Lionel Messi's first-half goal was to score against the 34th team, surpassing the mark he shared with Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul.HighlightsBarcelona reached round 16 as a winner in Group FMessi scored and set up goals for Suarez and GriezmannBarcelona top the standings with 11 points in five games Lionel Messi scored in his 700th match for Barcelona and set up goals for Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann as the Catalans beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 on Wednesday to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stages as a winner of the group F.Messi organized Barcelona's lead in the entire Camp Nou in the 29th minute before Uruguay restored courtesy to Argentina to set another Champions League record on his landmark night four minutes later.Messi's left foot strike he scored against the 34th different team in the Champions League, beating the mark he shared with Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul."Messi is moving very well between the lines and when he receives the ball he is almost unstoppable," said Dortmund coach Lucien Favre, whose side scored late through substitute Jadon Sancho."Sometimes, all you can do is try to fool him because he is very explosive. He's also deadly every time he makes a final ball."Substitute Griezmann finished with a pass from Messi separating his defense to extend Barcelona's advantage in the 67th minute, a goal desperately needed for Frenchman's confidence after not scoring in the previous six games of the club.Griezmann was left out of the starting line-up but reached in the middle of the first half when Ousmane Dembele, was forced to sign off due to a muscle problem.Dortmund England's striker also started the game on the bench, but he had an impact when he appeared after the first half, firing a painful blow to the Germans in the 77th minute after throwing a loose ball inside the area.The 19-year-old has forced Barcelona goalkeeper Mark Andre Ter Stegen to turn a powerful shot on to the crossbar in a strong finish from the German side, whose coach Favre is under pressure because of poor national results.But he did not spoil what was a therapeutic victory for Barcelona, which has been harshly criticized for its recent weak performance against Leganes, Levante and Slavia Prague, despite the fact that they are the best in the La Liga and the Champions League group.Ernesto Valverde tops the standings with 11 points in five games, Inter Milan are second on seven, Dortmund is third same on seven and Slavia bottom with two.
Lionel Messi claims recordPARIS: Lionel Messi won the sixth Ballon d'Or award for men on Monday, beating the top four candidates in Liverpool to win the prestigious individual football award.The Argentine, who won the league title with Barcelona but finished third in the Copa America with his country, added to his 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 trophies.He beat Virgil van Dijk, runner-up, and third place Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, who won the award five times."Ten years ago I received the first Ballon d'Or under the guidance of my three brothers," Messi told the audience. "Today I'm receiving my sixth, guided by my wife and children."Sadio Mane of Senegal, who along with Van Dijk and his fellow candidates Alisson Becker of Brazil and Mohamed Salah of Egypt helped Liverpool win the Champions League, finished fourth in the international journalists' survey.Van Dijk said: “It was amazing.” There are a couple of players like Messi. I am proud of what I have achieved with Liverpool and the Netherlands. It will be difficult (to win the prize) when these players are close. "Messi, who was again rewarded with excellent professional reward, and Ronaldo, among them, won 10 consecutive Ballon d'Or awards until Croatia's Luka Modric prevailed in 2018.An incredible yearMegan Rapinoe won the women's Ballon d'Or after leading the United States to the fourth World Cup title in France this year, where she retained the title.The 34-year-old midfielder, the main player in the June-July tournament, succeeded Norway's Ada Hegerberg who did not take part in the World Cup.Rapinoe was not present at the concert at the Theater du Chatelet, where the show "An American in Paris" was presented."I'm so sad that I can't reach tonight. It's a great congratulation to the other candidates. I can't believe I won in this field, it was a wonderful year," Rapino said in a recorded message."I would like to thank my colleagues in the team and the United States Federation."Dutchman Matthijs de Light, the main player in the exciting Ajax Amsterdam semi-finals in the Champions League and now at Juventus, won the Copa Cup for the best male player at U-21.Alisson, one of Liverpool's four players in the top seven in the men's Ballon d'Or, won the new Yashin Cup for the best male goalkeeper of the year.However, there was no trophy for the best female player or goalkeeper U-21.Read More: FIFA Announces China As Expanded Club World Cup 2021 Host
Copa del Rey has Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Granada, and second-division club Mirandes as its four semi-finalists, after both Real Madrid and Barcelona failed to make it to the last four in a decade.The new edition of the Copa del Rey claimed the largest number of casualties on Thursday, and Real Madrid and Barcelona were eliminated in the last eight.Real Madrid lost 4-3 to Real Sociedad at home, before Barcelona scored a late goal to lose 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao on the most surprising night in a competition filled with surprises.Valencia also lost the defending champions on Tuesday and Villarreal were excluded on Wednesday. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid had already been sent off in previous rounds.The semifinals will only be played in two stages this season, giving smaller clubs more chances to beat larger teams.The last four surprises will also include Granada and the second division club Mirandes. This is the first time in ten years that neither Madrid nor Barcelona have reached the last four cup games, as at least one of the Spanish powers reached the final each year since the 2009-10 season when Seville won the title. Barcelona reached the final in the past six years in a row."This is the new Copa," said Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. "We are playing a game, away from home, and in one play you are eliminated."Real Sociedad finished a series of unbeaten matches in Madrid 21 by beating Santiago Bernabeu to reach the semi-finals for the first time in six years.Athletic beat Barcelona thanks to the winner of Inaki Williams three minutes after the end of the second half, adding to the difficulties faced by the club since coach Ernesto Valverde expelled him and replaced him with Kick Sitan.Barcelona has not yet been affected by the new coach, and the players and managers of the club have disagreed recently."I think we have taken a step forward. We are playing better than our opponent," Setien said. "Everything went well, except for the result."Barcelona dominated during the second half and was on the verge of breaking the deadlock with clear potentials for Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi. But it was Athletic who found the late winner when Williams threw a header in the far corner after the Ibai Gomez crossing.Athletic, the second most successful club in the cup with 23 championships, behind Barcelona, needed a penalty shootout to advance against second division clubs in the previous two rounds.Messi appeared in its seventy-fifth session in the Cup, in keeping with Joseph Samiter's record in Barcelona since 1932.Real Sociedad's victory stopped a series of eight wins in Madrid and gave the club its first defeat in all competitions since October.He also ended Madrid's hopes of winning the cup competition for the first time since 2014.Real Sociedad, semi-finals in 2014, will seek to win the third Copa del Rey Cup, the first since 1987."Our fans deserve a prize like this," said Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil. "This victory means a lot, it comes in full Bernabeu, against a team like Real Madrid, with our team playing well." You can imagine how we feel now. "Visitors dominated most of the match, but Madrid was about to return after scoring goals in the second half."We did everything we had in the end, but it was too late," said Madrid defender Marcelo. "It is difficult to come back after receiving four goals at home. It is disappointing, but we still have other competitions."Madrid was partly dominant thanks to their strong defense, having only received 13 goals in 22 Spanish league matches.The young Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard, who played for Real Sociedad on loan from Madrid, did not celebrate after he opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of the match after being saved by Madrid goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.Young Swedish striker Alexander Issac joined the lead two minutes into the second half, a shot in the 54th and a shot in the top corner in the 56thIsaac, 20 years old, has scored in five consecutive games, already scored an offside goal after reviewing the video just a few minutes after the break.Marcelo approached Madrid with a low shot from inside the area in 59th, but Mikel Merino again increased the advantage for visitors at close range in 69th.Rodrygo scored second in Madrid in 81st, two minutes after Vinicius Jr.'s goal was canceled by the video review. The third came through ahead from Nacho Ramos three minutes after the time of detention.Real Sociedad defender, Andoni Gorosabel, was sent off before the final whistle.
Lionel Messi: Superb Looking TattoosLionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini is an Argentine professional footballer. He plays as a forward and captains both the Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He is one of the best players in the world and known to be one of the greatest players of all time.The Barca captain has slowly got more tattoos inked over the years. He has several tattoos that he got inked for his family. It seems like tattoos mean to modern-day footballers what perms and mustaches meant to their 1980s counterparts.Although his rival Cristiano Ronaldo does not have any tattoos because he donates blood from time to time regularly. But the Barcelona and Argentina star has an amazing share of artwork all over his body. Over the years, his collection of tattoos has grown. Messi got the inspiration from his teammate Dani Alves. Dani is known for his full-body tattoos. But, Messi was afraid of the pain so he asked his wife to get a tattoo first, and then he got his first one. He did not stop after that. All of Messi's tattoos have a significance for him. We are here to discuss Lionel Messi’s tattoos and the meaning behind getting them inked.1. His Mother’s Portrait Messi has got his Mother’s Portrait as a tattoo on the left of his back. This was the first tattoo he got, the portrait of his mother, Celia. Messi is very close to his mother and she is his lucky charm for helping him to achieve his dreams every step of the way. He is a family person whose first priority is his family. To express his love for his mother, he got the portrait of his mother tattooed on his back. Messi's mother, Celia and his brother Matias manage the charitable trust, ‘Leo Messi Foundation’ founded in the year 2007 to help those children in at-risk situations.2. The HandPrintsMessi got a ‘HandPrints’ Tattoo on the left calf muscle. When he became a father for the first time on 2nd November 2012, he got the handprints of his baby ‘Thiago’ inked on his leg. He used to miss his training just to be with Antonella, his wife at the time of their son's birth. Messi had announced the birth of his baby boy on his Facebook page, "I am the happiest man in the world today, my son is born and thanks to God for this gift! Thanks to my family for all the love and support! A hug to everyone.”3.The ‘Thiago’ TattooMessi got the name of his firstborn, ‘Thiago’ Tattooed on his left calf muscle showing his love and affection for his newborn son. He was really happy and initially got his son's handprints of his son tattooed within a heart shading tattoo. 4.The ‘Football’ TattooMessi got a ‘Football’ tattooed on his left leg. He was passionate about football from an early age. Messi used to play all the time with his brothers. Today, he is the best football player in the world has achieved all of this because of his dedication to the sport. He got the football tattoed on his leg to express his love and passion for football.5.The ‘Jesus’ TattooMessi got the tattoo of ‘Jesus’ on his right arm. He got the tattoo of Jesus’s face with a crown of thrones on his arm. This shows his religious beliefs and how he pays homage to it too.6.The ‘Lotus’ TattooMessi got the tattoo of a ‘Lotus’ on his right arm. Messi comes from a small city of Argentina, Rosaria. He is a perfect example of a person who started with nothing and became super successful in life. The Lotus tattoo on his right arm explains the same. This tattoo is a part of his full sleeve tattoo and signifies that talent can grow from anywhere. It has a spiritual meaning as well. The lotus symbolizes rebirth, new beginnings, purity, and enlightenment.7.The ‘Rose Window’ TattooMessi even got a ‘Rose Window’ Tattoo on his right elbow. The ‘rose window’ is a prominent tattoo of his sleeve tattoo. It has been inspired by the Sagrada Familia church located in Barcelona.8.‘King Crown’ TattooMessi got the ‘King Crown’ Tattoo on his right arm. He got this tattoo inked for his beautiful wife Antonella Roccuzzo who has a similar kind of tattoo on her right arm. His wife Antonella Roccuzzo has got the ‘queen crown’ tattoo on her right arm.9.The ‘Antonella Eye’ TattooMessi got the tattoo of his Wife Antonella’s eye inked on his right arm. He had known her since he was 5 years old and they started dating in the year 2008. The couple was blessed with their first son Thiago in the year 2012. Their second son, Mateo was born in the year 2015. Messi and Antonella got married in the year 2017 and their third son was born in the year 2018.10.The ‘Giant Clock’Messi got the tattoo of a ‘Giant Clock’ inked on his right forearm. Other than this giant clock that runs across his entire right forearm, he even got timepiece cogs. This signifies that time is the most valuable thing in a person's lifetime.11.The ‘Timepiece Cogs’ TattooMessi got the ‘Timepiece Cogs’ Tattoo on his right forearm. These tattoos are known to be a reminder of the passing time. It is a reflection of wanting to live in the present moment instead of looking in the past or worrying about the future.12.‘Rosary’ TattooMessi got a ‘Rosary’ Tattoo on his right forearm. The football superstar got a rosary tattoo that makes the outline of his hometown, Rosario. Roberto Loper, Messi’s tattoo artist said that at first, they intended to create a rosary that depicts the stories of Messi's life through images. He also got the maps of South America and Europe tattooed and to cover the entire area, and give it a unique look, orange coloured flowers were also inked. Roberto said,13.The ‘Map of South America and Europe’Messi even got the tattoo of the ‘Map of South America and Europe’ inked on his right arm, but we do not know the exact location of this tattoo and there is not a piece of clear cut information available about this tattoo.14.The tattoo of No. '10'Messi has got a tattoo of No. 10 inked on his left leg. Messi's jersey number for both ‘FC Barcelona’ and ‘Argentina National Football’ team is the number 10. Earlier, his entire sleeve of a dagger with wings and roses pattern which he later got covered. And now he just has the handprints, number 10, and the football tattoos on his left leg.15.The tattoo of the ‘Dagger with Wings’Messi got the tattoo of the ‘Dagger with Wings’ inked on his left leg. Some while ago, he used to have the dagger with wings tattoo covered with a rose pattern surrounding it. For this tattoo, the footballer was trolled several times on the social media because of which he got the tattoos covered on his left leg. Now, he only has the name of his song along with his handprints, the number 10, and the football tattoo on his left leg.16.The ‘Birthdates’ TattooMessi has got the ‘Birthdates’ Tattoo on both his legs. On his left leg, inside the heart-shaped handprints tattoo of his firstborn son Thiago, he got the birthdates of his three sons and his wife Antonella inked. The birthdate of Thiago is 2nd November 2012, Mateo was born on 11th September 2015, Ciro was born on 10th March 2018, and his wife Anonella’s birthdate is 26th February 1988. Other than the birthdates, Messi got the names of his sons and his wife Antonella inked on the same leg.Read More: Lionel Messi claims record sixth Ballon d'Or, Rapinoe wins women's award
At least 3 players in Barcelona rebelled: Arthur Melo, Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic against Lionel Messi before the Champions League showdown.Things have not been easy in Barcelona recently. The Catalant giants, suffering on the field and losing the La Liga title to Real Madrid, also suffered from controversy in the dressing room throughout the season. Recent reports claim that Barcelona players rebelled against captain Lionel Messi before the Champions League match against Napoli.Three Barcelona midfielders revolt against Lionel MessiSpanish media publication Diario Gol claims that at least three Barcelona midfielders have clashed with Messi and are therefore looking for a way out of the club to trade elsewhere. There will be a minimal break between the conclusion of the UEFA Champions League and the start of the 2020-21 season. Therefore, players are cautious about participating in the competition by citing frantic UCL matches.At least three midfielders: Arthur Melo, Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic were looking for an easy exit without playing in UCL matches. Arthur, who had already agreed to an exchange agreement with Juventus, was reported to have refused to return to Barcelona's training to prepare for the match against Napoli. Instead, he wants to leave for Italy earlier.Arthur, Vidal, Rakitic are not satisfied with Lionel MessiArturo Vidal is not happy with his playing time and youth manager's preference for Riqui Puig. Also, the arrival of Miralem Pjanic from Juventus next season will simply affect his place on the team. Therefore, the Chilean international is looking to find a way out as soon as the current season ends, as Inter Milan is the favorite to sign the midfielder.Finally, Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has not had the best relationship with Messi. The Croatian midfielder is not happy with his situation and believes the club and Lionel Messi are synonymous. He saw a steady decline in his playing time, losing his place in the starting squad. So Rakitic is looking for another club.Lionel Messi transfer reports appearMeanwhile, Messi has also seen a decline in his relationship with the Barcelona Council and with training staff for the past two seasons. Several reports of Messi's transfer have gained importance in recent days with Serie A giants Inter Milan looking to sign the six times Golden Ball Award winner, and these reports have been supplemented by rumors that his father is seeking a home in the Italian capital.Also Read: LaLiga Virtual Stand | LaLiga will use "virtual stand" and fans sound for broadcasting
Hotshot Lionel Messi won his first prize with his public group as Angel Di Maria's objective gave Argentina a 1-0 success over has Brazil in the Copa America last on Saturday. The triumph at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana arena finished Argentina's 28-year hang tight for a significant prize and finished Brazil's unbeaten home record that extended back over 2,500 days. Argentina had last tasted accomplishment at a significant competition in 1993 when the incomparable Gabriel Batistuta's support gave them a 2-1 success over Mexico in the Copa last in Ecuador. Promoting: "It's an extraordinary title, particularly for our kin. The fans support the group genuinely. I figure they can relate to this group that never yields," said Argentina mentor Lionel Scaloni. It was the first run through in quite a while playing at home that Brazil had neglected to lift the prize. And keeping in mind that 34-year-old Messi's odyssey has concluded, Brazil's Neymar, five years his lesser, is still without a significant title at the global level having missed the Selecao's success on home soil two years prior through injury. Argentina edged a fierce and peevish undertaking on account of Di Maria's objective on 22 minutes. The 33-year-old winger ran onto Rodrigo De Paul's luxurious through ball to hurl Brazil goalkeeper Ederson with a first-time finish. Also Read: Euro 2020 England Beat Denmark 2-1 In Extra An Ideal Opportunity To Set Up Last Against Italy At Wembley"We missed the mark so often, we envisioned such a great amount about this, contended energetically," said Di Maria, who was named man of the match. "Numerous individuals said we wouldn't oversee it, we were scrutinized a ton. Be that as it may, we continued thumping at the entryway and continued going until now we wrecked it and entered." Messi might have wrapped up the success as a short way from time yet slipped when clean through with just Ederson to beat. Di Maria the victimized: In a berserk beginning, Argentina's husky master Nicolas Otamendi was rapidly in with his first foul while Brazilian midfielder Fred got the main booking after only three minutes for studs up jump at Gonzalo Montiel. Brazil was unaltered from their semi-last success over Peru while Scaloni made five changes, remarkably getting Di Maria - who made a vivacious and conclusive section off the seat against Colombia the last break. The last was the primary match of the competition, which was initiated because of occurring last year, to permit in fans as 7,800 - a 10th of the Maracana limit - sat down after specialists halfway lifted pandemic limitations. The primary clear possibility went ahead 13 minutes as Richarlison headed down Marquinhos' long ball into the way of Neymar however the Brazilian star was packed out by a couple of safeguards. The fierce idea of the early difficulties could be seen on the players' packs, with Neymar brandishing torn shorts and Lucas Paqueta being left with an opening in his sock following mediation by Otamendi. Argentina played with hostility and responsibility, however no absence of value with Di Maria torturing Brazil's left-back Renan Lodi, who likely ought to have removed De Paul's pass for the winger's objective. Di Maria had a shot from 20 yards impeded while Messi discharged simply wide after a 40-yard run. Brazil attempted to make anything of note and in any event, when they had a free-kick from shooting range, Neymar couldn't beat the divider. At the point when the hosts did, at last, keep up with some pressing factor late in the principal a large portion of, Everton's diverted strike bobbled however to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Bad-tempered, niggly Brazil mentor Tite rushed to act, presenting on Roberto Firmino for cautious midfielder Fred at half-time. Richarlison had the ball in the net before long however he was hailed offside. Furthermore, minutes after the fact Neymar teed up Richarlison yet Martinez parried his close to post exertion. Progressively it's anything but a peevish, niggly undertaking with minimal liquid play among fouls and plenty of showy behaviours and touchy squabbling. It was wandering right into whatever Argentina might have had planned as they hoped to run down the clock and clutch their slim lead. Brazil figured out how to up the pressing factor again toward the finish of the half yet they came up short on an amazing touch against some full-blooded shielding - Montiel even completed the game with his white sock absorbed blood. Also Read: Copa America Lucas Paqueta Sends Brazil Past Peru Into FinalsAt the point when Brazil substitute Gabriel Barbosa terminated a volley on track, Martinez was equivalent to it. Messi slipped embarrassingly late on with an opportunity to secure triumph yet it made a difference little as minutes after the fact his colleagues were throwing him noticeable all around to praise their success.
Lionel Messi finally signed his long-awaited contract with PSG on Tuesday night to complete the move and confirm the end of a long-term relationship with FC. Barcelona sends Paris Saint-Germain into a new era.Paris Saint-Germain said in a statement that the 34-year-old Argentine star had signed a two-year contract with the option for a third season. "I am excited to start a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain," said Messi. "Everything at the club matches my football ambitions. I know how talented the team and the coaching staff are here. I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I can't wait to stepping out onto the pitch at the parc des princes. Salary details were not disclosed, but a person familiar with the negotiations previously told The Associated Press that Messi will receive about 35 million euros ($ 41 million) from his net worth annually. The person said on condition of anonymity before signing the contract. "I am delighted that Lionel Messi has chosen to join Paris Saint-Germain and we are proud to welcome him and his family to Paris," said Nasser Al-Khelaifi president of Paris Saint-Germain. "He has made no secret of his desire to continue competing at the highest level and winning titles, and of course our ambition as a team is to do the same."Crowds of Paris Saint-Germain fans gathered at Paris Le Bourget airport to greet Messi, who wore a jersey with the slogan "Ici c'est Paris" ("This is Paris").The words are a longtime familiar refrain from a favored fan chant at Parc des Princes stadium, where Messi is to be presented to them before kickoff of Saturday night's game against Strasbourg. So excited was his arrival that police had to push him to prevent the airport's metal barriers from falling down as fans rushed forward to get a better view. He then traveled to Paris, escorted by a police escort, which included several officers on motorcycles, all dressed in black at the rear. When the disbelief of relegation to one of the greatest footballers of all time became a sensation, many gathered to catch a glimpse of Messi on the field. They got their wish when the smiling star briefly greeted them before undergoing a medical examination. Earlier, Messi's father and agent, Jorge, also confirmed that his son was moving to Paris Saint-Germain in a brief exchange with reporters at Josep Taradillas Barcelona's El Prat airport, before boarding his flight in afternoon.Messi arrived with his wife and his three children and boarded a private jet."With all that, towards a new adventure. All five together," said Antonella Roccuzzo on Instagram with a photo of her with her husband on the plane.PSG supporters have witnessed their club's transformation over the past decade since the arrival of sovereign investments from Qatar tied to the emir. Once Messi's contract with Barcelona expired and the Catalan club couldn't retain him, Paris Saint-Germain was one of the few clubs that was able to finance a deal to sign the world's best player six times.Messi's arrival gives Paris Saint-Germain massive attacking options, as he is linked with World Cup winner Kylian Mbappé and Brazilian forward Neymar.Neymar posted on Instagram a video of the two hugging and playing for Barcelona: "back together."While PSG had to pay 222 million euros (then $261 million) to sign Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, there was no transfer fee for Messi. Messi has become the most desiered free agent in football history after his attempts to stay at Barcelona were rejected last week by the Spanish League because his salary did not meet financial regulations, with the Catalan club heavily in debt. 1.2 billion euros (1.4 million dollars) And soon, Mauricio Pochettino, coach of Paris Saint-Germain, got in touch with his Argentine after Barcelona announced last Thursday that Messi would be leaving the club, he joined at age 13. Messi won every major title with Barcelona and was granted a emotional press conference on Sunday to mark the end of an era.Only Cristiano Ronaldo in the current era challenges Messi's status as the greatest of all time. Paris Saint-Germain is hoping not only that Messi will help the team regain the French title it lost to Lille last season, but that it will ultimately win the Champions League.If Pochettino used the 4-3-3 method, the three in front could see Messi on the right. What should be less demanding is Paris Saint-Germain's compliance with the UEFA Financial Fair Play Rules. Some flexibility in the rules has been provided due to the pandemic and the changes are due to the system that is designed to stop losses. Paris Saint-Germain President Al-Khelaifi,as President of the Association of European Clubs and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, is involved in the process of discussing a broader update of the FFP that could once again allow a spending without control. Also Read- Olympics: Rowers Arjun and Arvind finish eleventh in lightweight Double sculls in Tokyo
La Liga may be shorn of its biggest name in Lionel Messi who left FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain but former Real Madrid player Fernando Morientes feels the Spanish league would not be "weakened" by the exit of the Argentine maestro.Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain's club last month is not the only high-profile exit from La Liga. In the last five seasons, players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Sergio Ramos have left Real Madrid or Barcelona."La Liga throughout its history has lost players, just like any other league... It is nothing new. Cristiano left, Neymar left, Messi and Ramos have also left," Morientes, who is also the La Liga ambassador, said during a virtual media interaction."Footballers will eventually leave, but clubs will stay. La Liga doesn't sell itself through a single player. La Liga is never going to have a problem to sell itself as a competition"."La Liga has done a spectacular job attempting to attract the best players to make it as competitive as always been."Morientes said it's an opportunity for the Spanish clubs to prove themselves at the marquee Champions League.“I would like to see a Spanish final in fact, because there are many people who think that Messi's departure has weakened the league. We have to show that this is not the case.Also Read- Lionel Messi signs two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona"In the last 10-15 years, La Liga teams have always been very competitive in all European competitions. And I'm convinced this coming season the Spanish teams will demonstrate their true potential in this competition," said the former Spanish center-forward.The 45-year-old said it was the responsibility of the clubs to change, adapt and sign great players."La Liga will continue to be a really attractive league that will bring in new players and I'm sure there are great players who will want to play here," said Morientes, who played 183 games for Real Madrid between 1997 and 2005."The Spanish league is strong enough to be attractive to everyone. I am convinced that you in India will continue to follow the league and continue to follow our teams as fans and not just as individual players."On the prospect of 'El Clasico' without Messi and Ronaldo, he said: "Real Madrid and Barcelona at the end of the day are much more than just two players. It's true that both Cristiano and Messi have made history in Spanish football."Obviously we would like to have players of this level. But we must remember that the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona goes back many years, and Messi and Ronaldo are not always at the club." Also Read- Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time highest goalscorer in international football with brace against Ireland
Lionel Messi broke Brazil great Pele's South American goal scoring record with a hat-trick that helped Argentina beat Bolivia 3-0 in the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday. Messi became the best scorer in South American football history The 34-year-old scored 79 goals for Argentina, overtaking Pele's tally of 77. The Argentine captain opened the way for his team at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires in front of 20,000 lucky fans in the 14th minute. He moved the ball between the legs of a Bolivian defender and shot from outside the penalty area to the right of the goalkeeper Carlos Lampe. Once again he showed his technique to score the second in the 64th minute. Messi and forward Lautaro Martinez exchanged four quick passes to put the six-time Ballon D'Or winner in a magnificent position. He still had time to dribble past one defender before scoring. Messi completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute from close range after getting a rebound from Lampe. Also Read- LaLiga will not be weakened by Lionel Messi's exit, says ex-Real Madrid player Fernando MorientesArgentina now have 18 points in second place. Bolivia remains in ninth place with six. Brazil and Argentina will have one less competitive match after this international window since the Super Classic was suspended on Sunday. FIFA has yet to decide what will happen will the match, as it was stopped in a shocking way after Brazilian health officials tried to remove four Argentinian players for allegedly providing false information to authorities. The top four teams from the South American qualifiers earn direct spots in the World Cup finals in Qatar next year, and the fifth-place team will go into an intercontinental playoff. Previously, Uruguay beat Ecuador by 1-0 to move to third place in the table. Uruguay managed to get a last-minute home win against Ecuador, which was key to their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. The header by Gaston Pereiro in stoppage time allowed Uruguay to add 15 points and take Ecuador third on the table. The Ecuadorians still with 13 points, are in fourth place and they are also well positioned to go to Qatar next year. Colombia also clinched an important 3-1 home win over Chile in a magnificent performance from forward Miguel Borja. He scored the first from the spot in the 19th minute and added another one minute later. Chile reduced the gap in the 56th minute with Jean Menezes, but Luis Diaz added Colombia's last goal in the 74th minute. Also on Thursday, Paraguay beat Venezuela 2-1. The hosts scored with David Martínez and Alejandro Romero in the 7th and 46th minutes. The visitors scored their only goal in the 90th minute with John Chancellor. He posted on social media after the game: "I dreamed a lot about this day and thank God it came. "I have no words to thank you for all the love received. What a beautiful night, I really enjoyed it. Unforgettable."View this post on InstagramA post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)Also Read- Lionel Messi signs two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain after leaving BarcelonaAlso Read- Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time highest goalscorer in international football with brace against Ireland
Lionel Messi failed to provide Paris St Germain with any sparkle as the Ligue 1 team's potent attacking trio lacked inspiration in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.In his debut with the French team, the Argentine forward managed to surpass him, but he was far from his brilliant best next to the disappointing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, who set up Ander Herrera for PSG's first-half opener before being replaced injured after the break.Brugge, who levelled before halftime through Hans Vanaken, were more powerful and had the best chances against a PSG that lacks quality and defensive focus.The result left Paris Saint-Germain and Bruges two points behind Group A leaders Manchester City after the Premier League champions crushed RB Leipzig 6-3."We didn't play a fantastic game but to be fair we did enough to win, we deserved to win," said Herrera."Maybe they had opportunities at the beginning of the second half but I think we controlled the match, we had a lot of chances."Also Read- Lionel Messi surpasses Pele's goalscoring record, leads Argentina to win in World Cup qualifiersBrugge keeper Simon Mignolet disagreed."I didn't have a lot of work, I just pulled a couple of saves. We played as a compact side, it was the right approach," the Belgian said.With Messi, Neymar and Mbappe together on the pitch for the first time, PSG made a confident start but Brugge responded well.FULL-TIME: Club Brugge 1-1 @PSG_English The points are shared on Matchday 1 of the @ChampionsLeague. #UCL | #CLUPSG pic.twitter.com/P3EVbjqQxP— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 15, 2021Mbappe broke the left flank and his low cross was met by Herrera, and opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a low shot to score his fourth goal this season-his third goal in the last two games.Messi set up Mbappe, who went close in the 23rd minute with an angled shot that was deflected by Mignolet but PSG were lulled into a false sense of security.Also Read- LaLiga will not be weakened by Lionel Messi's exit, says ex-Real Madrid player Fernando Morientes
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted that his star-studded squad is still under construction, on the eve of hosting Manchester City in their Group A match in Paris on Tuesday.Pochettino remained evasive about who is PSG first-choice goalkeeper and whether Keylor Navas or new signing Gianluigi Donnarumma will start against City.Up front, Pochettino expects Lionel Messi to return in attack as the Argentine shakes off a minor knee injury that sidelined him for two games. Messi's last Champions League goal for Barcelona came against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in last season's last-16. He had a penalty saved in that game by Navas.Paris Saint-Germain opened their Champions League campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw with Club Brugge two weeks ago.Also Read- Virat Kohli to quit RCB captaincy after the end of IPL 2021 season
Lionel Messi scored his first Paris Saint-German goal in the French club's 2-0 win over visiting Manchester City while Luxembourg midfielder Sébastien Thill struck late for Sheriff to stun 13-time champion Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. Messi, who joined PSG on a two-year contract after leaving Barcelona, found the top corner superbly in the second half to add to Idrissa Gueye's early first-half opener and put the capital club top of Group A on four points. Luis Suárez also struck late as his injury-time penalty gave Atlético Madrid a 2-1 win at 10-man AC Milan. Club Brügge and Liverpool also claimed away wins at Leipzig and Porto, respectively.Messi scores maiden goal for PSG After two games, City are third on three points after their first defeat in a group stage game since 2018 ended an 18-match unbeaten run, a point behind PSG and Club Brugge, who won 2-1 at RB Leipzig. Real Madrid slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League on Tuesday as the visitors pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history with a stunning 89th-minute strike from Sebastien Thill. Spanish champion Atlético were second best for long periods at Group B rival Milan. Luis Suarez's stoppage-time penalty and Antoine Griezmann's first goal since returning to Atletico Madrid earned the Spanish side a 2-1 victory over 10-man AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. On the other hand, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both struck twice and Sadio Mane once in a 5-1 drubbing of the Portuguese champions to seize control of Champions' League Group B.Also Read- Messi may return for PSG against Manchester City in UCL
India on Wednesday confirmed their place in the final match against Nepal after 3-1 victory over Maldives at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives. Manvir Singh’s opener was cancelled by Ali Ashfaq in the first half before Sunil Chhetri scored a brace in the second half to confirm the spot for the Blue Tigers. Sunil Chhetri broke legendary football player Pele's record during the match against the Maldives in the ongoing 2021 SAFF Championship Pele had scored 77 goals for Brazil and Chhetri went past the Brazilian superstar when he scored a goal in the 62nd minute in the match against the Maldives. Chhetri further bettered his tally as he scored another one to have 79 international goals under his belt. The Indian captain is now the third-highest active international goalscorer. Lionel Messi (80) and Cristiano Ronaldo (115) are the two footballers who are ahead of Chhetri in the list of active international goalscorers. The Indian captain has also become the joint sixth-highest goalscorer in the world.123 Internationals 79 Goals @chetrisunil11 becomes the joint 6th highest goalscorer in the world! #INDMDV #SAFFChampionship2021 #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/Tg4UCTPAAE— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2021Although his team is going through a long lean phase, Chhetri's scoring prowess remains as good as ever, which is a testament to his consistency and dedication.A Wonderful Gesture Skipper @chetrisunil11 handed over his Man of the Match award to @apuiaralte45 for his brilliant performance today! #INDMDV #SAFFChampionship2021 #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/povTme0mZI— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2021Throughout his glorious journey, the deadly poacher from Delhi has played alongside former stars such as Bhaichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh in the national team, besides well-known international players in the ISL and I-League. Notwithstanding the occasional chatter around his age and his longevity, the Indian captain had said that he wanted to keep playing in top-flight and has not given his future any thought. India is undefeated in this edition, having drawn with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and then beating Nepal. The side will now look for its eight SAFF Championship title when it takes on first-time finalist Nepal in the final.Also Read- BCCI unveils Team India's new jersey ahead of T20 World Cup
Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi found their groove as they inspired their side to a 3-2 comeback victory at home to RB Leipzig in a Champions League thriller on Tuesday (October 19). Mbappe was the first to score and Messi had the France forward to thank for his second-half double after the Ligue 1 side had fallen 2-1 behind following goals by Andre Silva and Nordi Mukiele either side of the interval. Mbappe who missed a stoppage-time penalty, set up Messi for the equaliser and won the spot kick that the Argentine converted with an ice-cool chip after what had been a lacklustre performance from the club’s new signing. The result left Paris Saint-Germain top of Group A with seven points from three games, one point ahead of Manchester City, who crushed Club Brugge 5-1 away earlier on Tuesday. Leipzig have no points. Before Mbappe and Messi came together as old team mates, PSG often looked out of sorts, incapable of dealing with Leipzig’s high-pressure game. Jesse Marsch's side pushed hard from the outset and after eight minutes, PSG’s Keylor Navas had already made three saves.It was a double-edged sword for the visitors, as it threatened PSG in the break and they opened the scoring after nine minutes. Julian Draxler flicked a Marquinhos long pass into the path of Mbappe, who dummied his marker before firing a low shot past Peter Gulacsi for his first Champions League goal this season. Leipzig did not back down and in the 27th minute Silva’s volley crashed against Navas’s left-hand post. A minute later Silva turned Angelino’s cross in at the far post to give the German side a deserved equaliser. Leipzig were the better team and Christopher Nkunku came close to giving them the advantage three minutes before the break when his low shot went just wide after a series of dribbles. Paris Saint-Germain started the second half well, as Messi finding space between the lines, but it was Leipzig who took the lead in the 57th minute as Mukiele latched onto another Angelino cross at the far post.Messi in the Champions League = #UCL pic.twitter.com/kIbw2BdUiJ— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 19, 2021The hosts continued to suffer but a Tyler Adams back pass was intercepted by Mbappe who sped into the area and fed Messi, with the Argentine tapping the ball into the empty net after Gulacsi parried his shot onto the inside of the post after 67 minutes. It was Mbappe who had set up Messi for PSG’s second goal in their 2-0 victory against Manchester City in the previous round of matches. Seven minutes later, Mbappe was brought down by Mohamed Simakan and Messi converted the resulting penalty in clinical fashion before again pointing to his strike partner, who has set up his three PSG goals so far. PSG received another penalty four minutes into added time after a VAR review for a Josko Gvardiol foul on Achraf Hakimi but Mbappe skied it over the bar, although that did not tarnish a sublime overall performance from the 22-year-old.Also Read- Yuvraj Singh Arrested, Released on Bail Over Casteist Remark on Yuzvendra Chahal
Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will return to Barcelona with his family once his spell at Paris Saint-Germain ends, and he wants to help the LaLiga club in the role of technical director. The star admitted that he "misses everything" about the Catalan capital where he spent more than two decades. Messi ended a two-decade stay at the cash-strapped Spanish club, where he is their record scorer with 672 goals, in the off-season and messi transfer to psg on a two-year deal. "I don't know if that'll happen when my PSG contract is up. What's almost confirmed and certain is that we'll return to Barcelona to live and our lives will be there," Messi told Spanish outlet SPORT. "That's what my wife and I want. I don't know what'll happen when my PSG contract ends, but we'll go back to live in Barcelona."I've always said I'd love to be able to help the club do well in any way that I can be useful. I'd love to be a technical director at some point. "I don't know if that'll be at Barcelona or if it might work out differently. "If the option is there, I'd love to contribute again in any way that I can because it's the club that I love and I'd love it to keep doing well, growing and remain one of the best in the world." Messi was injured in Paris St Germain's 2-1 win over champion Lille on Friday, but coach Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful he will be available for this week's psg in champions league game at RB Leipzig.Also Read- T20 World Cup: How can India still hope to qualify for the semi final
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have produced some unforgettable moments on the football pitch and surprisingly they have been doing that consistently for more than 15 years now. The duo have won a combined total of 11 Ballon d'Or's, which is an award of high prestige, while numerous star footballers have missed out on the prestigious award because of the domination from Messi and Ronaldo. Interestingly, year 2021 has proved out to be full of surprises for both the footballing greats. Lionel Messi has left FC Barcelona and now plays for Paris Saint-Germain due to Barcelona's financial problems. The 33-year-old Argentine is currently struggling in his new club with injuries coming into play and a change of role in terms of positioning. No one deserved the 2021 Ballon d'Or more than Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/1ZGJGsbVg0— Ishan (@LionelFutbol) November 5, 2021However, 2021 is not that bad season for Lionel Messi as before joining PSG, the little magician won Copa America with Argentina and scored 30 goals in 35 matches in La Liga for his former club FC Barcelona. However, Messi is yet to score a league goal for PSG, but has scored 3 goals for the French club in the Champions League. Messi won 34 club career trophies with FC Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions League titles. In addition, he has won the Ballon d'Or for a record six times which is the most by any player ever to play football. On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo once again impressed with his return to Manchester United new now, as the striker has time and again saved the Red Devils' blushes by scoring crucial goals. Cristiano Ronaldo ~ The Most Clutch Player this sport has ever witnessed pic.twitter.com/EYaSks49N4— Paarth (@paarthblanco) November 2, 2021Ronaldo took no time to get off the mark and after returning to England, the 36-year-old has so far scored 9 goals from the 11 matches he has played. In the process, he even became the top scorer in three different big leagues England, Spain and Italy, thus creating a new record. Christian Ronaldo scored 29 goals for Juventus in Serie A and also become Portugal's top scorer with 111 goals for his country in 2021. The rivalry between these two can define a whole era and decade of football. Who's better? It's an endless debate with too many opinions from too many people but one thing is for sure that Ronaldo and Messi will go down as two of the greatest footballers that the world has ever witnessed.Also Read- Rohit Sharma named India T20I captain for New Zealand series
The result put PSG on 40 points from 15 games, with Stade Rennais leapfrogging Nice into second after goals by Gaetan Laborde and Jeremy Doku earned them a 2-0 win at Lorient, their sixth victory in their last seven league games. Lionel Messi scored all three goals and PSG drew 3-1 with 10 Saint-Etienne men on Sunday (November 28) to raise the League One to lead to 12 points. Meanwhile, Neymar led Gaya on a stretcher. Heel injury. Paris Saint-Germain used Timothy Kologich's red card in the first half. Messi gave Markinhos a double-headed goal, and Angel Di Maria scored to seal the clinical changes when Les Vert started scoring through Denis Bouanga.As a result, the capital team scored 40 points in 15 games, and Stade Rennais beat Lorient 2-0 with goals from Gayton Lebold and Jeremy Duques, winning their sixth victory in the last seven games and then Nice. In second place. .. Faced with a decent challenge despite the snow on the court of Geoffroy Stadium, Saint-Etienne is currently at the bottom of the ranking with 12 points.The match was the first match between Sergio Ramos and Paris Saint-Germain, about five months after signing Real Madrid as a free agent, and the Spaniards first appeared at the center of defense against Markinhos. bottom. Saint-Etienne pushed a lot and Paris Saint-Germain seemed to hit it in the first half as Neymar was on the net just to send offside Brazilian goals.In the 24th minute, Inform's Wabi Khazar passed the pass and Korozezi prepared to hit goalkeeper Genieji Donnarma, but Banga chased and shot from close range. Within minutes, at the end of the first half, the momentum of Paris Saint-Germain regained momentum.The French striker headed for the goal, Markinhos led Messi's free-kick and performed perfectly, and Kologich received a direct red card to drop Kylian Mbappe. Messi did it again 11 minutes ago and made a great pass behind Di Maria's defense. It ended with a zigzag effort at the end of the net.Three minutes after Neymar injured his ankle, and after crossing from Messi in the last minute, Markinhos went home.For more latest updates to visit here:- PITCHHIGH
Messi has 106 goals in 180 matches for Argentina and his trophy cabinet includes the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup.Argentina will retire the iconic No.10 jersey worn by Lionel Messi after he hangs up his boots, according to reports.“When Messi retires from the national team, we will not allow anyone else to wear the number 10 after him. This number ’10’ will be retired for life in his honour. It’s the least we can do for him,” Argentina Football Federation president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia told an Argentine newspaper as quoted by Marca.Incidentally, this is not the first time that the Argentine body has tried to retire the iconic No.10 jersey which was also worn by the legendary Diego Maradona.Before World Cup 2002, Julio Grondona, who was the president of the AFA at that time along with some and some officials wanted to retire the jersey, but that did not end up happening due to a FIFA rule, which stated that teams should use numbers from 1 to 23 in the tournament.Ariel Ortega ultimately wore the iconic jersey in the Marcelo Bielsa-coached team in the Korea Japan World Cup.Meanwhile, Messi has 106 goals in 180 matches for Argentina and his trophy cabinet includes the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup.With Messi’s future up in the air by the time the World Cup rolls on in 2026, he’ll be hoping to capture a second Copa crown with Argentina in 2024.Also Read: GTA 6 release date estimate, trailer, and latest Rockstar Games news
The realm of football, also referred to as soccer, stands as the most widely played and viewed sport globally. It operates within a multi-billion-dollar industry, where top-tier players garner substantial earnings. The wealthiest footballers command millions of dollars annually, with certain individuals accumulating fortunes reaching into the billions.Various elements contribute to a footballer's financial success, encompassing salary, bonuses, endorsements, and investments. Additionally, some of the most affluent players have diversified their income streams through business ownership or other ventures.Top 5 richest football playersHere are the top 5 richest football or soccer players in the world. Brunei prince Faiq Bolkiah tops the list, with Messi and Ronaldo following in. 1. Faiq Bolkiah | $20 billionTeam: Chonburi F.C., ThailandRecords: Richest football player in the worldFaiq Bolkiah is a Bruneian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Chonburi F.C. in Thailand and the Brunei national team. Bolkiah is the richest footballer in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20 billion. He has been capped by the Brunei national team since 2014 and has captained the team since 2018. He is the Prince of Brunei. Bolkiah’s father is Jefri Bolkiah, the Prince of Brunei, and his uncle is Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei.2. Lionel Messi | $600 millionTeam: Paris Saint-GermainRecords: Most Balloon D’Or award winner, Most Liga goals, and many moreAwards: World Soccer Player of the Year, FIFA Balloon D’Or, and many moreBooks: The “GOAT” Messi and moreMovie: Lionel Messi: The GreatestWidely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team. He is the second-richest footballer in the world, with a net worth of $600 million. He has won eight Ballon d'Or awards, a record in itself. He is the player to have been awarded the coveted trophy the most number of times. He has also won six European Golden Shoes, and in 2020 he was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team.3. Cristiano Ronaldo | $500 millionTeam: Al NassarRecords: Highest goal-scorer in football and many moreAwards: European Golden Shoe, FIFA Balloon D’Or, and many moreBooks: Cristiano Ronaldo: The Rise of a WinnerMovie: Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at its FeetPortuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo captains the Portugal national team and plays as a forward for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. He has won five Ballon d'Or awards, the most by a European player.Ronaldo is the all-time leading goal scorer with the highest number of goals in international football. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time and constantly pitted against fellow soccer legend Lionel Messi.4. David Beckham | $450 millionTeam: Manchester UnitedRecords: Only player to win League titles in 4 countries, and moreAwards: Premier League Player of the Month, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and moreBooks: Beckham: My World (autobiography)Movie: King Arthur, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.David Beckham was a professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is considered to be one of the best players of his generation and was one of the most popular athletes in the world. Beckham played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, the LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. He won 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, one La Liga title, and one MLS Cup. Beckham retired from professional football in 2013. He is currently the fourth-richest football player, with a net worth of $450 million.5. Dave Whelan | $210 millionTeam: Blackburn Rovers and Crewe AlexandraAwards: Freedom of the BoroughBooks: David Whelan: Playing to Win - The Autobiography Dave Whelan is an English footballer who played as a winger. He was born in Bradford, England, on November 24, 1936, and played for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra during his career. He won the Football League Third Division North title with Blackburn Rovers in 1959–60. He retired from professional football in 1966. He later became a successful businessman and founded the Wigan Athletic football club. His net worth is $210 million. Also Read: Argentina set to retire Lionel Messis No.10 jersey once he hangs up boots: Reports
