MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are still waiting for their first win in their new home.
Germán Berterame scored off a rebound in the 76th minute and Inter Miami finished in a 1-1 tie with the New England Revolution on Saturday night, keeping the defending MLS Cup champions winless in three matches at their new Miami stadium.
The Herons are 0-0-3 in the new building — compared with 5-1-1 in MLS road matches this season. Inter Miami is now unbeaten (5-0-4) in its last nine MLS matches following a season-opening loss at LAFC, and unbeaten in its last 11 matches (5-0-6) across all competitions.
Former MLS MVP Carles Gil scored in the 56th minute for New England, which had lost each of its last four meetings with Inter Miami.
Gil's goal started when Will Sands’ long throw-in into the box was settled by Dor Turgeman — who basically just left the ball where the charging Gil could get it. Gil chipped the ball past Inter Miami goalie Dayne St. Clair, opening the scoring.
That goal came just a couple minutes after Inter Miami thought it had struck first, but Tadeo Allende's right-footed blast was waved off by an offside call.
About 20 minutes later, Inter Miami knotted the match. Luis Suárez spun around and tried a shot from near the goal mouth, the low roller getting saved by New England goalkeeper Matt Turner. The ball deflected off Turner's hand and went right to Berterame, who scored with ease to make it 1-1.
Until then, it looked like the Revolution would get their first win in the series since June 10, 2023 — a couple days after Messi stunned many in the soccer world by saying he was coming to MLS and joining Inter Miami. Messi didn't begin actual play for Inter Miami for several more weeks.
Inter Miami had outscored New England 16-5 in the four matches since that 2023 contest, winning all four handily.
Messi had a few good chances, including in the 38th minute when he — with two defenders at his back — ran down a ball that had been flicked into the box.
Messi seemed to stumble the tiniest bit while pushing the ball to his left foot. He sent a weak shot wide, looking skyward and smiling in disbelief after the play.
He tried swinging a corner kick into the net midway through the first half and had a decent chance again from about 12 yards during first half stoppage time. Both of those shots were easily corralled by Turner, and the teams went to the break tied 0-0.
Inter Miami has five matches left before MLS' seven-week stoppage for the FIFA World Cup begins. None of those five looming opponents — Orlando, Toronto, Cincinnati, Portland and Philadelphia — have a winning record at this point.
Toronto (3-3-4) is at .500 while none of the other four clubs opened play Saturday better than 12th in their conference standings.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) attacks with the ball in the second half of an MLS soccer match against the New York Red Bulls, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi attempts a free kick in the second half of an MLS soccer match against the New York Red Bulls, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley articulated their goal weeks ago: They wanted to rebuild the franchise around toughness and physicality.
They walked away from their first draft in Miami with the players they wanted.
“I would say it was collaborative, cohesive,” Sullivan said. “I felt like we executed. I felt like we helped the Miami Dolphins. I speak for both of us when we talk about the excitement of the players we drafted and the culture we're trying to build.”
The Dolphins had 13 picks, and they used the first two on Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (12th overall) and San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson (27th) — players who fit the mold of toughness and are expected to be tone-setters.
Proctor was the biggest offensive lineman in the draft at 6-foot-7, 352 pounds. He will be tasked with protecting new quarterback Malik Willis and making things easier in the run game for De'Von Achane. Johnson, known for his physicality and versatility, will have a chance to start right away because of the holes in Miami's secondary.
“I believe this is a physical game,” Hafley said, “and you need tough guys to play this game and guys who want to be physical. If you look at this (draft) list and watch how hard these guys play, I think it’s impressive.”
The Dolphins needed offensive line help, but given Sullivan's stated approach of taking the best player available, it was somewhat surprising when they used their first pick on Proctor when projected difference-makers like Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs were available.
Sullivan said the Dolphins targeted Proctor specifically. They had no desire to deviate from their plan, regardless of how the draft board unfolded.
“His height, weight, speed, production, the things that he can do on the football field for a man his size, he’s an outlier,” Sullivan said. “There’s not many like him. That’s no shot at Caleb Downs, a phenomenal, phenomenal football player, and he’ll have a great career ... but we had a lot of conviction on Proctor being a very unique player in this draft and one that we can build around for years. We invested in Malik, and it was important for us to protect him.”
Proctor has a “1972” tattoo on the knuckles of his right hand, honoring the year his stepfather was born.
That also happens to be the year that the Dolphins completed the NFL's only perfect season en route to their first Super Bowl win.
“I suppose it was meant to be,” Proctor said at his introductory news conference.
Miami drafted linebacker Jacob Rodriguez out of Texas Tech to possibly follow in the footsteps of Red Raiders alum and Dolphins Hall of Famer Zach Thomas. Miami also selected Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas in the third round and took linebacker Trey Moore, safety Michael Taaffe and guard DJ Campbell out of Texas.
That's five players from Texas schools.
At least one Dolphins veteran was thrilled about the Texas ties. Former Red Raider Jordyn Brooks was so excited the team drafted Rodriguez and Douglas that the veteran linebacker came to the Dolphins' practice facility shortly after the picks were made on Friday night.
“It was cool to have him in the draft room,” Sullivan said. “He was gassed up, and he got us fired up.”
After releasing veteran Tyreek Hill and trading away star Jaylen Waddle, Miami drafted three receivers, including Douglas and Louisville's Chris Bell.
Both fit what Miami was looking for in size. Douglas — 6-4, 205 pounds — was praised for his length. Bell — 6-2, 220 pounds — is strong and explosive.
The Dolphins used a third-round pick on Bell, who Sullivan estimated would not have fallen that far if he wasn't recovering from an ACL injury suffered in November.
Sullivan said the Dolphins expect Bell to be available to play at some point next season, but the draft pick was about a “long-term investment” in the type of player Bell can become. He was Louisville's leading receiver and had nine receptions, 136 yards and two TDs when the Cardinals played the Hurricanes at the Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium in October.
“Just seeing me drop down the board, it hurt,” said Bell, who had ACL surgery four months ago. “But I know I pla“ better with a chip on my shoulder, so God did that for a reason.”
Sullivan has said he plans to bring as much competition as possible into the quarterback room, including potentially drafting a quarterback every year.
Nonetheless, the Dolphins decided against using one of their picks on a QB. Sullivan said he still plans to bring in competition, but he was comfortable enough with Willis, Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller to use those picks on other positions.
“It came up a couple times throughout the course of the weekend,” Sullivan said. “We just felt like the better option was the other pick. Just a chance for a guy to get on the field and help us this year with where we are as a roster. Certainly not backing off what I said initially. We will take a quarterback every, or every other year when we have the opportunity. ... We like our room. We're in good shape.”
Miami also selected Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (third round), Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis (fourth), Missouri wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. (fifth), Mississippi State tight end Seydou Traore (fifth) and Iowa edge rusher Max Llewellyn (seventh).
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Miami Dolphins first-round draft pick Chris Johnson holds a jersey during an NFL football news conference, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Miami Dolphins with the 12th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Miami Dolphins first-round draft pick Chris Johnson listens to questions from media during an NFL football news conference, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
Jon-Eric Sullivan, Miami Dolphins General Manager, speaks following the first round of the NFL draft Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Kadyn Proctor, the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft, shows his 1972 tattoo in honor of his stepfather while being introduced to local media during a press conference, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
