A forensic expert who conducted Diego Maradona’s autopsy revealed that the Argentine football legend endured severe pain for at least 12 hours before his death. He also stated that “any doctor” should have detected symptoms several days earlier.
On Thursday, Carlos Cassinelli, head of Forensic Medicine at the Scientific Police Superintendency, provided details of the autopsy performed on the day Maradona passed away—November 25, 2020—while under home care in a residence in Tigre, Buenos Aires.
“The heart was completely covered in fat and blood clots, which indicate agony,” the specialist said during the homicide trial for seven health professionals.
Prosecutors have said that Diego Maradona was not given adequate medical care
The autopsy concluded that Maradona died from acute pulmonary edema secondary to congestive heart failure.
“This is a patient who had been collecting water over the days; that’s not acute. This was something that was foreseeable,” Cassinelli said. “Any doctor examining a patient would find this.”
According to the prosecution, the accused professionals — a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, doctors, and nurses — who were caring for Maradona during his convalescence failed to provide adequate medical care, which allegedly led to his death.
During the investigation, multiple witnesses testified that Maradona’s face and abdomen appeared abnormally swollen.
Among those facing trial is Leopoldo Luque, who served as Maradona’s personal physician for the last four years of his life, along with psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov, who prescribed his medication until his passing.
Additionally, nurse Gisela Madrid, who has also been indicted, is set to stand trial before a jury later this year.
Brazil captain Marquinhos has apologized to fans after what he called an “embarrassing” performance in their 4-1 loss to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.
Argentina secured the win with goals from Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone. Before the match even started, Argentina had already qualified for the World Cup following Bolivia’s draw with Uruguay.
Matheus Cunha scored Brazil’s only goal, but the five-time champions suffered their worst-ever World Cup qualifying defeat. They have yet to secure a spot in next year’s tournament.
“What we did here can’t happen again,” Marquinhos told Brazilian TV station Globo. “It’s hard to talk about it in the heat of the moment. It’s embarrassing.”
He added: “We started the game badly, far below what we could do and they’re on a great run of confidence. They knew how to play smart. I’m sorry for our fans.”
Argentina, who were without Lionel Messi, went 2-0 ahead in the opening 12 minutes through Alvarez and Fernandez.
A mistake from Cristian Romero allowed Cunha to pull one back, but Mac Allister restored Argentina’s two-goal advantage before half-time.
Argentina wasted several chances to extend their lead before Giuliano Simeone wrapped up the win with 19 minutes left, sparking wild celebrations among the home fans.
“It was a historic result, winning by 4-1, and that makes us really proud, I’m so happy for the fans,” said Atletico forward Alcaraz.
Argentina leads the South American World Cup qualifying table with 31 points from 14 games. They are 16 points ahead of seventh-placed Venezuela, with the top six teams securing automatic qualification for next year’s tournament.
Brazil currently sits in fourth place with 21 points and has not yet secured qualification, with four matches still to play.
Meanwhile, Paraguay remains in fifth place, just one point ahead of sixth-placed Colombia, after their 2-2 draw in Barranquilla.
Colombia took an early lead with goals from Luis Diaz and Jhon Duran within the first 13 minutes. However, Paraguay fought back, with Junior Alonso scoring just before halftime and Julio Enciso equalizing in the second half.
Argentinian authorities have charged three individuals in connection with the tragic death of formerOne Direction star Liam Payne, who passed away on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
One of Payne’s companions has been charged with abandonment leading to death, as well as drug supply and facilitation, according to the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office. Additionally, a hotel staff member and another individual face charges related to drug supply. The identities of those charged have not been disclosed.
Payne, 31, was a household name in pop music, known widely for his rise to fame on The X Factor and his success with One Direction in the 2010s. The Argentinian investigation has been closely examining Payne’s last days at the CasaSur hotel, where police reportedly discovered drugs, broken items, and furniture in his room.
Emergency calls from hotel staff indicated they had a guest who had consumed “excessive drugs and alcohol” and was “destroying the room.”
On Thursday, toxicology results revealed traces of alcohol, cocaine, and an antidepressant in Payne’s system. His cause of death was determined to be “multiple trauma” and “internal and external haemorrhaging” caused by the fall. Medical evaluations suggest Payne may have been in a semi- or fully unconscious state when he fell, ruling out the likelihood of a deliberate act, as he was likely unaware of his actions.
Authorities have also conducted nine raids across Buenos Aires, examined Payne’s damaged laptop and other devices, and reviewed more than 800 hours of footage from security cameras in and around the hotel.
They’ve also gathered testimony from numerous individuals, including hotel staff, family, friends, and medical personnel.
Following his death, Payne’s body was released to his family to be brought back to the UK. The news led to an outpouring of tributes from fans and friends, with former partner Cheryl, One Direction members Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles expressing their heartbreak in a joint statement, saying they were “devastated” and would forever cherish the memories they shared with him.
Thousands of fans held memorial events worldwide to honour the beloved singer.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reduced borrowing costs for some of the world’s most debt-burdened countries, following mounting criticism that its fees were overly harsh amid rising global interest rates.
The IMF’s executive board approved a cut to surcharges, which are additional fees levied on top of regular interest for countries borrowing beyond their quota or taking longer to repay. This decision primarily affects major borrowers like Argentina, Egypt, Ukraine, and Ecuador, who have borne the brunt of these fees.
Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s Managing Director, announced on Friday that the reform would lower IMF borrowing costs by 36%, saving countries $1.2 billion annually. The number of nations paying surcharges is expected to drop from 20 to 13 by fiscal year 2026.
However, it’s uncertain whether this concession will satisfy critics. Leaders from countries like Argentina and Brazil have called for a complete suspension of surcharges, arguing that the relief is minimal compared to the broader $1.62 trillion of dollar-denominated debt in emerging markets, with $132 billion due next year.
Georgieva, ahead of hosting global financial leaders in Washington this month, emphasized the need to address the concerns of indebted nations. The reform includes raising the threshold for surcharge imposition and lowering the margin over the prevailing interest rate.
The IMF has traditionally used surcharges to deter excessive dependence on its financial assistance. Despite calls to eliminate them entirely, the executive board upheld the fees, with Georgieva stressing that they are essential to encouraging responsible borrowing.
The surcharges have contributed to the IMF’s precautionary reserves, which are meant to safeguard against potential losses. With the fund reaching its $34 billion target for these reserves earlier this year, the need for continued surcharge collection has diminished.
Brazil and Argentina both suffered defeats in their latest 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, with Brazil losing 1-0 to Paraguay and Argentina falling 2-1 to Colombia.
In Asuncion, Inter Miami’s Diego Gomez struck the only goal for Paraguay after 20 minutes, handing Brazil their fourth defeat in five qualifying games.
Despite a star-studded lineup featuring Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, Endrick, and Vinicius Jr in attack, Brazil struggled to create chances, failing to register a shot on target in the first half. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, and West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta all started, but the team couldn’t find a way past Paraguay’s defense.
The result leaves Brazil fifth in the South American qualifying table, with just three wins in eight games. Their poor run of form follows their early exit from the Copa America, where they were knocked out in the quarter-finals. Appointed in January, manager Dorival Jr is still finding his feet with the team.
Defender Marquinhos addressed the team’s current struggles, telling TV Globo, “The coach is still figuring out the best way for us to play and that’s reflected in the result.
There are a lot of new players, we are lacking confidence. Qualifying isn’t easy, it’s a difficult time and we have to know how to manage it. It’s a time of transition.”
Meanwhile, Argentina, without Lionel Messi, were beaten 2-1 by Colombia in Barranquilla. Former Real Madrid and Everton midfielder James Rodriguez proved to be the hero for Colombia, scoring the winning penalty in the 60th minute. Rodriguez also assisted the opener, crossing for Wolves’ Yerson Mosquera to head in the first goal after 25 minutes.
Argentina fought back, with Nicolas Gonzalez equalizing three minutes after the break. However, a foul by Nicolas Otamendi on Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz led to a penalty following a VAR review. Rodriguez confidently dispatched the spot-kick, sending Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez the wrong way.
Reflecting on his performance, Rodriguez said, “I don’t think I’ve ever scored against them – there’s a first time for everything. We want to get used to playing finals. Today was just another game, but against a team that has won everything – this victory tastes even better.”
Despite the defeat, Argentina remain at the top of the 10-team qualifying table, two points clear of second-placed Colombia. The top six teams from the South American qualifiers will automatically secure their place in the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-placed team will compete in an intercontinental play-off.
Elsewhere, Uruguay were held to a 0-0 draw by Venezuela, with new Manchester United signing Manuel Ugarte starting for his national team. In Asia, Australia’s qualifying campaign remains shaky after a 0-0 draw against Indonesia, following a 1-0 home defeat to Bahrain.
Meanwhile, Japan secured a commanding 5-0 win over Bahrain, with Premier League players Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), and Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) in the starting lineup. South Korea also recorded their first win in World Cup qualifying, defeating Oman 3-1, with goals from Tottenham captain Son Heung-min and Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan.
Argentina secured their record 16th Copa America title by defeating Colombia, but the match faced significant delays due to disturbances outside the Miami venue.
The kick-off was pushed back by 80 minutes as trouble erupted with ticketless fans trying to force their way into the Hard Rock Stadium.
This chaos left many fans waiting in the Miami heat, and clashes with police resulted in several arrests and some supporters needing medical attention.
On the field, Lautaro Martinez netted the decisive goal in the second half of extra time from a Giovani Lo Celso assist.
The match had few clear chances, with Colombia’s Jhon Cordoba hitting the woodwork in the first half. Argentina thought they had scored with 15 minutes remaining, but Nicolas Tagliafico’s goal was ruled out for offside.
Lionel Messi, who was forced to leave the game midway through the second half due to an injury, was in tears but celebrated Argentina’s third consecutive major tournament win at the final whistle.
The half-time break was also extended to 25 minutes due to a concert by Colombian popstar Shakira, which was criticized by Colombia’s manager Nestor Lorenzo.
Despite the interruptions and challenging conditions,Martinez emerged as the hero and secured the Golden Boot with five goals in the tournament.
Argentina triumphed over Colombia to secure a record 16th Copa America title, but the victory was overshadowed by chaotic scenes outside the Hard Rock Stadium, causing an 80-minute delay to the kick-off.
Lautaro Martinez emerged as the hero for Argentina, scoring the decisive goal in the second half of extra time from a through ball by Giovani Lo Celso. The dramatic win was bittersweet as captain Lionel Messi, who had to be substituted midway through the second half due to an injury, was seen in tears but later celebrated his country’s third successive major tournament win at the final whistle.
The start of the match was significantly delayed due to turmoil outside the stadium. Organizers reported that ticketless fans attempted to storm the venue, leading to clashes with police and security personnel. Several arrests were made, and numerous supporters required medical attention from paramedics after waiting for hours in the Miami heat.
Adding to the disruption, the half-time break was extended to 25 minutes to accommodate a performance by Colombian popstar Shakira, a decision criticized by Colombia’s head coach, Nestor Lorenzo.
The match itself was tightly contested in hot and humid conditions, yielding few clear opportunities. Colombia came closest in the first half when Jhon Cordoba’s shot struck the woodwork. Argentina thought they had taken the lead with 15 minutes remaining, but Nicolas Tagliafico’s effort was disallowed for offside. Ultimately, Martinez’s goal not only clinched the title for Argentina but also earned him the Golden Boot with five goals in the tournament.
This victory adds to Messi’s illustrious career, marking his third international tournament win in three years, following the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. Despite his impressive achievements, Messi’s future in international football remains uncertain. At 37, his performances have shown signs of decline, with his only goal in this tournament coming in the semi-final win over Canada. He also missed a crucial penalty in the quarter-final shootout against Ecuador and had to leave the pitch due to an ankle injury during the final.
The final also marked the end of Angel Di Maria’s international career, as the veteran announced his retirement from international football after 145 caps.
The pre-match delays were another blow for organizers, especially with the Hard Rock Stadium scheduled to host games during the 2026 World Cup. The incidents in Miami followed similar scenes in the semi-finals in Charlotte, where Uruguay players clashed with Colombia fans over concerns for their families’ safety.
Roberto Garnacho, brother of Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “What a shame CONMEBOL, the families not being able to enter the stadium, unbelievable. We were with [Argentina defender Marcos Acuna’s] family outside, getting away from the fights… Argentina’s security had to come get us, children of players crying, people entering without tickets.”
Colombia, which had been unbeaten in 28 games dating back to a World Cup qualifier against Argentina, fell short in their quest for a second Copa America title, their only triumph remaining the 2001 success on home soil. Despite several chances, including Cordoba’s early effort that hit the post, they could not find a way past the resilient Argentine defense.
As Argentina celebrates another historic victory, the chaotic scenes in Miami raise questions about the organization and security measures for future international tournaments.
In a thrilling Copa America semi-final clash, Lionel Messi guided Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Canada, securing their place in the tournament’s final.
The 37-year-old forward, playing for Inter Miami, showcased his brilliance by scoring a crucial goal six minutes into the second half.
Messi deflected a shot from Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez past Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, doubling Argentina’s lead after Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez had opened the scoring.
Alvarez’s goal came earlier in the match when he capitalized on a pass from Rodrigo de Paul of Atletico Madrid, slotting home from close range. This victory marks the sixth time in the last eight editions that Argentina, with their illustrious history of 15 Copa America titles, have reached the final.
The upcoming final, scheduled against either Uruguay or Colombia, holds special significance as it will mark Angel di Maria’s final appearance for Argentina before his international retirement. There are also uncertainties looming over Messi’s future with the national team.
Reflecting on the achievement, Messi expressed joy and emphasized the team’s collective effort, stating, “Let’s enjoy what we are experiencing as a national team, as a group. It is not easy to be in a final again, to compete again to be champions.”
Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, acknowledged the impending decisions of Messi and Di Maria regarding their international careers. “For Leo (Messi), it’s similar to Angel,” said Scaloni, indicating the team’s desire for both players to continue contributing if they choose to do so.
Despite Canada’s valiant efforts, led by MLS club Nashville winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who missed key chances early in the game, they were unable to break Argentina’s grip after Alvarez’s goal. Lille striker Jonathan David had a notable opportunity late in the first half, but his shot was saved by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Canada, ranked 48th globally, exceeded expectations in their debut appearance at the Copa America. Coach Jesse Marsch expressed pride in his team’s performance, noting their progress and the lessons learned from the tournament.
Looking ahead, Canada, set to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and the USA, will compete for third place against the losing team from the other semi-final. Marsch emphasized the importance of expanding Canada’s player pool in the years to come to sustain their competitive edge.
The semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia is scheduled for Thursday, July 11, with the Copa America final slated for Monday, July 15.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez emerged as the hero for Argentina as they secured their place in the Copa America semi-finals with a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Ecuador.
The match, which ended 1-1 in regular time, saw Martinez’s crucial saves propel Argentina to the next round.
The quarterfinal clash in Houston began with Argentina taking the lead through Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, who headed home from close range following a corner in the first half.
Despite their advantage, the World Cup holders struggled to assert dominance, and Ecuador had several opportunities to equalize.
Ecuador’s captain, Enner Valencia, missed a golden opportunity to level the score in the 60th minute when his penalty kick hit the post.
This miss came after Rodrigo De Paul was penalized for handball. However, Ecuador kept pushing and finally found their equalizer in injury time, with Kevin Rodriguez heading an in-swinging cross past Emi Martinez.
The game then proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Argentina’s fortunes initially looked bleak. Captain Lionel Messi’s chipped effort hit the crossbar, giving Ecuador an early advantage. However, Martinez’s heroics quickly turned the tide. He saved Ecuador’s first two spot kicks from Angel Mena and Alan Minda, keeping Argentina in contention.
À nouveau 2 tirs au but arrêtés lors de la séance des quarts de finale de #CopaAmérica contre l’#Ecuador.
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister successfully converted their penalties for Argentina. Former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi sealed the victory by scoring the decisive penalty after John Yeboah had kept Ecuador’s hopes alive.
Martinez, who has now faced 24 penalties for Argentina, has conceded only 12, with nine saves and three off-target misses. His performance in the shootout was particularly noteworthy, as he taunted Ecuadorian fans following his saves and celebrated with the largely Argentine crowd in Houston.
Argentina, the 15-time Copa America champions, will face either Canada or Venezuela in the semi-finals. The victory, however, did not come without repercussions for Ecuador, who parted ways with their manager Felix Sanchez after the defeat. Despite having three years remaining on his contract, the Ecuadorian Football Federation decided to terminate his tenure.
“We thank Felix and his coaching staff for their work and professionalism, and wish him success in his future endeavours,” the Ecuadorian Football Federation said in a statement.
Lionel Messi recentlymarked his 37th birthday while participating in the Copa America tournament.
During his time away on international duty, he shared a jovial moment with his teammates, posing alongside a birthday cake in a photo posted on Instagram.
Among those present to celebrate with him were Cristian Romero, Rodrigo de Paul, and veteran players Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi.
Earlier, Messi received a generous gift of a large bottle of Argentinean wine from Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham.
As he aims for Copa America success, Messi and the Argentine national team kicked off their campaign with a strong 2-0 victory over Canada in the group stage.
Messi said in his caption: “Thank you so much for all the greetings and congratulations!! Another year that coincides with my birthday being with the National Team… So celebrating a little bit more and we keep getting ready for our next game. Hugs!”
While Lionel Messi celebrated his 37th birthday amidst Copa America duties, he isn’t the eldest member of Argentina’s squad. Franco Armani, the backup goalkeeper, holds that distinction, having turned 37 last October.
Next in their Copa America journey, Argentina faces Chile on June 25, following a modest start with a 0-0 draw against Peru.
Messi and his teammates aim for a stronger performance after securing a hard-foughtvictory over Canada,with the decisive goal coming in the 88th minute.
Following Argentina’s victory over Guatemala in their final Copa América warm-up match on Friday, Lionel Messi cautioned his teammates that the road ahead would be far from easy.
Messi and Lautaro Martínez both netted twice in the 4-1 win at Fedex Field, Washington, D.C., overturning an early own goal by Lisandro Martínez that initially gave Guatemala the lead.
Reflecting on the match, Messi acknowledged the tough task ahead of defending the title they clinched in 2021. “It’s going to get harder and harder for us, nothing is going to be easy for us,” he said.
“But we’re going to try again. “We are working with the same desire as always, with the same intensity in each training session and facing these games as we always do.”
Argentina announced their official squad for the tournament on Saturday.
“I have decided which players will be left out, but first I am going to inform them,” head coach Lionel Scaloni said. “The decision always involves looking for the best for the team. This is the most difficult list of all because we have had complications.”
Scaloni emphasized that Messi is aware he will feature in all of the team’s matches “provided he remains in good health.” The Copa América commences on June 20with Argentina taking on Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Emi Martinez is ready for a “fight” at Aston Villa,with the World Cup winner reiterating his desire to represent Argentina at the 2024 Olympics.
The enigmatic goalkeeper is already part of his country’s plans for the Copa America, as they seek to defend that continental crown, but has previously told Ole of also turning out at international Games in Paris: “As many players have said, if Javier [Mascherano] is available and wants us, we are available.
Obviously, the national team comes before the clubs and if the clubs let us, we always have the power to say that the national team is always ahead.
And for us, it is a source of pride. I want to go. There are a lot of guys who want to go.” Mascherano has named a 23-man squad for Olympic warm-up matches but has yet to add overage players to that list.
Martinez could be called upon despite the Copa America final being just 10 days prior to the event in France getting underway and the new Premier League season starting a week after the tournament finishes.
Martinez has now told TyC Sports about battling for the right to form part of Argentina’s plans: “I’ve had the possibility to speak with Marche (Mascherano); it is a wish that I want to play, but it doesn’t obviously just depend on myself.
The club has blocked me from going lots of times before but I want to play the Copa America and to have a little bit more strength at the end of the Copa America to make a decision.
I know that I have to fight a little bit more with the club; it’s not 100 percent done but from my part, it is a wish that I have that I want to win the Olympics.
It’s not obligatory for the club to let a player leave to play in the Olympics, I know that my club has not let any player go, they blocked everyone.
A small chance, but I always put the national team in front and if I have to fight a little more with the club, I will, but first is the Copa America.
It’s very difficult to fight with the club now because for us, the most important thing is to win the Copa America. Then comes the Olympics, and it is a personal wish of mine to win the trophy.”
Villa, who will be gracing the Champions League in 2023-24 after securing a top-four finish in the Premier League, have already blocked France coach Thierry Henry from selecting Lucas Digne and Moussa Diaby in his squad for a gold medal bid on home
Former Argentina international and renowned footballer, Carlos Tevez,has been admitted to the hospital due to chest pain, as announced by Club Atletico Independiente, the Argentine club he currently coaches.
Tevez, who has represented Argentina in 76 matches and played for prominent clubs such as Boca Juniors, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus, assumed the coaching role at Independiente in August 2023.
The Buenos Aires-based club stated that Tevez was hospitalized at the Trinidad Hospital in San Isidro after experiencing discomfort in his chest.
“They (the hospital) carried out the corresponding studies and they were satisfactory,” said in a statement.
“Carlos Tevez will be hospitalized as a precaution until the corresponding studies are completed.”
Tevez won two Premier League titles with United and one with City, as well as two Serie A titles with Juventus. After retiring in 2021, Tevez had a stint in charge of Rosario Central in 2022.
Alexis Mac Allister provided insight into how Argentina operates in the absence of Lionel Messi, acknowledging that opponents tend to be more apprehensive when the captain is present.
The Liverpool midfielder suggested that La Albiceleste strives to showcase greater strength when Messi is not on the field, indicating that rivals perceive them as a more formidable force with the 37-year-old involved.
Messi recently withdrew from international friendlies due to an injury sustained in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game for Inter Miami against Nashville.
Consequently, he missed subsequent matches for his club and opted not to join Lionel Scaloni’s squad for friendly fixtures.
Speaking to ESPN, Mac Allister said, “We always focus a lot on the group and the team. We know that when Leo is not there, we have to become even stronger because we don’t have that player who, when things go wrong, can save us.
“We know that when Leo is there, they (rivals) are a little more afraid; it is normal. We also have players who play for big clubs in Europe and when they see the Argentine National Team, they know that it is not going to be an easy match and that’s what we want. We want to do our best so that the rival has a difficult day.”
Following their 3-0 win over El Salvador, the reigning world champions are preparing to play against Costa Rica in their next friendly match, set for Wednesday.
She gave up her family’s wealth to help the poor and keep the Jesuit movement going in Argentina, even after the religious order was stopped.
The Pope said on Friday that she is a special person for the people in Argentina and for the whole Church.
The political and religious leaders are meeting in Argentina at a time when the country is facing big political problems. Inflation is very high at 200% and 40% of the people are living in poverty.
Many people in Argentina are very upset about Mr. Milei’s plans to cut spending and decrease the value of their money by 50%.
He said he wants to take away some of the protections for workers, get rid of limits on how much landlords can charge for rent, and stop the government from giving money to help people buy things they need every day.
Mr Milei says the country needs big and quick changes to fix its really bad economic problems.
Manchester City’s promising talent, Claudio Echeverri, is set to undergo a medical evaluation after reporting intense chest pains while on international duty with Argentina.
Echeverri, part of the Argentina squad, actively contributed to a 5-0 victory over Chile in an Olympic Games qualifier for the Under-23 side.
Following the match, the 18-year-old, who has committed to joining Manchester City from River Plate, disclosed experiencing chest pains during the game.
He affirmed his intention to consult with the medical team to address and assess the issue.
He told TyC Sports: “I had a very strong pain in my chest; I couldn’t breathe well and I was very scared. Just in case, I’m going to talk to the doctors to see what it is because something like this had never happened to me and I felt very scared.”
Echeverri received on-field treatment for several minutes during the first half of the match and was subsequently taken off on a stretcher.
Despite briefly returning, he was eventually substituted in the 64th minute. Argentina’s victory secures their qualification for the second round with a match to spare as they pursue a spot in the 2024 Paris Games.
The situation has sparked genuine concerns for Echeverri and Argentina, with the young player set to undergo an assessment before obtaining clearance to resume action.
Football fans in Ghana have been left disappointed, as their hopes of witnessing theBlack Stars face off against Lionel Messi and the Argentina team have been dashed.
Earlier reports suggested that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) was seriously considering Ghana as one of the teams to play in the March 2024 international window.
Excitement grew among Ghanaians when news circulated that Argentina might take on Ghana just three days after their match against China on March 26. However, the AFA officially announced its opponents on January 29, 2024, revealing that Ivory Coast and Nigeria were chosen instead.
According to the AFA’s social media post, Argentina is set to play Nigeria, a familiar opponent, and then face Ivory Coast in the final game of the international window.
This revelation sparked reactions on social media, with Ghanaians expressing their disappointment at missing the opportunity to see Messi and his team play against Dede Ayew and the Black Stars.
Speculation arises that Argentina’s decision to choose Nigeria and Ivory Coast over Ghana could be influenced by the belief that the Black Stars might not be considered a credible opponent.
This assumption is fueled by the fact that both Nigeria and Ivory Coast have qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFCON, showcasing their competitive strengths.
While Nigeria and Ivory Coast continued to progress in the tournament, the Black Stars faced an early exit from the AFCON, winning none, drawing two, and losing one of their three Group B matches.
The disappointing performance inIvory Coast led to the sacking of Chris Hughton by the Ghana Football Association. This marks the second consecutive group-stage exit for the Black Stars, following a similar fate in the 2021 edition of the AFCON.
A big fire started on Thursday at Los Alerces national park in northern Patagonia. The park is a special place with very big alerce trees and it is a World Heritage site protected by Unesco.
Governor Ignacio Torres said that the fire was started on purpose and has burned over 1,000 hectares.
He said that the smoke was making it hard for aerial firefighters to see and do their job.
The fire got bigger because the area was really hot. The temperatures rose to 40C (104F) in the port city of San Antonio Oeste.
Mario Cárdenas, the head of the fire department at Los Alerces, said that the fire had moved from the park to the nearby areas.
He said the fire was still not under control, but more firefighters were coming to help.
The national park called Los Alerces has trees that are very old and can grow really tall, up to 45m (150ft) or even more.
The park is really big, almost 260,000 hectares. Its important for protecting the Patagonian Forest.
Manchester City has finalized the acquisition of the highly regarded Argentina under-23 midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate, as announced by the club on Thursday.
The 18-year-old has committed to a contract with the Premier League champions until June 2028.
However, he will continue his tenure at River Plate until next January before making the move to City.
According to sources cited by ESPN, the deal is valued at approximately £12.5 million ($15.9 million), with additional add-ons.
Echeverri, identified by sources as having attracted interest from Barcelona, served as the captain of Argentina during the under-17 World Cup last year. He played a pivotal role in their journey to the semifinals, where they faced a penalty shootout defeat against Germany.
Echeverri showcased his goal-scoring prowess in the U17 World Cup, netting five goals, including a hat trick against Brazil in the quarterfinal. He was recognised with the Bronze Ball award as the tournament’s third-highest scorer.
Having made his debut for River Plate in June of the previous year, Echeverri made an instant impact, providing an assist in a 3-1 victory over Instituto. In total, he has accumulated six first-team appearances for the Argentine giants.
The agreement City has reached for Echeverri mirrors the arrangement used for Julián Álvarez, who joined the Etihad from River Plate in January 2022.
Álvarez stayed in South America until the subsequent summer, making his Premier League debut in August 2022.
Since then, he has played a role in City’s victories in thePremier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup. Additionally, he was part of the Argentina squad that secured the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, have purportedly agreed to engage in a friendly match against Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars.
According to reports emanating from Argentina, the match is scheduled to take place in China on a provisional date of March 26, 2024.
This friendly encounter is one of the two matches the World Champions have slated for the first international break of the year.
Prior to facing the Black Stars, Argentina is set to play against China. Notably, this marks the second meeting between Argentina and Ghana since their 2009 clash, which saw Argentina secure a 1-0 victory.
These matches serve as valuable preparation for the South American Champions as they gear up for the 2024 Copa America.
Currently holding both the Copa America and FIFA World Cup titles, Argentina is ranked as the top national team globally.
In contrast, Ghana holds the 61st position in the world rankings, reflecting their less-than-ideal performance in recent years, with no advancement beyond the group stage in their last three major tournaments.
The wife and children of Adolfo Macías Villamar, a wanted Ecuadorean gang leader known as Fito, have been detained and expelled from Argentina.
Argentina’s security minister emphasized that the action sends a clear message that the country is unwelcoming to narco-criminals.
Fito escaped from an Ecuadorean prison earlier this month, leading to a nationwide search in Ecuador, which is currently under a state of emergency.
Authorities in Argentina released footage of individuals with links to Fito being escorted by police on an air force plane.
The detainees, totaling eight individuals, including associates and family members, were apprehended at a property in the region of Córdoba and subsequently returned to Ecuador.
Argentina’s Interior Minister stressed that the country will not harbor criminals.
This development coincides with Ecuador’s ongoing efforts to locate Fito and address the gang-related disorder contributing to the country’s crisis. Fito, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, is accused of orchestrating previous prison violence and disappeared from his cell in Guayaquil.
Fito, who is head of the Los Choneros gang and has been accused of orchestrating earlier prison violence, vanished from his cell in a facility in the city of Guayaquil.
Adolfo Macías Villamar – known as Fito – being detained by policeImage source, Reuters
Image caption, Fito’s escape and subsequent attempts to capture him ignited a wave of gang violence across Ecuador
He has also been linked to the murder of Fernando Villavicencio, an anti-corruption presidential candidate who was shot dead last August.
In the aftermath of the escape, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared war on the country’s gangs and imposed tough security conditions, a stance which has been met with unprecedented levels of violence by Ecuador’s gangs.
Earlier this week, authorities said they had regained control of the country’s prisons after days of rioting – but the country’s most wanted fugitive remains elusive.
Mr Noboa has called on authorities in neighbouring Colombia – where several powerful drug cartels are based – to begin searching for Fito, according to AFP news agency.
He has also reiterated plans to deport foreign criminals in a bid to alleviate overcrowding in Ecuador’s volatile prisons.
Diego Armando Maradona Junior, the son of the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, has asserted his belief that his father did not die from natural causes.
Maradona’s demise occurred in November 2020, officially attributed to heart failure and pulmonary edema, according to the medical reports shared with the family.
“There is an open investigation. We, his children, have a lot of faith in Argentine justice. I’m convinced that this should not have ended like this,” he told Mediaset.
“They killed my father. It is not my job to say who did it, I have my own idea but I can’t say it. They left him to his fate when something could have been done. I made a promise: until the last day of my life, I’ll fight for justice.”
The son’s accusations have generated interest in his father’s dying circumstances online and garnered traction on numerous social media platforms.
Following Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Brazil in World Cup qualifying, Leandro Paredes made a heartfelt plea to Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni.
In a surprising interview, Scaloni hinted at the possibility of resigning, stating that he “has to think a lot about what to do.”
This revelation stirred shockwaves among players and fans who hold Scaloni in high esteem, especially after guiding them to their third global crown in Qatar in 2022.
Paredes, in response, urged Scaloni to carefully reconsider his decision, expressing the hope that he would continue leading the national team.
Speaking to the media after the match, Paredes said, “We didn’t talk to Scaloni.
“We are aware he’s the head of the group; let’s hope he stays there and makes the decision to stay because he is very important. He will have his reasons but we are more than grateful. Let’s hope he changes his mind and stays with us.”
Under Scaloni’s guidance, Argentina has experienced success, particularly evident in their current position atop the World Cup qualifying group.
Despite a setback in their previous match against Uruguay, the manager showcased his ability to inspire a comeback, even in challenging circumstances.
Presently holding an impressive eight-point lead over sixth-placed Brazil, who have faced three consecutive losses under Fernando Diniz, Argentina’s dominance is clear.
Scaloni’s recent comments about contemplating his future as head coach came in the aftermath of a match marked by off-the-pitch violence at Brazil’s Maracana stadium.
While he did not provide a definitive statement about his potential resignation, the chaotic scenes in the stands may have influenced his reflections.
Although uncertainties linger about Scaloni’s future, Argentina’s loyal supporters remain hopeful that their accomplished World Cup-winning coach will continue leading the team for the foreseeable future.
Lionel Messi recently used social media to condemn the “excessive repression” faced by Argentina fans in Brazil following a tumultuous incident at the Maracana stadium.
During the World Cup qualifier in Rio de Janeiro, the match was delayed for more than 30 minutes due to police intervention prompted by Albiceleste supporters booing the Brazilian national anthem.
This incident set the stage for a heated encounter, ultimately won by Argentina through a Nicolas Otamendi goal. However, Messi, in his post-match remarks, highlighted the plight of fans who endured the repercussions after the game concluded.
The 2023 Ballon d’Or winner wrote on Instagram, “This team continues to make history… Great victory in the Maracana, although it will be marked by the repression of the Argentinians once again in Brazil. This can’t be tolerated; it’s crazy and it needs to end now!!”
The intense rivalry between Brazil and Argentina in world football has once again erupted into violence, marking another instance of clashes between fans from these two nations this month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6V5aLiWn60
The recent Copa Libertadores final between Fluminense and Boca Juniors witnessed chaotic scenes of violence on Rio’s Copacabana beach, triggering a harsh response from Brazilian authorities.
Adding to the uncertainty is the looming question of Lionel Messi’s future at the international level.
The Inter Miami star, set to turn 39 during the 2026 World Cup, faces speculation about his participation, with some suggesting it hinges on his team’s performance in the upcoming Copa America.
Moreover, Messi may find himself without a mentor for both tournaments following the surprising hint of resignation from manager Lionel Scaloni on Tuesday night.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to face the “phenomenal” Lionel Messi, having only encountered the Argentine superstar in video games before.
Martinelli is part of the Brazil squad preparing to play against the reigning world champions at the Maracanã on Tuesday.
This match holds significant importance in the qualification race for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Even though Messi will be a star attraction in Rio de Janeiro, opponents like Martinelli are excited about sharing the pitch with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Martinelli, at 22 years old, acknowledges Messi’s status as a phenomenal player, considering him the best in the world once again this year.
I want to enjoy the moment of being able to play against him, being in the same stadium as him, and watching him up close because I’ve only seen him in video games. It’s going to be a wonderful experience.”
The intense rivalry between Brazil and Argentina will persist when they face each other, but for Gabriel Martinelli, the opportunity to share the field with his football idol,Lionel Messi, is a moment to relish. There might even be a desire to exchange shirts with Messi at the end of the match.
Javier Milei is the provisional winner of the presidential elections in Argentina. He ran a loud and anti-establishment campaign, similar to that of former US President Donald Trump. This happened while Argentina had one of the highest inflation rates in the world.
His opponent Sergio Massa admitted defeat in a short speech on Sunday night, even before the official results were given. Massa said that Milei is going to be the president for the next 4 years. He also said that he called Milei to congratulate him.
Early results indicate that Milei has over 55% of votes (13,781,154) with almost 94% of votes counted. The National Electoral Chamber has not announced an official winner yet.
Milei won the election even though he was new to politics and promised change. This was a big change from the current situation.
His promise to use the US dollar in Argentina could make the country do something new. No other big country like Argentina has given control of its money to people in Washington before.
Not long after the results were told, Milei was met with loud cheers and clapping from his followers. He went on stage and gave an enthusiastic speech, promising to lead the country in a new direction politically.
“Today we start a new chapter in our history, and we go back to the right path that we should have never left,” said Milei. “Today we choose the path that helped this country become great again. ”
Milei is a person who is against abortion and doesn’t believe in climate change. He wants to cut government spending by getting rid of Argentina’s ministries of culture, education, and diversity, and cutting public subsidies.
“Let’s make Argentina better again. ” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, in response to Milei’s victory. “I am really happy with you,” he wrote.
Milei got a lot of attention because of his unique political style and his bold ideas that challenged the way things are usually done. He did some wild things like using chainsaws and getting really angry, which made people notice him.
In simple terms, Milei’s supporters are angry at politicians and want them all to leave, regardless of their political beliefs. They are using the slogan “May they all leave. ” to express their anger. Argentina’s current government is led by the left, after being ruled by the right from 2015 to 2019.
Apart from his plan to use the dollar, Milei wants to make gun control rules less strict and give control of the prisons to the military instead of civilians. He wants to be very tough on crime. He suggests using government money to help families who want to send their kids to private schools. And he also wants to make the health sector private, even though it has always been run by the government in Argentina.
Milei got in trouble for saying some things, but his biggest fans still support him. He caused a lot of anger when it seemed like Milei wanted to allow people to sell their organs, but he later took back what he said. In 2017, he had to say sorry for calling Pope Francis, who is from Argentina and is known for his liberal ideas in South America, “an envoy of Satan. ”
Milei’s surprising rise in politics will be watched closely internationally as a possible indication of a comeback of far-right populism in the area. Ex-President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, supported Milei’s candidacy. On the other hand, leaders from the left side in South America including current Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, broke the tradition of not getting involved and supported Massa in the election.
Massa, who has been a politician for a long time, came to symbolize Argentina’s political system during the race against Milei. Inflation was very high during his time as economy minister, at 142% each year. But Massa said the government’s actions were helping to reduce the problem. However, voters were not convinced and were tired of struggling to afford the cost of living.
Lionel Messi responded to an offensive gesture from Manuel Ugarte directed at Rodrigo De Paul by urging certain Uruguayan players to “show respect.”
A tense 2026 World Cup qualification match unfolded between the South American rivals at Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera on Thursday evening.
In this fiercely contested game, Argentina experienced a dramatic 2-0 defeat, marking their first loss since claiming the global title in Qatar in 2022.
The match was marred by several heated incidents, including goals from Ronald Araujo and Darwin Nunez for the visiting team.
One notable altercation occurred in the first half when Ugarte clashed with De Paul.
The Uruguayan midfielder accused De Paul, a World Cup winner, of being Messi’s “bottle feeder,” and an offensive gesture further fueled tensions, resulting in players from both teams becoming entangled in an unsightly brawl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZxzwBSKz0
Messi told reporters afterwards, when asked about the incident, “It’s normal. These kinds of games, qualifiers, against Uruguay, it’s always like that. I prefer not to say what I think. Young people have to learn to respect their elders. This classic was always intense and hard, but always with a lot of respect. They have to learn a little.”
Messi went on to say of the game itself, which saw Argentina fall behind late in the first half before conceding a second in the 87th minute: “We never felt comfortable. They’re a physical team that works well and on the counterattack, they were very dangerous. Today it was our turn to lose. It’s a test. We have to get back up and play a great game in Brazil.”
Argentina is set to face arch-rivals Brazil on Tuesday,maintaining their position at the summit of the CONMEBOL qualification table. They hold a two-point lead over Uruguay, while Brazil, experiencing inconsistency, currently occupies the fifth position.
Argentina forward Papu Gomez (35) has blamed a failed doping test on his son’s cough syrup after Serie A club Monza said on Friday that theirWorld Cup winner had been handed a two-year ban.
Gomez was banned by FIFA after terbutaline – a drug taken to calm a bronchospasm crisis – was found in his sample, Monza said in a statement.
However, Gomez said on Instagram on Sunday: “I have never used, nor ever had any intention (of) using doping methods.
“The alleged infringement stems from the presence of terbutaline in my system as a result of accidentally, involuntarily and unintentionally receiving a spoonful of my toddler’s cough syrup by mistake.
“It should be pointed out, however, that the therapeutic use of terbutaline is permitted for professional athletes and that it does not in any way improve performance in football.”
The test sample was taken in October 2022 when Gomez was playing for LaLiga side Sevilla.
In Argentina’s presidential election on Sunday, the economy minister Sergio Massa surprised everyone by getting over 36% of the votes. This means he has a good chance of competing with far-right candidate Javier Milei in a second round.
Mr Massa’s lead came as a surprise because people thought voters would be angry with him for being in charge during a financial crisis.
The rate of inflation in Argentina is almost 140%.
With almost all votes counted, none of the candidates got enough votes (45%) to win directly.
So, there will be another voting round on November 19th. People will need to decide between Mr. Massa, who belongs to the left-wing Peronist group, and Mr. Milei, who follows a far-right libertarian ideology.
Mr Milei, who got the most votes in the elections in August, is now second place with 30% of the votes.
Patricia Bullrich, who used to be in charge of security and has conservative views, came in third place with 23. 8% of the votes. After the result was announced, Ms Bullrich criticized Sergio Massa for being part of the worst government in Argentina’s history. She stated that she would not congratulate him.
Juan Schiaretti and Myriam Bregman, the other two candidates in the election, did not receive as many votes. Juan Schiaretti got 6. 8% of the votes and Myriam Bregman got 2. 7% of the votes.
Some people who support Mr. Massa went out on the streets in Buenos Aires to celebrate after he won unexpectedly.
Luis Esquivel said to the BBC that Massa demonstrated that he was the only candidate with a real plan for the country.
“He organized a successful campaign, and the results prove it,” said Juliana Agrofoglio, a 27-year-old. She also said that the voters came together to face the fear that Mr. Milei had caused.
Mr Milei suggested getting rid of the central bank and using the US dollar instead of the Argentine peso. This appealed to voters who wanted a drastic solution to improve Argentina’s struggling economy.
He has also said he will reduce the number of ministries and make the government smaller, make it easier to own guns, and make it harder to get an abortion.
In easier terms, Mr. Milei said to his followers that they had seen the most significant election in the past 100 years. He added that Sunday’s vote was important because Argentineans voted for something different.
Benjamin Gedan, who is in charge of the Argentina Project at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington, said that even though many people in Argentina want big changes, there are also many who would suffer if the social welfare system that Mr. Milei suggests gets taken apart.
“If Milei is at rallies holding a chainsaw, it means people’s quality of life is being negatively impacted,” Mr. Gedan told the AFP news agency. Mr Massa mostly talked about why the current government is good and should be supported during his campaign.
“Our country is facing a difficult situation (. ) but you believed in us as the best means to make progress in Argentina’s history,” he told his supporters in Buenos Aires.
The 51-year-old person said that the cuts in spending made by his government happened because the previous government had borrowed a lot of money from the IMF.
With two very different candidates competing against each other, disagreements are likely to get worse in the next month leading up to the final vote. This is happening during a tough period for Argentina’s economy.
The person who wins the run-off will face a big task: to convince a country tired of politics and filled with people who desperately want their lives to get better.
Argentina is going to have an important election on Sunday to choose a new president. This election is considered to be one of the most democratic and unrestricted ones in many years. The consequences of a severe economic crisis have provided a perfect opportunity for an unconventional far-right candidate, who has distinctive and eccentric appearance, and a completely different way of governing the nation.
Javier Milei was not very well-known until recently. He is an economist, commentator, and loves rock music. He won the recent primaries and current polls show that he is leading in the first round on Sunday.
He really wants to make changes and he is very sure about it. At a campaign event, he used a chainsaw to show that he plans to cut spending to make Argentina’s economy better.
“We need someone from outside who is brave enough to confront the criminal organizations in our country,” states Alejandro Lazcano, a supporter waiting in line to attend Milei’s final campaign event six hours ahead of its scheduled start time. “Who actually has the courage to make the necessary changes. ”
Javier Milei, who is often compared to former US president Donald Trump, definitely says he will. He has expressed his desire to explode the central bank and bring in the dollar as the official money of the country in order to stop the high inflation, which is currently at more than 100%.
With Argentina on the verge of economic collapse, this message is understood by millions of people.
Benjamin Gedan, who leads the Wilson Centre’s Argentina Project, says that Milei’s strong candidacy represents the dissatisfaction of the local population with the government and its policies. This sentiment has been fueled by a decade of slow economic growth and the negative impact of the pandemic on the economy.
Voters are really interested in Milei’s plan to use the dollar as the national currency. They are prepared to stop using the peso completely, regardless of whether Milei can effectively start using the US currency.
A group of people who make popular videos on TikTok.
These promises are being talked about a lot, but if you go to the streets of Buenos Aires, it’s difficult to even know that he exists.
The walls and billboards have lots of posters with happy candidates asking people to vote. But no one has Javier Milei’s face on them.
And that’s because he’s working with a large group of popular social media users, who are sharing his message, mostly on TikTok.
Iñaki Gutierrez is part of a group. He is a 22-year-old student who studies law and economics. He viewed Brexit as a source of motivation for how to lead a political campaign.
“Iñaki says he saw a lot of campaigning on Facebook. He was amazed by the amount of money the Leave campaign had and how it influenced communication. ”
So he went to talk to Javier Milei and convinced him that it was important for him to have accounts on social media. Iñaki and his girlfriend are leading Javier Milei’s campaign on TikTok now. The couple also has a lot of fans.
A group of people who make popular videos on TikTok.
These promises are being talked about a lot, but if you go to the streets of Buenos Aires, it’s difficult to even know that he exists.
The walls and billboards have lots of posters with happy candidates asking people to vote. But no one has Javier Milei’s face on them.
And that’s because he’s working with a large group of popular social media users, who are sharing his message, mostly on TikTok.
Iñaki Gutierrez is part of a group. He is a 22-year-old student who studies law and economics. He viewed Brexit as a source of motivation for how to lead a political campaign.
“Iñaki says he saw a lot of campaigning on Facebook. He was amazed by the amount of money the Leave campaign had and how it influenced communication. ”
So he went to talk to Javier Milei and convinced him that it was important for him to have accounts on social media. Iñaki and his girlfriend are leading Javier Milei’s campaign on TikTok now. The couple also has a lot of fans.
However, Malena Haboba, who supports Massa, is feeling concerned about the future.
“According to her, if Milei becomes president, everything, including the simplest things, will be in danger. ” “I am concerned about women being punished for choosing to have an abortion – it could result in women being forced back into traditional household roles. ”
Javier Milei’s opponents are attempting to simplify and expose the political discussion by debunking the catchy phrases and false information that have influenced numerous political campaigns. And a lot of people are replying on TikTok, which is the platform his supporters are most familiar with.
Caro from the TikTok account @indisciplinadxs explains that their content aims to disprove unfounded ideas that are being spread in the media. They created the account in response to Javier Milei’s increasing popularity.
It is important for us to talk about Argentina’s political history, like the social and economic history. This helps us understand that what he is suggesting is not new, it has already been tried before and it did not work. It had a lot of negative effects on our country’s economy and society.
But if the surveys are accurate, voters are not concerned. As he spoke to a full stadium during his final campaign event on Wednesday, the crowd strongly connected with this unconventional politician wearing a worn leather jacket.
They raised their fists and shouted “Freedom” loudly, showing their excitement about what he promised in his campaign. In a country where many people have a hard time every day, the chance to try something completely different – even if it’s uncertain – is attractive.
Lionel Scaloni is growing increasingly weary of the persistent questions about Lionel Messi’s retirement plans, even though the football legend is still very active in the game.
At 36 years old, Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, continues to defy age and show no signs of slowing down, much like his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
His remarkable performances were instrumental in leading Argentina to a World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022, and he is widely expected to secure his eighth Golden Ball award in 2023.
Messi has seamlessly transitioned to the United States, making an immediate impact with MLS side Inter Miami. He remains a pivotal figure for his national team as they prepare for the 2024 Copa America, with their focus currently on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Albiceleste boss Scaloni sees no need to consider what will happen when Messi hangs up his boots, with that day seemingly still some way off for now. He said when quizzed on that subject once again, “Let’s keep in mind that he is still here. What a way to think about ‘when he is gone.’ The truth is that he is still active; let’s leave him alone. Are we already retiring him? We commit hara-kiri; we are all crazy.”
Messi has been nursing an injury of late, limiting his game time at club level, but he stepped off the bench in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Paraguay last time out and is in contention to figure against Peru on Tuesday. Scaloni added, “Leo is fine. He has been adding minutes of training.
“We will make the decision. It’s a matter of minutes to see how much he can play. If he’s well, you know what I think, he will play. We always try to play those that are at 100 percent or close to 100 percent.
“It is very difficult for everyone to be at their best in these games so there may be a variation with respect to the game against Paraguay.”
Lionel Messi has been placed on the bench for Argentina due to concerns about his fitness.
The Inter Miami player, who has only played 35 minutes in the last month, was not deemed fully fit for the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Tuesday, which had generated significant anticipation.
Messi’s limited playing time in the past five matches is attributed to an injury he sustained on September 20 against MLS side Toronto FC.
In his most recent appearance, he appeared less than fully fit, but Inter Miami still fielded him in their pursuit of a postseason playoff spot.
Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain as Miami lost 1-0 to Cincinnati, ending their season aspirations.
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has opted to have his iconic captain available on the bench for the match against Paraguay, with a likelihood that Messi will start in their next game against Peru on October 17.
Peter Gerhardsson’s Sweden team demonstrated their dominance by securing their position as Group G winners in a convincing display against Argentina, who extended their unfortunate streak of 12 consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches without a victory.
Argentina, holding the record for the highest number of Women’s World Cup matches played without a win, aimed to break this pattern to advance.
However, Sweden, unsurprisingly, had the upper hand in the first half, with Olivia Schough’s long-range free-kick collected by Argentina’s goalkeeper Vanina Correa, followed by Schough’s header from 12 yards wide of the post.
The second half brought a turning point for Argentina, as their resistance eventually crumbled 20 minutes in when Rebecka Blomqvist scored with a header from inside the penalty area, granting Sweden a well-deserved lead.
The goal was made possible by an exquisite cross into the 18-yard box from Sofia Jakobsson.
Jakobsson’s cross, delivered from the right-hand side, showcased one of the standout assists of the tournament so far, underlining the evident difference in quality between Sweden and Argentina.
Before the final whistle, Sweden received an opportunity to reflect their dominance on the scoreboard.
A moment of recklessness from Argentina’s Gabriela Chavez led to her fouling Blomqvist in the penalty area, prompting referee Salima Mukansanga to award a penalty.
Elin Rubensson confidently converted the penalty, increasing the lead and solidifying Sweden’s impressive performance.
Despite resting several key players prior to the match, Sweden’s coach Gerhardsson must have been pleased with their ability to maintain their winning streak and conclude the group stage with a flawless record.
Nevertheless, Sweden now faces the challenging task of competing against reigning champions USA in the knockout stage. The team’s pursuit of their first Women’s World Cup triumph remains alive.
Fernando Pérez Algaba appeared to be living the high life to his 920,000 Instagram followers.
A man who began his working life selling pizzas in Buenos Aires, Argentina, hinted at tremendous wealth with his designer clothes, supercars, and extravagant excursions across the world.
Meanwhile, admiring articles about him in Argentine publications gave credence to his assertions that he was a successful “Forex and cryptocurrency trader.”
But as is all too frequently the case with ‘influencers’ on social media, appearances can be deceiving, and lying can have fatal repercussions.
On July 23, two kids in Buenos Aires who were having fun by the river under a bridge discovered a bag containing the 41-year-old’s body and limbs.
Police eventually discovered his head in a rucksack downstream.
Authorities told the local media that the man was shot three times and that his limbs had been “cleanly” removed, implying that an experienced criminal was responsible.
Since then, it has come to light that Algaba was dealing with a mounting debt load, tax issues, and money demands from investors in a ‘failed’ cryptocurrency investment scheme, which he acknowledged had ‘gone out of hand.
The Argentinean, who had just moved back to his country after living in Barcelona, presented himself as a self-made millionaire who could assist others in accumulating fortune.
In the months leading up to his passing, he spoke to local reporters about his colourful “rags-to-riches” journey in addition to uploading images of himself wearing fancy clothing, expensive watches, and supercars to his over one million Instagram followers.
He claimed in numerous interviews to have been a pizza delivery kid before becoming a successful “Forex and cryptocurrency trader” and relocating to Miami to manage a jet ski and automobile rental business.
He said that he previously “lost everything” on the stock market and warned that trading was “dangerous,” which were both surprisingly humble statements for someone who likes to flaunt their money.
He also sprinkled it with ludicrous claims of investment success, such as that he turned $100,000 into $200,000 “in four days” on the stock market. If real, this would make Warren Buffet and others gasp in disbelief.
Although theoretically conceivable with riskier assets like forex and cryptocurrencies, such profits are exceedingly unusual and have never been regularly replicated on conventional stock markets.
Algaba was accused of beating one of the two men who accused him of scamming them by failing to deliver a car they had paid for in 2021, according to Argentine channel C5N.
He allegedly accrued ‘irrecoverable’ tax bills to the Argentine tax authorities, and just 10 months after incorporation, one of his companies started bouncing checks.
According to judicial authorities cited by the Argentine newspaper La Nación, Algaba left a letter on his phone claiming he feared for his life after an investment he made with others did not turn out as planned.
He is alleged to have written, “If something happens to me, everyone is already warned.”
The note reportedly referred to a $40,000 investment made by the son of a senior member of a local football hooligan firm.
He apparently described asking the man to ‘wait a few months for me to settle up’ but later got a call in which he ‘threatened me’.
The note, which La Nación said was shared with multiple contacts, began: ‘Hello, well, in principle I apologize to all the people that I failed them and I could not pay them what they gave me.
‘At first this started as an investment in cryptocurrencies and, little by little, it got out of hand.
“Nothing that occurred was done intentionally. There was always a chance to regain what had been lost in a subsequent endeavour to move forward. There it was—the error.
According to UK and US financial authorities, cryptocurrency investments are quite dangerous and the majority of FX trading schemes result in losses for investors.
Given the exhilarating profits that, very sometimes, may be obtained through such dangerous schemes, both markets are riddled with instances of investors losing their life savings in the blink of an eye – and frequently in circumstances they find dubious.
Few persons who lure others into failed scams are ever prosecuted for fraud because most law enforcement agencies view losing investments as “par for the course,” even though criminals have been convicted for stealing cryptocurrencies.
Tiantian Kullander, 30, who passed away ‘in his sleep’ last year, as well as millionaire Nikolai Mushegian, 29, who drowned on a beach in Puerto Rico, are just two of the wealthy people in the crypto scene who have perished too soon.
Last November, a helicopter tragedy claimed the life of 53-year-old Russian entrepreneur and co-founder of the trading and investing website Libertex, Vyacheslav Taran.
There is yet no proof that Algaba deceived investors, who might not have taken the dangers into account.
However, his exaggerated statements about his prior investment performance make it unclear if he adequately explained such dangers.
One suspect has been detained by Argentine police investigating the case—a lady connected to certain documentation discovered in the suitcase—but police believe more individuals are still at large.
Although Algaba’s body appeared to have been dismembered with care, officials do not think an organised group killed him.
Sergio Berni, Buenos Aires’ security minister, told C5N that the suspects behaved “quickly and almost madly.”
A more skilled crook wouldn’t do it this way, he said. The event was quite stunning and somewhat macabre.
According to reports, Kupper, Algaba’s missing French bulldog, was going with him.
Argentina forward Yamila Rodriguez has clarified the meaning behind her Cristiano Ronaldo tattoo, emphasizing that it doesn’t reflect anyanimosity towards Lionel Messi.
The player has various tattoos, including ones of Portugal’s Ronaldo and Argentina’s World Cup-winning legend Diego Maradona on her left leg.
As we know, Messi and Ronaldo have had a historic rivalry during their time in La Liga when Messi played for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid.
Some had accused Rodriguez of being anti-Messi because of her Ronaldo tattoo.
However, she explains that the tattoo of the current Al-Nassr star was simply an inspiration to her, and it doesn’t imply any negative feelings towards her compatriot, Messi.
She wrote on Instagram: “Please, enough. I’m not doing well. In what moment did I say I was anti-Messi? Stop saying things that I didn’t say, because the truth is I’m not doing well (in the middle of a World Cup where I’m representing my country.)
“I’m not doing poorly because of you guys, but because of the awful things you’re saying, without respect. One can’t have an idol, or a player that they like? Please.
“I never said I’m anti-Messi and never would be. He is our captain of our national team – me saying that my inspiration and idol is CR7 (Ronaldo) doesn’t mean that I hate Messi.
” Just to me (we can all like different things) I like the other player better, the one that inspired me.
“What’s the problem? We’re not all obligated to love the players from our own country. Please understand that this is football and everyone has their own preferences and that lifting one player up doesn’t mean burying the other.”
Rodriguez came off the bench as Argentina lost their opening game of the Women’s World Cup against Italy, going down 1-0. She plays her club football for SE Palmeiras in Brazil.
Lionel Messi, the captain of the Argentina national team and a World Cup winner, has openly acknowledged that he is uncertain about when he will ultimately retire from international football.
“Even I don’t know when. It’ll happen when it happens,” the 36-year-old said in an interview broadcast on Argentine television on Wednesday.
“After winning everything I want to enjoy the moment and wait for time to tell me when it’s the moment,” said the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“Logically, given my age, one would expect it to be soon, but I don’t know for sure.
“Now that we are American champions (Argentina won the 2021 Copa America) and world champions we have to enjoy that.”
Messi restated his previous statements that it was unlikely for him to be part of Argentina’s squad in their defense of the World Cup title in 2026.
The interview took place in China last month, where Messi achieved the fastest goal of his career, scoring within 79 seconds during a friendly match against Australia in Beijing.
Recently, Messi arrived in Florida to finalize his transfer to the US Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami, from Paris Saint-Germain.
The signing of a two-and-a-half year contract, reportedly valued at $60 million per year, is anticipated, and he is set to be officially presented to fans during a stadium event on Sunday.
As his Wimbledon championship defense got underway with a victory, Novak Djokovic urged the crowd to “blow” during a ridiculous rain delay and used his towel to dry the court.
On Centre Court, Djokovic defeated Pedro Cachin of Argentina 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
Despite the closed roof, there was no play for 80 minutes following the opening set. Djokovic raked the grass before the grounds crew utilized leaf blowers.
“Every time I come out I normally have racquets, not towels – it was fun to do something different,” Djokovic said.
“It was a little bit [of] a strange feeling but hopefully you guys liked it.
“It was definitely frustrating for all the crowd waiting for us to come out on court. We both wanted to play but the conditions were not great and still slippery.
“Once the roof was open it was a different story and after five or 10 minutes we were able to play.”
Djokovic, aiming to secure his eighth Wimbledon title and match Roger Federer’s record for a male player, will now play Australia’s Jordan Thompson, ranked 70th in the world, following his five-set win over American Brandon Nakashima, 55th in the world.
Djokovic, who has not lost on Centre Court since Andy Murray defeated him in the 2013 final, was up a break in the opening set but claimed the court was becoming slick from the rain.
At 14:20 BST, he finished the performance just in time for a downpour. The roof was completely closed 15 minutes later.However, before the covers were put on, enough water had gotten onto the court by that point to cause a significant delay.
One fan, who had embarked on a 12-hour boat and plane journey to attend the game, accused the organizers of false advertising.
Over 60,000 tickets had been sold for the sold-out match between Indonesia and the World Cup champions, Argentina, with Messi’s face prominently featured in the event’s advertisements.
However, on Thursday, fans in the football-loving country were informed that their beloved hero would not be participating.
“I’m feeling sad and disappointed, mixed emotions,” 31-year-old shop owner Surya Wijaya Ang told AFP from the remote island of Banda Neira in the eastern province of Maluku.
“This was the biggest chance for me to see Messi play in person.”
On Thursday the Argentina side beat Australia in another friendly in the Chinese capital Beijing, with head coach Lionel Scaloni confirming that Messi would not make the Indonesian leg of their Asian tour.
Having become a major fan of Messi during the star’s time at Barcelona, Ang has amassed a collection of around 200 jerseys adorned with his name.
He is planning to take a boat to the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon before catching a four-hour flight to Jakarta to attend the match.
Ang sold seven shirts from his wider jersey collection to pay for the 1.2 million rupiah ($80) match ticket, a steep price in the lower-middle-income country.
‘Marketing strategy’
The Messi fanatic is aggrieved and said organisers had seemingly promised an appearance by the superstar.
“Messi is an icon and you can say that 90 percent of the tickets were sold because of Messi,” he said.
“This was a marketing strategy for them.”
Other Indonesians took to social media to convey disappointment, with one offering to sell two tickets “because Messi is not coming”.
A video posted on Twitter showed a fan singing a guitar ballad with the lyrics: “Why don’t you come to Indonesia? Why you don’t come, oh Mr Messi?”
Another wrote: “This is the end of my idolising him… we won’t beg him to come.”
Indonesian football has been enduring a year of crises with a deadly stadium crush and losing the rights to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Despite having his Messi hopes dashed, Ang said he would travel to the capital for the game anyway.
“I’ve come this far, so I will still be going,” he said.
“Maybe I will see Lionel Scaloni,” he added, laughing.
Lionel Messi has stated that he will not participate in the 2026 World Cup with the Argentina national team, as they aim to defend the title they won in Qatar in December 2022.
The 35-year-old forward played a pivotal role in guiding Argentina to their third World Cup triumph in history, ending a 35-year drought since Diego Maradona led the team to victory in 1986.
As reported by Goal, Messi, who will be 39 years old during the 2026 World Cup, has announced that the 2022 tournament was his final one with Argentina, indicating his decision not to be involved in their quest to defend the championship.
“I think not. This was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but not in principle, I won’t go to the next World Cup.”
Messi is Argentina’s all-time goal scorer and records the highest appearance for the Copa America defending champions with 174 caps and 102 goals for Argentina.
Messi makes Ballon d’Or claim
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has revealed winning the Ballon d’Or does not matter to him at this stage of his career when quizzed in a recent interview about the award, Daily Post reports.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are among the top contenders to challenge for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins for an individual with six awards and could extend that feat if he wins the 2023 edition.
Updated Ballon d’Or 2023 rankings
Earlier, Sports Brief reported captaining his country and starring at the World Cup at 35 years, finally winning the trophy that eluded him in his illustrious career, saw Lionel Messi complete a romantic football moment.
After the Qatar triumph, it looked like he was a stroll for his record eighthBallon d’Or title, only for Haaland’s heroics in that Manchester City super team to turn a solid argument into a debate.
Apart from the World Cup, the Argentine has also scored 38 times and provided 25 assists in all competitions.
As a tribute to his 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, another stunning mural of Lionel Messi appeared on the walls of a building directly across from a railway station in the capital city of Argentina.
In the painting, Messi is depicted wearing the Albiceleste’s dark purple away shirt, with the national flag flying behind him.
This is not the first time Messi has commandeered Buenos Aires’s walls.
Earlier this year, Goal and Boedo Artistic Group collaborated to construct a mural in the forward’s honour.
Moreover, an Argentine artist named Maxi Bagnasco had also offered his tribute to the player with a mural where Messi is seen holding the trophy aloft, dressed in a Bisht, while Emiliano Martinez is behind him with his arms raised in joy.
Messi’s Club future undecided
Since announcing his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has been linked to many clubs in Europe, America and to the Middle East.
According to reports from L’Équipe, the last 48 hours have seen Jorge Messi meet with both Barcelona as well as a Saudi delegation, and talks have recently taken place with Inter Miami as well – for the time being, there is no clear indication as to which continent the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will be playing in next season.
Although the Argentine ostensibly favours a return to Catalonia, the La Liga side’s recent financial difficulties have made a transfer unviable – however, Barcelona have also seen their economic viability plan approved by the league authorities.
In any case, they will need to reduce their wage bill to secure Messi’s return.
In order to convince the Argentine of the feasibility of the move, one option could be for the names of the players who are not in Xavi’s plans for next season to be circulated in the media, in order to encourage them to find a new club.
It remains to be seen, though, whether the Catalans’ efforts will be enough to turn their all-time top scorer away from lucrative offers from the USA and Saudi Arabia.
Aguero’s son shows Messi support
Earlier Sports Brief reported that Sergio Aguero’s son, Benjamin, took shots at Paris Saint-Germain via social media soon after Lionel Messi’s exit from the club was announced.
Benjamin Aguero stated that his godfather was too big for the club, and the comment has since been picked up by some fans.
Messi speaks on GOAT debate
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Messi discussing the unending GOAT debate between himself and his age-old adversary, Ronaldo.
The 35-year-old, who recently picked up his second Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award in Paris, finally weighed in on the debate.
Messi told CNN that simply being considered among the greatest names football had ever seen was an achievement on its own to him.
Australia coach Graham Arnold expressed his desire for “revenge” against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in an upcoming friendly match in Beijing.
The Australian team was defeated by Argentina in the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, with Messi delivering an impressive goal en route to Argentina’s eventual triumph.
Despite the match being a friendly, Arnold emphasized that his team will approach it seriously and aim to make a strong impact against their opponents.
“I am getting goosebumps now that we can play the world champions so soon after the World Cup and get revenge,” Arnold said, as he named a young squad missing numerous established players through injury, including Celtic’s Aaron Mooy.
“Conditions will be humid and warm, but younger players have that energy and will run all day and fight.”
He added: “It is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to go out there and give it everything we’ve got — the boys will have energy galore and I can’t wait.”
Graham Arnold
Among those called up were 19-year-old Parma defender Alessandro Circati, who has represented Italy at youth level.
Arnold, who surpassed expectations in guiding Australia to the knockout rounds in Qatar, said that he already has one eye on qualification for the2026 World Cup.
“I don’t feel there’s any better way to test them out than against the world champions,” he said of his youthful 23-man squad.
Credibility concerns surround Argentina’s potential success in the 2022 World Cup, as former Uruguayan international Sebastián Washington Abreu has raised questions about the penalties awarded in favor of the South American team.
Argentina’s tally of five penalties awarded during the tournament reportedly exceeds the number given in any World Cup edition since 1966, according to The Athletic.
Sebastián Washington Abreu has raised questions about the penalties awarded in favor of the South American team.
As per PSG Talk, Abreu has highlighted the discrepancy in the refereeing decisions, pointing out that fouls inside the penalty box were called in Argentina’s matches while similar incidents in other games were not treated with the same standard.
“They had different criteria with some penalties. If you have a little bit of common sense, taking off your fanaticism and your shirt, now the fact is done, and no one is going to take the World Cup from you.
“If you analyze some penalties, here they were charged and in other games, they were not used the same criteria.”
Lionel Messi guided Argentina to lift the 2022 World Cup for the first time since Diego Armando Maradona guided the South American giant to the 1986 title.
Abreu slams criminal treatment of Messi
Meanwhile, Sebastian Abreu has lambasted how Paris Saint-Germain fans have treated Lionel Messi after the Argentine received boos from the club’s supporters, Sportskeeda reports.
Lionel Messi looks certain to leave PSG this summer
Abreu noted that he would love Messi to end his career at Barcelona and has called for the seven-timeBallon d’Or winner to return to Camp Nou at the end of the season.
Messi has failed to fulfil PSG fans’ expectations since his move to France as the club has failed to progress beyond the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Al Hilal set to hijack deal for Messi
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Lionel Messi will have to decide which is more important, money or staying in Europe, after Saudi Pro League team, Al-Hilal raised their offer to sign the Argentina superstar.
Messi travelled to Saudi with his family and it was rumoured that he went due to Al-Hilal’s interest in him
The 35-year-old forward and Paris Saint-Germain are set to part ways at the end of the season after two mixed seasons with the Ligue 1 giants, whom he joined in 2021.
Al-Hilal have increased their offer by an extra €100 mil after initially tabling a €400 mil two-year deal for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
World Cup champions Argentina, for the first time in six years, is at the top of the FIFA World Rankings.
In the March international break, Lionel Scaloni’s team defeated Panama and Curacao in friendlies. Last year, they defeated France in an exciting final to earn their third world championship.
In both games, captain Lionel Messi reached two milestones: he scored his 800th career goal in a 2-0 victory over Panama and then registered his 100th international goal with a hat-trick in a 7-0 demolition of Curacao.
Argentina previously held the top spot in the standings in 2017, but the Albiceleste fell as far as 12th the year after a disappointing World Cup performance in Russia in 2018.
Argentina replace rivals Brazil at the summit after the Selecao suffered a surprise friendly loss to World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in March, a result which sees them drop to third.
France are second in the rankings after their Euro 2024 qualification wins over the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland, while the rest of the top 10 remains unchanged.
Argentina defender, Nicolas Otamendi has unveiled a stunning tattoo dedicated to Lionel Messi. Otamendi paid special thanks to his captain, whose seven goals inspired La Albiceleste to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar last December.
The celebrations following that victory in the Middle East have continued for several months, with unflappable centre-half, Otamendi the most recent to receive a permanent memento of what Messi accomplished.
Otamendi gets Messi-inspired tattoo Otamendi’s amazing tattoo was unveiled in a heartfelt video shared on social media, per GOAL.
The clip showcases the full production process, which was accompanied by one of Argentina’s most famous World Cup anthems.
Nicolás Otamendi has dedicated his latest set of tattoos to Lionel Messi 🐐🏆🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/eaPnt2pOyi
In an interview, the 35-year-old defender revealed he had developed a love for tattoos as a teenager. “People always ask me about them.
I had my first done when I was 14, and each one has some significance to it” he said, as quoted by bodyartguru.
Fans rush for Messi tattoo
In a related article, Sports Brief also reported on Argentina fans lining up in Buenos Aires to get tattoos of their champion captain, Messi and the World Cup trophy the nation won.
According to tattoo artist, Esteban Vucinovich, the trophy is most requested for skin art, followed by Messi and Emiliano Martinez, La Albiceleste’s game-winning goalkeeper.
The body art of Argentine athletes like Angel Di Maria, who most recently wore aWorld Cup tattoo on his right thigh, have inspired a lot of followers to get tattoos of their own.
Lionel Messi scored his 100th international goal before capping his performance with a first-half hat-trick as Argentina routed Curacao 7-0 during Tuesday’s friendly in Santiago del Estero.
Messi came into the game on 99 international goals but did not need to wait long to bring up triple figures, netting a 20th-minute opener, in a lopsided match-up where the world champions raced to a 5-0 half-time lead.
The Argentinian captain played the entire 90 minutes, scoring three goals within 17 devastating first-half minutes, while he also laid off the assist for Enzo Fernandez’s powerful strike among the flurry.
After Lautaro Martinez’s glaring second minute point-blank miss, Messi was denied by Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room’s sharp save, but soon after Giovani Lo Celso found him in space inside the box, setting him up to jink past two defenders and fire in a low right-foot shot for his 100th Argentina goal.
Nicolas Gonzalez added a second in the 23rd minute when he out-jumped Room to head home from a corner, before he played provider for Messi’s second with a neat left-foot finish in the 33rd minute.
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) March 29, 2023
Two minutes later, Messi held up the ball and dished out a deft pass for Fernandez to lash home, with the Paris Saint-Germain star wrapping up his hat-trick when he raced on to Lo Celso’s lofted pass and coolly converted after taking two touches.
Room brilliantly denied Martinez twice early in the second half, while Leandro Bacuna fizzed Curacao’s best chance over the bar from a 63rd-minute free-kick on the edge of the box.
Substitute Angel Di Maria added a sixth goal from the penalty spot in the 78th minute after Cuco Martina’s handball, with Gonzalo Montiel side-footing home another from Paulo Dybala’s cutback in the 88th minute.
What does it mean? Argentina’s happy homecoming
Argentina’s World Cup homecoming celebrations continued, following Thursday’s 2-0 win over Panama in Buenos Aires, with Messi taking centre stage with his latest feat in the country’s north.
It was the first time Argentina had scored seven or more goals since a 7-0 friendly win over Bolivia in September 2015.
Messi brings up eighth Argentina treble
Argentina’s captain grabbed all the headlines, with his latest treble marking his eighth hat-trick for La Albiceleste.
Half of those hat-tricks have come against CONCACAF teams (Guatemala, Panama, Haiti and Curacao), with three against CONMEBOL nations (Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia) and one against a UEFA team (Switzerland).
Messi’s six-month surge for 100
Messi has surged to 100 international goals over the past six months, netting in 11 of the 12 games he has played for Argentina since September. The only time Messi failed to score was at the World Cup in a 2-0 win over Poland. He has scored 16 goals in his past 12 Argentina appearances.
What’s next?
Despite being world champions, Argentina still need to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with their campaign commencing in September with games against Ecuador and Bolivia.
Argentina has named their training facility after their talismanic captain, Lionel Messi, in recognition of his World Cup heroics.
Argentina’s national team setup is housed in Casa de Ezeiza in Buenos Aires, but it will now be known as Lionel Andres Messi.
The Argentine Football Association’s (AFA) president, Chiqui Tapia, tweeted on Saturday to confirm the information.
“I want to thank all the managers, players and employees of @afa for having been with us.”
Messi dragged Argentina to glory in Qatar last year, emulating the success of the late Diego Maradona as La Albiceleste claimed their third world title, and first since 1986.
“This recognition is one of the nicest I’ve ever received,” Messi posted on Instagram. “A great honour, thank you very much!!!”
Messi scored the 800th goal of his stellar career in Argentina’s 2-0 friendly win over Panama on Thursday. The 35-year-old’s next goal on the international stage will be his 100th for his country.
Retegui has scored 28 goals in 48 Argentine Primera Division games for Tigre.
While Mancini noted comparisons with formerNapoli striker German Denis, he preferred to draw parallels with the great Batistuta.
Batistuta joined Fiorentina from Boca Juniors in 1991 and was a great success both with the Viola and with Roma.
“[Retegui] is a classic striker, I see that many compare him to Denis,” Mancini said. “I remember when Batistuta arrived in Italy, he reminds me of him.
“Clearly, he is a young guy and needs time and to grow. But I don’t think it will take long to settle in.”
Lionel Messi appears not to have plans of retiring anytime soon as anticipated by social media users.
Recently, many big names in the sports world have retired from football. In January 2023, Gareth Bale, 33, retired from professional football. On March 21, 2022, Emmanuel Adebayor, a 39-year-old Togolese retired.
Today, March 22, 2023, Mesut Ozil, 34 retired, linking his decision to injuries.
For some reason, football fanatics are expecting 35-year-old Messi to follow suit, but that may not be the case.
With all the retirement news springing up, fans of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are imagining how it would feel should any of the two athletes described as “Greatest Of All Times” retire from professional football.
I’m not ready for the days when both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi retire 💔 pic.twitter.com/ufQRs96LrA
Alejandro Garnacho, a teenage winger who is injured, has announced that he has pulled out of the Argentina team for two upcoming friendlies and will miss a number of crucial matches for Manchester United.
The 18-year-old was a substitute in United’s 0-0 draw with Southampton on Sunday and injured himself late in the game after being struck by Kyle Walker-Peters’ challenge.
In the penalty area, the Southampton defender won possession of the ball on the stretch, but Garnacho’s right ankle appeared to become wedged between Walker-Peters’ legs.
Walker-Peters and Garnacho have been friendly online since the incident, exchanging messages without any animosity, but United’s promising young player will miss some time due to injury.
“It is difficult to put into words how I’m feeling right now,” Garnacho wrote on Instagram.
“Unfortunately I will not be able to help my team and team-mates in the upcoming games in what is a very important part of the season for us at Manchester United.
“I am disappointed to also miss the opportunity to be with my team-mates of the Argentinian national team in what would have been a great and proud moment for me and my family.
“This is part of football and our profession, however, I am already focused in my recovery. God has taught me to never give up and I will make sure I am back stronger than ever!”
Garnacho left Old Trafford on crutches after the Southampton game and will miss the Europa League clash with Real Betis on Thursday,plus the FA Cup game against Fulham on Saturday.
He will also sit out Argentina’s friendlies against Panama and Curacao during the international window, missing a chance to team up with Lionel Messi and co after the Albiceleste’s World Cup triumph.
It remains to be seen whether he is fit in time for club duty by April 2, when domestic football resumes for the Red Devils with a trip to Newcastle United.
