Inter Miami CF gave Sergio Busquets a heartfelt send-off after their 4-1 home win over the New England Revolution on Saturday. The club honored the legendary Spanish midfielder, who announced that the 2025 MLS season will be his last, with a video tribute on the Chase Stadium scoreboard featuring messages from Pep Guardiola, Xavi Hernández, and Lionel Messi, his longtime Barcelona teammates. Busquets, part of Miami’s celebrated “Core Four” alongside Messi, Luis Suárez, and Jordi Alba, delivered an emotional speech surrounded by his family and teammates. “I have no words. A part of me, of my heart, will always be here with you,” Busquets told the crowd.

Chicago Fire FC confirmed Thursday that midfielder André Franco will miss the rest of the 2025 MLS season with a torn ACL. The 25-year-old was injured during Chicago’s 5-3 win at Inter Miami CF midweek — a result that clinched the Fire’s first playoff berth since 2017. Franco, on loan from FC Porto, made an immediate impact with four assists in six games since joining in the summer window. With two regular-season matches left, Chicago sit eighth in the East with 51 points (15W-11L-6D) in their first season under head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter.

Many doubted the Portland Timbers before the 2025 season. MLS pundits Bradley Wright-Phillips (11th) and Sacha Kljestan (12th) predicted they’d miss the playoffs, while Kaylyn Kyle had them just sneaking in at eighth. Now, with Portland close to clinching a second straight postseason berth under head coach Phil Neville, the Englishman is having the last laugh. “I’ve got a post ready for when we make the playoffs: ‘Apple TV, change your bloody pundits because they are useless,’” Neville joked on This is MLS. “I get it, guys. I forgive you.” ‘Play the game, not the occasion’ Reflecting on his 15 years at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, Neville said his philosophy focuses on character over tactics. “We didn’t do tactics. We just trained character,” Neville explained. “Coaches hide behind tactics nowadays… but the personality and character of the player is what gets you over the line.” The Timbers visit the Seattle Sounders FC  on Saturday in a crucial Cascadia Cup clash (10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). A win could seal their playoff spot as they look to avenge last season’s 5-0 Wild Card loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Neville believes success now depends on resilience: “The best players in MLS right now are the ones competing. The best teams are the ones that can compete… that’s the key for us going into the playoffs.”