Former Lionel Messi teammate officially seals MLS return to compete against Inter Miami

A former Inter Miami teammate of Lionel Messi has officially returned to MLS — this time as a rival. Matias Rojas, the Paraguayan midfielder, was announced by the Portland Timbers after transferring from River Plate in Argentina.

Rojas had a brief stint with Inter Miami, making just 14 appearances and scoring four goals. His most notable moment came with a brace in a 6-2 win over the New York Red Bulls, and he was also part of the squad that won the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, first Messi’s trophy with the Herons.

The Timbers shared a video on social media showing Rojas signing a contract, and Portland General Manager Ned Grabavoy expressed excitement about the addition.

“We are pleased with the addition of Matías Rojas to our roster at this stage of the season. He provides us with another quality option, and his level of experience both outside and within MLS speaks for itself,” Grabavoy said.

“We believe Matias can raise the overall level of the team, and he has shown the ability to provide special moments. These attributes will be leaned on as we strive to finish the season as strong as possible,” he added.

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Portland coach excited about Rojas addition

Inside the Portland Timbers organization, there’s a lot of excitement about Rojas joining the squad, especially from head coach Phill Neville. Neville noted that the team has been monitoring the Paraguayan over the past 12 months and expects him to raise the team’s overall standard.

“Matias is a player we’ve been watching closely over the last 12 months and are thrilled to welcome into the team. The amount of experience he brings from some of the world’s top clubs and competitions is invaluable,” Neville said. “Technically and tactically, he’s a top-quality player with excellent ability on the ball. We expect him to raise the standard and be a massive addition to our playoff push”.

Rojas has previously played for Cerro Porteño (Paraguay), Lanus, Defensa y Justicia, Racing Club, River Plate (all from Argentina), and Inter Miami. Across his career, he has made over 200 appearances, tallying 47 goals and 22 assists. Internationally, Rojas has earned 21 caps for Paraguay, recording one goal and two assists.