# Lionel Messi impact on Major League Soccer

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/lionel-messi-impact-on-major-league-soccer
> Updated: 2026-09-20T08:00:00.000Z. Sources: 96. Developments: 2.

Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami in July 2023 has significantly altered the landscape of Major League Soccer (MLS), transforming the league’s reputation into a competitive circuit that attracts high-profile players. Following Inter Miami’s 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup final, public tension emerged between Messi and MLS Commissioner Don Garber, during which Messi reportedly told the commissioner, “With me, no.”

In their first-ever MLS meeting at Nu Stadium, Inter Miami played to a 2-2 draw against San Diego FC. Anders Dreyer scored twice for San Diego, including an early goal in the 12th minute and a late equalizer in the 82nd minute. Inter Miami responded via a 24th-minute free kick by Lionel Messi—which marked his 75th career free-kick goal—and a 74th-minute goal by Luis Suárez, assisted by Rodrigo De Paul. With this performance, Messi recorded his 20th league goal of the season, becoming only the second player in MLS history to score 20 or more goals in three consecutive seasons. The result places Inter Miami in second place in the Eastern Conference with 46 points.

Furthering the profile of the club’s home venue, FIFA has confirmed that Nu Stadium will host the final phase of the 2027 FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in late January. The tournament phase will include the semifinals, the third-place match, and the final. Club América and FC Barcelona have already secured spots in the competition. Jill Ellis, FIFA’s Chief Football Officer, stated the competition aims to support the growth of women’s professional club football, noting the venue was selected for its suitability and the region's strong support for the sport.

## Claims

- The Chicago Bears are 4.5-point favorites according to DraftKings. (single source)
- Carson Wentz is the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. (single source)
- Caleb Williams is the quarterback for the Chicago Bears. (single source)
- Kyler Murray is out due to a concussion sustained in Week 1. (single source)
- The Miami Dolphins play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium at 4:25 p.m. ET. (single source)
- The Miami Dolphins have an 0-1 record following a 27-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. (single source)
- The San Francisco 49ers won their season opener 27-7 against the Los Angeles Rams. (single source)
- The Seattle Seahawks play the Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET on September 20. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-20: Inter Miami draws 2-2 with San Diego FC in MLS clash

Inter Miami drew 2-2 with San Diego FC in the MLS, featuring goals from Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. Additionally, FIFA announced Nu Stadium will host the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup finals.

94 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lionel-messi-shows-tension-with-mls-commissioner-after-campeones-cup-win

### 2026-08-28: Major League Soccer sees influx of stars following Lionel Messi arrival

Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami has transformed Major League Soccer, sparking an influx of high-profile international stars like Sergi Roberto and Gareth Bale to the US league.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/major-league-soccer-sees-influx-of-stars-following-lionel-messi-arrival

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Cite as: Lionel Messi impact on Major League Soccer. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/lionel-messi-impact-on-major-league-soccer