Messi's No. 10 tribute is set as Miami await Atlanta

Messi has two fresh developments in the post-Argentina chapter of his career. MLS has given his last-minute free kick a Matchday 23 award, while the Argentine Football Association has set a league-wide tribute around his No. 10 shirt. 12

MLSsoccer.com says Messi won AT&T Goal of the Matchday for Matchday 23 with 86.5% of the fan vote. The winning strike was a last-minute free kick in Inter Miami's 7-1 win over CF Montréal, part of Messi's four-goal performance. 1

The award adds an individual marker to a match that already stood out on the score sheet. Messi's four goals and the decisive free kick are the part of Miami's recent form that carries into the next fixture.

The AFA has decided that its men's and women's competitions will stop play during the coming round at the 10th minute. Each match will also hold a minute of applause for Messi's Argentina career. Goal reported the decision on Sept. 2, with the publication time converting to 04:02 on Sept. 3 in Asia/Shanghai. 2

The tribute gives Messi's shirt number a fixed place in the next round of domestic matches. It also keeps the focus on his national-team record: 207 appearances and 125 goals, according to the same report. 2

A Miami Herald report published at 02:26 on Sept. 3 in Asia/Shanghai says Inter Miami have made another coaching change and will face Atlanta United on Saturday. The report places Miami second in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind Nashville, and lists the four-goal Montréal game among the week's main developments. 3

The Miami Herald preview gives no confirmed Messi selection for Atlanta. The next listed checkpoint for Messi followers is therefore the match itself, with his availability still awaiting confirmation. 3

Leandro Paredes said continuing with Argentina will be difficult after FIFA gave him a 10-match international ban for his role in the confrontation after the World Cup final. The Boca Juniors midfielder also named Messi's retirement as part of the reason he must decide what comes next. 4

That leaves Argentina with two separate personnel questions: who inherits Messi's creative role, and which senior players still want to continue through the transition.

Watch next: Messi's selection for Inter Miami's Saturday meeting with Atlanta United, followed by the AFA's 10th-minute tribute across its competitions.