Lionel Messi's Inter Miami had a golden opportunity to make up ground in the Supporters' Shield race on Wednesday, with Nashville SC having fallen to a late defeat against Toronto FC earlier that same day. Instead, the Herons let the chance slip in a 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire at Soldier Field, a result that […] Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami had a golden opportunity to make up ground in the Supporters’ Shield race on Wednesday, with Nashville SC having fallen to a late defeat against Toronto FC earlier that same day. Instead, the Herons let the chance slip in a 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire at Soldier Field, a result that did little to change the shape of the Eastern Conference race at the top. Chicago struck first in the eighth minute, with Robert Lewandowski rising to head home a cross from the left flank for his seventh goal since joining MLS, giving the hosts an early cushion that Inter Miami had to chase for the rest of the half. The visitors found their equalizer early in the second half through a well-worked set piece: Messi delivered a corner kick toward the penalty spot, and Casemiro rose above the Chicago defense to plant a header off the right post and past goalkeeper Christopher Brady, leveling the score at 1-1. .@Casemiro in the air. Part 3. 🚀🔄@HPE pic.twitter.com/wpvkerNmbW— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 10, 2026 The draw leaves Inter Miami on 44 points, nine behind a Nashville side that had every chance to open the gap further but failed to do so themselves. The two sides will meet head-to-head on Saturday, September 13, in what shapes up as a defining fixture for whatever remains of Miami’s Supporters’ Shield hopes, against the same Nashville team that beat them 4-1 earlier this season. Where the Supporters’ Shield race stands Nashville SC remains firmly in control at the top of the table, sitting on 53 points from 24 matches with a 16-5-3 record, a cushion that leaves the rest of the league playing catch-up. Vancouver Whitecaps sit second with 46 points from 23 games, while Inter Miami’s draw kept them in third on 44 points, level of games played with the leaders but nine points adrift. Houston Dynamo trail closely in fourth with 43 points, and a chasing group of New England, LAFC and FC Dallas are all tied on 40 heading into the final stretch of the regular season. TeamPointsGames Played1- Nashville SC53242- Vancouver Whitecaps46233- Inter Miami44244- Houston Dynamo43245- New England Revolution40246- LAFC40257- Dallas FC4024 With nine matchdays remaining, Inter Miami’s path to the Shield still exists mathematically, but Saturday’s head-to-head trip to Nashville now looms as close to a must-win if that gap is going to close in any meaningful way.
Freiburg's Japanese attacker Yuito Suzuki has spoken to the Bundesliga about the sensational start to the season for him and his club, plus what it means to be part of the growing Japanese contingent in the German top flight.
IN FOCUS : The Norwegian has recaptured his best form after a long spell struggling with the lasting effect of injuries, but, as Miguel Delaney writes, his style gives Arsenal a new dimension and lifts their ceiling under Mikel Arteta
At 41, the Portuguese star is still producing the kind of headed finishes that have defined some of the most memorable moments of his career, while another piece of soccer history is now firmly within reach. Cristiano Ronaldo keeps finding new ways to add to his extraordinary career numbers, and his latest goal for Al-Nassr has once again put his aerial ability in the spotlight. At 41, the Portuguese star is still producing the kind of headed finishes that have defined some of the most memorable moments of his career, while another piece of soccer history is now firmly within reach. Ronaldo scored in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 victory over Abha on September 9, heading home an Angelo corner in the 22nd minute. The goal was his 979th career strike, moving him closer to the 1,000-goal milestone while also adding another entry to one of the most remarkable statistical chapters of his career. The finish against Abha was classic Ronaldo. He attacked the delivery with perfect timing, generated enough power to beat the goalkeeper and watched as the ball struck the post before crossing the line. The goal also took Ronaldo to 158 headed goals, according to the commonly circulated modern statistical tally. That figure puts him ahead of a long list of legendary forwards and highlights just how unusual his aerial production has been throughout a career that has included Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr. The 41-year-old was also named man of the match for the second time this season, after playing the full 90 minutes. هكذا ارتقى كريستيانو رونالدو وعاد إلى التسجيل 🚀🐐 #النصر_أبها | #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/8sjyifLaPk— رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) September 9, 2026 So how many more headers does Ronaldo need? This is where the viral claim requires some correction. A social media graphic celebrated Ronaldo as the outright record holder with 158 headed goals, claiming that he had overtaken Celtic legend Jimmy McGrory, who was listed at 157. However, historical compilations provide a different figure for McGrory, with the Scottish great credited with 162 headed goals in the more commonly referenced historical tally. That means Ronaldo is currently four headed goals away from the 162-goal mark attributed to McGrory, according to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). RankPlayerCountryHeader GoalsAppearances1.Jimmy McGroryScotland1625202.Cristiano RonaldoPortugal1581,3343.Fred RobertsEngland1343204.Mario JardelBrazil1314655.Jared BorgettiMexico1266606.Telmo ZarraSpain1223737.Carlos SantillanaSpain1217018.Hakan SukurTurkey118821=Robert LewandowskiPoland1181,020 The distinction matters because there is no universally recognized FIFA database ranking every headed goal scored throughout soccer history. Statistics from the early decades of the 20th century are particularly difficult to verify, meaning totals for players such as McGrory can differ depending on the source and methodology. Ronaldo already in class of his own Even with the historical caveat, Ronaldo’s numbers are extraordinary. The commonly cited top five for headed goals currently has McGrory on 162, Ronaldo on 158, Fred Roberts on 134, Mario Jardel on 132, and Santillana on 129. The gap between Ronaldo and the players immediately behind him shows just how far ahead he is of most of soccer history when it comes to scoring with his head. Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al Nassr scores against Abha What makes Ronaldo’s tally even more impressive is that he has never been a traditional target man whose entire game was built around playing as a penalty-box No. 9. He has spent large portions of his career operating from the wing or as a roaming forward, particularly during his Manchester United and Real Madrid years. His ability to attack crosses from different positions, combined with his leap, timing and movement, turned him into one of the most dangerous aerial players the sport has ever seen.
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