Report: Messi Working on Extension with Inter Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 16: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC at Chase Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.   Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 16: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC at Chase Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP
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Report: Messi Working on Extension with Inter Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 16: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC at Chase Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.   Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 16: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC at Chase Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP

Major League Soccer's biggest star might be sticking around, as Lionel Messi is closing in on a multiyear contract extension with Inter Miami, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Per the report, the sides are in the late stages of talks, with merely minor matters to be finalized. Financial terms weren't reported.

Messi, 38, joined Inter Miami during the 2023 season, and his contract runs through the end of the 2025 campaign.

This season, he ranks second in MLS with 20 goals in 21 league games. Messi is also tied for sixth with 11 assists. Last season, he amassed 20 goals (tied for second in the league) and 16 assists (tied for third).

In 46 league games for the Herons overall, Messi has 41 goals and 27 assists. Across all competitions, Messi has 54 goals in 62 games.

An eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or given to the world player of the year, Messi starred for Barcelona from 2004-21 and for Paris Saint-Germain from 2021-23. He was part of 10 league-title-winning teams in Spain and two in France, in addition to helping Barcelona capture the UEFA Champions League trophy four times.

Immediately upon joining MLS, Messi helped Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup.

The Herons won the 2024 Supporters' Shield, awarded to the club with the best regular-season record, but they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Inter Miami (14-6-7, 49 points) sits in sixth place in MLS' Eastern Conference entering a Saturday home match against D.C. United.

Messi guided Argentina to the World Cup championship in 2022 and to Copa American crowns in 2021 and 2024.



Barcelona Need a Point Against Real Madrid to Win La Liga

 Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Barcelona Need a Point Against Real Madrid to Win La Liga

 Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)
Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick gives a press conference on the eve of the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 9, 2026. (AFP)

Barcelona only need a draw against Real Madrid in a high-stakes Clasico to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles later Sunday, with Madrid in disarray after a dressing-room bust-up between two of their leading players.

Hansi Flick's side have an 11-point lead over their age-old rivals and while one point would be enough, a victory would keep them on course to make history -- and celebrate in style.

If Barcelona win their last four league games this season, starting with the battle against Alvaro Arbeloa's fracturing Madrid in Catalonia, they will match the all-time league record of 100 points.

Should Barca beat Madrid and then Real Betis the following weekend, they will become the first team to win all their home matches in a 38-game La Liga season.

The tension around Madrid after a season in which they will finish without a trophy for just the fifth time this century burst to the surface in extraordinary fashion this week.

A post-training clash between French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and teammate Federico Valverde left the Uruguayan requiring hospital treatment for a head injury, and out for a fortnight.

Valverde's explanation that he "accidentally" collided with a table during the argument "causing a small cut on my forehead" failed to smooth over the situation.

The club imposed a 500,000-euro ($590,000) fine on each player and says they have apologized to each other and to their teammates, the club's staff and to Madrid supporters.

Arbeloa said he was happy that the club had acted swiftly and that the players had "acknowledged their mistake, expressed their regret, accepted the consequences of what they have done, and asked for forgiveness."

"For me, that's enough. What I'm not going to do is burn them at the stake in public, because they don't deserve that... because of what they've shown me over these four months and over these years," the Madrid coach added.

He said despite the confrontation, Tchouameni would be in the squad for the Clasico.

- Barcelona cohesion -

Barcelona coach Flick said the incident at Madrid was something you see in other clubs, but it was not "normal".

"It happens around the world, so it's not only a thing at Real... was I surprised? Maybe a little bit," Flick told reporters.

"But in the end, I don't care about that, because it's not my club, it's not my team. So I don't have to think about that."

Flick was at pains though to stress that in contrast to Madrid, everybody at Barcelona was on the same page.

"The most important thing, and what I really appreciate a lot in this club, is that we are all going the same way," the German explained.

"When something happens, we are talking in the same way."

Adding to the raft of statistics, Barca could become the first team to clinch La Liga in a Clasico since 1932, when Madrid won their first Spanish league.

"We want to win the title, the second in a row," Flick said.

"It's amazing, not normal, here in Spain. So this is what we want to do, nothing else, nothing more."

Madrid will not be able to count on Kylian Mbappe. The French forward has been recovering from a hamstring injury and trained with his teammates on Friday, but he was not on the squad list issued by the club on social media on Sunday.

Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal will also watch from the stands -- the 18-year-old's own hamstring injury is expected to sideline him until the World Cup.


Galatasaray Crowned Turkish Champions

Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)
Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)
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Galatasaray Crowned Turkish Champions

Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)
Galatasaray supporters celebrate after their team won the Turkish Super Lig soccer tournament at Taksim square in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)

Galatasaray secured their fourth consecutive Turkish league title on Saturday after a 4-2 home win over Antalyaspor.

The Istanbul club are four points ahead of arch-rivals Fenerbahce, who they beat 3-0 last month, with one match remaining.

Led by star striker Nigerian Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray have qualified directly for the Champions League again after making it to the knock-out round this year, notably routing Juventus along the way.

The most successful Turkish club with 26 titles had previously won four consecutive league titles in the late 1990s.

Without a title for twelve years, the longest drought in their history, Fenerbahce sacked their coach and sporting director the day after their derby defeat to Galatasaray.


Sevilla Strike Late to Boost Survival Hopes, Celta Edge Atletico

Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)
Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)
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Sevilla Strike Late to Boost Survival Hopes, Celta Edge Atletico

Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)
Sevilla's players celebrate their victory following the Spanish La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Espanyol in Seville, Spain, 09 May 2026. (EPA)

Akor Adams snatched Sevilla a late 2-1 victory over Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday to increase their chances of avoiding relegation.

Celta Vigo earned a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid to keep their ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League alive, which were further boosted by Real Betis's 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad.

Nigeria forward Adams's 91st minute strike propelled record seven-time Europa League winners Sevilla provisionally up to 12th, three points clear of the relegation zone.

Espanyol, now without a win in 18 league matches -- all of 2026 to date -- sit 15th, two points above the drop zone, after a bad-tempered match with 10 yellow cards.

Tyrhys Dolan slammed home for Espanyol early in the second half at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, before the hosts hit back.

Sevilla defender Andres Castrin scored to level in the 82nd minute with the help of some poor handling by Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

In stoppage time Adams pounced on a loose ball and produced a clinical finish to secure a crucial victory for Luis Garcia Plaza's team.

"This comeback, I think it brings us closer, closer to what we've been looking for," Castrin told Movistar.

"It was essential to win here today, to get the three points with these wonderful people (the fans).

"Thanks to them -- they have lifted us, have carried us, and you could really feel the atmosphere, how it influenced those final minutes when the goal comes at the end."

Earlier Alaves, 18th and one point from safety, drew 1-1 against Elche, 13th, who are not yet safe from the specter of relegation either.

At Atletico's Metropolitano stadium Borja Iglesias scored a fine goal for Celta, sixth, to help them keep pressure on Real Betis, fifth.

The hosts, with nothing left to play for this season after Champions League semi-final elimination by Arsenal this week, are fourth and already assured of playing in that competition again next season.

It was confirmed earlier this week that five Spanish sides will qualify for the Champions League from La Liga, guaranteeing Atletico a spot.

- 'Happy to be in the fight' -

Spain international Iglesias's neat chip helped Celta move within three points of Real Betis, who face Real Sociedad later on.

"Even in the toughest moments this team has kept on dreaming," Iglesias told DAZN.

"Obviously it's not easy to compete at this level, we're happy to be in this fight right now.

"If we keep on looking upwards, just imagine... I think we deserve it, and we'll try to get it."

Real Betis threw away a two-goal lead in a draw at Real Sociedad, leaving them four points ahead of Celta with three games to go.

Former Manchester United winger Antony missed two huge chances before eventually sending the Andalucians ahead with the hardest of his opportunities, curling home from outside the box.

Ez Abde scored a superb second for the visitors soon after half-time, surging in down the left and whipping a strike into the top corner.

Orri Oskarsson pulled one back for the Basques, eighth, and Mikel Oyarzabal levelled from the penalty spot in the 90th minute after Aitor Ruibal handled.

Ruibal was later sent off for a second yellow card for a foul as Betis left frustrated.

On Sunday, La Liga leaders Barcelona can wrap up back-to-back Spanish titles if they avoid defeat against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Clasico at Camp Nou.