Madalena · Midfielder · #0 · Portugal · 45 yrs
The Argentine superstar had only just returned to the starting lineup and delivered a spectacular performance in the opening match, but unfortunate circumstances have now forced him away from the team. Lionel Messi will be missing when Inter Miami faces Monterrey in a crucial 2026 Leagues Cup clash, leaving the club without its biggest attacking weapon at a particularly important moment in the tournament. The Argentine superstar had only just returned to the starting lineup and delivered a spectacular performance in the opening match, but unfortunate circumstances have now forced him away from the team. The absence immediately changes the complexion of the matchup, especially with Inter Miami already dealing with several other attacking problems. Monterrey, meanwhile, enters the contest knowing that a victory could dramatically improve its chances of staying alive in the competition after losing its opening match to Orlando City. Messi’s absence comes only days after one of his most impressive performances of the summer. The 39-year-old started Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atlético de San Luis and scored twice while also providing an assist in a 4-2 victory, directly contributing to three of the club’s four goals. It was the Argentine’s first start for Inter Miami since returning from the 2026 World Cup with La Albiceleste, and his performance immediately reminded everyone why the club remains so dependent on him. He looked sharp throughout the match, constantly finding space between the lines and creating problems whenever he received the ball around the penalty area. The result also gave the Herons an important early advantage in the revamped Leagues Cup format. With only three Phase One matches available and goal difference playing a major role in determining who advances, every goal can become valuable later in the competition. However, Messi will now have to watch from afar as Inter Miami takes on one of the strongest clubs from Liga MX. Why isn’t Lionel Messi playing against Monterrey? The reason behind Messi’s absence is deeply personal and far more significant than a routine injury, suspension or decision to rotate the squad. Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, died in Rosario at the age of 68, with his death confirmed on Saturday after he had been receiving medical treatment. The news has prompted tributes from various organizations and clubs, including the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and Barcelona. Our deepest condolences. May Jorge Messi rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/PPSTTjHki1— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 8, 2026 Messi has subsequently traveled to Argentina to be with his family during this extremely difficult period. Reports indicate that he is expected to reunite with his mother Celia Cuccittini, his siblings and other relatives in Rosario, where arrangements for a private ceremony are expected to take place. Sending our deepest strength to Leo Messi and his family.We’re with you during this difficult time and sending you our warmest embrace. pic.twitter.com/YOCenOHSWy— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) August 8, 2026 The decision to leave Inter Miami at this moment is therefore completely understandable. Soccer has understandably taken a back seat as Messi returns home to mourn his father and support his family. Painful moment overshadows a crucial match There is an important soccer story developing around the Inter Miami-Monterrey meeting, but Messi’s absence puts everything else into perspective. The Leagues Cup remains important, particularly with both clubs fighting for a place in the knockout rounds, yet the circumstances surrounding the Argentine’s departure understandably dominate the conversation. Miami enters the match with three points after its opening victory, while Monterrey has no points after its defeat to Orlando City. The Mexican club needs a result, while Inter Miami wants to strengthen its position before its final Phase One fixtur
Inter Miami return to action in the 2026 Leagues Cup, this time to face Monterrey. Here are all the details on how to watch this match live in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Inter Miami vs Monterrey on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Inter Miami vs Monterrey WHAT Leagues Cup 2026 season WHEN 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT • Saturday, August 8, 2026 WHERE Apple TV STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview Inter Miami enter this match as the clear favorite. In their opening fixture, the Herons defeated Atletico de San Luis in a 4-2 comeback victory, powered by a brace from captain Lionel Messi. On the other side, Monterrey failed to overcome Orlando City. The Liga MX side suffered a 2-1 loss against the MLS club, with Antoine Griezmann netting his first Leagues Cup goal for his new team. Details on how to watch Apple TV is the home for Major League Soccer – where you can watch Inter Miami vs Monterrey and every MLS and Leagues Cup game. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, Apple TV, smartphone, tablet, Roku, and other smart streaming devices. Apple TV will stream every MLS game – including MLS Cup Playoffs and Leagues Cup – with no blackouts. Apple TV is available on all Apple iOS devices, Mac, PC, Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick, Android TV, Google TV, LG smart TVs, Panasonic smart TVs, Playstation 4 & 5, Roku streaming devices and smart TVs, Samsung smart TVs, Sony smart TVs, Vizio smart TVs, and Xbox One, One S, Series X and Series S. In addition, you can AirPlay or cast from your phone or computer to any compatible screen. SEE MORE: Schedule of Leagues Cup games on US TV and streaming How to watch anywhere with VPN If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer.
Inter Miami face Monterrey in Matchday 2 of the 2026 Leagues Cup, looking to move one step closer to sealing their spot in the next round. Inter Miami host Monterrey on Saturday in Matchday 2 of the 2026 Leagues Cup, with the result carrying real weight for both sides’ hopes of reaching the knockout rounds — and with Miami set to be without Lionel Messi, who won’t feature today following the passing of his father. The competition runs on two separate 18-team tables, one for MLS and one for Liga MX, with only the top four clubs from each advancing to the Round of 16. Miami currently sits second in the MLS table with three points and a plus-2 goal differential after their 4-2 win, with a Messi brace, over Atletico San Luis, trailing only Charlotte on goal difference. Monterrey, meanwhile, sit at the bottom of the Liga MX table with zero points following their 2-1 opening loss to Orlando City, making Saturday’s match considerably more urgent for the Mexican side. What happens if Inter Miami beat Monterrey A victory in regulation would move Miami to six points, likely vaulting them into the top spot in the MLS table. It would also leave Miami needing just a positive result in their final group match to all but lock up a top-four finish and a spot in the knockout rounds for a fourth straight Leagues Cup. For Monterrey, a loss would leave them on zero points through two matches, putting real pressure on their final outing to have any realistic shot at climbing into Liga MX’s top four. What happens if Inter Miami and Monterrey draw The Leagues Cup doesn’t allow for straight draws — any match tied after 90 minutes goes directly to a penalty shootout, with the winner awarded two points and the loser one. Should Miami win the shootout, they’d move to five points, likely holding their position near the top of the MLS table, while Monterrey would collect one point but remain toward the bottom of the Liga MX standings. If Monterrey instead win the shootout, Miami would sit on four points, still very much alive for the knockout rounds, while Monterrey would climb off zero points and keep their own qualification hopes within reach heading into the final matchday. What happens if Inter Miami lose to Monterrey A loss in regulation would leave Miami on three points, level with where they started the day, though a worse goal differential could see them slip several spots down the MLS table depending on other results. It wouldn’t be fatal to their knockout chances, but it would put considerable pressure on their final group-stage match to secure a top-four finish. For Monterrey, meanwhile, a win would bring them to three points and go a long way toward reviving their own path to the knockout rounds after their rocky start to the tournament.
Matias Almeyda previewed the Leagues Cup clash between Inter Miami and Monterrey, where he addressed the great form Lionel Messi is currently enjoying. Lionel Messi‘s latest Leagues Cup heroics have given Matias Almeyda plenty to joke about ahead of Saturday’s clash between Monterrey and Inter Miami. The Rayados coach admitted he hopes Messi “doesn’t feel like playing” this weekend, poking fun at the Argentine’s red-hot form since returning from his post-World Cup vacation. That form was on full display in Miami’s Leagues Cup opener against Atletico San Luis, where Messi scored a brace in a 4-2 comeback win. After the Mexican side struck inside four minutes, Messi equalized in the 13th and put Miami ahead for good in the 32nd, as they rallied at Nu Stadium. The brace also made him the competition’s all-time leading scorer with 14 goals, surpassing Denis Bouanga. After Messi’s outstanding performance against Atletico San Luis, Almeyda was asked about the display put on by his side’s next Leagues Cup opponent. “Yes, I watched the match… And well, what can I say? He’s [Messi] a machine. He truly keeps amazing, despite his age: so much talent, so much desire to play,” the coach said in a press conference. Faced with the Argentine’s brilliant form, Almeyda joked that he could have stayed on vacation to avoid facing him. “Today I was just telling my teammates: ‘Didn’t he feel like staying on vacation a bit longer? I don’t know, going on a boat, being with the family,’” he joked. Lionel Messi celebrates a goal vs Atletico San Luis. (Getty Images) The coach also praised Messi’s enduring passion for the game, saying he’s grateful players like him still exist and that, unlike most, Messi “doesn’t want vacations, he wants to play“. A pivotal Matchday 2 Saturday’s meeting is the second matchday of the Leagues Cup 2026 group stage, and the two sides arrive in very different form. Inter Miami sit second in the MLS group with three points after their 4-2 comeback win over Atletico de San Luis, while Monterrey have zero points following their 2-1 loss to Orlando City in their opener. The stakes differ accordingly. A win would leave Inter Miami one step away from securing a spot in the knockout rounds for a fourth straight edition of the tournament, while also extending their strong home record in the competition. Monterrey, on the other hand, face a must-win scenario: they’ve dropped two of their last three matches across all competitions and haven’t beaten MLS opposition in normal time in their last seven meetings, meaning another defeat would leave their hopes of advancing badly compromised.
With a brace against Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire brand new star Robert Lewandowski claimed the Player of the Matchday award in his third MLS game, prompting questions on how much it took for Lionel Messi to achieve his first one. Robert Lewandowski has already made an immediate splash in Major League Soccer, earning MLS Player of the Matchday honors in just his third appearance with the Chicago Fire. By securing the award so quickly into his tenure, the Polish superstar naturally invited comparisons to how long it took Lionel Messi to claim his first matchday honor with Inter Miami. Following back-to-back frustrating losses (a 3-2 defeat against Inter Miami and a 3-1 setback against NYCFC in which Lewandowski was held off the scoresheet), the Fire returned home to face Charlotte FC. Although the visitors opened the scoring in the 18th minute, the Polish legend stepped up to spearhead a quick comeback. In the 20th minute, Lewandowski netted the equalizer following a crisp team buildup, hitting a low shot from the edge of the box to log his first official MLS goal. He then completed his brace in the 68th minute, capitalizing on a sequence that originated with goalkeeper Chris Brady to coolly finish past the Charlotte keeper. Marking his home debut at Soldier Field, Lewandowski’s two-goal performance propelled the Fire to a comeback victory and three valuable points, lifting Chicago to fourth place in the standings. In the process, he became the first Fire player to win Player of the Matchday since Tom Barlow and the first Polish international to earn the honor since Karol Swiderski in 2022. Already lighting up the league. 🤩Robert Lewandowski wins Player of the Matchday pres. by @MichelobULTRA! pic.twitter.com/qiLKmklMVQ— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 3, 2026 Messi’s road to his first Player of the Matchday honor Arriving as a marquee free-agent signing following his stint at FC Barcelona, Lewandowski needed just three matches to assert his superstar status in MLS. Lionel Messi has reigned as the undisputed face of the league since his arrival in 2023, but his journey to his first domestic matchday award took longer than expected. Messi made his official MLS debut on August 26, 2023, against the New York Red Bulls, appearing in only six league matches during the second half of that campaign due to nagging injuries. The Argentine legend made his biggest initial mark in the 2023 Leagues Cup, scoring in all seven matches to lead Inter Miami to the title over Nashville SC. Entering the 2024 MLS campaign, Messi hit the ground running following a full preseason in South Florida. He bagged a brace in a 5-0 derby victory against Orlando City early in the season, though he was narrowly edged out for the matchday recognition for that specific fixture. Messi’s first MLS Player of the Matchday award eventually arrived on April 13, 2024, following Matchday 9. He earned the accolade after registering a goal and an assist in Inter Miami’s 3-2 road victory over Sporting Kansas City in front of 72,610 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. From his debut against the Red Bulls, it took Messi 11 MLS matches to capture his first Player of the Matchday recognition. Since breaking through, however, he has cemented his league dominance by collecting a record 14 Matchday honors, including two already during the 2026 campaign.
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