Going into the play-offs, Inter Miami’s biggest challengers will likely be fellow Eastern Conference side Columbus Crew, who have attracted plenty of plaudits thanks to the exciting style of play implemented by coach Wilfried Nancy.

Western Conference table-toppers Los Angeles FC, and the team finishing just behind them on goal difference, LA Galaxy, could also pose a threat.

Challengers for the league’s individual awards will also come from these teams. Coach of the year will be between Nancy and Martino, MVP will be between Messi and the Crew’s former Watford striker, Cucho Hernandez, while newcomer of the year will likely be one of Suarez or LA Galaxy’s brilliant Brazilian winger, Gabriel Pec.

The Golden Boot winner is already decided, though. It went to former Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke who has had an outstanding season with DC United, scoring 23 goals in 30 appearances.

Suarez finished alongside Messi as Inter Miami’s top scorer with 20 goals from 27 appearances, continuing the form that produced 17 goals in 33 games for Gremio in 2023 and saw him named player of the year in the Brazilian league.

Though Messi played little more than half a season’s games in MLS in 2024, he has still been one of the most productive players in the league with 20 goals and 10 assists in 19 appearances. This, plus his wider impact, makes him favourite for the MVP award.

His mere presence at the David Beckham-owned franchise which joined the league in 2020 has helped transform them from a team that finished 14th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference in 2023 (27th out of 29 teams overall) to one that broke the regular season points record in 2024.

This stellar regular-season performance gives Miami benefits going into the play-offs. As the top seed they will retain home advantage throughout, and the MLS Cup final is played at the home of the highest-seeded team involved which, should they get that far, would be Miami’s Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Messi lifting the Supporters’ Shield has served to increase the esteem in which the regular-season title is held. He and his former Barcelona team-mates, used to playing in a football culture where the league winner is the champion, will certainly have valued it, but they recognise that this is a new adventure and a different way of doing things, and they want to succeed in this culture too.

The coming weeks will decide whether they do.

BILL BELICHICK has started engagement ring shopping for his 24-year-old sweetheart as shock wedding plans begin to take shape, a source close to the NFL coaching legend has told The U.S. Sun.

According to the well-placed insider, the 72-year-old six-time Super Bowl-winning coach has been to “around 20” stores in New York and Los Angeles over the last two months as he considers proposing to new flame Jordon Hudson.

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The source confirmed that plans are in place to get engaged to the former cheerleader “after the end of the season”.

The U.S. Sun has extensively reported on how the former New England Patriots coach loves his new life after stepping away from the hot seat after 23 years at the end of last season.

A source revealed that Belichick was “living like a 25-year-old man” as he enjoyed time away from the NFL by throwing himself into punditry and his new relationship.

He also revealed that the coaching great has been quizzing pals about the best way to propose and possible locations.

“Since last June, has has talked that he loves her and that he sees his future with her,” said a close friend.

“Their relationship makes him feel happy and complete.

“She understands him and supports him.

“He has been looking for a ring for the last two months

“He asked how much he should spend on a ring and make it a special moment.”

The U.S. Sun has been told Belichick is ready to drop $200,00 on a sparkly surprise for Jordon.

He reportedly met her on a flight in 2021 and started dating officially in June this year after a split from his partner of 16 years, Linda Holliday.

The pair have been pictured together on numerous occasions.

“He has to decide very soon because he has to pick between two rings that jewelry designers suggested to him,” added the pal.

According to our sources, romantic Belichick is seriously considering a destination wedding in the Caribbean or Croatia.

“Bill loves the Adriatic coast, the romantic spots and landscapes,” said the source.

“He loves to make things special for her.

“The goal is to get engaged after the end of the season when they will both have a break from work. “

Once the NFL season is over and his TV and media commitments are over, Belichick plans to whisk Jordon away to the French Riviera, Italy, and then back to Croatia.

A return to coaching is a possibility, although The U.S. Sun revealed last week that the Pats icon has no chance of taking over the New York Jets following Robert Saleh’s brutal sacking.

Whatever he decides, his new girlfriend will have his back.

“He feels like it’s a new start in his life,” confirmed the source.

“She will support him whatever he decides to do. They are an excellent and united couple.”

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The Detroit Lions will be without Jameson Williams for the next two weeks. The third-year receiver has been suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, according to ESPN. 

Williams told ESPN that he had “no choice but to take it on the chin.” 

This is the second suspension for Williams in his career. The 23-year-old sat out four games last season for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.

The Lions drafted Williams with the No. 12 pick in 2022. He only played in six games as a rookie while he recovered from an ACL tear he suffered in the College Football Playoff. 

He emerged as a weapon for Detroit’s offense late in 2023 and already has career highs in receiving yards (361) and TD receptions (3) this season. He ranks second on the team in both categories, behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Lions beat Vikings 31-29, Are they the best team in the NFC? | The Herd

The 5-1 Lions are coming off a dramatic 31-29 win over the previously undefeated Minnesota Vikings. Next, Detroit will host the Tennessee Titans before traveling to Lambeau Field for a showdown with the Green Bay Packers. Both games will air on FOX. 

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DEAN HENDERSON dropped a clanger in front of watching England caretaker boss Lee Carsley – eight days after Thomas Tuchel’s stand-in awarded him his England return!

Former Forest loanee Hendo was on top of the world when he flew his family to Finland to see him end his long wait for a senior England cap in the Three Lions’ 3-1 win.

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But tonight his world fell apart here as he allowed Chris Wood‘s half-hit volley to squirm under him to cost Palace a crucial draw which kept Oliver Glasner’s strugglers in the drop zone. 

Wood couldn’t believe his luck as he bagged his fifth goal in eight games this season to become Forest’s third player to score 20 Premier League goals, alongside Bryan Roy and Stan Collymore.

And to rub salt in Henderson’s wounds, Forest keeper Matz Sels surpassed himself with a string of top saves, and denied sub Jeffrey Schlupp a late leveller with a brilliant one-handed save.

It was a positive end to a tough week for the Prem‘s current whipping boys. 

Forest’s naughty step was certainly groaning after the FA stepped in to punish their bad boys.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo was banished to an executive box as he started a three-match ban for his misconduct in his side’s 2-2 draw with Brighton last month.

Morgan Gibbs-White was injured anyway but also served a further one-match ban following his red card against the Seagulls – as well as copping a £20,000 fine.

Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse was suspended following his red card at Chelsea last time out.

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Even Forest’s larger-than-life owner Evangelos Marinakis was subject to a whopping five-match ban – which he is appealing – for “improper behaviour,” around the tunnel area at full-time against Fulham on September 28.

The Greek tycoon decided not to pour fuel on the fire by attending the game while the appeal process unfolds.

But it was a measure of Forest’s ongoing feud with the authorities that their fans loudly booed the pre-match handshakes between the players – as they protested totting up £825,000 worth of fines this month alone!

Unfortunately no-one was able to cash in at the end of an entertaining first 45 minutes when plenty of chances were created – but none taken.

Palace, refreshed from their 16 day break, started on the front foot and Eberechi Eze flashed a left footer just wide from 25 yards.

Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah were next to try their luck but failed to trouble Matz Sels unduly, while Jefferson Lerma picked up an early booking for hauling down Ola Aina.

Incredibly it was his 40th top flight yellow card, making the midfielder the sixth baddest boy for bookings in Prem history.

Elliot Anderson then took centre stage in front of watching England caretaker boss Lee Carsley.

The £35million summer signing from Newcastle had the City Ground on its feet with a Messi-like run which saw him wriggle past three Palace defenders before Dean Henderson pawed away his shot for a corner.

Wood had a header cleared off the line by Lerma before Nketiah came even closer at the other end with a swerving shot on the run which clipped off the outside of Sels’ post.

Not to be undone, Forest skipper Ryan Yates steered a header beyond Henderson but, frustratingly, the ball bounced back off the far post as Wood failed to apply the finishing touch.

Five of the last six league games between this pair have finished as draws and the game desperately needed a goal to breathe fresh life into it.

However Matz Sels refused to play ball as he pulled off a stunning double save to deny Eze then Kamada, who he somehow blocked from four yards.

Fortunately the flag was up for offside to save Kamada’s blushes.

Anderson was then booked for bundling over Nketiah and from the resulting free kick Palace brought out the best in Sels again.

Will Hughes touched the ball to one side and Eberechi Eze unleashed a screamer which Forest’s Belgian keeper sensationally tipped over.

However it was a goalkeeping howler at the other end which finally broke the deadlock just after the hour.

Alex Moreo’s long ball forward was nodded out by Trevoh Chalobah and Wood pounced to fire in a harmless looking volley which lacked power.

But Henderson got it all wrong, allowing the ball to squirm under his outstretched arm and the ball squeezed in at his near post.

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Ask any regular watcher of the Gallagher Premiership to espouse its qualities, and the word “competitive” will almost certainly come up.

Last season’s final table illustrated this: Leicester Tigers finished eighth, and only lost two fewer games than runners-up Bath. Fifth-placed Bristol scored more points, and conceded fewer, than champions Northampton. Going into the final round of the regular season, seven teams all had a chance of winning the title.

A salary cap system, designed to ensure equity across the board, means anyone should be able to beat anyone on their day.

However, for much of the past two years, Newcastle’s 25-game losing streak threatened to undermine the Premiership’s USP.

How can a league boast of being fiercely fought and uber-competitive if one club are just making up the numbers?

In a 10-team league, with only five matches per weekend, can the Premiership afford for one of those games to be a foregone conclusion?

With this in mind, Newcastle’s stirring 24-18 victory over Exeter was not only huge for the club and rugby union in the north-east of England, but for the very essence of the league itself.

Newcastle’s win was as popular as it was long-awaited, widely welcomed by fans and pundits alike. Even our colleagues from BBC Radio Devon – who could have understandably focused on the Chiefs’ worrying start to the season – paid tribute to Newcastle first and foremost at the final whistle.

With the smallest budget in the division, Falcons boss Steve Diamond needs his team to be confrontational and canny.

Sammy Arnold’s try-making first-half tackle and Ethan Grayson’s late drop-goal were great examples of this.

“We’re trying to build something – it’s taking time, but the job in hand is to put on performances like that at home,” said Diamond, who provided one of the images of the weekend as he chatted casually to an Exeter fan during the nervous final stages.

With Diamond declaring the “monkey is off the back”, the challenge now is for the Falcons to take some more scalps.

But with the league shutting down over November for the autumn internationals, they will have to wait a full six weeks to have another crack at Kingston Park.