Lionel Messi has been named Time magazine's "Athlete of the Year" for 2023 after a trailblazing season marked by an eighth Ballon d'Or award and his ground-breaking move to Major League Soccer's Inter Miami.

In a recent interview in his home country of Argentina pertaining to his availability for the 2026 World Cup, soccer superstar Lionel Messi called Major League Soccer -- his current home -- "a minor league."

Leading goal scorer Denis Bouanga and Most Valuable Player Luciano Acosta were among the MLS Best 11 players named on Tuesday by the league as the top men at their positions.

Inter Miami says it has not agreed to compete in Saudi Arabia next February, refuting the claims by a promoter announced earlier Tuesday that the MLS team would face two Saudi clubs.

Inter Miami was named the guest international side and will join Al-Hilal and Al Nassr in next February's Riyadh Season Cup.

"It's a very proud thing for me to have as an owner, to have a player like that, the best player in the world, in our team."

Inter Miami saluted Argentine star Lionel Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or on Friday, but their friendly match to mark the achievement ended in a 2-1 loss to MLS rivals New York City FC.

Inter Miami will celebrate Lionel Messi's record eighth Ballon d'Or award with a friendly against New York City FC.

Nothing in life is certain except death, taxes, and Lionel Messi winning the Ballon d’Or. But perhaps this time, it could have been Erling Haaland.

Lionel Messi returned to the starting lineup but couldn't prevent his first MLS season from ending in defeat as Charlotte FC beat Inter Miami 1-0 in front of a crowd of 66,101 at Bank of America Stadium.

Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi should have his own category at the Ballon d'Or but admitted the World Cup winner and Manchester City hotshot Erling Haaland would both be deserving winners of the prize.

"I will enjoy the holidays in Argentina. It's the first time that I am going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will return (to Miami) again to do preseason, start from scratch and prepare as best as possible as always."

The team will play two Chinese Super League teams in friendly matches, first facing Qingdao Hainiu on November 5 before playing against Chengdu Rongcheng three days later.

Messi returned from injury as a substitute in the 55th minute but Cincinnati, who have earned top seed in the playoffs, grabbed the win with a goal from Argentine Alvaro Barreal

Inter Miami boss Gerardo Martino provided an update on Lionel Messi's injury status after the Argentine missed his third straight Inter Miami game.

Messi was substituted after 38 minutes of the team's win over Toronto FC on September 20 but missed the following league game at Orlando and Wednesday's US Open Cup defeat to Houston.

Fans of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami are up in arms after the Major League Soccer club doubled season ticket prices for next season, but the chance to watch the World Cup winner will still tempt many into forking out the cash.

Without Messi and his former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba, Miami struggled to compete with an enterprising Houston and could have little to complain about the outcome.

Messi's former Barcelona teammate, Spaniard Jordi Alba, is almost certain to be ruled out of the game for Miami but Martino said there remains a chance the Argentine World Cup winner could take some part

Inter Miami, without Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, battled to a 1-1 draw at Orlando City in Major League Soccer on Sunday.