, and Inter Miami beat FC Dallas 5-3 on penalties.
How long did Messi play in Inter Miami's first pre-season game?
Inter Miami's big four – Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – only played in the first half against El Salvador last Friday.
Messi missed two shots on goal in the same order and a free kick during his playing time.
Coach Tata Martino was scrupulous about playing time and had his entire team (except a backup goalkeeper) play during the game.
A wave of substitutions followed in the 63rd minute, but Inter Miami finished the game with 10 men after 21-year-old youngster Facundo Farias left the game with an ACL injury. Inter Miami announced that he is out for the season.