Will We EVER See Another Lionel Messi? + Top 5 Messi Moments

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a LIVE episode of State of the Union! We begin the show with a guest appearance from FOX Sports soccer writer, Doug McIntyre, to break down the upcoming international window and what we should expect from Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT. Alexi, Doug, and Mosse discuss what young phenoms we could potentially see get a roster call up and all the latest with dual-national Noahkai Banks. After, Alexi and Mosse discuss the biggest matches from around Europe including a Juventus-AC Milan battle that saw neither Weston McKennie nor Christian Pulisic take the field. Elsewhere in Europe, Gio Reyna and Ricardo Pepi found the net for Strasbourg and PSV respectfully while Arsenal and Chelsea met in a massive early season Premier League battle. Alexi and Mosse preview the returning Champions League and highlight some of the biggest matches coming in matchday 1. In MLS, Cavan Sullivan scored again, prompting a question in #AskAlexi about whether Sullivan really is that good or if he success is due to playing in MLS. To wrap the show up in One for the Road, Alexi and Mosse discuss a time keeping disasterclass from the world of college football. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro2:36 - Doug McIntyre joins the show after speaking with Mauricio Pochettino11:47 - Has the tenor changed on Noahkai Banks?20:30 - What is the future of the goalkeeping position for the USMNT?22:52 - U.S Abroad: McKennie, Pulisic STILL out27:30 - Ricardo Pepi scores… can he catch Folarin U.S. Abroad: Balogun this window?33:06 - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS BACK35:00 - #AskAlexi: Is Poch right? Too much pressure of Cavan Sullivan?48:29 - One For The Road: Mosse addresses stoppage time in Michigan michigas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To kick off this jam-packed episode, Alexi Lalas is joined by Philadelphia Union and American wunderkind Cavan Sullivan. The duo dive into the Union’s insane run, his recent rescinded red card, the bleach blond hairstyle, playing with his brothers growing up, his relationship with Manchester City, Clint Dempsey, Messi and so much more.Alexi and David Mosse then recap a wild transfer market for Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest. Who was at fault for the collapsed Everton deal and did Dest make a mistake turning down a move to Fulham?In #AskAlexi, the guys give Nashville their due before celebrating MLS’s return to the U.S. Open Cup.To wrap the show, the guys debate if EPL coverage is too English in America. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro2:22 - Cavan Sullivan on his hairstyle13:34 - Cavan Sullivan on USMNT at 2026 FIFA World Cup15:43 - Cavan Sullivan on relationship with Manchester City17:29 - Cavan Sullivan on Messi, Dempsey & more28:02 - Flo Balogun’s WILD transfer deadline day34:56 - Sergiño Dest’s mistake?42:04 - U.S. Abroad: Worried about Jedi Robinson or Chris Richards? Pulsic & Musah vs McKennie.47:05 - #AskAlexi: Nashville on FIRE & US. Open Cup return55:58 - One For the Road: Soccer coverage Too English? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The GOAT has hung up his international boots. Alexi Lalas and David Mosse dive into the greatest international career in history as Lionel Messi calls it quits for Argentina. The duo poses the questions: Will we ever see another Messi & without Ronaldo… would we have seen Messi reach these heights? Alexi also power ranks Messi’s all-time moments on the world’s biggest stage.  Elsewhere in MLS, Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre keep scoring, Chucky Lozano got on the scoresheet in the loss to San Diego and should we be talking up Brian Schwake more for the national team?  In U.S. Abroad, Yunus Musah and Sergiño Dest continued their comeback tours, while Jurgen Klopp looks to poach NNoahkai Banks. Do we like Everton as a landing spot for Folarin Balogun?  CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro3:44 - Will we ever see another Messi?11:24 - Power Ranking Messi’s Moments17:02 - Cavan Sullivan continues to star20:20 - Should Brian Schwake get a callup from Mauricio Pochettino?26:31 - Panic Button on Chris Richards?29:43 - Folarin Balogun to Everton39:02 - Musah and Dest comeback tours44:39 - #AskAlexi: How does the U.S. produce a Rodri?49:55 - One For The Road: U.S. Soccer nears takeover of U.S. Youth Soccer63:17 - Every Messi FIFA World Cup Goal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are joined by the legendary Rebecca Lowe to go behind the curtain on the 2026 FIFA World Cup studio production alongside Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović! Rebecca breaks down her favorite memories from this summer, the English perspective on American players, managers and owners in the EPL and what it was like to act on the set ofTed Lasso. Then, Alexi and Mosse preview a packed U.S. weekend abroad—featuring Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Noahkai Banks—and ask the big question: Who is truly the face of the USMNT right now?Finally, in #AskAlexi, the guys analyze Chris Richards at Crystal Palace and wrap up with a review of the IndyCar Freedom 250 in D.C. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro3:24 - Rebecca Lowe joins the show & hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup14:11 - Rebecca Lowe on Arsenal repeat title bid18:29 - Rebecca Lowe on Americans in EPL + growth of game in USA33:11 - U.S. Abroad: Malik Tillman the new face of USMNT?42:10 - U.S. Abroad: Is Yunus Musah BACK?52:38 - MLS should get more credit for player development56:50 - #AskAlexi: Breaking Down Chris Richards’ start to EPL season65:00 - One For The Road: Freedom 250 recap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stu Holden and David Mosse dive into all things red, white and blue soccer. Up first, Stu gives his take on Mauricio Pochettino staying through the 2030 World Cup. What is up next for the leadership of U.S. Soccer? The duo then dives into a packed weekend of Americans abroad. Will Folarin Balogun make the jump to EPL or LaLiga? Elsewhere, Gianluca Busio and Tim Weah captained their sides while Yunus Musah made his long awaited return to the starting XI at AC Milan. In #AskAlexi, Mosse and Stu dive into the wunderkind, Cavan Sullivan. Is he the next Christian Pulisic? To wrap the show, the guys recap the MLS weekend where Josh Sargent and Co. topped Messi and Miami + MLS looking into expanding the playoffs. Is B.J. Callaghan a USA coaching candidate of the future? CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro3:50 - What is next for Mauricio Pochettino this cycle?15:01 - Flo Balogun and Barcelona18:44 - Captain Tim Weah & leadership missing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup23:46 - Yunus Musah BACK?28:08 - Who is the face of this USMNT?31:00 - Pepi and Dest score, too good for PSV?33:07 - USA in EPL: Chris Richards and Tyler Adams adapt to new roles52:23 - #AskAlexi: Cavan Sullivan the next Christian Pulisic? 65:00 - One For The Road: MLS Playoff expansion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! Today, Alexi and Mosse deep dive on all the Americans playing in Europe and give their predictions for the major leagues. Will Pulisic bounce back with Milan, what does McKennie have in store for an encore, how will Zavier Gozo fit in at Crystal Palace, will Flo Balogun bag 20+ goals and much more. After breaking down each league, Alexi gives his predictions for the USMNT MVP in Europe, the “now or never” USA player, and a darkhorse candidate for USA players currently in Europe that will definitely surprise you. We then touch on MLS, including Breel Embolo’s move to Atlanta United falling through and trying to figure out the best path forward with Cavan Sullivan and the national team. In #AskAlexi, we discuss what things soccer could take from American football style broadcasts and what potential rule changes we’d like to see implemented in MLS and in One for the Road, Alexi breaks down some of the key differences between football and futbol. CHAPTERS: (0:00): Intro(2:28): EPL Preview: Haji Wright out for multiple weeks(17:41): Serie A Preview: Pulisic back, can Weston continue his form?(22:18): La Liga Preview: Johnny Cardoso stuck on the bench for Atleti(27:56): Ligue 1 Preview: Can Folarin Balogun reach 20 goals?(37:00): Rapid fire predictions for USMNT players in Europe(30:10): Folarin Balogun to Barcelona? (50:05): #AskAlexi: The Americanization of soccer(56:24): One for the Road: Football vs Futbol Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! Today, we start the show with some burning questions about USMNT players in Europe: Will Pulisic regain his form at Milan, when we will next see a GK starting in the top 5 leagues, what CB can make a name for himself and more. After, we get into Arsenal dominating Manchester City in the Community Shield and what that means, if anything, for both teams going forward. We then get into the Leagues Cup quarterfinals bracket before touching on some MLS action that saw USA youngsters Adri Mehmeti and Cavan Sullivan keep making noise. In #AskAlexi, Mosse and Alexi answer questions about when Pochettino should be calling up our youth talent to the senior squad and what the 2028 Olympics roster could look like. In One for the Road, Alexi discusses his on-air persona vs his real life persona and we end the show with Alexi giving Mosse a big surprise. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro2:56 - Burning U.S. Soccer Questions heading into the European Season7:57 - Christian Pulisic bounce-back at AC Milan?11:15 - CB depth an issue?13:33 - Where are the goalkeepers in Europe?15:56 - Middlesborough USMNT trio to EPL?19:15 - Arsenal trounce Manchester City in Community Shield27:39 - MLS Recap: Messi and Miami routed & more39:20 - #AskAlexi: USA Youth Movement problem for Pochettino, Olympics vs Copa America49:52 - One For The Road: Does Alexi believe everything he says? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! Alexi starts the pod interviewing the producer of the new Mourinho documentary on Netflix, John Battsek. John breaks down the experience of working with Mourinho and lets Alexi in on his process of collaborating with one of the most mercurial men in world soccer. Who was the real leak at Real Madrid? After the interview, Alexi and Mosse do a Stock Up, Stock Down segment for US players in Europe. Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman and Tyler Adams are looking up, while Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna have some work to do. In #AskAlexi, the guys discuss what it would be like if Concacaf and CONMEBOL were to merge and what effect that would have on the American game. In One for the Road, Alexi breaks down the differences between U.S. soccer culture and South American soccer culture. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro4:15 - Recruiting José Mourinho14:46- José Mourinho at Real Madrid28:57 - U.S. Stock Watch: Malik Tillman Up, Gio Reyna Down & More47:57 - #Ask Alexi: Concacaf & CONMEBOL Merger & importance of U.S. vs Mexico57:59 - One For The Road: Burning cars, hooligans, and U.S. Soccer Culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexis Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! Today, we begin the show reacting to Mexico defeating the USA 2-0 in the CONCACAF U-20 championship. Alexi and Mosse discuss the loss and what it says about the state of the USA’s youth teams before getting into some young talent that was NOT at this tournament that we could see make an impact going forward. Alexi and Mosse highlight players such as Cavan Sullivan, Zavier Gozo and Noahkai Banks as ones to watch for the future. Next, we recap all the action from around the Leagues Cup that saw Inter Miami fall on an emotional day, LAFC win at the death, and Club América turn Portland into their home stadium. In #AskAlexi, we discuss what promotion and relegation could look like in MLS and in One for the Road, Alexi highlights the most interesting storylines and players across Europe this upcoming season. 0:00 - Intro2:15 - Mexico tops USA for another CONCACAF title4:12 - Does MLS have a duty to U.S. Youth Soccer?9:36 - Should Mauricio Pochettino pulled a Jesse Marsch and coached the U.S. Youth National Team?12:45 - The Future USMNT stars: Zavier Gozo, Cavan Sullivan and more20:46 - Leagues Cup: Rodrigo De Paul tips cap to Messi, MLS continues success over LIGA MX31:02 - #AskAlexi: Pro/Rel and MLS + Vini Jr stays at Real Madrid44:05 - One For the Road: European soccer storyline that we are most excited about Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse are back with a new episode of State of the Union! Today, we give our final thoughts about Mauricio Pochettino re-signing with the USMNT and what we want to see change with him at the helm for the next World Cup cycle. Alexi and Mosse go position by position of the USMNT’s roster and discuss who we could see playing in the next international break. We then discuss MLS naming Larry Berg their new commissioner, set to start in 2027. Alexi lays out the three biggest things he wants to see accomplished in MLS under Berg’s leadership. We then recap all the Leagues Cup action between MLS and Liga MX before getting to #AskAlexi where Alexi and Mosse discuss Chucky Lozano potentially joining the LA Galaxy and debating how USMNT players can make the leap to world class. We finish with One for the Road where Alexi discusses Don Garber’s legacy as MLS commissioner. 0:00: Intro2:36: Final thoughts about Mauricio Pochettino re-signing with USMNT4:53: USMNT roster thoughts and breakdown16:32: Next batch of young USMNT stars23:13: USMNT's upcoming schedule27:03: MLS names next commissioner36:55: Leagues Cup recap41:08: #AskAlexi: Chucky Lozano to the Galaxy?51:53: One for the Road: Don Garber's legacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices