Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has challenged Major League Soccer to relax its rules on spending in pursuit of wider growth across the league.

Despite the amazing performances, Messi managed to lose out on an award to LAFC's Son Heung-Min. The South Korean forward joined LAFC in the summer and is considered one of the best players in the league as well.

Reports have surfaced linking former Lionel Messi coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino with one of his conference rivals ahead of the 2026 MLS season.

The higher seed are home for the first and — if necessary — third games of the series.The winners advance to the conference semifinals, with that round joining the conference final and MLS Cup Final as single-elimination matches at the home of the higher seed.

Juventus and Celtic managers leave with clubs in a spin. Plus: Messi suggests MLS tweaks, can anyone catch Arsenal?

Messi was named a finalist for the MVP award Thursday along with Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, San Diego’s Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Cincinnati’s Evander and Nashville’s Sam Surridge. The award is expected to be handed out before the MLS Cup final on Dec. 6.

The Danish midfielder was the joint leader in assists and tallied 19 goals. San Diego's 63 points were also a record for an MLS expansion franchise. The club claimed the top seed in the Western Conference, owning the tiebreaker over the Vancouver Whitecaps.