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    Fans amazed as they spot Lionel Messi’s hench bodyguard patrolling TOUCHLINE while Inter Miami star plays

    FANS have spotted Lionel Messi’s huge Inter Miami bodyguard.The Argentine’s arrival has had MLS fans in a state of frenzy in recent weeks.
    Lionel Messi is often spotted with his bodyguard not far behindCredit: Getty
    Messi, 36, is followed by his security guard as he leaves the Ritz-Carlton in PhiladelphiaCredit: Splash
    Messi, 36, has scored nine goals in six games and appears to be relishing life in the States.
    Keeping him safe is a hench bodyguard hired by Inter Miami.
    The huge figure can be seen following Messi around on gamedays.
    He has been spotted shadowing the attacker off the team bus.
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    While he has even patrolled the right touchline during matches.
    The bodyguard ensures that fans don’t get too close to Messi, and has been spotted throwing a shirt to the ground after it had been launched at the former Barcelona star to sign.
    He is also on hand to escort Messi off the pitch and into the tunnel.
    Messi’s fans love that he is getting such close protection.
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    One wrote on social media: “Protect the GOAT at all costs.”
    While a second tweeted: “This guy means business.”
    A third commented: “This guy means business.”
    And a fourth said: “His eyes are always panning.”
    Another added: “Miami is taking good care of the GOAT.”
    Messi could win the first silverware of his time in the States this Sunday when his side take on Nashville in the Leagues Cup final.
    All of Messi’s Inter Miami appearances thus far have come in the competition and he has scored at least once in every game.
    After the Leagues Cup final he will then feature in the US Open Cup semis against Cincinnati next week.
    And his MLS debut will finally come on August 26 against New York Red Bulls.
    Messi’s bodyguard can even be seen patrolling the touchlineCredit: Twitter
    The guard ensures that Messi is not harassedCredit: Twitter More

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    Lionel Messi and Inter Miami ‘invited to compete in major tournament’ they could NEVER qualify for

    LIONEL MESSI and Inter Miami have been invited to play in the Copa Libertadores, according to reports.The South American equivalent of the Champions League is one of the most prestigious trophies in football – and is one that eludes Messi.
    Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have been invited to play in the Copa LibertadoresCredit: Getty
    But he could finally get his hands on the trophy after Inter Miami were invited to participate in the next Copa Libertadores.
    According to journalist Hugo Balassone, Inter Miami have received an invitation to take part from Chiqui Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association.
    Tapia was acting on behalf of Conmebol chief Alejandro Dominguez, who has previously pointed out to Messi he is yet to win the Copa Libertadores.
    There has been talk of expanding the Copa Libertadores to include teams from Concacaf – which includes the USA, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
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    Concacaf chief Victor Montagliani has also discussed another competition which would see the winners of the Copa Libertadores and Concacaf’s Champions Cup face off.
    Messi, 35, would likely be keen to add the Copa Libertadores to his extensive honours list.

    He has won the World Cup and the Copa America with Argentina but the rest of his success has come in Europe, since he left Newell’s Old Boys as a teenager.
    The superstar has got off to a flying start in MLS, scoring nine goals in his opening six games.
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    Inter Miami have won every game he has played and Messi now has a chance to pick up his first piece of silverware with the club in the Leagues Cup.
    Nashville await in the final on Sunday and all eyes will be on Messi as Inter Miami bid to claim their first ever trophy. More

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    Lionel Messi pulls up injured in training and limps through session in huge Inter Miami blow

    LIONEL MESSI worried Inter Miami fans by picking up an innocuous injury in training.The David Beckham-owned franchise lock horns with MLS rivals Philadelphia Union in a Leagues Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

    Lionel Messi has been a revelation since joining Inter MiamiCredit: EPA
    But he’s a doubt for their Leagues Cup match with Philadelphia Union after appearing to suffer a foot injuryCredit: GETTY
    The competition could present Messi with an opportunity to win a trophy just weeks into his time with the Floridians.
    But Miami could be without their star man – who appeared to injure his left foot in training.
    The 36-year-old caught his left foot in the turf after receiving a pass from one of his team-mates and immediately pulled up.
    Messi began limping around the pitch but shook off the jarring pain before playing the ball back to one of his colleagues.
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    The Barcelona icon’s knock was quickly played down by coach Tata Martino – who insisted everything was “normal” with the footie superstar.
    When quizzed about the injury, the Argentine said: “I didn’t see exactly what happened.
    “But I imagine that if it had been something serious they would all been scandalized.
    “And since they were all well, I think nothing happened.”
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    Messi joined Inter on a free transfer last month following the expiration of his contract with French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
    The Argentina international has been nothing short of a revelation for the club, scoring eight goals in five appearances in all competitions.
    Upon his arrival in Florida, Messi said: “I am very happy to have chosen to come to this city with my family, to have chosen this project and I have no doubt that we are going to enjoy it very much.
    “We are going to have a good time and great things are going to happen.
    “Thank you very much, thank you all for this day.
    “I can’t wait to start training to compete.
    “I feel the same desire I’ve always had to compete, to really want to win and to help it (Inter Miami) continue to grow.” More

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    Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami scoring rate could be set to land punter over £22,000

    LIONEL MESSI has had an unbelievable start at Inter Miami.Well, it would be unbelievable if it was anyone but Messi.
    Messi has Inter Miami fans dreaming of gloryCredit: Reuters
    The Argentinian superstar has racked up an incredible seven goals in four games in the Leagues Cup so far.
    That includes a dramatic late free kick against Dallas in the previous round, which levelled the score at 4-4.
    It also saw the 36-year-old become the club’s fourth-highest scorer of all time – after four appearances.
    And should he keep up that goalscoring rate moving forward and back in the MLS, it could go some way to helping one Bet365 punter towards a staggering £22,000 pay out.
    The bettor shared his bet slip on Twitter, showing a £50 double staked on a Lionel Messi x Inter Miami double.
    The first part involves Inter Miami winning The Leagues Cup which was a 10/1 shot when placed.
    The punter’s Messi x Inter Miami double
    David Beckham’s side are now the 2/1 favourites having reached the quarter final stage.
    The second part looked a tall order, with Messi to finish as MLS Top Goalscorer at huge 40/1 odds.
    When the league resumes, he’ll start 13 goals behind Hany Mukhtar of Nashville with 12 games to go.
    Given his blistering start, he’s projected to hit 21 goals at the same scoring rate he’s started, which would certainly put him in the mix.
    And the bookmaker agrees, slashing his odds to 15/4 second favourite BEFORE he’s kicked a ball in the competition.
    That’s left the punter with a dilemma after being offered a £605 cash out already.
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    Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
    Never chase their losses
    Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
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    For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. More

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    Lionel Messi sparks ‘CHEAT’ storm after stunning last-gasp free-kick as legend sees MLS debut POSTPONED

    LIONEL MESSI is at the centre of a stunning “CHEAT” storm.The football superstar, 36, has had an electric start to life in America after scoring seven goals in four games.
    Lionel Messi has been embroiled in a ‘cheat’ storm following his free-kick vs FC DallasCredit: Reuters
    Fans spotted Messi moving the ball slightly before taking his free-kickCredit: TikTok @comtrax_chicafitbolivia
    Messi moved the ball while the ref had his back turnedCredit: TikTok @comtrax_chicafitbolivia
    And some fans remarkably labelled him a ‘cheat’Credit: TikTok @comtrax_chicafitbolivia
    This video of Lionel Messi slowly and sneakily moving the ball a few feet to the left so he has a better angle on his free kick is a good reminder that even the world’s best athletes are constantly looking for an edge.pic.twitter.com/0WH9Jv9Pup— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 8, 2023

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    His exploits included a stunning 85th minute free-kick against FC Dallas to send Inter Miami into extra-time of the Leagues Cup, before his side won the tie 5-3 on penalties.
    However, the Argentine World Cup winner has now sensationally been accused of “cheating” by some fans.
    Footage of the game shows Messi standing over the ball before his free-kick.
    And in the footage, the ex-Barcelona star can be seen inching the ball forward while the ref tends to the defensive wall.
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    The minor adjustments proved to be beneficial, with Messi nestling the set-piece into the top corner.
    But fans online were left split over the act.
    Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “This video of Lionel Messi slowly and sneakily moving the ball a few feet to the left so he has a better angle on his free kick is a good reminder that even the world’s best athletes are constantly looking for an edge.”
    A second argued: “‘Looking for an edge’ is the new way to refer to cheating, lol. And yes, i know that many others do the same…. and yes, i think they all cheat (because it’s against the rules).”
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    “Considering where the ball ended up going in, these slight movements made all the difference in actually scoring. That’s artistic genius by Messi,” remarked a third.
    A fourth hit back: “Cheating. You mean cheating.”
    Meanwhile, a fifth replied: “First time watching a football match? Every match this happens 100 times.”
    Another claimed: “What a cheater 😂.”
    Thanks to Inter’s progression in the Leagues Cup, Messi’s full Major League Soccer debut has been delayed.
    He had been due to make his MLS debut on August 20 against Charlotte FC.
    However, with the Herons progressing into the quarter-finals, the fixture has now been pushed back with the two sides set to meet at the PNK DRV Stadium on Friday.
    And with the semi-finals set to commence on August 19, one team will be unable to fulfil the original fixture slot.
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    Incredibly, just one month after making his debut, Messi already sits joint-fourth in Inter’s all-time goalscorer charts.
    And at the rate he is going he will have no problem catching compatriot Gonzalo Higuain, who sits top with 29 goals. More

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    MLS fans slam ‘terrible competitors’ as they spot what Dallas stars did to heroic Lionel Messi after loss to Inter Miami

    DALLAS FC stars were slammed by fans for trying to get a picture with Lionel Messi after he led Inter Miami’s amazing comeback against them. The Argentine helped Inter Miami fight back from 4-2 down to reach the League Cup quarter-finals.

    But MLS fans are disappointed with Dallas players for asking the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner for a photo after throwing away their lead.
    One fan on social media said the Toros stars are “terrible competitors”.
    While another fan added: “They don’t care that they just lost”.
    A third fan wrote: “The same used to happen in ligue 1 tbf, everyone is a messi fan”.

    Messi opened the scoring after only six minutes before Dallas turned the game on its head.
    Heading into the final ten minutes, Dallas led 4-2 in the scorching heat.

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    As temperatures soared to 37 degrees Messi decided to turn up the heat even further, firing a cross to force Dallas’s Marco Farhean to head in an own goal.
    Then with five minutes to go the 36-year-old smashed a free-kick into the top corner to send the game into penalties.
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    The football legend then scored Miami’s first spot kick before Paxton Pomykal missed for Dallas, allowing the Herons to win 5-3. 
    Inter Miami are now through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup, where they will take on Houston Dynamo or Charlotte.  
    Meanwhile, the game has also made Messi the joint fourth-highest scorer in Inter Miami’s history – after only joining the club less than a month ago.
    The Argentine has scored seven goals in just four appearances and is now level with current team-mate Josef Martinez as well as former stars Lewis Morgan and Rodolfo Pizarro.

    Gonzalo Higuain tops the leaderboard with 29 goals and current inter players Leo Campana and Robert Taylor have 16 and eight goals respectively.
    Inter Miami was only founded in January 2018 by England legend David Beckham along with Jorge and Jose Mas.
    But it might not be long until Messi becomes the club’s all-time leading scorer.
    The 36-year-old is already Barcelona’s top marksman ever with a remarkable 672 goals, and he is also the record holder for Argentina with 103.
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    Dallas stars ask Lionel Messi for a photo after their defeat against Inter Miami More

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    Watch RACCOON fall through ceiling and try to steal popcorn in MLS club’s press box as fans joke ‘they found new mascot’

    REPORTERS at a Leagues Cup match in Utah were left stunned after a RACCOON unexpectedly fell into the press box.Prior to the clash between MLS side Real Salt Lake and Liga MX outfit Leon at America First Field on Thursday, the wild animal fell through a gap in the ceiling and crashed onto a table.
    A raccoon fell into the press box at America First FieldCredit: Twitter @calebturner23
    It then attempted to steal popcorn from a machineCredit: Twitter @calebturner23
    It then scurried over to a popcorn machine in an attempt to get food, leaving onlookers gobsmacked.
    One reporter, named Caleb Turner, filmed the incident unfold and posted the video on Twitter.
    The clip prompted a hilarious reaction from some fans, with one person tweeting: “Looks like he just smelled the popcorn and wanted some.”
    Another questioned: “Ok but did someone get him his popcorn?”
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    A third joked: “Looks like Rocket has had a rough time since the Guardians of the Galaxy.”
    While one fan even suggested that Real Salt Lake change their mascot, adding: “Real Salt Lake immediately needs to change their mascot to #rocket the #raccoon and give this raccoon unlimited popcorn please.”
    After roaming around the press box, the raccoon then ran onto the stadium concourse among thousands of fans.
    The match between Real Salt Lake and Leon had been delayed due to torrential rain, so a huge crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the animal.
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    It then hung itself off a balcony while three people attempted a rescue mission.
    However, just before they were able to catch the raccoon, it fell to the ground floor and ran off again.
    The animal was eventually caught by members of security before they took it back outside.
    After all the chaos, the match was postponed until Friday due to the weather. More

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    Lionel Messi Scores Twice for Inter Miami in Win Over Orlando

    Messi is scoring in bunches and last-place Inter Miami is a contender in the Leagues Cup. Could an M.L.S. playoff push be next?When it was announced that Lionel Messi was coming to Major League Soccer, there was excitement, of course. But there were also doubts. Would he treat his stay in the league as a retirement tour or even a vacation? Would the lower stakes lead to less effort? Would his age — 36 — catch up to him?In retrospect, it should have been obvious. It turns out that if you put the best player of his generation into M.L.S., less than two years removed from winning the Ballon d’Or as the game’s best player, and less than a year since he was named best player at the World Cup, he is going to be really, really good.Really good.Messi had two more goals on Wednesday night, bringing his total to five in his three games for his new team, Inter Miami. Still saddled with the worst record in the league, Inter is playing with panache, and Messi, at times, looks unstoppable.Messi’s arrival after two years at Paris St.-Germain coincided with the start of the Leagues Cup, a newly expanded tournament for teams from M.L.S. and Mexico’s Liga MX.He entered his first game on July 21 against Cruz Azul of Mexico early in the second half. And perhaps with the flair of a showman he waited until deep into injury time to hit a free kick from behind the circle over the wall and in the corner of the net to break a 1-1 tie.Eight minutes into his first start on July 25 against Atlanta, Messi was sprung clear, barely onside. He hit the post but slotted in the rebound. Later in the half, he latched onto a cross and had an easy second goal in what would eventually be a 4-0 win.That put Miami in the round of 32 against Orlando on Wednesday night. In the first half, Messi, completely unmarked, chested down a pass in the box and one-timed it into the net. In the second half, again with lots of space, he took a little chip from Josef Martínez and volleyed it home. Miami won, 3-1.Miami is now four wins away from the Leagues Cup title. Its form is all the more remarkable because the team pre-Messi was, quite simply, bad. It sits dead last of the 29 M.L.S. teams in the league standings with a 5-14-3 record. But that record does not matter at all in the Cup; Miami next travels to Dallas for a round of 16 game on Sunday.Inter Miami made the playoffs last year with a .500 record and was expected to improve with the addition of Martínez. But nothing seemed to go right for the team in the early going.Inter’s midseason revamp did not end with Messi. They also added two former greats at Barcelona, Messi’s longtime club, midfielder Sergio Busquets and defender Jordi Alba, as well as Diego Gómez, a young Paraguayan midfielder. Messi is often said to make his teammates better, and one who seems to have benefited is Robert Taylor, a Finnish wingback, who has been regularly involved in Messi’s attacks and also had two goals of his own in the Atlanta game.It is impossible not to notice that in his games so far, Messi has been getting a lot more space to maneuver than he did in Europe. Of course, Messi is a genius at finding space. But the quality of the defending he is now facing is a clear cut below what he is used to.In Champions League play, it was hardly unusual for him to be swarmed by strong, technically skilled defenders, some of whom had little compunction about pushing the physicality of their challenges to or beyond the legal limit.M.L.S. defenders, whether overawed, less adept positionally or just too slow, haven’t kept anything like the same kind of pressure on him, at least so far. In his third game, Orlando did try to turn up the physicality, but the success of that tactic was debatable given his two goals.Win or lose the Leagues Cup, Miami will return to M.L.S. league play on Aug. 20. With Superman now playing attacking midfielder, can they actually come back and make the playoffs, or even win the title?They are 12 points and six places away from the playoff spots with just 12 games to play. That seems like a big gap. But based on his first three games, Messi looks like he can make a run at bridging it. More