In reply to wangus12 You serious, Clark?

Idk if anyone is on the take for Messi showing out, but Andre Blake did his best to make it look like he was last night.

In reply to jeffk Right, terrible positioning on the first two goals by Blake

In reply to AggieShanks Yep. It's Messi being Messi. No one expects a shot from these situations.

https://x.com/futboljan10/status/1691600635655766367

Worst you can say is that MLS refs have some bias and will give him the benefit of a doubt on close calls. That's most certainly true cause they're all human. But there's no conspiracy.

ETA: I think this is the first time I've tried linking a X since they became X… is TexAgs not setup to imbed automatically yet?

In reply to wangus12

wangus12 said:

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You can't convince me at this point that the MLS haven't arranged for teams to throw their games and give Miami a cup run to generate interest. Too many "magical" moments for Messi in this run. The late FK goal. The insane FC Dallas comeback and ridiculous OG by Dallas.

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Too bad message board geniuses don't follow soccer.

The only obvious bias I can remember is that he should have been carded when he pushed that Orlando dude over. However, I think he shouldn't have been carded the 1st time in that game. I think the ref gave that card to prove "see I even card the GOAT!" But after the push, the ref didn't want to be the guy who gave Messi a red card when the first card was so weak. So he let it slide.

In reply to AggieShanks

AggieShanks said:

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I just don't think anyone would challenge him from that far out with perfect placement in the far corner. Messi is just showing me the levels of soccer and the mls has a long way to go.

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Still poor positioning.

In reply to Rudyjax

Rudyjax said:

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carl spacklers hat said:

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You serious, Clark?

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Lol. Exactly.

The simplest explanation is the most likely.

He's one of the best players to ever play the game and the best player to ever play in the MLS.

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That's just it. And there is such a HUGE gap between Messi and the average MLS player that he is able to make plays (or score goals) not normally pulled off in MLS due to player quality, or lack therof. It might look like other teams are sandbagging but that's just how good Messi is - he makes teams look foolish. Adding Busquets and Alba, though, puts Miami over the top. They would have been much improved with Messi only but with those two added, we might see a first MLS treble.

Did any of you all notice the defender fall over like a tree on the move Messi put on him in the box, second half, where Messi almost scored but great kick save from the last defender kept it out? Needs its own gif. (Goal would not have counted due to offside call).

In reply to jeffk

jeffk said:

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Idk if anyone is on the take for Messi showing out, but Andre Blake did his best to make it look like he was last night.

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This was more what I was talking about, but it was all said in jest anyways. Of course Messi is that damn good. Blake is a very solid GK and should be making both those saves, but was caught in the wrong position both times.

I don't know… from this angle I find it hard to blame the GK too much. You absolutely don't want to get beat at your near post and Messi just whips out some filth to the far post when no one expects it.

https://x.com/crewsmat10/status/1691594288902156643

Leagues Cup Final!

Miami at Nashville

Uniform combo makes it look like a game played by a bunch of Peeps.

Filthy.
Good heavens,

In reply to oragator Man. He's just different. Cooked two defenders and hit a perfect positioned kick from high in the box

In reply to AggieShanks One of which was Walker Zimmerman.

And Nashville has played well. Messi is just otherworldly.

In reply to jeffk

jeffk said:

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One of which was Walker Zimmerman.

And Nashville has played well. Messi is just otherworldly.

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Exactly. Nashville is the better "team". They just don't have Messi.

messi since he joined inter miami: pic.twitter.com/dX2zbNxhWa

— russ bengtson (@russbengtson) August 20, 2023

In reply to oragator

oragator said:

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Filthy.
Good heavens,

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There are those players who make you stand up and hold your breath. Messi is one. Johnny was another one.

👮‍♂️🇦🇷 During Inter Miami matches, Leo Messi is followed by an ex-US Navy Seal for maximum security.

The bodyguard is a martial arts, boxer and taekwondo expert. He can be seen even following him during matches. pic.twitter.com/Gl8n1UzHXV

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 24, 2023

Now we know who to look for, we can tag team it. Who wants to be my pawn?
Kidding, that dude looks like a belgian malinois protecting their partner.

In reply to Rudyjax Wonder if the MLS or some insurance company is making him have that guy follow him everywhere.

In reply to Texaggie7nine Have to protect the investment!

Tickets to watch Lionel Messi and Inter Miami play the New York Red Bulls increased from $29 to $850 after he arrived in the United States.

But after 8 games in 4 weeks, Messi and Sergio Busquets aren’t starting tonight.

That’s some terrible luck.

(Ticket data via @TickPick) pic.twitter.com/IcBWFEZx6y

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 26, 2023

Guessing he will come off the bench and play a little but….ouch

11 goals in 624 minutes....1.59 goals per 90 minutes. He is a cheat code.


MLS All Time Scorers
1. Chris Wondolowski - 148 goals from 338 matches (0.52 per 90 minutes)
#2. Landon Donovan - 145 goals from 340 matches (0.45 goals per 90)
#3. Jeff Cunningham - 134 goals from 365 matches (0.53 per 90)
#4. Jaime Moreno - 133 goals from 340 matches (0.46 per 90)
#5. Kei Kamara - 119 goals from 325 matches (0.44 per 90)
#6. Ante Razov - 114 goals from 262 matches (0.50 per 90)
#7. Jason Kreis - 108 goals from 305 matches (0.39 per 90)
#8. Bradley Wright-Phillips - 107 goals from 177 matches (0.68 per 90)
#9. Dwayne De Rosario - 104 goals from 343 matches (0.37 per 90)
#10. Taylor Twellman - 101 goals from 174 matches (0.60 per 90)
#11. Edson Buddle - 100 goals from 304 matches (0.45 per 90)
#12. Carlos Ruiz - 89 goals from 183 matches (0.57 per 90)
#13. Roy Lassiter - 88 goals from 179 matches (0.58 per 90)
#14. Robbie Keane - 83 goals from 125 matches (0.69 per 90)
#15. Brian Ching - 82 goals from 233 matches (0.47 per 90)

In reply to AgRyan04 So you're saying Messi is better than Wondo?

Esse ângulo do passe do Messi é sensacional. Visão de ET.pic.twitter.com/qezxKcCfEs

— Curiosidades Europa (@CuriosidadesEU) August 27, 2023

In reply to Rudyjax

Rudyjax said:

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So you're saying Messi is better than Womdo?

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Haha....yeah, just a tad. I just put those in there for a point of reference.....he's just so, so, so much better than all of those guys statistically so far.

In reply to oragator Messi is turning that Cremaschi kid into a stud. It would be sweet if he ends up playing on USMNT after learning all he can from the GOAT.

In reply to aTmAg

aTmAg said:

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Messi is turning that Cremaschi kid into a stud. It would be sweet if he ends up playing on USMNT after learning all he can from the GOAT.

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indeed. Messi raising everyone's level.

In reply to aTmAg

aTmAg said:

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Messi is turning that Cremaschi kid into a stud. It would be sweet if he ends up playing on USMNT after learning all he can from the GOAT.

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Hopefully Messi tells the kid to go to Europe. Iron sharpens iron.

In reply to Rudyjax

Rudyjax said:

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aTmAg said:

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Messi is turning that Cremaschi kid into a stud. It would be sweet if he ends up playing on USMNT after learning all he can from the GOAT.

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Hopefully Messi tells the kid to go to Europe. Iron sharpens iron.

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Ideally, he'd play one more year with the GOAT, then go play under Xavi at Barcelona while playing with the USMNT.

In reply to AgRyan04

AgRyan04 said:

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11 goals in 624 minutes....1.59 goals per 90 minutes. He is a cheat code.


MLS All Time Scorers
1. Chris Wondolowski - 148 goals from 338 matches (0.52 per 90 minutes)
#2. Landon Donovan - 145 goals from 340 matches (0.45 goals per 90)
#3. Jeff Cunningham - 134 goals from 365 matches (0.53 per 90)
#4. Jaime Moreno - 133 goals from 340 matches (0.46 per 90)
#5. Kei Kamara - 119 goals from 325 matches (0.44 per 90)
#6. Ante Razov - 114 goals from 262 matches (0.50 per 90)
#7. Jason Kreis - 108 goals from 305 matches (0.39 per 90)
#8. Bradley Wright-Phillips - 107 goals from 177 matches (0.68 per 90)
#9. Dwayne De Rosario - 104 goals from 343 matches (0.37 per 90)
#10. Taylor Twellman - 101 goals from 174 matches (0.60 per 90)
#11. Edson Buddle - 100 goals from 304 matches (0.45 per 90)
#12. Carlos Ruiz - 89 goals from 183 matches (0.57 per 90)
#13. Roy Lassiter - 88 goals from 179 matches (0.58 per 90)
#14. Robbie Keane - 83 goals from 125 matches (0.69 per 90)
#15. Brian Ching - 82 goals from 233 matches (0.47 per 90)

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ACTUALLY he only has 1 goal in 1 game in MLS. All those other ones were in a Cup comp