The 2026 MLS MVP debate got quite a bit less interesting this weekend. Lionel Messi, going for his third straight MVP honor, took control with a stunning four-goal and one-assist performance.
More importantly, Inter Miami snapped a five-game winless run with a much-needed thrashing of CF Montréal 7-1.
Messi is up to a league-best 18 goals and 10 assists. His 28 goal contributions are easily best in the league and, in addition to having the Golden Boot lead, he is just one assist away from the top of that category, too.
“There are no words,” interim head coach Guillermo Hoyos said after Messi’s performance. Hoyos didn’t coach the team as he served a one-game suspension for violating the league’s late kickoff policy.
The footwork. The finish. Leo Messi. 😮💨🤌 pic.twitter.com/K6QQa9in7V — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 30, 2026
Miami is awaiting the arrival of new coach Kily Gonzalez, whose Argentina international career briefly overlapped with Messi’s. Gonzalez was on his way out of the team toward retirement when Messi was debuting.
Gonzalez hasn’t had much success in his managerial career, but Javier Mascherano was also unproven at senior club level before leading Miami to win the MLS Cup last winter. That is the goal for Gonzalez.
Finding the balance between attacking quality and defensive structure is the elusive quandary Gonzalez will be the latest to attempt to solve (after fellow Argentines Tata Martino, Mascherano and Hoyos). They are 24th in goals against (41) and 22nd in expected goals against (36.8). It has to improve.
Casemiro — who scored his first Miami goal this weekend — was shifted to center back for the win, which is unlikely to be a long-term fix. Luis Suarez continues to be extremely productive — now up to 11 goals and eight assists in 1,226 MLS minutes this year — but doesn’t offer much defensively. Obviously, Messi isn’t much of a pressing threat either.
For any of the shortcomings this Miami team has in defensive transition or individual mistakes leading to goals, they have Messi, and no one else does.
On some days, it can be that simple.
Latest intel
The summer transfer window in MLS closes on the evening of Sept. 2 (midnight CT). All sources mentioned below spoke on condition of anonymity as the deals were not yet final.
Rafael Navarro bids farewell ahead of St. Louis move
The Rapids’ stance was clear: Until the deal is done, he is a Colorado player and will be played. Though there was a potential injury risk, St. Louis knew there was nothing to worry about in negotiations, and a deal was imminent.
Navarro played a key role in Colorado’s 1-0 win over rival Real Salt Lake. When he was subbed out in stoppage time, he had a long hug with coach Matt Wells, then embraced each assistant coach on the bench.
When the Rapids were handed the Rocky Mountain Cup, Wells pushed Navarro to the middle and told his players to give him the trophy for the team photo. Navarro then said an emotional goodbye to the Rapids fans.
Rafael Navarro celebrating a Rocky Mountain Cup victory in what could be his final game for the Colorado Rapids. Photo credit @footy5280 https://t.co/sPjsY9o96h pic.twitter.com/MNxipEYH01 — Rocky Mountain Soccer Journal (@RMSoccerJournal) August 30, 2026
The deal is moving forward, and soon Navarro will be a St. Louis player. Sources say a new contract is part of the move, securing his long-term future.
St. Louis gets their guy in a club-record deal in a remade attack this summer, following DP attacker Carlo Holse. Navarro is the DP No. 9 that Yoann Damet has wanted since taking over this winter. A consistent finisher, Navarro is also an all-around forward who runs tirelessly.
The Rapids aimed to be “bold and aggressive” this summer. The team is working on numerous targets to overhaul the attack.
Colorado could add another DP, as the club worked on numerous top targets that would have cost $10 million or more, and might opt to wait for the winter for that slot.
Kevin Kelsy travels ahead of Rangers move
Kelsy needs to undergo a medical and formalize a few final details before the move can be made official, the sources say.
Kelsy, 22, joined the Timbers from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee just under $6 million in January 2025 and has scored 16 goals in MLS in 43 appearances.
Portland fell 2-1 to Austin FC without Kelsy in the squad this weekend.
Daniel Gazdag to join New England
Gazdag will not be a designated player for New England, the sources add. The Revs give a fresh start for Gazdag, who should fit the team’s system better than Columbus’ possession-based ethos, alongside Carles Gil and Jack Harrison in attack.
Gazdag starred for years for the Philadelphia Union, scoring at least 14 goals in the league every season from 2022 to 2024. He had 72 goals and 24 assists in 161 appearances for the Union.
Columbus is intent to use the open DP spot created by Gazdag’s departure and continue to work on a deal to sign Botafogo attacker Santi Rodriguez, per the sources.
Caden Clark to Red Bull New York falls through
The deal was agreed, set, and travel planned for Clark before RBNY abruptly walked away. D.C. is in talks with other clubs about a departure for Clark as the player is not in coach René Weiler’s plans.
Clark, 23, was acquired last summer not long after Weiler took over at the club. He has played sparingly in the last year, making 11 appearances. He broke out with Red Bull New York in 2020 before joining RB Leipzig but never made a first-team appearance for the club.
Cavan Sullivan scores again
Philadelphia Union wunderkind Cavan Sullivan scored in his team’s 3-1 win over Red Bull New York, another game with a goal contribution as the 16-year-old attacker has taken a leap.
🌟 Cavan Sullivan (16) scores again for the Philadelphia Union 3g/3a in last 5 games pic.twitter.com/YkKkVcrG3H — Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 30, 2026
Sullivan has three goals and three assists in his last five games. He has six goals and seven assists in all competitions this season and doesn’t turn 17 for another month.
Since interim coach Ryan Richter took over and made Sullivan a central part of the team, among several other key changes, including the inclusion of 18-year-old center back Neil Pierre, the Union soared up the standings and are just 1 point below the playoff line.
In those seven games, Sullivan has started each one, and Philly won five. They won only one of their first 15 games before making a coaching change.
The United States will call their first post-World Cup roster in a few weeks. A lot of fans hope Sullivan will be on it.
“I am not really focused on the whole call-up thing,” Sullivan said after the game. “But I am happy that we are winning games and that I am making a difference.”
No love lost for Chucky Lozano
Chucky Lozano was technically a San Diego FC player for eight months this year but had not yet played at Snapdragon Stadium in 2026 before this weekend, doing so for the LA Galaxy.
Lozano and the Galaxy faced SoCal rivals San Diego FC and fell 3-1, despite Lozano’s scoring on his return. The Mexican winger celebrated the goal and was booed most of the game by the home fans.
There was no love lost on either side.
Lozano remained at the club until August, joining LA Galaxy on loan. He didn’t want to leave the Southern California area.
There was no warm embrace between Lozano and San Diego coach Mikey Varas, who had his hand out near Lozano after the game. The winger says he didn’t see his former coach.
Why are you trying to shake his hand at this moment?! You knew this would be the reaction. 🥶🥶🥶 pic.twitter.com/6r7slpXtW1 — Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) August 30, 2026
Lozano was lively in the match. With the Galaxy down 2-0, he was fouled by Jeppe Tverskov, who was sent off in the 50th minute for a second yellow card. Lozano scored and then appeared to set up an equalizer, but the goal was called back controversially by VAR for a foul on the winger when he won the ball back.
The 3 points for San Diego lifted the team over the playoff line into eighth place. The Galaxy lag behind in 13th but just 4 points behind San Diego.
The two teams play again this season, with San Diego coming to the Galaxy in October.
Weekend observations
• Dejan Joveljić dazzled in his Seattle Sounders debut, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw against Robert Lewandowski and the Chicago Fire. Joveljić was acquired in a shock deal from Sporting KC last week worth $6 million
• Joveljić’s former team had another bad weekend, falling 3-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps. SKC is flirting with one of the statistically worst seasons in MLS history, though club-record signing André Luiz made his debut.
• Nashville SC continued their hold on the Supporters’ Shield race, with a 4-0 thrashing of FC Cincinnati. Nashville is on pace to break Inter Miami’s MLS record for single-season points. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has been one of the worst defensive teams in the league. The season is in danger of slipping away as fans voice their displeasure.
• Antoine Griezmann had a goal and assist in a wild 3-3 draw between Orlando City and Minnesota United. Orlando raced out to a 2-0 lead before Minnesota scored three times in five minutes to take the game back in the second half, but Griezmann set up Tyrese Spicer for a stoppage-time equalizer.