Portland Timbers · England · 48 yrs
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Inter Miami are clashing with the Portland Timbers in the MLS, with all eyes on Lionel Messi to feature in the game. Inter Miami host the Portland Timbers on Sunday, May 17, at Nu Stadium in the 2026 MLS regular season. With the Herons looking to climb further up the Eastern Conference standings, the biggest question heading into the match is whether Lionel Messi will be in the lineup. Messi has been included in the starting lineup against the Timbers. The Argentine arrives in good form after scoring a brace and adding an assist in a 5-3 road win over FC Cincinnati, a performance that earned him a spot in the MLS Team of the Matchday 13 and further underlines his sharp form heading into the summer. Through 12 MLS appearances this season, Messi has scored 11 goals and registered four assists. His only absence came against Charlotte FC back in March, and since returning he has played every available minute, accumulating 1,260 minutes across all competitions and arriving at the World Cup in peak condition. Inter Miami looking to break their troubling home record One of the most striking anomalies of Inter Miami’s 2026 campaign has been the stark contrast between their form on the road and at home. Away from Nu Stadium, the Herons are the top team in the league with 22 points from nine games, yet at home they rank among the worst sides in MLS, picking up just three points from four matches, level with the Philadelphia Union. Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF at Nu Stadium. That split has Inter Miami sitting sixth in the overall MLS standings with 25 points from 13 games. Back on home soil on Sunday, the Herons will be desperate to finally secure a second win at Nu Stadium, having not claimed all three points there since the venue’s inaugural game against Austin FC on April 4. Confirmed lineups for Inter Miami and Portland Timbers Inter Miami’s confirmed lineup (4-3-3): Dayne St. Clair; Ian Fray, Gonzalo Lujan, Micael, Sergio Reguilon; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, German Berterame.Head coach Guillermo Hoyos. Portland Timbers’ confirmed lineup (4-3-3): James Pantemis; Brandon Bye, Finn Surman, Kamal Miller, Jimer Fory; Cole Bassett, David Pereira Da Costa, Diego Chara; Kristoffer Velde, Kevin Kelsy, Alexander Aravena.Head coach: Phil Neville.
Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville spoke about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Sunday’s matchup against Inter Miami. Inter Miami will play their second-to-last match before the Major League Soccer season pauses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, when they host the Portland Timbers at Nu Stadium. Head coach Phil Neville spoke about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the game. “I was lucky enough to play with one of the greatest in Cristiano, and on Sunday I’ll be out to coach against one of the greatest, which is an honor,” Neville said during Friday’s press conference in Miami, shared by reporter Jose Armando on X. The former English defender played alongside Ronaldo between 2003 and 2005 during his final seasons at Manchester United, when the Portuguese forward had just arrived from Sporting CP as a teenager. Together, they won the 2003-04 FA Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson. Neville later praised Messi’s commitment since arriving at Inter Miami and explained how it has positively impacted MLS. “I love, and I loved it with the other stars here like Sergio Busquets and Alba, that when they score, they celebrate. They’re not here for a holiday. They’re not here just to pick up whatever money they’re earning. They’re here to win,” the Portland coach said. Phil Neville sobre Lionel Messi y las figuras de Inter Miami:"Están aquí para ganar y no vienen por dinero; hemos tenido jugadores que vienen a esta liga por una pensión"#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/RQXiaBFewm— José Armando (@Jarm21) May 15, 2026 “There was a game, I think it was in Orlando, they were maybe 2-0 down, and the greatest player in the world is arguing with maybe the goalkeeping coach from Orlando on the bench,” Neville recalled. “That, for me, inspires the whole league. What them guys are doing shows their hunger, their desire to be the absolute greatest every single day.” Phil Neville reflects on his time at Inter Miami When Lionel Messi agreed to join Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, the club had decided to hire Gerardo Martino just one week earlier. The Argentine coach arrived as the replacement for Phil Neville, who had held the position since January 2021. Asked whether he regrets not having the opportunity to coach Messi at Inter Miami, Neville was completely honest: “I had incredible relationships with the owners, so it didn’t just happen in seven days. At the start of the season, I was under no illusions that probably, if he came in, I wouldn’t be here. And that’s totally fine.” Phil Neville estaba al tanto de que podía salir del club si Lionel Messi llegaba a fichar con Inter Miami:"Uno de los dueños del equipo es mi mejor amigo y no nos guardamos secretos"#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/T4eTmzQ94m— José Armando (@Jarm21) May 15, 2026 The coach then discussed his relationship with David Beckham, his former Manchester United teammate and an Inter Miami executive: “One of the best friends of my life is the owner of the football club, so it’s not as if we kept secrets from each other during that period.” Inter Miami searching for first home victory Despite enjoying a strong 2026 MLS season and currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference standings, Inter Miami still have unfinished business: earning their first win at their new home. Since the official opening of Nu Stadium in early April, the Herons have played four matches there, recording three draws and one loss. On Sunday, they will look to end that streak against the Portland Timbers. If they fail to do so, they will have another opportunity seven days later when they host the Philadelphia Union in their final match before the break.
Phil Neville believes the only way the Portland Timbers can progress is by dropping their egos, after returning to winning ways against Sporting Kansas City last time out. Portland were four goals to the good inside the opening 26 minutes at Providence Park before Ariel Lassiter and Kevin Kelsy added further gloss in a 6-0 […] The post CF Montreal v Portland Timbers: Visitors must ´drop their egos´ like PSG, says Neville appeared first on Soccer News.
Kevin Kelsy led the way as the Portland Timbers hammered Sporting Kansas City 6-0 in a statement performance from Phil Neville’s team. Portland have struggled for consistency in MLS this term, but they found their groove in style at Providence Park. Kelsy scored twice and had an assist, with Kristoffer Velde, Cole Basset and Ariel […] The post MLS: Timbers run riot as Nashville hit back late on appeared first on Soccer News.
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