Lionel Messi has kicked off his second season in Major League Soccer and LiveScore is the place to be for all the big talking points from the United States. Keep refreshing this page for the latest stories in bite-sized chunks.
Messi sparkles in curtain-raiser
Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham had a front row seat as star man Lionel Messi put on a show in the Major League Soccer curtain-raiser against Real Salt Lake.
The Manchester United and England legend flew to Florida for the season opener and will have liked what he saw from Tata Martino’s Martino’s ambitious team in Wednesday’s 2-0 win.
Messi, 36, put in a man-of-the-match display, producing some outrageous footwork, seeing a free-kick cleared off the line and hitting the bar directly from a corner before setting up Robert Taylor’s opener.
Diego Gomez’s goal seven minutes from time wrapped up the victory for the hosts.
Messi speaks out
Lionel Messi has set the record straight over his much-criticised failure to appear in Inter Miami’s friendly against Hong Kong XI.
In a video posted to Chinese social media platform Weibo, he said: “I’ve read and heard many things that have been said after the game in Hong Kong. I wanted to record this video and give you the true version so nobody has to continue reading false stories.
“I’ve heard people say that I didn’t want to play for political reasons and many other reasons that are totally untrue.
“Had that been the case I wouldn’t have even travelled to Japan or visited China. I had an inflamed adductor and I really couldn’t play.”
New threads
The new Major League Soccer campaign is just around the corner, with Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake kicking off the action on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi and his team-mates will don the Florida outfit’s new primary kit named 2getherness.
The jersey features in our list of the 12 best shirts set to feature in MLS this season, which can be viewed below.
Leo locked in
Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino is confident Lionel Messi will be fit to face Real Salt Lake next Wednesday night, following a 1-1 draw against Newell’s Old Boys in Miami’s final pre-season friendly.
Martino said: “I see him fully recovered. It is true that we are playing him little by little. From what I saw today on the field, the way he teamed up and how he arrived in the area, I saw him very well.
Lloris arrives in LA
Hugo Lloris has his sights set on emulating former Tottenham team-mate Gareth Bale’s success at Los Angeles FC after being officially unveiled at the Major League Soccer club.
Lloris, 37, has signed with LAFC after leaving Spurs as a free agent and knows he is well-placed to challenge for honours with the Black and Gold.
The French goalkeeper said: “When Carlos Vela signed with the club in the beginning of the club history, LAFC became worldwide famous.
“When you add Giorgio [Chiellini] and Gareth, it’s like, ‘Oh, this club is really interesting’. I think if I didn’t get this opportunity, probably later in life I would regret it.”