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Lionel Messi scores twice, assists for Inter Miami in 4-0 win vs. New York City

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Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted for Inter Miami in their 4-0 win against New York City.

Messi had two goals and an assist for Inter Miami, making it 24 goals and 11 assists in 23 matches with Inter Miami. With the score at 0-0, Messi played a through ball in to Baltasar Rodríguez and he would score to give Inter Miami the 1-0 lead.

The 38 year old would score a goal made in Barcelona. A through ball from Sergio Busquets found Messi and the Argentine chipped the goalkeeper to give Inter Miami the 2-0 lead and his first goal of the match.

Rodrigo De Paul was tackled down inside the penalty area and Inter Miami were awarded a penalty kick. It was Luis Suárez who would take it and score Inter Miami’s third goal.

At 3-0 for Inter Miami, Messi would receive the ball out wide, dribble inside the penalty area and score his second goal of the match. Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Óscar Ustari, Mateo Silvetti and Baltasar Rodríguez started the match for Inter Miami.

Julián Álvarez scores a hat trick for Atletico Madrid in 3-2 win vs. Rayo Vallecano

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Julián Álvarez scored a hat trick for Atletico Madrid in their 3-2 win against Rayo Vallecano.

Álvarez got all three goals for Atletico Madrid, reaching four goals and one assist in six La Liga matches with Atletico Madrid. At 0-0, it was a cross into the penalty area which found Álvarez and he would score to give Atletico Madrid the 1-0 lead.

Rayo Vallecano would take a 2-1 lead and once more, it was Álvarez. Giuliano Simeone headed the ball and it was saved by the goalkeeper but Álvarez would get the rebound and score to draw Atletico Madrid level.

Minutes later, Julián Álvarez would steal the show. He would receive the ball outside of the penalty area and the Argentine’s effort would beat the goalkeeper to give Atletico Madrid the 3-2 lead and his third goal of the match.

The 25 year old made headlines after Atletico Madrid’s last match against Mallorca where he was shown saying “Always me” after being substituted. Nahuel Molina also started the match for Atletico Madrid while Nicolás González was substituted into the match and Juan Musso was an unused substitute.

Claudio Tapia confirms Argentina’s upcoming friendlies and awaits decision on Finalissima

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Mundo Albiceleste attended the press conference held this Wednesday in Miami, led by Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The event introduced the details of the upcoming matches that the Argentina national team will play in October in the United States.

Alongside Tapia were Javier Fernández, CEO of VMG Sports; Iván Rivera, president of the Puerto Rican Football Federation; representatives of the Venezuelan Football Federation; and artist Daddy Yankee, who is in charge of the commercial organization of the Argentina–Puerto Rico match.

The press conference, held at the AFA offices in Miami, also presented a halftime event featuring artist Bebeshito during Argentina’s match against Venezuela.

Tapia announced that negotiations have begun for VMG Sports to commercially manage Argentina’s international friendlies during the June 2026 FIFA date. In addition, Tapia confirmed to Olé that an agreement is already in place for a match against Mexico in the United States as part of the team’s preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

“Although the March date is pending, we already have confirmed matches for June before the World Cup, against Mexico and Honduras. These will take place in the United States, with the stadiums still to be defined,” Tapia stated.

Regarding a possible Finalissima against Spain, Tapia said that the AFA is waiting for confirmation:

“We are waiting to know the decision for March, if the Finalissima will be played or not. If it takes place, we have the obligation to compete for it, because it is another official title and Spain is one of the strongest teams. Facing them in March would be a way to measure ourselves ahead of the World Cup.”

Tapia also gave his view on the 2030 World Cup, which will feature 64 participating teams, noting the logistical role of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay as part of the South American base. He highlighted River Plate Stadium, with its current capacity of 88,000, the planned expansion to 100,000, and the agreement that makes AFA responsible for the Estadio Único de La Plata, which could also serve as a venue.

Argentina’s Upcoming Matches in October:

Friday, October 10 | Argentina vs. Venezuela – International friendly – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, United States (time to be confirmed).

Monday, October 13 | Argentina vs. Puerto Rico – International friendly – Soldier Field, Chicago, United States (time to be confirmed).

Get tickets for Argentina’s friendly matches in the United States at a special discount here.

Ian Subiabre cleared to join Argentina for U-20 World Cup in Chile

Ian Subiabre will travel to Chile to represent Argentina at the upcoming U-20 World Cup, despite ongoing contract negotiations with River Plate. The tournament will take place from September 27 to October 19, 2025.

River’s management had initially set a condition: Subiabre would not be released unless he signed a contract extension through 2028. His current deal runs until December 2026, and while salary terms were agreed upon, the main dispute centers on the buyout clause. River seeks to raise it from $30 million to $100 million, a figure that Subiabre’s representative, Claudio Paul Caniggia, believes is excessive.

Although no final agreement has been reached, Subiabre received the green light to travel with the national team. Negotiations are expected to resume after the tournament. The 18-year-old forward from Comodoro Rivadavia has already been assigned the No. 11 shirt by coach Diego Placente.

While Subiabre joins Argentina’s youth squad, River will play the second leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals without him in Marcelo Gallardo’s list of available players.

Conmebol pushes for 64-team expansion and more matches in South America for 2030 World Cup

Per reports by Infobae and journalist Hernán Castillo, a high-level meeting in New York between FIFA and Conmebol leaders, along with the presidents of Paraguay and Uruguay, brought forward a proposal that could reshape the 2030 World Cup. The South American confederation, backed by its Executive Committee, formally requested that the tournament feature 64 teams and additional matches in South America.

Currently, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay are set to host the three opening games before the rest of the competition moves to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. The new proposal seeks to expand to 16 groups instead of 12, ensuring that South America hosts more than just the inaugural matches.

The Council of FIFA, which includes 37 members such as AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, is expected to meet next week to discuss the proposal. If approved, it would confirm Argentina’s River Plate stadium as the venue for the national team’s first match, with additional group-stage games to be played in Uruguay and Paraguay.

This push comes in the context of the centenary of the first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930, giving symbolic weight to Conmebol’s effort. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has also signaled that the organization would provide financial assistance for potential stadium upgrades in the region.