I wrote a book about Messi's arrival in MLS and the impact it had on the future of the league, and thus the sport in America. If you want to understand where MLS goes from here, how it grows off of Messi and the 2026 World Cup: us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

From his first day in the U.S., Messi made it clear he wasn't there to relax. He is constantly shaping and playing for his legacy. And every time Argentina takes the field, you can see his teammates understand they are playing for that legacy, too. us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Another huge Messi Moment at the World Cup. MLS wasn't ready for change in '26. It bet that when change comes in a year+, it will be just as impactful. But boy, watching today it feels like being ready for mid-July 2026 would've been the better bet. us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Malik Tillman got stepped on. It ripped his boot and his sock. “I was in pain,” he said. New cleat for the free kick. It worked out ok. www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

Come for the story, stay for the Tom Bogert foot video content. #MLSAfterDark

Yes, you're right. Which I did include in the article.

What Messi's doing on this stage — again, at age 38 — is remarkable. That MLS wasn't ready to capitalize and roll out its big changes after the World Cup is incredible. Why wasn't the league ready for this moment? Can it figure out its future in time? us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Three days after the #USMNT's 4-1 win over Paraguay, Mauricio Pochettino sat down to discuss his philosophy and building this team into one he believes can make a run. “If I dream of touching the moon, of being up on the moon, maybe I can get close to the moon." www.nytimes.com/athletic/737...

Messi is set to play in his sixth World Cup today, in the country he now calls home. He came to MLS looking for balance, but with his competitiveness intact. On the day he took signed his contract in Miami, he made that clear. From The Messi Effect 📘: us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Another excerpt from The Messi Effect debuts today, on Sounder at Heart, this one chronicling competitive balance as the key to MLS's growth, but its changing role in the success of the league. Dig in to the full excerpt, and buy The Messi Effect now!

Thanks so much to @mattdoyle.bsky.social for running an excerpt from The Messi Effect in today's Tactics Free Zone newsletter. Going inside a product strategy committee meeting as league stakeholders weighed changes that would eventually become MLS 3.0. tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/an-excerpt-f...

Signed some copies of The Messi Effect at @hudsonbooks.bsky.social stores in Terminals A, B and C at Atlanta Airport.

A reminder for my Chicago peeps, I'll be doing a book event with @tombogert.bsky.social tomorrow night at Soccer House in Chicago at 6pm. No RSVP necessary. Just roll on through! There will be books for sale from Lincoln Square's The Book Cellar.

“He just got up like, ‘Okay, screw it. I’m gonna do it.’” Messi stood up on a chair. “Hola,” he said. “Soy Lionel Messi.” Then, he started to sing. On book launch day, I wrote for @theathleticfc.bsky.social on what I learned reporting The Messi Effect 📕. Out today! www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

Wow. Amazing support mid-game.

Thrilled that The Messi Effect has been picked as one of the Best Books of June by @barnesandnoble.com! It's out June 2. You can preorder it now. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-messi-...

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The new U.S. Against the World documentary starts tonight on HBO. Episode 1 takes you back to Qatar, where the journey started for the #USMNT group that takes the field this summer. @tombogert.bsky.social wrote about it here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

This isn’t just a Messi book. It’s about the Messi *Effect*. For MLS fans, I wanted to make this required reading. It’s about the future of the league. read.macmillan.com/lp/the-messi...

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Thanks to Publishers Weekly for the review of THE MESSI EFFECT. If you're a soccer fan looking for a read about Messi, MLS and the trajectory of American soccer ahead of the World Cup (out June 2!), or if you're interested in preordering the book: read.macmillan.com/lp/the-messi...

What happens when ambition and the 🐐 clash with MLS's reality + need to grow? Barnes & Noble Rewards and Premium Members get 25% off all pre-orders from 3/24-3/26 using code PREORDER25. Premium Members get additional 10% off. Preorder THE MESSI EFFECT now! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-messi-...

Double check this but think it’s 4 wins in 14 series (including finals) in 2024 and 2025 and 1 out of 5 so far this year.

We polled 22 MLS soccer execs on the league's best ... including best/worst facilities. "Their field is a disgrace," one GM said of an MLS venue. "It’s not at our level.” Who had the best value contract? Sebastian Berhalter, per execs Part 1 out now: www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

My first day at the Post in 2007, I sat at my parents' house for a bowl of cereal with the sports section like I always did. Page 2 had a surprise: They published a story I wrote during the interview process. My first byline. I cried. My mom cried. My mom framed it for me.

Distilling the calendar flip debate into two back to back responses on my timeline.

Once again unacceptable operations by Bridgeview for the Fire playoff game. Parking a disaster — my family and I are boxed into a lot now with only one exit — and lines to get intl stadium at kickoff are a mess.

Son Heung-min enters the field for the first time for LAFC in tbe 60th minute here in Bridgeview. Nice ovation for the Korean superstar. Plenty of fans here to see him tonight (at Fire’s old, but still-sometimes home) despite only learning yesterday at 10pm he was available.