Messi and Inter Miami ousted from MLS playoffs. Atlanta United upsets top seeds 3-2 in Game 3

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi walked off the field and into the tunnel leading to the Inter Miami locker room a few seconds after the final whistle blew, hardly any emotion on his face. He didn't want to see the celebration. Atlanta United ousted Messi...

Facundo Torres rallies Orlando City to 4-1 shootout win over Charlotte in first-round rubber match

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Facundo Torres scored in the 12th minute of second-half stoppage time to forge a 1-1 tie, and he added a shootout goal as Orlando City beat Charlotte FC 4-1 on penalty kicks to win the rubber match of the best-of-three first-round series for the MLS Cup on Saturday night. ...

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami eliminated from MLS Cup playoffs by Atlanta United with 3-2 Game 3 loss

Sergio Busquets, once ruled out, now may play alongside Messi for Inter Miami against Atlanta United

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami practiced on Friday thinking there was no way Sergio Busquets was going to play in its win-or-else playoff match against Atlanta United. A few hours later, the team got quite the surprise. Busquets — who coach Gerardo...

Silva scores in stoppage time, Atlanta rallies to beat Messi's Miami 2-1 to even playoff series

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta United finished a whopping 34 points behind Lionel Messi and star-studded Inter Miami during the regular season. Now, the Five Stripes have a shot at pulling off a stunning upset of the best team in Major League Soccer. Xande Silva scored with...

Atlanta United loses midfielder Edwin Mosquera for remainder of series against Inter Miami

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta United has lost midfielder Edwin Mosquera for the remainder of the team’s Eastern Conference first-round series against Inter Miami following surgery on the meniscus of his left knee. Atlanta United is facing a must-win game at home on Saturday night after...

Move over Messi and Ronaldo. A new generation of soccer stars is lining up to win the Ballon d'Or

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — No Lionel Messi. No Cristiano Ronaldo. When the Ballon d'Or is presented at a gala ceremony in Paris on Monday, it will feel like the start of a new era in soccer. There is also a sense of void now that one of sport's most engrossing rivalries is likely...

Inter Miami's Ian Fray suffers meniscus injury, will require surgery

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami defender Ian Fray will undergo surgery to repair a meniscus injury suffered in Game 1 of the team's Eastern Conference first-round series against Atlanta United, the team said Saturday. Fray has already overcome three ACL tears in his...

Lionel Messi's every move shown on TikTok during his winning Inter Miami playoff debut

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi's every move was on display in his Major League Soccer playoff debut. Every touch. Every shot attempt. Even when he wasn't doing anything at all, it was shown. There was a “Messi-cam” focused on the Inter Miami superstar...

Inter Miami gets a win in Messi's MLS playoff opener, tops Atlanta United 2-1

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi had chances at goals time and time again, only to keep being denied. Turns out, all he needed to do was deliver the right pass at the right time. Jordi Alba turned a pass from Messi into the go-ahead goal in the 60th minute, Luis Suarez...