MLS
No Messi, no problem for Inter Miami
With Lionel Messi out of the lineup to play in a pair of World Cup qualifiers for reigning champion Argentina, Inter Miami got two goals from Leonardo Campana to beat Sporting Kansas City 3-2 on Saturday night.
Facundo Farias added the third goal for Miami (8-14-4), which remains 14th in the Eastern Conference table.
The match was a test for Miami, which is 11-0-1 in cup and MLS matches since Messi’s arrival with the club. He already has 11 goals and eight assists with the team. Miami was winless in 11 straight before Messi’s debut on July 21.
“Like I said (Friday), Leo’s absence was going to be felt,” Campana said in Spanish. “But he has instilled so much confidence among the players. We believe now and know what we are capable of. Very happy with the result and the three points.”
Messi scored the winning goal in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Thursday and has another national team commitment against Bolivia on Tuesday.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is scheduled to return to Miami for its next league match at Atlanta FC next Saturday.
“We all know that when he is here, we are all better,” Miami coach Tata Martino said in Spanish. “We are capable of winning any type of match. That said — for a group of players which works very hard and are teammates of the best player in the world, when he doesn’t play it is uplifting for them knowing they can win.”
The lack of Messi was evident in the stands. Although the crowd at DRV PNK Stadium sang throughout the match and cheered loudly after each goal, there were noticeable pockets of empty seats.
In addition to Messi, seven other Miami players were called by their national teams for qualifiers and missed the match.
Campana’s second goal in the 45th minute snapped a 1-1 tie. DeAndre Yedlin dribbled deep into the right wing area and centered a pass to a leaping Campana who headed it past Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia.
“I feel I have emerged from less to more during the course of the season,” Campana said. “At the beginning, things were not working out but with continued hard work we are now on the right path.”
Farias made it 3-1 with his goal in the 60th minute. Sergio Busquets’ free kick from midfield found an open Farias, who dribbled unchallenged into the penalty area and beat Melia with a right-footed shot from 15 yards.
Alan Pulido got Sporting KC (8-12-8) within a goal in the 78th minute.
“This win solidifies us, we know we have a good team,” Martino said. “We can continue getting results like we did tonight.”
Miami faced an early deficit, when Dániel Sallói scored nine minutes into the match. Goalkeeper Drake Callender deflected Felipe Gutierrez’s 25-yard shot but failed to clear it. Salloi found the loose ball on the edge of the 6-yard box and converted with a right-footed shot inside the right post.
Miami tied it on Campana’s penalty kick in the 25th minute. Melia fouled Campana near the 6-yard box when he struck the Miami striker around the neck area. Campana beat Melia with a shot to his left.
-AP
MLS
Opponents’ coach saves Lionel Messi from postmatch red card

An unlikely person helped save Lionel Messi from receiving a postmatch red card on Wednesday night — San Jose Earthquakes coach Bruce Arena.
Messi of Inter Miami was irate when he was tackled just outside the box during second-half stoppage time of the 3-3 tie in San Jose. He barked at the officials after the non-call and his frustration increased after the contest ended, resulting in a yellow card.
Messi was still barking at the officials while shaking hands with assorted players on the field when he headed over to further confront the trio. Head referee Joe Dickerson said “walk away now” to the fuming Messi.
But there was Arena standing in the mix with Messi and the three officials, serving as part peacemaker and part negotiator before personally walking Messi away.
“He was obviously not happy, and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get a red card,” Arena said during his postgame news conference. “I just tried to move him out of the way, because for him to get a red card at the end of the game would have been ridiculous.
“I just wanted to make sure we get him out of there and he’s ready to play the next game for Miami.”
Messi has five goals and three assists in nine MLS matches this season entering Sunday’s home game against Orlando City.
The tie with the Earthquakes gave Inter Miami a point but the club is just 1-2-1 over the last four MLS matches and 1-4-1 across all competitions. Miami has allowed 17 goals in the six matches.
-Reuters
MLS
Lamentation of Lionel Messi’s body guard

Yassine Cheuko’s name might not be familiar but his face certainly should be. He’s Lionel Messi’s minder, the personal bodyguard who sticks to him like glue.
Run onto the pitch in search of a selfie with Messi and Cheuko will be there at the speed of Usain Bolt. Pose a threat, and he’s got the physique to smash an intruder into next week.
Messi enlists Cheuko’s services because they give him peace of mind. Argentina’s finest is prone to extreme levels of attention, and the trend of fans appearing on the field for impromptu photographs has grown over the years.
Cristiano Ronaldo fought a running battle at Euro 2024 — and over in MLS, Messi’s stature is bigger than the competition itself.
This season, though, Cheuko has faded into the background. He’s not as visible at Inter Miami games as he was, no longer marking Messi so tightly or religiously stalking MLS touchlines.
This week, he gave his version of why that was to the social media channel House of Highlights, saying his access to certain matches had been restricted. Here’s a flavour of his remarks:
“There’s a huge problem here. I’m not the problem. Let me help Messi. I love MLS and Concacaf, but we have to work together. I’m not better than anyone, but I have a wealth of experience in Europe. It’s fine, I understand their decision, but we could do better.”
Cheuko speaking publicly is an event in itself because he rarely gives interviews. He’s long been a mysterious part of Messi’s entourage, an MMA expert who was erroneously cast as an ex-Navy SEAL (rumours that Miami owner David Beckham hired him for Messi weren’t true either).
His activity did extend to an online spat with influencer and wrestler Logan Paul, who claimed Cheuko was sponging off Messi’s reputation. The pair have apparently arranged to fight each other.
Cheuko’s comments, some of which have been removed, generated a slew of reports claiming he had essentially been blacklisted from the MLS scene. So has he been shut out? And if so, why would anybody want to remove Messi’s self-employed line of defence?
MLS franchises and stadiums employ their own security staff, as does Concacaf for competitions such as its Champions Cup. From Messi’s perspective, however, his desire for an extra layer of protection is understandable. His sheer celebrity makes him vulnerable — and Cheuko claims there have been 16 instances of pitch invitations involving the Argentina captain since he joined MLS in 2023.
MLS could not verify that number but in response to a request for comment from The Athletic, it said it had not changed any rules affecting Cheuko. Concacaf declined to comment on the record, but Miami confirmed it was their decision to restrict Cheuko’s movement. He remains a club employee, bound by MLS protocols.
A source inside Miami’s dressing room told our writers that Messi wasn’t happy about this. “Lionel and Yassine are quite upset,” said the source, who requested anonymity over not being authorized to discuss the matter. “Yassine has always been really critical of all of the other security and suggested that if they were good at their jobs, he wouldn’t even be needed.”
It’s possible that Miami are pulling rank. This might be their way of saying that the cult of Cheuko, or specific security for one individual, isn’t working for them. Whatever the truth — and I’d recommend grabbing a coffee and checking out the full story — it’s another layer in the ever-evolving theatre around the world’s greatest footballer.
-The Athletic
MLS
Messi’s bodyguard is banned from touchline at Inter Miami games

Lionel Messi’s bodyguard Yassine Cheuko said he has been banned from protecting the Argentine forward from the touchline during Inter Miami matches.
Cheuko gained widespread recognition after social media videos showed him closely watching the crowd to stop potential pitch invaders from harming the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner.
Friendly – Hong Kong v Inter Miami – Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong – February 4, 2024 Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and teammates sit on the substitute bench during the match as Lionel Messi security guard Yassine Cheuko looks on REUTERS/Lam Yik/File Photo
“They don’t allow me to be on the field anymore,” the bodyguard was quoted as saying by Spanish media.
“I was in Europe for seven years, working for Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and only six people invaded the pitch. I came to the USA and in just 20 months 16 people have already done so. There’s a huge problem here, let me help Messi.”
Major League Soccer said on Tuesday that its protocols regarding team security guards had not changed and multiple sides had designated team security guards that are stationed near team benches on the field.
Inter Miami have been contacted for comment.
-Reuters
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