Chicago Fire
Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time.
A Chicago native, Lindau will be part of the U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy National Team that will play at the Parapan American Games next month in Santiago, Chile.
Before owner Joe Mansueto took over, the Fire were lagging behind their peers. They have a chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Messi earns more than the entire payroll of all but three other MLS teams. He has the highest total compensation in MLS, followed by Toronto’s Lorenzo Insigne at $15.4 million and the Fire’s Xherdan Shaqiri at $8,153,000.
What happened in their match against Charlotte is more proof that continuity isn’t the answer for the Fire.
Messi entered in the 55th minute and went scoreless for the fourth straight league game.
To truly build off Wednesday and turn many of the night’s customers into fans, postseason bids cannot be a rare occurrence for the Fire.
Messi fue excluido por Miami debido a una persistente lesión en la pierna, pero Soldier Field se llenó prácticamente en su totalidad aún sin la leyenda del fútbol.
Messi was ruled out by Miami due to a lingering leg injury, but Soldier Field was still mostly filled even without the soccer legend.
The Fire are offering discounts for 2024 tickets to fans attending Wednesday’s match, regardless of whether the injured Lionel Messi plays.
Messi joining MLS has been a boon for the league and could lead to looser roster rules that could help the Fire capitalize on Joe Mansueto’s wealth.
But an injury puts an appearance at Soldier Field next week in doubt.
The Fire have been outscored 11-1 in their last four games and look nothing like the team that surged into playoff contention before the Leagues Cup.
As celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bring money and attention to underdog Welsh footballers, they avoid stealing focus on the team’s charming documentary show.
Entering play Saturday at D.C. United, the Fire have dropped three consecutive games since the end of the Leagues Cup.
The Fire can’t afford too many more blips like the ones they suffered against Orlando if they want to move up or just stay above the playoff line.
Sunday’s game against Orlando City represents the beginning of an 11-match period that could end with the Fire reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
To get to the playoffs, the Fire will have to play at a high level against good teams in challenging conditions. Perhaps the Leagues Cup helped get the Fire ready for a stretch that will define whether 2023 was a success or failure.
The Fire must keep three goals in mind as they seek to build off their run of five wins in six MLS matches in their quest to return to the postseason.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino wanted to play incumbent starting goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga for the full 90 minutes in the team’s final preseason friendly, which drew 48,183 to Soldier Field.
On tour with Chelsea as they prepare for the upcoming season, Slonina is watching as veteran colleagues get themselves ready for the grind of a Premier League schedule.
When Klopas was tabbed to replace the sacked Ezra Hendrickson, most assumed he would lead the Fire for the rest of the season before a new coach was hired.
Thanks to five wins in their last six games, the Fire have climbed to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, and figure to be playing meaningful matches down the stretch
New Gunners midfielder Declan Rice came on as a second-half substitute.
Living in and learning new cultures, such as in Montreal and the Netherlands, will do that to somebody, and Mihailovic has learned about himself as he has hopped around the globe.
Saturday’s match against Nashville SC starts a three-game homestand for the Fire, who only have two league wins this year in Chicago.
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