Pablo Mastroeni is not shying away from Real Salt Lake's desire to make club history when they conclude their regular-season campaign against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

RSL have been among the Western Conference pacesetters all season and enter the final MLS matchday fourth with 56 points from 33 matches.

One more victory will set a new single-season franchise record, a fact Mastroeni reminded his players of before they beat the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 before the international break.

"I normally focus on just the one game, but the only way to get to 59 was to make sure we won in San Jose," Mastroeni told KSL Sports.

"It's about just putting a little bit of carrot on the end of the stick. It's not easy to make history at a club. 

"I just told the guys this is an opportunity to etch your name in stone as far as the regular season is concerned. It's a 34-game season, it's long and to be able to achieve that would be great.

"When you can see a commitment to the cause, it's really about those real things that make the team successful."

Vancouver, meanwhile, sit eighth in the standings and are guaranteed a play-in spot, though they must better Minnesota United's result to clinch automatic qualification.

Head coach Vanni Sartini believed his team deserved better after they lost 2-1 to Los Angeles FC in midweek, a result that took their fate out of their own hands.

"We have to work. At this moment I'm very disappointed, I've got to be honest," Sartini said. 

"I just wanted to say congratulations to the guys, congratulations to the fans, they were amazing. We played a fantastic game and we deserved to win."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango

Arango enters the final match of the season with 17 goals, tied with Alvaro Saborio (2012) for the most in a single season in Real Salt Lake's history. 

His 12 assists this season, meanwhile, are tied for second-most in club history behind Albert Rusnak's 14 in 2017.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

White has scored a goal on each of his last five regular-season road appearances, the longest streak in Vancouver's MLS history and the longest streak in MLS since Josef Martinez netted in seven straight on the road from May to September in 2019.

MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN

Real Salt Lake have won three straight matches against Vancouver for the first time in club history. The only longer winning streak in the 32-match history of the series was a four-match run by the Whitecaps from 2014 to 2015.

The hosts enter the final match of the season on 56 points, one away from equalling the club's single-season record of 57 set in 2012. 

The Whitecaps, meanwhile, have lost three straight regular-season matches for the first time since the start of last season. They are winless in six straight league matches, equalling their worst run of the year.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 45.1%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 28%

Draw – 26.9%

Steve Cherundolo wants Los Angeles FC to focus on their own game as they look to secure top spot against the San Jose Earthquakes.

LAFC can finish top of the Western Conference if they win by a two-goal margin and LA Galaxy lose to Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

Cherundolo's side kept themselves in contention going into the final day by snatching a late 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps, extending their winning streak to four games.

And though the head coach would like to finish top of the pile, he acknowledged that it was largely out of LAFC's hands.

"We don't spend a lot of time discussing scenarios," he said. "I think for us the important thing is to enjoy the weekend, and obviously, that is trying to win the game with a two-goal advantage.

"What happens elsewhere we'll obviously be monitoring, but not closely. We're better off focusing on ourselves.

"We've won a couple of games in a row now and to finish the season on a high with a win is important. We're focused on what we know we do well and that's great preparation."

No matter the result, San Jose will finish bottom of the table, with the worst result of any team in MLS.

Interim head coach Ian Russell is looking to salvage some pride in their final outing and is hoping to use their win over LAFC earlier this season as motivation.

"It's a tough test - LAFC are a good team," he said.

"We typically match up well against them, but we need to go down there, play good football, defend well, limit their chances and try to hurt them."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAFC – Mateusz Bogusz

Mateusz Bogusz scored his 15th goal of the season in LAFC's win over Vancouver on Sunday.

Bogusz is the fifth different LAFC player to score 15 goals in a season while no other team has more than three different players with a 15-goal season since the club joined MLS in 2018.

San Jose Earthquakes – Daniel

San Jose have conceded 75 goals this season, tied with FC Cincinnati in 2019 for the most in a single season in MLS history.

Cincinnati had allowed 75 goals after 33 matches that season but kept a clean sheet against D.C. United in their final match and Daniel will be hoping to do the same, so the visitors can go out on a high.

MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

LAFC have won nine of their 11 all-time home matches against San Jose (D1 L1), including a 4-1 win in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 on August 13. LAFC have scored at least three goals in seven of the 11 meetings at BMO Stadium.

In fact, LAFC have lost only one of their last 11 games played in October, November and December dating back to last season (W9 D1), with the lone defeat coming in the MLS Cup Final at Columbus Crew last December.

Meanwhile, the Earthquakes enter the final match of the season with 24 losses, tied for the most outright defeats in a single season in MLS history (along with D.C. United in 2013, excluding breakaway shootout losses).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LAFC – 73.9%

Draw – 15.2%

San Jose Earthquakes – 10.9%

Ben Olsen believes LA Galaxy are the perfect team for Houston Dynamo to face the week before the playoffs to get them into the right frame of mind.

Houston can finish as high as fifth in the Western Conference but have alternated between a win and a loss in their last four games, losing 3-0 to St. Louis City last time out.

Olsen is keen to quickly put that result behind them and get the win that would secure fifth place in the table.

"Our objective doesn't change - it's still about putting the best performance against LA Galaxy we can in preparation for what's going to be a very tough first-round match in the playoffs," he said.

"It'll be a tough test. But I like that we're playing arguably the best team in the league the week before the playoffs because that's the level we're going to see then."

Meanwhile, the Galaxy need at least a draw to ensure they finish top of the table above derby rivals Los Angeles FC.

LA Galaxy are on a three-match winning streak in MLS, edging past Austin FC 2-1 in their last outing, and head coach Greg Vanney is glad they are not just going through the motions as they see out the end of the regular season.

"It's a nice test for us, it's great that the game is meaningful at this time of year, and we're playing for something before we start really playing for something," Vanney said. 

"I think that keeps the right intensity and the right tension in the group, and hopefully draw or win, it keeps the right tension going into the playoffs.

"We have to be efficient about how we defend, though we can't get pulled around by them."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Adalberto Carrasquilla

The Dynamo enter the final match of the season with 51 points, equalling their total from last season, while a win would set a new club record for points in a single season, surpassing the 52 they recorded in 2012.

Adalberto Carrasquilla set up both goals the last time Houston won, and another in this game would level him with Amine Bassi for the most assists this season (six).

LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec

Both Gabriel Pec and Riqui Puig enter the final match of the season with 29 goal contributions this season.

No team in MLS history has had two players record 30 goal contributions in a single season.

MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

Houston have lost only one of their last 11 regular-season home matches (W4 D6) including recording a 2-1 win in their last match at Shell Energy Stadium. The Dynamo's only set of consecutive home wins this season came in March with victories over Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes.

The Galaxy defeated the Dynamo 2-1 at home on May 25. LA have not defeated Houston twice in a single regular season since winning all three meetings during the 2016 campaign.

A win on the final day of the season would give the Galaxy 67 points on the year, equalling the second-most in club history. Only two teams in MLS history have totalled 67 or more points in a regular season and not won the Supporters' Shield: Atlanta United in 2018 and Philadelphia Union in 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 47.2%

Draw – 26.3%

LA Galaxy – 26.5%

Peter Luccin wants FC Dallas to finish their season on a high when they play their final MLS match of 2024 against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

Dallas can only finish as high as 10th in the Western Conference but have won just one of their last seven MLS matches, losing the last two on the bounce. 

Despite not reaching the playoffs, Luccin is already looking at the positives they can carry into next season, though he still expects his team to show their best form against Sporting KC.

"Our duty is to give all we've got," he said. "The attitude of the team against Portland was positive and that's the least we can do for the fans.

"At the same time, we need to think about next year. The attitude of the players has been great, but we didn't lose games because of that. It came down to qualities or specific details, not mentality.

"It's good, we are growing up as a team, so we need to see how they do against Kansas."

Kansas City, meanwhile, are guaranteed to finish 13th no matter the result.

They are on a three-match losing streak in MLS and head coach Peter Vermes wants to make sure his team finish on a high after that poor run of form.

"Every week, no matter where you are in the season, you're always working, thinking, preparing to make sure your team is ready for the challenge, and not just from the soccer perspective," he said.

"You're trying to get the mentality right. It's much more challenging in a situation like this, but I think it will say a lot about the players that go on the field about how serious they take it."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Petar Musa has scored 15 goals this season, 10 more than any other Dallas player.

That is the second-largest gap between a team's top goalscorer and second in MLS this season, behind only Christian Benteke, who has scored 17 more goals than any other D.C. United player in 2024.

Sporting Kansas City – Daniel Salloi

Daniel Salloi has scored eight regular-season goals against Dallas, three more than against any other opponent in his MLS career.

No player has scored more goals against Dallas since Salloi made his MLS debut in 2017.

MATCH PREDICTION: FC DALLAS WIN

Dallas have won only one of their last seven regular-season matches (D2 L4). They have conceded three goals in all four losses in that time but conceded just one in the other three matches.

Kansas City have won three straight meetings with FC Dallas in all competitions for the first time since 2017. Only once before has either team managed a four-match streak (Sporting KC in 2004), and Dallas will be keen to ensure they do not manage the same feat on Sunday.

Sporting KC, meanwhile, have just 31 points coming into the final match of the season, and will finish with fewer than 35 points for the first time since 2009 (33). Sporting hasverecorded fewer than 32 points only once before, totalling 20 points in the 1999 campaign.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Dallas – 46.6%

Draw – 26.5%

Sporting Kansas City – 26.9%

Chris Armas wants Colorado Rapids to use their trip to Austin FC as preparation for the start of the playoffs when they meet in the final game of the MLS regular season.

Colorado secured their playoff place last month but are not yet sure where in the Western Conference they will finish.

Other results could see them move up or down the table, and after losing their last three matches, Armas is keen to finish the regular season on a high.

"You can tell something different is in the air," he said. "The playoffs are here.

"The energy in the team is really good, and we're looking forward to the weekend and the big test in Austin.

"We want to use it the right way, to finish the season in the right way and get into the right mindset for the first playoff game."

Meanwhile, Austin sacked head coach Josh Wolff after a 2-1 defeat to LA Galaxy last time out ensured they would not make the playoffs.

Davy Arnaud will take interim charge for their final game of the season, and his sole focus is on getting three points on Saturday.

"You saw guys [in the last two games] who are still giving everything they have," Arnaud said, as quoted in the Verde All Day substack.

"For me, there would be no reason that it wouldn't be a very similar feel inside the stadium on Saturday, and I think they'll see a group that I'm hoping that they're proud of, that still represents this club in a really good way, despite the fact that we won't be in the playoffs.

"I've loved my time here in Austin, but I think it's too early to really fully talk about those things right now because we have a focus on Saturday."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin FC – Sebastian Driussi

Each of Austin's last 15 goals have been scored from open play dating back to mid-June, with their most recent being scored by Sebastian Driussi last time out against LA Galaxy.

Austin have not scored from a set piece since a penalty goal on June 1 and have not scored a non-penalty goal from a set piece since late May.

Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic

Djordje Mihailovic (11 goals, 12 assists) is the first player in Rapids history to record 10 goals and 10 assists in a single regular season.

He enters the final day of the season tied with Diego Rubio (2022) for the most goal contributions in a single season in Rapids history.

MATCH PREDICTION: AUSTIN FC WIN

Austin are winless in five straight regular-season home matches (D2 L3) for the first time in club history. They have managed just one win in their last eight matches at Q2 Stadium dating back to late May (D3 L4), but they will be keen to sign off for the season with a victory.

Colorado have never lost away against Austin FC (W1 D2), with the last two meetings between the sides at Q2 Stadium ending in draws. The Rapids are one of two teams (Seattle Sounders – four) to play three or more regular-season away matches at Austin without a loss.

Colorado have collected 50 points this season after totalling just 27 in the 2023 campaign. The 23-point improvement is the largest year-over-year improvement by the Rapids in the club's MLS history (excluding the shortened 2020 season), surpassing a 21-point bounce from 2015 to 2016.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 40.7%

Draw – 26.7%

Colorado Rapids – 32.7%

Troy Lesesne believes D.C. United's confidence is as high as it has been all season ahead of their crucial Decision-Day meeting with Charlotte FC.

D.C. need a point to clinch a playoff place for the first time since 2019, which would end their joint-longest playoff drought (also four years between 2008 and 2011).

They are in contention with CF Montreal and the Philadelphia Union, with two wild-card spots still to be decided on the final matchday in the Eastern Conference, after recording back-to-back victories over Nashville SC (4-3) and the New England Revolution (2-1).

"When challenges come – and we've had many this year – it's easy for us to use those as excuses and pack it up," Lesesne told reporters.

"But our group has never done that, just look at all the things we've gone through this year, the mental endurance that these guys have displayed to be in this position...

"You learn so much about yourself and your players and I'm really proud of the group.

"You expected all along that it would go right down to the last game, but the confidence of this team right now seems to be at the highest it has been all year."

Charlotte, on the other hand, have already confirmed their postseason spot, though a victory could see them move from sixth to fifth and improve their playoff seeding. 

"I know this game is more for seeding than anything else, but the main thing for us is to keep this going," forward Patrick Agyemang said.

"The main thing is to just continue on the road we're on, which is positive results. We want the season to end with a bang to put us in a good position for the playoffs."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

Benteke has scored 23 goals this season, equalling Raul Diaz Arce (1996) for the most in a single season in D.C.'s MLS history. 

His nine headed goals, meanwhile, are tied for the second-most in a single year by any player since Opta began detailed data collection of MLS in 2010, behind Josef Martinez's 10 in 2018. Can he draw level with the Venezuelan? 

Charlotte FC – Patrick Agyemang 

Agyemang's goal for Charlotte last Saturday, in a 2-0 win over Montreal, was his 15th goal contribution of the season (nine goals, six assists). 

He is one goal contribution shy of the single-season club record of 16, achieved by Karol Swiderski in each of the team's first two MLS campaigns.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

The home side has not lost any of the five previous meetings between D.C. and Charlotte, with D.C. recording a pair of 3-0 wins in their two home matches against the Crown. 

Charlotte, though, have lost only four of their last 11 regular-season away matches dating back to the beginning of May (four wins, three draws). 

D.C. United only need a point to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2019, ending a four-year postseason drought, and with home advantage on their side, they should get it.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 37.1%

Charlotte FC – 36.6%

Draw – 26.3%

Lionel Messi has not given any thought to his retirement, though the Argentina legend has again refused to commit to playing at the 2026 World Cup.

One day before he celebrated the 20th anniversary of his senior debut for Barcelona, Messi recorded five goal involvements (three goals, two assists) in Argentina's 6-0 rout of Bolivia on Tuesday.

Messi has enjoyed a fantastic season for MLS Supporters' Shield winners Inter Miami, too, scoring 17 league goals and adding 10 assists despite only starting 15 matches.

While the forward has shown no signs of slowing down since joining the Herons last year, his decision to turn his back on Europe led many to suggest the end of his career was near.

He has yet to make any decision on his long-term future, however, and is simply focused on enjoying his football in the moment.

Speaking at the Marca America Award night in Miami, Messi said: "Coming to Inter Miami does not mean I will retire anytime soon, I still have more years to play.

"In the moment, we will see. I don't like to accelerate time or look ahead. I try to enjoy every day. I hope I can keep playing at this level to feel good and be happy. 

"When I get to do what I love, I am happy. I value that more than reaching 2026. I haven't set a goal to reach the World Cup, but more so to live day-to-day and be well.

"I am still hungry for titles even though I am a bit older and my family keeps growing. When I feel their support, I am unstoppable."

Messi could lead Miami to a historic achievement this weekend as they end their 2024 regular-season campaign at home to the New England Revolution.

A victory would take Gerardo Martino's team to 74 points, surpassing the single-season record of 73 set by New England in 2021.

Jim Curtin knows it will be a tall order for the Philadelphia Union to clinch an MLS Cup Playoff place on Decision Day, simply telling his team to do their bit versus FC Cincinnati.

Philadelphia must beat last season's Supporters' Shield winners and hope CF Montreal and D.C. United both lose, to New York City and Charlotte FC respectively, to extend their season.

The Union have only missed the playoffs in two of their nine full campaigns under Curtin, but they are on the brink of doing so following back-to-back defeats to Orlando City (2-1) and the Columbus Crew (3-1).

Ahead of this weekend's Decision-Day clash with Cincinnati, Curtin said: "At this time of year you have to do the little things right and we didn't [versus Columbus].

"It's not in our control anymore, so we'll need some help. What we can control is getting a win at home against a strong Cincinnati team, something we're more than capable of.

"Obviously we've let ourselves down in recent weeks, we've played some great opponents and had chances to get back into games.

"But if we're honest, we were outplayed by Orlando and Columbus, those two teams are a level above us right now. Now it comes down to Decision Day."

Cincinnati have already clinched their playoff place but have suffered three straight defeats to Los Angeles FC, NYCFC and Orlando. 

Speaking after their most recent loss, winger Yamil Asad said he would prefer the Orange and Blue to make their mistakes before the postseason begins.

"This is tough because we are close to the playoffs, this is the third loss in a week," Asad said.

"But I think it's better to happen now and fix all of these bad things that we did and be focused on and keep doing the right things."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Andre Blake

Philadelphia have scored 61 goals but sit below the playoff line entering the final day of the season. 

No team in MLS history has scored 62 or more goals in a regular season and missed the playoffs (35/35 entering 2024).

If they are to sneak into the postseason, they may need a big performance from Blake, whose save percentage of 75% is the second-best of any MLS goalkeeper with at least 10 appearances this year.

FC Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta 

Acosta has recorded 93 goal contributions over the last three seasons (41 goals, 52 assists), more than any other player over a three-season span in MLS history (Sebastian Giovinco – 92 from 2015 to 2017).

MATCH PREDICTION – PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

Cincinnati enter the final match of the season with 10 away wins already 2024. The most road wins in a single season in the post-shootout era (since 2000) in MLS is 11, set by Montreal in 2022 and matched by Inter Miami this season.

They face a daunting task in looking to match those feats, though. The Union knocked Cincinnati out of this year's Leagues Cup in the last 16 with a 4-2 away win on August 13. 

The Union have taken 10 points from their last five home league games (three wins, one draw, one defeat), scoring 13 times in those matches, and simply must win.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Philadelphia Union – 46.8%

FC Cincinnati – 26.8%

Draw – 26.4%

Inter Miami are in a "perfect" position to etch their names into MLS history when they host the New England Revolution on Saturday, with a single-season points record within reach.

That is the view of defender Ian Fray, after Gerardo Martino's men wrapped up the Supporters' Shield – and home advantage for the playoffs – early.

Miami have 71 points with one game of the regular season remaining, and a victory would see them surpass the Revs' all-time high of 73 points from the 2021 campaign. 

Fray feels playing at Chase Stadium can help Miami get over the line, saying: "Having home-field advantage is amazing, especially with our fans. It's the perfect situation for us."

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were both substitutes for Miami's last game – a late 1-0 win at Toronto FC – as Martino opted to rest the forward duo.

"It was logical that after two complete games, as most of them had played, we would make a rotation," he said. 

"We were able to meet the two objectives, for the players to have some rest and to win the game, which is what we wanted. We wanted to be able to achieve the points record."

Opponents New England are playing merely to defend their 2021 honour, sitting some nine points adrift of the playoff picture, 14th in the Eastern Conference standings.

Head coach Caleb Porter, though, has already turned his attention towards what comes next after they missed the postseason for just the second time in six years.

"It's really important, when we're making corrections next year and in the offseason, that we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater," he said. 

"That's the tendency in the offseason when you end a season like this. You have to take a deep dive into what went wrong.

"I have to look at myself, I have to coach better, I have to figure out what I can do better. It starts with me."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

The favourite to be named this year's MLS MVP, Messi enters the final match of the regular season averaging 1.98 goal contributions per 90 minutes. 

Only one player in MLS history has averaged more than 1.40 goal contributions per 90 over a full season before: Carlos Vela (1.62) in 2019 (minimum 1000 minutes played).

New England Revolution – Aljaz Ivacic

New England's 4-0 loss at the Columbus Crew last Saturday was the eighth time this season that the Revs have lost a match by at least three goals. That equals the most three-goal defeats by a team in a single season in MLS history, done four times before.

If they are to avoid making unwanted history against a rampant Miami team, they will need Ivacic to be on top form, though his save percentage of 66% is only the 20th-best figure among the 33 goalkeepers to play 10 MLS matches this year.

MATCH PREDICTION – INTER MIAMI WIN

None of the seven all-time meetings between Miami and New England have ended in draws. 

The sides split the season series in each of the previous three years, with both sides winning once in each campaign, while Miami won in New England, 4-1, on April 27 this year.

Miami, on 71 points entering the final day of the season, can break New England's single-season MLS points record of 73 with a win. A victory would also be Miami's 22nd this season, equalling the most in a single season in league history.

New England have lost five straight away matches, including a 4-0 loss to the Crew on Saturday. 

The Revs have been outscored 15-1 in those games, so the chances of them denying Miami a slice of history appear slim.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami – 67.1%

New England Revolution – 14.9%

Draw – 18.1%

Tom Pearce is hoping to use his experience from suffering relegation and earning promotion during his time in England to help CF Montreal reach the playoffs this weekend.

Pearce joined the club in July from Wigan Athletic, a club he won the League One title with in the 2021-22 campaign, but was then a part of the Latics side who came straight back down the following season.

Montreal knows that a point will be enough to secure their spot in the postseason, though slipping up allows an opportunity for either Philadelphia Union or Atlanta United to pounce.

Having featured in high-pressure games throughout his career, Pearce is relishing the opportunity of helping his new team reach the playoffs.

“It’s exciting that we’re going into the last game of the season, and we’re going for the playoffs, we are looking forward to it and this past week has given us a chance to work on things,” Pearce said.

“We’ve had quite a lot of games over the past few weeks, so to have a little bit of time off and then working to this Saturday has been a positive for us.

“We have promotion and relegation in England so, I have been at both ends of the table during my time there. I wouldn’t say it’s all pressure, it’s more excitement and you take it step by step and hopefully, for us, it will be a positive one.”

NYCFC, meanwhile, kept their hopes of finishing in the top four of the Eastern Conference alive with a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC ahead of the international break.

The Pigeons are currently fifth in the standings but know a victory could push them ahead of Orlando City on Decision Day, with the Lions facing Atlanta in their final game of the season.

NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing was pleased with his side’s display in thier win over Nashville, saying their defensive resiliency is something they can build on ahead of the playoffs.

“Yes and no. We were 3-0 up and you know at some point that they are going to come back into the game,” Cushing said. “They were well coached by a new boss.

“I think it was more of them improving than us taking our foot off the gas. What I do think is that we showed a side that we did in the Cincinnati game and that’s a huge positive moving forward.

“Of course, we will review it and how we want to control games more, but it’s a positive when we defend so well. To show that steel is something I will take as a positive heading into the playoffs.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Montreal – Josef Martinez

Martinez has scored six career regular-season goals against NYCFC, one of eight opponents he’s scored against at least six times.

Only Alejandro Pozuelo (seven) has more goals against NYCFC than Martínez since he joined MLS in 2017.

NYCFC – Santiago Rodriguez

Rodríguez has a team-high 22 goal contributions this season (12 goals, 10 assists) for NYCFC, while Alonso Martínez has 19 (16 goals, three assists).

This weekend’s visitors have never had multiple players record 20 or more goal contributions in a single regular season.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

NYCFC has won six of their last seven matches against Montreal (D1) including the last four in a row. NYCFC have never lost in Montreal, with their only away defeat in the fixture coming in Harrison, New Jersey in July 2021 (W6 D2 in Montreal all-time).

Cushing’s side have won three straight matches after winning just three of their previous 19 in all competitions dating back to mid-June. NYCFC have scored 11 goals over those three matches, their most in a span of three league matches since April 2022 (14).

Montreal enters the final match of the season with 10 wins in regular-season play in 2024. Montreal has recorded at least 11 victories in each of their last eight full seasons dating back to 2015 (excluding shortened 2020 season).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

NYCFC – 34.4%

Draw – 25.8%

Montreal – 39.8%

Wilfried Nancy insisted that Columbus Crew’s record MLS win tally achieved in their last game was secondary ahead of their final game before the playoffs.

The Crews’ 4-0 win over New England Revolution before the international break was their 18th of the season, while also setting a new best of 69 goals scored in regular-season play.

Nancy’s side are guaranteed second in the Eastern Conference and will play this weekend’s opponents, New York Red Bulls, in the first round of the playoffs.

The Crew head coach lauded his players for their contribution to the season, saying: “Listen, this is not easy, but this is the challenge. The challenge is, yes, we have few players who played a lot, it's normal, but everybody knows their role, I would say.

“The idea is also to be honest with the players. After that, in terms of results, I don't know, but the performance for me is really important. I'm really happy when I can see any kind of player that I can put in and they bring something. For me, this is the key point.

“[Saturday], this is not about New England, this is not about the opposition - this is about the fans. This is about the people who try to fight to keep the club. I'm really pleased for that.”

NYRB, meanwhile, come into the encounter on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Atlanta United, but have already guaranteed their spot in the postseason.

Despite the loss, head coach Sandro Schwarz was pleased with his side’s display, but acknowledged they must be more clinical in the final third.

"We had the penalty situation then, and we scored two times," Schwarz said. "But for me, the behaviour after that was good, the behaviour that we are fighting together, that we have the energy, but we need this energy at the beginning, directly in the game."

And Red Bulls defender Sean Nealis is relishing the opportunity of facing Columbus, believing a win will give the group positive momentum moving forward.

"That's what you want as a player, as a competitor, you want to go up against the best," Nealis said. "And they're defending champs. They had a great year last year. They had some great games this year, earlier in the year, they beat us, so we want to kind of avenge that.

“And I think if we end up playing them, we're looking forward to that. They're a great team but we're confident in ourselves, and we'll be ready for the challenge when the time comes."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

NYRB – Lewis Morgan

Morgan enters the final match of the season with 18 goal contributions in 2024 (13 goals, five assists).

No Red Bulls player has tallied 20 goal contributions in a single regular season since Bradley Wright-Phillips (28) and Kaku (20) did so in 2018.

Columbus Crew – Alexandru Matan

Matan scored his first hat-trick with Columbus on Saturday, the second Crew player with a hat-trick this season after Cucho Hernandez.

This is the second time in team history that two Crew players have scored a hat-trick in a single season (Edson Buddle and Ross Paule in 2004).

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

While the Crew are favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, The Red Bulls have lost only four of their last 27 home matches against Columbus in all competitions (W17 D6) dating back to September 2003.

NYRB have scored at least once in 26 of those 27 matches, including in 21 straight, last failing to score at home against the Crew in 2006, while they have also lost only eight times all season, with only four teams having fewer defeats in 2024.

However, Schwarz’s side face a tough task stopping the Crew. Columbus’ win over New England on Saturday was the team’s seventh game with at least four goals this season. Only three teams in MLS history have scored at least four goals in more matches in a single season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

NYRB – 26.3%

Draw – 23.6%

Columbus Crew – 50.1%

Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen is relishing his side’s must-win game against Orlando City this weekend and is confident his team can reach the playoffs.

The Five Stripes go into the final day in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, level on points with Philadelphia Union, and three points behind the cut-off line.

While needing favourable outcomes from the matches involving CF Montreal and D.C. United, Gregersen said the focus must remain on their own performance, while also trying to maintain momentum from their win over the New York Red Bulls last time out.

“I think it's a little bit sad that we had the break because we were so good into this match, but of course, we have to look back at it and keep up,” said Gregersen. “Continue with the confidence we had after this game and continue this weekend, in the training.”

“Every match has its pressure, but this one will be a little bit more special. But we need to focus on ourselves because we know that we have to win.

“After that, we will see what happens with the other teams. I don’t want to know what happens in the other games because we have to win. We can’t control what they are doing. We have to focus on ourselves and then we will see.”

Orlando, meanwhile, have already confirmed their place in the postseason, but are arguably the most in-form team heading into the playoffs.

The Lions’ last fixture before the international break saw them sweep aside FC Cincinnati away from home, earning their sixth win from their last seven MLS games (L1). During that run, they have also scored 19 goals.

Orlando head coach Oscar Pareja understands what is at stake for Atlanta this weekend but highlighted the importance of his team scoring the first goal to control the pace of the game.

“We have found net. We have found answers from our forwards. The offensive side of the team has improved tremendously. I think the compromise that they have had with our defensive phase has brought that product,” Pareja said.  

“It doesn't make sense, but that they are scoring goals because they are defending better, and we are much, much better team when we have this commitment that the boys had up front and we're happy to do it. It's the same as we ask the defenders.

“And I said, you have to be proactive to play with the ball, and you have to have personality to play with the ball because that's the best way to defend, just being offensive. So, I'm very proud of the guys. The guys are doing a good job.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Orlando City – Facundo Torres

Torres has recorded 19 goal contributions this season (14 goals, five assists) tied for the second-most in a single season in Orlando's MLS history.

The only player with a season with 20 or more goal contributions for the Lions was Nani, who recorded 22 goal contributions in the 2019 campaign.

Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze 

Lobjanidze enters the final match of the season as Atlanta’s leading scorer with eight goals.

The Five Stripes have had at least one 10-goal scorer in each of the team’s first six full MLS seasons (excluding shortened 2020 season) with at least one player scoring 12 times in each season.

MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN

The last 10 meetings between Orlando and Atlanta have been split, with each side winning three times and drawing four. Neither team has won two consecutive times over those meetings with Atlanta recording a 2-0 home win in the last matchup on March 17.

However, the Lions have won 10 of their last 13 regular-season matches (D1 L2), including the last three in a row. No team has collected more points than Orlando’s 31 since the beginning of July.

Atlanta have 37 points entering the final match of the season. The fewest points the Five Stripes have totalled over a full MLS season (excluding shortened 2020 season) is 40 in 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 57.9%

Draw –21.9%

Atlanta United – 20.2%

Precisely 20 years ago, the player many consider to be the greatest of all time made his senior debut.

At the age of 17, Lionel Messi made his first appearance in LaLiga on October 16, 2004, replacing goalscorer Deco from the bench in Barcelona's 1-0 win at Espanyol. He was, at the time, the club's youngest player to feature in an official game.

The rest, as they say, is history – 846 goals, eight Ballons d'Or and 43 senior team honours later, Messi has certainly cemented his place among the all-time greats.

On the 20th anniversary of his first professional outing, we celebrate the Argentine maestro by delving into the best facts and figures of his glittering career.

From prodigy to club legend

Messi's crowning achievement may have come on the international stage, but it was at Barcelona where he became a great, after joining their famed academy aged 13.

By the time of his 2021 departure, Messi had cemented himself as Barca's all-time leader for appearances (766) and starts (687) in all competitions, scoring an incredible 664 goals for the Blaugrana – comfortably ahead of Cesar Rodriguez's 232, previously recognised as the club record.

Messi averaged a goal every 94 minutes during his 17-year stint in the club's senior team, while his 260 assists were some 123 more than Xavi (137), who boasts the second-best figure since Opta records began.

All in all, Messi directly contributed to a staggering 924 goals while at Barca. The next-best figure by a single player in that time belongs to Luis Suarez, who managed 295 (198 goals, 97 assists).

The Argentine lifted 35 trophies – including LaLiga 10 times and the Champions League on four occasions – during his time at Camp Nou, also a record tally for any Barca player.

No love in Paris

When financial troubles left Barca unable to renew Messi's contract ahead of the 2021-22 season, he bid a tearful farewell to his adopted home and joined French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi did contribute to two Ligue 1 title wins in as many seasons with the club, yet his time in Paris was not altogether happy, with early Champions League exits at the hands of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich giving way to fan protests.

Messi did win his seventh Ballon d'Or during his debut campaign in France, though, partly as a result of Argentina's 2021 Copa America triumph.

His 26 league appearances in 2021-22 were his fewest in any league campaign since 2006-07, when he was still a teenager, and he was limited to just six goals and nine assists in the French top flight.

Sixteen goals and as many assists followed in 2022-23, and through his two years in Ligue 1, only Kylian Mbappe (79) and Wissam Ben Yedder (55) bettered his overall tally of 55 goal involvements in the competition.

To the Sunshine State

A fractious relationship with PSG's fans and a lack of continental success made Messi's stay in France unhappy, and in 2023 he went Stateside, joining David Beckham-owned MLS franchise Inter Miami.

Success was immediate as Messi fired the Herons to Leagues Cup glory in August 2023. By the end of that particular campaign, Messi's 10 goals in seven matches put him third in Inter Miami's all-time goalscoring charts without even appearing in a league game.

The 2024 Supporters' Shield followed last month, and Messi is the hot favourite to be named MLS MVP after a brilliant individual campaign, the highlights of which include a 10-match run with a goal involvement to start the season and five assists in May's 6-2 rout of the New York Red Bulls, a game in which he also scored.

No player had previously had six goal involvements in an MLS game, or teed up five goals for team-mates in a single match, nor had Messi previously achieved either feat for club and country.

Only Luciano Acosta (30), Evander (29), Cucho Hernandez, Denis Bouanga and Christian Benteke (all 28) have bettered his 27 direct goal involvements in regular-season play this year. The most impressive part? Messi has only started 15 games. 

International glory

It now seems unthinkable to imagine Messi being maligned by Argentina fans, but that was the case for the majority of his career as he struggled to live up to Diego Maradona's achievements in the Albiceleste shirt.

However, back-to-back Copa America successes in 2021 and 2024, coming either side of a remarkable run to World Cup glory in 2022, have altered that perception for good.

Messi was named Player of the Tournament and scooped the Golden Boot as Argentina ended their 18-year wait for silverware at the 2021 Copa, but it was Qatar 2022 that saw him really cement his legacy.

Only Poland – in Argentina's third group game – prevented Messi from scoring as he ended the tournament with seven goals and three assists, including two strikes and a successful spot-kick in the shoot-out win over France in the final.

Only Gerd Muller (10 goals, three assists in 1970), Just Fontaine (13 goals in 1958) and Sandor Kocsis (11 goals in 1954) have ever bettered that figure at a single World Cup.

His 21 overall goal contributions at the World Cup are the most in tournament history, while he is the only player to win the Golden Ball award at two separate editions – doing so in 2014 and 2022.

This year's Copa America gave Messi a chance to further underline his international legacy, and though he was withdrawn due to injury in the final, Argentina got the job done against Colombia. 

Messi opted against calling it quits there, though, and Tuesday's hat-trick against Bolivia saw him equal Cristiano Ronaldo's record for the most trebles in international football, with 10. 

His tally of 112 Argentina goals puts him some way adrift of Ronaldo's tally of 133 for Portugal, though his recent run of international trophies more than makes up for it. 

Ilie Sanchez's stoppage-time goal secured Los Angeles FC a 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS on Sunday.

Sergi Palencia's own goal had cancelled out Mateusz Bogusz's early opener at BC Place, but LAFC found their winner last on to close the gap to leaders LA Galaxy to just three points in the Western Conference.

David Martinez cut Vancouver's defence open with a throughball to Bogusz, who dinked a lovely finish over Yohei Takaoka from a tight angle on the left just 34 seconds into the match.

Bogusz then thought he had doubled their advantage after springing on a brilliant save from Takaoka to deny Palencia, but it was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

The Spaniard handed the Whitecaps their equaliser – he gave away a free-kick on the left and got the final contact on Sebastian Berhalter's free-kick to help it past Hugo Lloris.

Having weathered the storm from Vancouver after the equaliser, including a clearance off the line by Timothy Tillman, LAFC found a late winner, with Sanchez firing in from the edge of the box.

And Brian White, who had glanced a header narrowly wide earlier in the second half, squandered the chance for an even later equaliser, flicking another effort off the far post in the dying seconds.

Data Debrief: Quick out of the blocks

Despite their winning goal coming late in the game, it was actually LAFC's quick start that set them up for the win - Bogusz's goal was their fastest in MLS this season, and their second fastest in history.

They have also scored nine goals in the opening 15 minutes of games, with only St. Louis City (12) and New York City FC (11) netting more.

Meanwhile, Vancouver have now lost each of their last three matches, their longest such streak since October 2022-March 2023.

The Columbus Crew ended their home regular-season campaign on a high note by thrashing the New England Revolution 4-0.

Reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus had already sealed their playoff spot and a regular-season club-record tally of points prior to Saturday's fixture at Lower.com Field.

Yet Wilfried Nancy's team did not let up as Alexandru Matan's hat-trick propelled them to an emphatic victory over a New England side that must lick their wounds after a dismal season.

DeJuan Jones got the ball rolling with a sublime curler in the fourth minute, with Matan subsequently taking centre-stage.

The Romanian drilled home a low finish in the 14th minute, before doubling his tally from close range in the 64th.

Matan should have scored a third when he was put through one-on-one with Aljaz Ivacic, only to fire straight at the goalkeeper, but the hat-trick strike did arrive when he capitalised on a similar chance soon after.

While New England's only target in their final game of the season is to try and move above Nashville SC at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Crew will aim to keep up the momentum heading into the postseason when they visit the New York Red Bulls.

Data Debrief: Free-scoring Crew in fine form

The Crew have now won four of their last seven MLS games, and have scored in each of their last six, netting 17 times in total (an average of 2.8 per game).

They have also kept it tight at the back this season, with Saturday's clean sheet marking their 12th shutout of the campaign, a tally bettered only by the Seattle Sounders (13).

New England, meanwhile, have failed to score in 10 of their 33 games in 2024. Only Nashville (11) have failed to score more often in the MLS this season.