Inter Miami CF has secured a spot in the knockout stage of the 2025 Leagues Cup after a solid 3-1 win over Pumas UNAM on Wednesday night, even without star captain Lionel Messi on the pitch. Messi, who is nursing a hamstring injury from the August 2 clash with Necaxa, watched from the sidelines at Chase Stadium. Despite not playing, he was visibly excited, celebrating each goal with his teammates.

Pumas took the lead early in the match, but Inter Miami quickly turned things around with goals from Luis Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul, and Tadeo Allende. Under coach Javier Mascherano, the team wrapped up the group stage with eight points. They picked up wins over Atlas and Pumas, drew against Necaxa, and earned an extra point by winning the post-draw penalty shootout 5-4.

This year’s Leagues Cup uses a new format where teams compete for points to determine their rankings going into the next stage. Inter Miami, who lifted the trophy in the first edition two years ago, are now back in strong form after falling short in last year’s round of 16.

Barcelona may be set to strip Marc-André ter Stegen of the captain’s armband as tensions grow between the club and the German goalkeeper, according to reports. The friction reportedly stems from Ter Stegen’s recent decision to undergo back surgery and publicly announce a three-month recovery period, something that caught the club’s top figures off guard.

His move didn’t sit well with Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, both of whom are said to be considering disciplinary action. The possibility of removing him as team captain is now on the table.

Ter Stegen was appointed captain just last year following Sergi Roberto’s exit, but his future with the armband is now uncertain. Before making a final decision, Laporta and Deco plan to meet with manager Hansi Flick to discuss the situation in detail.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has spoken up about the ongoing comparisons between rising star Lamine Yamal and club legend Lionel Messi. In an interview with CNN, Laporta urged fans and pundits to ease up on the pressure being placed on the young forward.

He made it clear that while both players are incredibly talented, they are completely different individuals with their own unique styles. “Lamine Yamal is Lamine Yamal, and Leo Messi was Leo Messi,” Laporta said. “Messi was the greatest player in the world, and right now, in Yamal’s position, I believe he’s the best.”

Yamal recently signed a long-term contract that will keep him at Camp Nou until 2031. As part of this new chapter, he has been given the iconic number 10 shirt, the same number Messi wore during his legendary run at Barcelona. Though the number carries weight, Laporta believes Yamal should be allowed to grow into his own name rather than live in someone else’s shadow.