Latest news with #DreamsCup
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Young fan tackled by security for rushing Lionel Messi at Inter Miami youth event
Where was Lionel Messi's famed bodyguard Yassine Cheuko when he needed him? An overzealous young fan rushed the global soccer superstar during a youth event in South Florida before eventually being hauled away by security. Messi and Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez were attending the Inter Miami CF Academy's Dreams Cup at the team's training center in Fort Lauderdale over the weekend, sitting under a tent while watching the action. Video posted by TMZ showed a young fan sprinting toward the tent — with security a step behind — getting right in front of Messi in an attempt to get the Argentine to sign merch for him. 3 At the Dream Cup youth tournament, a fan runs toward Lionel Messi and is handled aggressively by security just steps away from the star as he sits under a tent. 305shock / BACKGRID Security then caught up and grabbed the fan, pulling him away. However, a second fan wearing a yellow shirt with a 54 on the back also attempted to approach the soccer star but seemed to go somewhat unnoticed by comparison to the other fan wearing the No. 10 Messi jersey. At one point, the fan in the jersey seemed to try to leave on his own, but security grabbed him again and escorted him off the field. While the focus was on the one fan, the other person in the yellow shirt was shooed away, but in a less forceful manner. 3 At the Dream Cup youth tournament, a fan runs toward Lionel Messi, who is sitting under a tent as security pursues the fan. 305shock / BACKGRID It's unclear if Messi signed anything for either fan during the interaction. The interaction is far from an unusual one for Mess, who has had supporters charge at him in hopes of an autograph or picture many times during his storied career. 3 At the Dream Cup youth tournament, a fan running toward Lionel Messi is handled aggressively by security. 305shock / BACKGRID Cheuko claimed in April that he was no longer allowed on the field for MLS games after he stood guard for the first two seasons of Messi's time in the league. It's unclear if he was at the youth event. Messi and Suárez recently partnered to launch a soccer club in Suárez's native Uruguay earlier this week. Suárez announced that the team formerly known as Deportivo LS will from here on out be called LSM, playing in the country's fourth division. Local media reports suggested that Messi will be a partner in the new club.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Inter Miami holds meetings, intense practices to right ship ahead of Philadelphia clash
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates headed to Philadelphia on Friday with a palpable sense of urgency to defeat the first-place Union, fueled, in part, by a players-only meeting Sunday night after the team's 3-0 home loss to Orlando City. Despite its star-studded lineup and lofty preseason expectations, the team has slipped to sixth place in the East, is winless in six of its past seven games, and has conceded 20 goals during that stretch. Defender Ian Fray said before training Friday morning that the team's veteran stars spoke up at the meeting, and one result has been increased intensity at practice all week. 'It's been rough stretch of games that we're not used to, but this week has been the hardest week of training I think we've had all season, and the guys have really come together,' Fray said. 'The intensity has been high, the coaches made that change in practice, where we're really working extra hard and the players taking the accountability to put in the extra work. We're ready for this game.' Last Memorial Day Weekend, Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets did not travel for the road game at Vancouver, choosing to stay home and watch their sons play in the club-sponsored Dreams Cup youth tournament. This time, it's a different story. 'I knew about last year, but obviously, this year we are at a moment where we need them, so they will travel,' coach Javier Mascherano said. Fray added that every player is dialed in and has a strong desire to get out of this funk. 'We're so used to winning all the time, and now we get the stretch of losing, so it was about putting in the extra work, everyone knows we have to do that,' he said. 'We all know we're not in a good moment and we have players here that maybe know how to turn things like this around.' Fray said that goalkeeper Oscar Ustari has been one of the team's most vocal leaders during this stretch. Mascherano said having the luxury of a full week of practice between games allowed the coaching staff to work the players longer and harder to try to correct weaknesses, especially on the defensive side. 'We have taken advantage of this week to work on a lot of things that we have to improve on, and It has been very productive, but it is not something different from what we have been doing,' Mascherano said. 'We took advantage of the long week to have more intense and longer training. We have focused on regaining confidence. The team has lost confidence, and the sport has an emotional side to it. You can train a lot but in the end it's how you face each game. We've been speaking with the players and stressing that turning things around is in our hands.' In addition to the players' meeting, Mascherano and his staff held team meetings and individual conversations with players to get the group back on track. The team was unbeaten in its first 14 games under Mascherano, including a 2-1 win at home against Philadelphia on March 29. 'As a coaching staff, we need to know what they players are thinking and feeling,' Mascherano said. 'For us to help them evolve, we need to know those things.' He added that club management has given him full support and has not interfered with his coaching. Inter Miami has 22 points through 13 games and trails the Union by seven points; but Miami has a game in hand and three games during the next seven days, so this is a critical stretch for the team to climb back up the standings. After Philadelphia, Miami plays back-to-back games at home on Wednesday against last-place Montreal (1-9-4) and on Saturday against third-place Columbus Crew (7-1-6), which Miami beat 1-0 on the road in April. '[The Union] is in first place, we haven't been in a good moment, so this is the perfect opportunity to show everybody why we're still the best team in the league,' Fray said. 'This game is set up perfectly for us to show everyone we're still Inter Miami.' In addition to getting back to the top of the East, Miami is motivated to get back in good form for the upcoming Club World Cup. The team will take a month-long break from MLS to play in the group stage of the tournament. Miami plays in the opening match June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium against Egyptian club Al Ahly, then heads to Atlanta for a June 19 game against Portuguese club Porto and then back to Hard Rock for a June 23 game against Brazilian club Palmeiras. FIFA is allowing teams to add players for the tournament. Mascherano said he has spoken to club officials about where the team needs help, and now it is up to them if they want to add reinforcements. He also is eager for Messi to sign a contract extension, as that will add stability for the long-range plans and give the fan base reason for optimism. 'Obviously, as a coach, I want him to renew his contract as soon as possible and I hope the news can be announced as soon as possible, above all for the peace of mind of the fans, and the peace of mind of everyone around the club,' Mascherano said. 'I'm not the one who has to deliver it or comment on it. I am not involved in the negotiations.' How to Watch: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Subaru Park and fans can watch on Apple TV MLS Season Pass.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lionel Messi will travel for Inter Miami match vs. Philadelphia Union. How to watch.
Lionel Messi will travel for Inter Miami match vs. Philadelphia Union. How to watch. Show Caption Hide Caption FIFA Club World Cup will set stage for big things in United States The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take the global stage and two legendary managers explain how it will have an impact on fans and the 2026 World Cup. Sports Seriously FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez will travel with the club for Saturday's MLS match against the Philadelphia Union, coach Javier Mascherano confirmed before Friday's practice. While Messi's presence will be missed for Inter Miami's Dreams Cup youth tournament – he spoke at the event last year after not traveling for a match in Vancouver – the club desperately needs their biggest star to help them avoid another defeat in the worse stretch of Messi's time in MLS. Inter Miami has won just once in their last seven matches, falling from fourth to sixth place in the MLS Eastern Conference. And Saturday's match will be against the Union, who sit in first place in the East. Inter Miami has three matches remaining in MLS play before they participate in the FIFA Club World Cup – they'll play in the tournament opener against Egyptian side Al Alhy on June 14 in Miami. 'This comes at a time of the season when we need them with us, and yes, they will both be traveling,' Mascherano said of Messi and Suárez. The match is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina), and will be played at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. Messi is expected to play, but his status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup an hour before the match. Inter Miami will return to action for their first match in six days – a much-needed layoff for their aging superstars like Messi, Suarez, midfielder Sergio Busquets and leftback Jordi Alba. The former Barcelona stars spoke with the club following their last match, a 3-0 defeat at home last Sunday to in-state rival Orlando City, Inter Miami defender Ian Frey said Friday. The club also used this week of practice to ramp up the intensity with hopes of overcoming their recent slump. They've lost five of their last seven matches, and been outscored 20-12 during the stretch. 'We've been caught at a point in the season where we've lost confidence and we clearly need to regain that urgently, because it's clear to see – not only in the team's performance but also in the individual performances,' Mascherano said. Messi also spoke about Inter Miami's recent slide with Apple TV after the Orlando loss. 'It's a difficult time, but we're going to come through this together,' Messi said. 'Now we'll really see if we're a team in difficult times because when everything is going well, it's very easy. But when difficult times come, like now, that's when we have to be more united than ever, be a real team and get through it.' Messi has been called up by the defending World Cup champions for qualifying matches for the 2026 tournament. Argentina will visit Chile on June 5, and host Colombia on June 10. May 24: Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
