Lionel Messi was pulled in the 37th minute of Inter Miami CF’s 4-0 triumph over Toronto FC on Wednesday due to muscular exhaustion, only minutes after his former Barcelona colleague Jordi Alba had also exited the pitch.

After the game, Miami coach Gerardo Martino stated that both Alba and Messi would be assessed in the following days, but neither would be available to play against Orlando City on Sunday in order to be ready for the US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo next Wednesday.

“There is no chance they will be there on Sunday. I know we have a final to play [next Wednesday] but they won’t go near the pitch if they can’t play,” said Martino.

Messi and Alba, who both began the game after missing Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Atlanta United FC, were not involved in any especially strong challenges or visibly hobbling but were plainly in pain.

“They trained normally and we felt like they were ready to play,” Martino said through an interpreter. “I don’t believe it’s anything new or anything worse than what they had before. It’s fatigue. We don’t think it’s a muscular injury. That’s also from a conversation that I just had with [Messi]. But we have to continue being careful and we’ll look at him the next few days.”

He added: “I’m cautious about what can happen and after talking to them, I’m less pessimistic than I was when I had to bring them off.”

After leaving the field, both players headed straight to the bench rather than the locker room, and Miami’s Facundo Faras scored shortly after to give the home club a 1-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Robert Taylor scored two magnificent goals on each side of a Benjamin Cremaschi strike to clinch the three points.

Source: ESPN

Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal can never win the Premier League on the strength of Aaron Ramsdale alone, and he supports the loan signing of Brentford custodian David Raya.

Raya joined Arsenal’s squad after the season began, and he has appeared in the Gunners’ past two games, a 1-0 league win against Everton on Sunday and a 4-0 Champions League triumph at home against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.

It has sparked controversy about who Arsenal’s number one custodian is, with both players desperate to retain the post as Mikel Arteta’s team battles on numerous fronts.

During the Champions League coverage on CBS Sports in America on Wednesday, ex-goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel questioned Carragher if Raya was better than Ramsdale.

‘100%,’ said the former Liverpool defender. There is no way Arsenal will win the league with Ramsdale in goal. Ramsdale plays for Arsenal and isn’t even on the England squad.’

While Raya is presently on loan, the Gunners can purchase the Spanish custodian permanently for £27 million at the conclusion of the season.

Source: Daily Mail

Six Manchester City players who helped them win the treble in 2022-23 are among the contenders for men’s player of the year at the 2023 Fifa Best Awards.

Half of the 12 players in contention for the trophy are Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, both two-time winners, are also competing for the coveted accolade, as is England’s Declan Rice.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has been nominated for coach of the year.

He is up against three other managers, including Tottenham’s former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

Argentina was the World Cup champion. Messi currently has the Player of the Year accolade.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the award in the first two years, is not nominated this year after joining Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in December.

Rice, 24, is attempting to become the first English winner of the award.

Ederson of Manchester City and Andre Onana of Manchester United are both nominated for top custodian.

A team of football experts, including former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, selected the nominations.

The voting period for the eighth annual awards began on Thursday on Fifa.com and will end in mid-October.

The voters include national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.

Best Men’s Player

Julian Alvarez (Argentina/Man City)

Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia/Al Nassr)

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Man City)

Ilkay Gundogan (Germany/Barcelona)

Erling Haaland (Norway/Man City);

Rodri (Spain/Man City)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia/Napoli)

Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris St-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Argentina/Inter Miami)

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Napoli)

Declan Rice (England/Arsenal)

Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Man City)

Best Men’s Coach

Pep Guardiola (Spain/Man City)

Simone Inzaghi (Italy/Inter Milan)

Ange Postecoglou (Australia/Tottenham)

Luciano Spalletti (Italy/Italy national team)

Xavi (Spain/Barcelona)

Best Men’s Goalkeeper

Yassine Bounou (Morocco/Al Hilal)

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid)

Ederson (Brazil/Man City)

Andre Onana (Cameroon/Man Utd)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona)

Source: BBC