Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will begin a busy 2025 with matches in Las Vegas, Tampa and Kansas City, the MLS club has announced.

Messi’s first game in the new year will be at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, when Inter Miami meets Mexican champions Club América on Jan. 18. The Saturday night match will begin at 7 p.m. PST (10 p.m. ET).

Inter Miami’s second preseason match will be Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa against in-state rival Orlando City, which reached the Eastern Conference final in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Then, Inter Miami will turn its attention to the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup – one of five possible trophies it could win in 2025 – with the first leg against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

MESSI JERSEY: How to buy new Inter Miami away kit modeled by Messi

The second leg of Inter Miami’s first-round tilt with Sporting KC will be played on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. ET at home inside Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The 2025 MLS season begins on Feb. 22-23, with the upcoming schedule expected to be released later this week. So, another match will likely be added to Inter Miami’s schedule between the first two legs of the Champions Cup.

Messi and Inter Miami will play in the Champions Cup, the Club World Cup, and the Leagues Cup tournaments in 2025, while defending their Supporters’ Shield title and contending for another postseason berth in the MLS Cup playoffs next year.

Inter Miami learned its Club World Cup draw earlier this month. It will open the tournament on June 14 against Egyptian side Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The club will also face FC Porto (Portugal) in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 19, and return to Miami for its final group stage match against SE Palmeiras (Brazil) on June 23.

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Messi won MLS MVP in 2024, helping Inter Miami win the regular-season title and set the MLS single-season points record (74) before the club’s first-round playoff exit to Atlanta United.

The club will also have a new coach in 2025, after Messi’s longtime teammate Javier Mascherano was hired to replace Tata Martino, who resigned following last season.

Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule

Jan. 18: Inter Miami vs. Club América, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (preseason)
Feb. 14: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa (preseason)
Feb. 18: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City (Concacaf Champions Cup)
Feb. 25: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City, Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Concacaf Champions Cup)

Inter Miami’s Club World Cup schedule

June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy (Egypt), Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
June 19: Inter Miami vs. FC Porto (Portugal), Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
June 23: Inter Miami vs. SE Palmeiras (Brazil), Hard Rock Stadium

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For the first time in history, Ryder Cup golfers on the U.S. team will be paid to play, starting with the 2025 competition at Bethpage Black in New York.

The PGA of America announced on Monday that its board of directors has voted to give U.S. Ryder Cup players and the team captain a $200,000 stipend – in addition to increasing donations to a charity of each player’s choice from $200,000 to $300,000.

A news release from the PGA of America noted that the charitable donation had not increased since 1999 and that ‘no players asked to be compensated.’

U.S. captain Keegan Bradley has already said he will be giving his entire allocation to charity.

In a letter to past Ryder Cup captains, PGA of America president Don Rea said the $200,000 stipend was added ‘out of respect for the players … so the players could have a say in where the money goes’ and would be separate from what players receive for expenses.

‘It’s recognition for all the players have done for the Ryder Cup over the years,’ Rea wrote.

Players on the European Team, which won last year’s competition in Italy and have prevailed in 10 of the last 14 events, do not get paid for participating in the Ryder Cup.

Patrick Mahomes has helped guide the Kansas City Chiefs to an NFL-best 13-1 record to start the 2024 season and has them tracking to emerge as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

However, the star quarterback is now facing questions about his health as he looks to guide Kansas City to an unprecedented three-peat.

Mahomes suffered an ankle injury late in the Chiefs’ 21-7 win over the Cleveland Browns. He didn’t return to action in the 14-point victory, which sparked questions about whether he would have to miss time as Kansas City navigates a grueling schedule that features three games in 11 days.

Here’s everything to know about Mahomes’ injuries, including the latest updates on how long he might be sidelined.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

What happened to Patrick Mahomes?

Mahomes suffered an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ win over the Browns. He tried to move around the pocket while attempting a pass on a fourth-and-3, but his protection collapsed in on him.

Mahomes was forced to throw a jump pass as a result of the pressure. He was tackled by Dalvin Tomlinson while doing so, and the 325-pound defensive tackle rolled up on him while bringing him down.

At the same time, Mahomes was hit from the front by defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. He bent back awkwardly as a result of the dual contact.

Mahomes was able to get up eventually but slowly hobbled to the sideline. He had his right ankle heavily taped on the bench and was ruled ‘questionable’ to return. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz played the final five minutes of the game in his stead.

Patrick Mahomes injury updates

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Mahomes is dealing with a ‘mild high-ankle sprain.’ The Chiefs quarterback will carry a ‘week-to-week’ designation that will put his Week 16 status ‘in doubt,’ but it doesn’t appear that the quarterback suffered a major injury.

‘He’ll be fine long-term,’ a source told Rapoport.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke about Mahomes’ injury after the Chiefs win. Reid classified his quarterback as ‘day-to-day’ and said that Mahomes ‘probably could’ve gone back in’ had the Chiefs not been leading.

‘He wanted to go back in,’ Reid said. ‘There was no need for that.’

Reid acknowledged that the team would have to wait and see how Mahomes responds to treatment on his injured right ankle before deciding on his short- or long-term availability.

‘It’s not broken, but it’s sore,’ Reid told reporters of Mahomes’ ankle. ‘He’ll get started on the rehab part of it as we go, and then we’ll just have to see how he does.’

Mahomes echoed a similar sentiment, saying, ‘it’s hard to say right now’ when asked how he was feeling.

‘You still [have the] adrenaline rolling and usually it’s kind of the day after when you kind of get a good sense of it,’ Mahomes told reporters. ‘I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances, but I thought the smart decision we talked about was to put Carson Wentz in. He’s played a lot of football and he finished the game well.’

Still, Mahomes said he would ‘get after the rehab’ in his recovery and ‘try to be ready for next week.’

‘You know what you have to do to get back, and I think that’s the most important thing,’ Mahomes said. ‘And now we just get back to the rehab part, the treatment part, and try to get ourselves ready on a short week against a good football team.’

How long is Patrick Mahomes out?

Mahomes’ status for Week 16 is ‘in doubt,’ according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. However, the quarterback’s ankle injury isn’t expected to be long-term.

So, while it isn’t yet clear exactly how long Mahomes will be out due to his injury, he will have a chance to return quickly.

The Chiefs are navigating a stretch of three games in 11 days. With Kansas City sporting a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, it figures to approach Mahomes’ availability cautiously.

Reid’s ‘day-to-day’ designation means that Mahomes’ status should be monitored before the team’s Week 16 Saturday game against the Houston Texans. However, if Rapoport’s ‘week-to-week’ diagnosis is more accurate, Mahomes will likely miss that contest; NFL players typically miss at least one game if given a ‘week-to-week’ designation.

Still, little is known about Mahomes’ status beyond those vague timetables. The Chiefs will likely provide a more concrete update in the coming days.

The 32 things we learned from Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season:

0. The number of wins the New York Giants have at home this season after losing 35-14 on Sunday to the Baltimore Ravens. Also, the number of victories the G-Men have since Week 5.

0. Also, the number of touchdowns scored in Thursday night’s game – the first time this season when no one has paid a visit to the end zone in a contest – when the Los Angeles Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers 12-6. Not only that, Rams WR Cooper Kupp took a doughnut in the receptions department in that contest, zero was the number of sacks generated by the 49ers and also the amount of accountability shown by San Francisco LB (for now) De’Vondre Campbell, who refused to go into the game.

0. Number of touchdown catches in 2024 for Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride … who now has 89 receptions this season.

0. The number of times Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was sacked in the reigning champs’ 21-7 triumph over the Cleveland Browns – this after being bagged 13 times in the previous three games and 23 over the past six prior to Sunday. And yet …

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1. I.e. the number one story this week will doubtless be Mahomes’ status after he suffered an ankle injury after being enveloped by three Cleveland defenders while trying to get rid of a pass. Per NFL Network, the three-time Super Bowl MVP is already considered week-to-week … which is problematic as the AFC leaders are officially in the midst of a three-games-in-11-days stretch that concludes on Christmas. The Chiefs host the AFC South champion Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon. “It’s not broken, that’s all I can tell you,” HC Andy Reid said after the game. “We’ll have to see how it goes down the road.”

2. The number of teams mathematically eliminated from postseason consideration Sunday: the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.

3. The Ravens also have a player who apparently doesn’t feel contractually obligated to perform at all times, though WR Diontae Johnson was suspended for Sunday’s game after he refused to enter Week 14’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Baltimore hardly missed him … but more on that in a minute.

4. The number of turnovers (3 INTs, fumble), a career high, by Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in Sunday’s loss the Texans – one that effectively ended the Fins’ already faint playoff prospects.

4a. The number of turnovers (2 INTs, 2 fumbles), a career high, by Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young in Sunday’s loss the Dallas Cowboys – one that officially ended the Panthers’ extremely remote playoff prospects.

4b. The number of turnovers (3 INTs, fumble), a career high, by Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis in Sunday’s loss the Cincinnati Bengals – one that didn’t affect much aside from the draft position of the long-eliminated Titans.

5. The number of TD passes thrown Sunday by Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, who was apparently quite hamstring by Johnson’s absence.

6. The number of times in Jackson’s career that he’s passed for five TDs in a game, turning the trick twice in 2024 – when he’s still very much a legit MVP candidate.

6(001): Jackson’s number of career rushing yards after eclipsing the 6,000-yard plateau on Sunday. He needs 109 more to overtake Michael Vick’s all-time record for quarterbacks.

7. Speaking of MVP candidates, sure feels like Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen might have locked up the award Sunday after outdueling Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions 48-42 at Ford Field in a game that wasn’t as close as the score suggests. Neither team saw a juicy interconference matchup change its seeding Sunday. But by adding four more TDs (2 passing, 2 rushing) to his season tally while accounting for 430 yards of offense, Allen almost certainly left Goff, one of his apparent pursuers, in the dust.

7a. Allen is the first player in the history of the NFL to have multiple passing and rushing TDs in successive games in a season.

8. Number of times the New Orleans Saints sacked Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, though some were the result of the rookie running out of bounds. Still, the punishment appeared to take its toll given the Commanders only scored six points in the second half and nearly coughed up a 17-0 lead before surviving on the game’s final play – when the Saints’ two-point attempt came up short in their 20-19 defeat.

8a. And the Saints did get some home cooking from the clock operator Sunday at the Superdome.

9. Sunday, Saints RB Alvin Kamara became the fourth player in league history with 50 career rushing TDs and 25 receiving TDs. Is he a Hall of Famer? The others players on the list are Niners RB Christian McCaffrey, plus HOFers Marshall Faulk and Lenny Moore.

10. The number of turnovers (4 by Levis, 3 by Cincy QB Joe Burrow) in the Cincinnati Bengals’ defeat of the Titans, the most in a game in 17 years.

11. The nuttiest belonged to Bengals SS Jordan Battle, whose premature celebration as he crossed the Tennessee goal line on a 60-yard fumble return … earned him a fumble of his own.

11a. A similar scenario would happen a few hours later – to a much more high-profile player, Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor – with far more ramifications for fantasy (and NFL) playoffs.

12. Some more gems from an unusually entertaining game, which the Bengals won 37-27 … though the game really wasn’t as competitive as the score would indicate. The teams combined for 49 first downs, 129 plays, 744 yards … and 26 penalties (for 223 collective yards).

13. But those numbers were a mere prelude to the Bills-Lions game. Detroit and Buffalo combined for 90 points, 58 first downs, 145 plays and 1,080 yards – both clubs exceeding 500.

14. The Chiefs’ margin of victory Sunday, their largest of the season.

15. The Chiefs’ aggregate margin of victory across their previous five wins.

16. Raise your hand if you had the New York Jets’ 32-25 win at Jacksonville as the most entertaining game of the weekend in a battle of teams that started Sunday 3-10.

17. The jersey number of Jets WR Davante Adams, who scored his 100th and 101st career TDs in the victory. He also had 198 receiving yards, 8 shy of matching his career high.

18. Disappointing as the Jets have been in 2024, Rodgers has been playing well lately … albeit when it matters the least. He has eight TD passes (against 1 INT) over the past four games and has had a passer rating of at least 100.0 in three of them. He even had a team-high 45 rushing yards against the Jags. Still, Sunday’s win was the Jets’ lone victory in that stretch.

19. The Jets’ 32 points were a season high – and Rodgers has been harping on the need to score at least 30 all season. And people say he’s off his rocker …

20. The Rodgers-Adams connection has also evoked their Green Bay heyday of late, the NYJ just peaked … too late for it to make the difference it might have.

21. The Jets did sack Jacksonville QB2 Mac Jones twice – definitely an insufficient total two days after ESPN profiled the team’s famous/infamous “New York Sack Exchange,” which got its own “30 for 30” installment.

22. And yet the play of the day might have been the backflip executed by Jacksonville DT Jeremiah Ledbetter, who’s 6-3 and 299 pounds, after he sacked Rodgers.

23. How good is Denver’s defense? It generated five takeaways and a TD on a day when the Broncos offense didn’t manage even 200 yards against Indianapolis. More than enough to crush the Colts and just about sew up the franchise’s first playoff spot since QB Peyton Manning and Co. won Super Bowl 50 nine years ago.

24. And don’t discount Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto for Defensive Player of the Year. He’s up to 11½ sacks and took a lateral 50 yards to the house for his second TD of the season … though he did get flagged for the latest ‘Marshawn.’

25. Still, Taylor’s gaffe may ultimately be recognized as the moment that sent the Colts to the glue factory in a season full of issues.

26. How good is the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense? Shrug. For those of us who thought this team was overrated – or at least unproven – based on its schedule to date, the equally middling Tampa Bay Buccaneers provided quite the wake-up call to Bolts supporters Sunday. The Chargers began Week 15 as the league’s stingiest scoring D, allowing just 15.9 points per week … before the Bucs hung nearly three times that many on them in a 40-17 walkover. Tampa Bay’s 506 yards of offense were also easily the most allowed by first-year HC Jim Harbaugh’s team in 2024.

27. Things weren’t much better offensively, QB Justin Herbert’s string of interception-less games ending at 11, one shy of a league record, and 357 passes.

28. On the other side, Buccaneers WR Mike Evans had his biggest game of the season with 159 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. He needs to average 84 yards over the next three weeks to extend his string of 1,000-yard campaigns to 11.

29. Houston’s Derek Stingley picked off Tagovailoa twice in the fourth quarter and effectively shut down Miami WR Tyreek Hill, continuing to bolster his case as one of the league’s premier corners in his third NFL season. 30. Number of yards Titans rookie NT T’Vondre Sweat, who’s 6-4 and 366 pounds, returned a fumble Sunday. Per NFL Media, it’s the longest return by a player weighing at least 350 pounds since at least 1991.

31. Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey’s highly disappointing sophomore season continued Sunday after he missed his sixth field-goal try of the year – coming up short on a 70-yarder at the end of the first half. C’mon, dude. We kid, we kid … and the notion Dallas is attempting FGs that long is pretty insane. Maybe he’s not going to go 36-for-38 as he did as a rookie, but we’d find room for Aubrey on our roster – like, if we were starting a team.

32. Congratulations to Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of the University of Colorado, who might be a top-five pick in next year’s NFL draft as a cornerback or wideout. But to get that kind of multi-position talent in one package? Should be fascinating to see where he lands and how many snaps he gets on either side of the ball.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

PHILADELPHIA — Darius Slay called it a ‘hockey moment.’

Mike Tomlin was so disgusted he told an official to ‘get the (expletive) away from me.’

‘No punches (by the Eagles) were observed on the field,’ referee Alan Eck told a pool reporter. ‘Since we had flags down, it gave New York an opportunity to review the play as well. There was no video evidence of punches observed by the Philadelphia Eagles.’

All things Steelers: Latest Pittsburgh Steelers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

But they did see Washington commit unnecessary roughness. They also flagged Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III for his role in the ensuing brouhaha that players on the field eventually sorted out without coaches or teammates from either bench joining in.

“If I see plenty of Eagles come up and surround him, yeah, I’m gonna come in and help my dog,” Austin said.

At 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds, Austin joked that his size is what drew the officials’ attention to him.

“I guess being the biggest guy out there, I’m gonna get a flag thrown on me,” Austin said.

Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones were also involved.

“I was just doing my assignment, doing my job,” Washington said. “I thought I just played through the whistle, man. I guess you can say I kind of went overboard, if you want to. But at the end of the day, I felt like I ain’t do nothing crazy. Just blocking him and held it a little bit longer than I should have.”

Eck looked poised to declare offsetting penalties but announced the two flags were both on the offense. The Eagles technically accepted Austin’s to move the Steelers back 15 yards.

While receiving his explanation from the down judge, Tomlin was caught by FOX broadcast cameras impolitely telling the official what he thought of the calls.

“I’ll let them explain that sequence. Why should I explain it?’ Tomlin said after the game.

Asked what type of explanation he received, Tomin replied: ‘Not a sufficient one.’

One play earlier, the Steelers had forced their second fumble of the opening quarter started the drive at the Philadelphia 11-yard line. But backed up to the edge of the red zone, Wilson threw two incompletions and Chris Boswell made a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 3.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose sustained one of the more devastating injuries of the 2024 NFL season in Week 15.

DuBose was injured against the Houston Texans in Miami’s 20-12 loss on Sunday during the third quarter: The wideout attempted a catch over the middle of the field but was hit in the head by Houston safety Calen Bullock. DuBose’s head hit the turf with force and he appeared to undergo the fencing response while lying on his back.

DuBose remained motionless on the turf as medical personnel rushed to his aid, removing his jersey and facemask while stabilizing his head with a neck brace. Emergency medical personnel tended to him for more than 10 minutes on the field. The 23-year-old receiver was eventually put on a stretcher and taken off the field while wearing an oxygen mask.

Here’s the latest updates on DuBose.

Grant DuBose injury updates

The Dolphins provided a positive update regarding DuBose’s health on Monday morning: The wide receiver has all movement in all extremities and is in the continued care of doctors for observation.

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DuBose remained in a Houston-area hospital overnight. The Dolphins ruled out with DuBose with a head injury and he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. He is in stable condition.

Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters after the game that the team received positive feedback from initial tests on DuBose. The receiver remained in Houston headed into Monday.

Tua Tagovailoa comments on Grant DuBose injury

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took some blame for the situation, telling reporters that his ball placement could’ve been better.

During the 12-minute delay, his Dolphins teammates moved to the side and formed a circle where they kneeled and appeared to be praying. McDaniel and Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans embraced at one point while DuBose was still receiving medical treatment.

Bullock was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver.

Dolphins WR depth chart

With DuBose injured, here are the remaining healthy Dolphins’ receivers:

Tyreek Hill
Malik Washington
River Cracraft

Jaylen Waddle suffered a knee injury in the game, and his status for Week 16 and beyond is still undetermined. Miami released Odell Beckham Jr. earlier in the week, while three receivers are on injured reserve.

Grant DuBose stats

DuBose hasn’t been a major factor on offense in his second season, having been on IR since Week 2 with a shoulder injury. He had just one catch this season on three targets before collecting a catch on Sunday for negative two yards.

DuBose started his college career playing Division II football. In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic he worked three jobs, including bagging groceries at Walmart. Coming out of the pandemic, he joined Charlotte in 2021. The Green Bay Packers selected him in Round 7 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 256 overall pick and he spent the entire season on the practice squad. DuBose was cut from the Packers before the 2024 season, and Miami picked him up off of waivers.