WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Lionel Messi remains the centerpiece of world football headlines, balancing

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<v Speaker 1>outstanding performances with increasing physical demands as he powers into

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<v Speaker 1>Miami through a challenging season. Over the past week, Messi

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<v Speaker 1>has delivered another master class, being named MLS Player of

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<v Speaker 1>the Match Day after a five to one demolition of

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<v Speaker 1>the New York Red Bulls in which he recorded two

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<v Speaker 1>goals and two assists. His extraordinary run continues. He has

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<v Speaker 1>scored at least twice in six of his last seven

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<v Speaker 1>league games, now tied atop the Golden Boot race with

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<v Speaker 1>eighteen goals for the twenty twenty five season and an

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<v Speaker 1>incredible thirty eight MLS goals since the start of twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty four. Messi's tallly of nineteen goal contributions over his

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<v Speaker 1>last seven matches has drawn major praise from pundits on ESPNFC,

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<v Speaker 1>who marveled at at thirty eight years old, Messi's professionalism,

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<v Speaker 1>focus and ability to deliver in pressure moments set him

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<v Speaker 1>apart from other global icons who have joined MLS but

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<v Speaker 1>failed to dominate in this fashion. Despite this form, Messi's

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<v Speaker 1>physical rare is becoming more apparent. Inter Miami coach Javier

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<v Speaker 1>Mascherano made headlines when he publicly stated he would prefer

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<v Speaker 1>Messi and teammate Jeordie Alba not participate in the upcoming

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<v Speaker 1>MLS All Star Game on July twenty third in Austin,

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<v Speaker 1>citing the need for rest amid a demanding schedule and

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<v Speaker 1>a spate of muscle injuries across the squad, including Messi himself.

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<v Speaker 1>As of now, there has been no official word from

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<v Speaker 1>the club, and both Messi and Alba are expected to

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<v Speaker 1>travel with the team, but Messi's ultimate involvement in the

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<v Speaker 1>marquee event remains uncertain. Public speculation is surged as fans

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<v Speaker 1>who have pushed ticket prices sky high to see Messi

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<v Speaker 1>in Texas await confirmation. Last year, injury kept him from

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<v Speaker 1>the All Star festivities, and a similar decision seems possible.

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<v Speaker 1>Away from the pitch, Messi keeps his social media presence

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<v Speaker 1>as strong as his game, boasting over five hundred million

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<v Speaker 1>Instagram followers. Recent days saw reports of Messi sending a

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<v Speaker 1>heartfelt direct message to a devoted fan offering signed jersey.

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<v Speaker 1>The story went viral, but was quickly debunked as a

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<v Speaker 1>fake by his management, underscoring the intense scrutiny and rampant

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<v Speaker 1>rumors that accompany is every move on the legacy front.

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<v Speaker 1>Messi recently hit an astonishing eight hundred seventy four career

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<v Speaker 1>goals for club and country according to updated statistics as

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<v Speaker 1>of July twenty twenty five. He remains not just into

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<v Speaker 1>Miami's talisman, but a global phenomenon, inspiring heated discussion, massive crowds,

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<v Speaker 1>and social media buzz wherever he goes. And that is

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<v Speaker 1>it for today. Make sure you hit the subscribe button

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<v Speaker 1>and never miss an update on lion O Messi. Thanks

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