TIG Post

Tag: Argentina

  • Messi’s life in danger:14 gunshots fired at family shop, threatening note left for Messi

    Messi’s life in danger:14 gunshots fired at family shop, threatening note left for Messi

    On March 2, 2023, gunmen who attacked a supermarket in Lionel Messi’s hometown of Rosario left him a threatening note. Messi is a forward for Paris Saint-Germain.

    The family of Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, who is also a native of the city, owns the grocery store “Unico,” which is situated in the Lavalle neighbourhood.

    Police were called to the scene early on Thursday morning after it was reported that 14 shots were fired at the store’s shutters and front door.

    After leaving the PSG with a menacing message, two people riding a motorcycle were seen escaping the scene.

    “Messi, we are waiting for you,” the note read. “Javkin is a drug dealer. He is not going to look after you.”

    The messages refer to Rosario’s mayor, Pablo Javkin, who after the incident spoke out on the level of violence and need for more policemen in a city where crime is on the rise.

    Rosario is the largest city in Argentina’s central province of Santa Fe, located 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of Buenos Aires.

    No people were harmed in Thursday’s attack, but significant damage is thought to have been done to the store.

    Messi won FIFA’s Best Men’s Player 2022 award at an awards ceremony in Paris on Monday, having led his nation to their third world title in Qatar.

    Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph was, of course, Messi’s first in an otherwise immaculate career, as he is widely considered one of, if not the, greatest players of all time.

    The 35-year-old recorded a mammoth seven goals and three assists during the tournament, including a brace in a pulsating final in Lusail, as he got his hands on the coveted trophy at the fifth time of asking.

    Messi’s heroics in Qatar came a year and a-half after winning his first major international trophy, the 2021 Copa America in Brazil.

    The reaction of Argentina’s players at the full-time whistle, who ran to embrace Messi in unbridled joy, reflected the sentiment shared across the country for his endeavours over the years.

    Because after years of hurt, including nearly calling time on his international career, Messi finally brought Argentina back to the top of the world stage. And for that, the PSG man enjoys hero status across his country and beyond.

    No stronger is that felt than in his hometown of Rosario, where he left as a child to join Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. Murals eulogising his greatness are commonplace, such as the 100ft-tall masterpiece unveiled after Argentina’s Copa America triumph.

    Roccuzzo’s ties with Rosario are also strong. The 35-year-old grew up in Santa Fe’s largest city alongside Messi, where it is thought the couple’s relationship blossomed from 2007 onwards. They even returned to their hometown back in June 2017 to get married in a star-studded ceremony.

    Thursday’s attacks, then, are all the more harrowing given the strong connection to Rosario shared by both Messi and his wife, especially considering the specific target of Roccuzzo’s family’s business.

    Thus far, neither Roccuzzo nor Messi have commented on the matter. The couple is now based in Paris with their three children, with PSG next in action on Saturday at home to Nantes.

  • Messi gives gold-plated iPhone 14s to Argentina’s World Cup winning team and staff

    Messi gives gold-plated iPhone 14s to Argentina’s World Cup winning team and staff

    All of the Argentina players and staff who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will receive an impressive 35 gold-plated iPhone 14s as gifts from Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi. The brilliant number 10 led his nation to its third world championship, scoring seven goals, including two in that legendary final match against France.

    The 35-year-old wants to thank his teammates for helping him realise a long-held dream because their support has helped him earn individual accolades that have helped him solidify his place among the pantheon of greats and garner praise as the GOAT.

    How Messi rewarded his teammates

    To recognise his teammates’ role in winning the World Cup after five attempts, Messi has teamed up with iDesign Gold to treat all his teammates and Argentina’s coaching staff to 24-carat Apple devices, per Roy Nemer.

    According to a report by the Sun, the luxurious gifts have reportedly been successfully delivered to the French capital for distribution. Messi acknowledges his Argentina teammates After Messi was bestowed with the honour of being the best player in the world following a landmark year, he thanked his teammates at the awards ceremony.

    “It’s amazing. It’s been a tremendous year, and it’s an honour for me to be here and win this award. Without my teammates, I wouldn’t be here,” he said via the BBC. “I achieved the dream I had been hoping for so long. Very few people can achieve that, and I have been lucky to do so.”

    Messi named world’s best player

    Sports Brief previously reported on Messi being announced the best player of 2022 at FIFA’s The Best Awards held in Paris on February 27. The legendary Argentine forward beat his PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid star, Karim Benzema, to win the top award. Messi led the South American nation to a third World Cup title in Qatar, capping off his tournament with a brace in the Mundial final.

  • Argentina issues a new 2,000 peso banknote in response to rising inflation

    Argentina’s central bank (BCRA) has announced that a new 2,000 peso banknote will be released in response to the country’s skyrocketing inflation.

    The new note, which will officially be worth $11 (£9), was introduced as a result of a nearly 95% increase in consumer prices over the previous year, which ended in December.

    Since 1991, Argentina’s inflation rate hasn’t been this high.

    On alternative markets, the 1,000-peso bill, which is the largest current bill, is only worth $2.70.

    Writing on Twitter, the BCRA said the new note would “commemorate the development of science and medicine in Argentina”.

    It will feature pioneering doctors Cecilia Grierson and Ramón Carrillo, it added – although it is not clear when the note will enter circulation.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

    When Argentina’s current currency was introduced in 1992, its value was pegged at one US dollar.

    But that fixed exchange rate system was abandoned after the financial crisis that engulfed the country in 2001 and 2002.

    Since then, the peso has lost so much of its value that one local artist uses banknotes for painting because they are cheaper than a canvas.

    Sergio Diaz, of Salta, recently painted a picture depicting Steven Spielberg’s movie Jaws as a parody of Argentina’s ever-increasing inflation.

    Argentina has seen prices rise sharply as the cost of commodities, including energy, has gone up.

    Artist Sergio Diaz holds intervened Argentine pesos bills and a US dollar depicting Steven Spielberg's movie "Jaws" as a parody of Argentina's ever-increasing inflation
    Image caption,Artist Sergio Diaz says it is cheaper to paint on pesos rather than a canvas

    Soaring prices have largely been attributed to a bout of central bank money-printing, as well as the war in Ukraine.

    In December, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved another $6bn (£4.9bn) of bailout money for South America’s second largest economy.

    It was the latest payout for Argentina in a 30-month programme that is expected to reach a total of $44 billion.

    Last summer, the troubled country had three economy ministers in the space of just four weeks.

    In September, the central bank also raised its main rate of interest to 75% as it tried to rein in the soaring cost of living.

    Earlier this week, Brazil and Argentina announced plans to create a common currency that would be used to boost trade between the two countries.

    The country’s leaders said they needed to find ways to finance commerce without relying on US dollars – although discussions are at an early stage.

  • Brazil-Argentina summit: Countries meeting to focus on trade, economic integration

    Brazil-Argentina summit: Countries meeting to focus on trade, economic integration

    Fernandez, the president of Argentina, and Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, are considering the possibility of a common currency.

    Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, has arrived in Argentina for a summit where the two countries will collaborate to strengthen their trade relations.

    Lula’s arrival on Monday followed the publication of a joint article by him and Alberto Fernandez, in which they stated that studies on a common South American currency were part of their goal for greater economic integration.

    Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad downplayed the idea of Argentina and Brazil adopting a single common currency, saying late on Sunday that the nations were looking at ways to promote bilateral trade without eradicating their respective national currencies.

    Haddad, who had floated the possibility of a common currency in an article last year, said removing trade barriers between the two largest economies in South America could involve using a single currency for commerce, given a lack of United States dollars in Argentina. But that does not spell the end of the Brazilian real, he said.

    “Trade is really bad and the problem is precisely the foreign currency, right? So we are trying to find a solution, something in common that could make commerce grow,” Haddad told reporters as he arrived in Buenos Aires.

    Haddad said Argentina’s trade with Brazil had suffered due to a lack of dollars in the southern neighbour, where an economic crisis has left the government battling to replenish foreign currency reserves, with an inflation rate of nearly 100 percent last year.

    Haddad noted Argentina was an important buyer of Brazilian industrial goods and that “several possibilities” were being floated to circumvent its currency problems, though no decision had been made.

    Asked if he could provide further details on the currency issue, Haddad confirmed he would clear the matter up in the coming days, “especially because some people are saying the real will end”

    Brazil is Argentina’s largest trade partner, according to official figures published last week by the INDEC national statistics institute.

    Brazil is the top destination for Argentine exports, amounting to 14.3 percent and $12.7bn in 2022.

    Close to 20 percent of Argentina’s imports are from Brazil, worth just over $16bn last year.

    “Argentina is the most important country in our diplomatic relations,” Feliciano de Sa Guimaraes, academic director for the Brazilian Center for Diplomatic Relations, told AFP.

    Likewise, Fernandez’s government “depends a lot on Brazil”, not least in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with whom Argentina has a $44bn debt.

    Earlier on Sunday, Lula and Fernandez said in an article published on the Argentine website Perfil that they would “advance discussions on a common South American currency that can be used for both financial and commercial flows”.

    The Financial Times had previously reported, citing Argentina’s Economy Minister Sergio Massa, that the neighbouring nations would announce this week they were starting preparatory work on a common currency.

    Brazil and Argentina will sign a bilateral agreement creating a guarantee fund to stimulate Brazilian exports, a Brazilian government source told the Reuters news agency on Monday, as officials from both governments meet for a summit in Buenos Aires.

    Under the deal, Argentina will have to provide a collateral guarantee for Brazil’s trade financing with international liquidity, the source said, adding that the two largest economies in South America will also establish a working group to study creating a single clearing account in the continent, Reuters reported.

  • Farmer plants Messi’s face on Argentine corn field

    Farmer plants Messi’s face on Argentine corn field

    After helping his country win the World Cup of soccer, Lionel Messi has become a national hero in Argentina, receiving honors in the form of murals and tattoos.

    Now, his visage may be seen on a cornfield that has been particularly created from above.

    An algorithm was used to spread the seeds in the field at Los Condores, in the province of Córdoba’s central region, so that when the corn grew, it would produce a massive image of Messi’s beard.

    “For me, Messi is unbeatable,” said Maximiliano Spinazze, the crop farmer who planted the unusual crop formation as a celebration of the team’s victory, their first World Cup since Diego Maradona led the team in 1986.

    “Now, they are world champions, I am delighted this can be expressed by planting the crop.”

    A farming engineer named Carlos Faricelli created the programming for the seed-sowing machinery that allowed them to plant the seeds in an exact manner to produce the final image, with some places having more seeds per square inch than others.

    “I had the idea to make a code that goes in the seeders with Messi’s face as a tribute,” he said, adding he had then made the code available for any farmers “who dared to plant it.”

    Using geocoding tools, the machinery knows how much seed per square meter it has to put in certain places to create the contrast for different parts of Messi’s face, Faricelli said.

    “So when this corn grows and an aerial shot is taken, where the plants are closer together and the ground is less visible, a more intense green contrasts with where there are fewer plants and then this kind of agriculture art is created.”

  • FIFA to investigate Argentina over World Cup final behaviour

    FIFA to investigate Argentina over World Cup final behaviour

    FIFA says it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina for “offensive behaviour” during the team’s World Cup final triumph in Qatar last month.

    Argentina beat 2018 winners France on penalties to lift the trophy for a third time.

    Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his goalkeeper of the tournament trophy after the match, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking French star Kylian Mbappe.

    Mbappe won the FIFA Golden Boot trophy after scoring the most goals in the tournament.

    Football’s world governing body said Argentina had potentially breached rules regarding “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” and “misconduct of players and officials”.

    FIFA is also investigating the Argentinian FA over breaching media and marketing regulations.

    Martinez has also come under criticism from pundits and social media for mocking Mbappe during Argentina’s victory parade in Buenos Aires – where he held a baby doll with the French player’s face plastered on it.

    The Croatian team is also being investigated for potential violations of “discrimination” and “order and security at matches” rules.

    Players appeared to sing a song with fascist connotations following their third-place playoff victory over Morocco.

    Defender Dejan Lovren defended himself and his teammates, recently telling AFP news agency it was “a patriotic song which relates to my country, which means that I love my country”.

  • Messi reveals Maradona inspired Argentina World Cup win

    Diego Maradona “encouraged us from heaven,” according to Lionel Messi, as Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final on Sunday.

    At Lusail Stadium, La Albiceleste defeated the defending champions in a penalty shootout to win their third World Cup, ending a 36-year drought.

    After extra time, the clubs were locked in a 3-3 draw as goals from Messi twice and Angel Di Maria once each were offset by a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe.

    Messi won his first World Cup in dramatic manner as Argentina won the shootout 4-2 despite Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missing their penalties.

    The World Cup in Qatar is the first since Maradona’s death in November 2020, when he famously led Argentina to victory in the World Cup in 1986. This makes the victory all the more poignant.

    Messi was relieved that Argentina did not suffer a similar fate against France after falling to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final thanks to a Mario Gotze goal in the 113th minute.

    Messi released a message on Instagram, saying: “I always dreamed of being a world champion and I didn’t want to stop trying, even knowing that maybe I would never give up.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

    “This cup we got is also from all those who did not make it in the previous World Cups we played, like in 2014 in Brazil, where they all deserved it for how they fought until the same final, worked hard and wanted it as much as I did.

    “It’s also from Diego who encouraged us from heaven.

    “And of all those who spent the time always supporting the national team without looking so much at the result but the desire we always put into it, also when things didn’t go as we wanted.

    “Many times failure is part of the journey and learning and without the disappointments it is impossible for success to come.

    “Thank you very much from my heart! Let’s go Argentina!!!”

    Messi’s latest Instagram message came after his photo holding the World Cup trophy became the most popular post in the social media platform’s history, amassing 65 million likes.

    He followed that up by uploading a picture on Tuesday of him in bed holding the famous trophy, which was liked over 40 million times in the nine hours after it was posted.

    After the country’s government declared Tuesday a national holiday, Messi and his team-mates landed back in Argentina and were greeted by mass crowds of adoring fans.

  • The unbelievable welcome of Messi, others in Argentina

    Social media users have been left aghast after a picture of Argentina celebrating their World Cup victory emerged on Twitter.

    A first glance at the image does not portray what it actually is. For some, it is an art work and for others, something they just can’t decipher.

    It is actually an image of Argentines – a mammoth crowd of Argentines.

    It is unknown the number of people gathered in Buenos Aires, but it could be close to a million or half a million. They gathered to welcome they heroes.

    Argentina beat France by four goals to two in a penalty shootout on Sunday. It is Messi’s first-ever World Cup glory.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

     

     

  • Is Messi the G.O.A.T? Prince and Princess of Wales quiz

    The Prince of Wales, Prince William and Princess of Wales, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton have congratulated Lionel Messi and Argentina for emerging winners of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    In a tweet on Monday, the royals wrote: “What. A. Final. Congratulations to Argentina and to Messi.”

    However, they left a question many have asked since the end of the World Cup. Is Messi the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T)?

    Messi has had to share that rank with Cristiano Ronaldo, but after acquiring a World Cup victory, something Ronaldo has not been able to achieve, many believe the tag G.O.A.T best fits Messi and no one else.

    However, others contend Ronaldo remains the G.O.A.T.

    Meanwhile, the British royals have condoled with France after failing to defend their title.

    “Commiserations to France – both teams played brilliantly,” they tweeted.

    Since the tournament, Kylian Mbappe has been praised for his phenomenal performance. He scored a hat trick and won the golden boot for scoring 8 goals at the World Cup.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • FIFA World Cup 2022: Champions Argentina returns home to a jubilant scenes

    FIFA World Cup Champions, Argentina, arrived home to jubilant scenes early Tuesday morning.

    Thousands of fans lined up on the streets of Bueno Aires to cheer the team, the historic feat achieved on Sunday in Doha.

    Captain Lionel Messi stepped off the plane first, holding the gold trophy aloft, followed by his triumphant team onto a red carpet at the airport, greeted by reporters, officials and a live band.

    A sea of supporters in the national colours of blue and white reportedly swarmed the team bus as it drove out of the airport, waving flags and singing and dancing.

    FIFA World Cup 2022: Champions Argentina returns home to a jubilant scenes

    The fans are expected to line the streets of the capital later on Tuesday, which has been declared a national holiday, for the team’s victory parade following their thrilling penalty shootout victory over France in Qatar on Sunday.

    The team will first spend the night at the Argentine Football Association’s training ground, according to state media agency Télam.

    Argentina won its third World Cup trophy after beating France 4-2 on penalties on Sunday following a three-all stalemate after extra time.

    FIFA World Cup 2022: Champions Argentina returns home to a jubilant scenes

    In a game of two halves, Argentina took an early lead in the first half courtesy of Lionel Messi’s penalty and Angel Di Maria breathtaking counter-attacking finish, but France roared back in the second half through Kylian Mbappe’s double in the final 12 minutes, reaching a 2-2 tie that forced the match into extra time.

    Messi scored his second goal of the match to restore his team’s lead, but Mbappé scored a second penalty to grab his hat-trick, becoming the first player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final since 1966 to take the game to a penalty shootout, which ended with triumph for Argentina after France missed two shots.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Drake loses $1 million on World Cup final although he predicted Argentina to win

    Rapper Drake who is a huge fan of betting could not cash out despite predicting Argentina to win the World Cup final, Drake lost a $1 million wager.

    The Toronto rapper placed his bet in the 1×2 market, which doesn’t take into account extra time, as can be seen in the screenshot below, which he posted on his Instagram on Saturday night.

    In the build-up to the game, the commercially successful rapper placed an astounding $1 million for Argentina to win the World Cup.

    He stood a chance of making a ton of money if Messi and co defeated defending champions France to the title which eventually happened as Messi guided Argentina to their first World Cup victory since 1986, although it came only after a 4-2 penalty shootout.

    Kylian Mbappé of France scored a penalty kick in overtime to square the score at 3-3. Simalrly, Drake won $1.4 million in February after investing $1.26 million over three bets on the Los Angeles Rams to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl.

    Furthermore, he bet $600,000 on Barcelona winning the El Clasico and on Arsenal defeating Leeds United in the Premier League in October. He was not let down by the Gunners, but the Catalan giants were defeated 3-1 by their opponents.

     

  • Nigerian football fan destroys TV in anger after Argentina defeated France in World Cup finals

    A soccer fan from Nigeria could not bottle up his emotions and took it out on his plasma TV shortly after Argentina defeated France via penalties in an epic World Cup finals played on Sunday, December 18.

    Moreover, it appeared the guy placed a huge bet on France to lift the trophy consecutively but things went in the opposite direction at the end of regulation time with scores tied at 3-3.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Thatblackbwoy (@thatblackbwoyy)

    According to the report, he bet N1.2 million on France to win but Messi and his army had other plans for the French team vastly made up of players of African descent.

    A video making the rounds on social media captures the moment the man’s wife expressed displeasure at his action as she confronts him for destroying the TV.

    In response, he lamented about how much he bet and said she should not disturb him but the lady stated that he would be the one to replace the TV.

  • Messi’s World Cup triumph not enough for him to overtake Maradona – Zanetti

    According to Javier Zanetti, Lionel Messi’s World Cup victory is insufficient for him to surpass Diego Maradona as Argentina’s best player.

    On Sunday, following a dramatic match against France at Lusail Stadium, Messi won the World Cup for the first time.

    Before completing his penalty in the shootout, which Argentina won 4-2, the 35-year-old scored twice in a dramatic 3-3 tie.

    Argentina’s third World Cup was particularly poignant because it was the country’s first since the passing of Diego Maradona, who is famous for leading his country to victory in the 1986 competition. Maradona passed away in November 2020.

    While Messi’s performances in Qatar have cemented his place as the best player in history in the eyes of many, Zanetti feels he is still yet to outdo Maradona as Argentina’s greatest of all time.

    Zanetti told Stats Perform: “No, not for me. I don’t like [the] comparison.

    “We have to be grateful that the two greatest [players] in history are Argentines.

    “I don’t think [Messi] has changed. I think he is more mature now and he was able to transmit his leadership to the rest of the group this time.”

    France twice brought Argentina back, first forcing them to give up a 2-0 lead when Kylian Mbappe scored twice, and then in extra time after Messi had given Lionel Scaloni’s team the lead once more.

    The biggest gap between nations winning World Cups is 36 years, and Argentina’s 36-year wait to do so is the longest of any country. Zanetti thinks the dramatic circumstances of their victory made the victory even sweeter.

    “It’s a great emotion that the lads gave us because we have been waiting for it for a long time,” Zanetti added.

    “I think they made it happen, the dream of millions of Argentinian fans around the world.

    “It was a great final for us Argentines because it seemed it was all going in our way but then France had a great reaction.”

    Andres Iniesta, Messi’s former team-mate at Barcelona, was delighted the now Paris Saint-Germain forward finally got to lift the World Cup.

    “Yesterday’s final was something spectacular, and that he [Messi] had the opportunity now to lift the World Cup is inexplicable,” Iniesta told reporters while visiting Barcelona’s training ground.

    “Leo has done everything possible to achieve it. He has had a spectacular World Cup and the icing on the cake was incredible.

    “I’m sure he feels maximum happiness.”

  •  ‘We will return’ – Mbappe declares after France World Cup final defeat

    Kylian Mbappe has promised France would return to the largest stage after his World Cup final hat-trick failed to prevent Lionel Messi and Argentina from winning the tournament in Qatar.

    Following a back-and-forth 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium, Mbappe’s incredible treble—only the second to be achieved in a men’s World Cup final—ensured that France would have to go to a penalty shootout.

    Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni’s failure to score gave the Albiceleste a third championship, preventing him from winning a second World Cup. He then converted the first penalty in the shootout.

    Mbappe, who turns 24 on Tuesday, was defiant in his first social media post after Les Bleus’ defeat on Monday, writing on Instagram: “We will return”.

    Three-time World Cup winner Pele was among those to respond to Mbappe’s post, simply writing: “Merci”.

    The Paris Saint-Germain attacker is one of only five players to score in both of the tournament’s championship matches, including Vava, Pele, Paul Breitner, and Zinedine Zidane. His total of four goals in World Cup finals is unmatched by any other player.

    In an interview with Sky Sports on Monday, former France forward Louis Saha praised Mbappe’s performance and said it was exceptional for a player his age.

    “It was stratospheric, it’s an unbelievable achievement for a young guy like him to do that on that stage,” Saha said.

    “Everyone was looking for him, even Argentina were looking to defend him and doing everything to stop him. It was not possible.

    “On the big stage, with all the pressure on his shoulders, he managed to do this.

    “It’s sad for him because for such a young age, he would have written a unique story. Nobody has done something like this.

    “With all respect to other players, legends of the game, this guy’s performance to maintain France’s dream… the quality of his attitude through the tournament, it was absolutely breathtaking.”

  • Transfer Talk: Where Messi may be heading next after World Cup triumph

    As one of the all-time greatest footballers, Lionel Messi’s future at his current club is now expected to be a hot subject.

    The legendary No. 10 led Argentina to their first World Cup victory in 36 years in Qatar. Argentina defeated France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 extra-time draw.

    Clubs from all over the world are swarming to become the 35-year-potential old’s ultimate destination when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires next summer.

    We consider the potential future moves for the illustrious playmaker.

    MLS move

    A switch to Major League Soccer seems the most likely possibility at this point, with reports last month even suggesting a deal to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami has already been agreed.

    Messi’s camp were keen to distance themselves from those claims at the time with focus firmly on his exploits in Qatar.

    But with his aspirations now achieved, rumours of a switch to the Sunshine State will surely re-emerge.

    Messi has proven he can still dazzle at the very top level after scoring seven World Cup goals and providing three assists this winter — a showing which earned him the tournament’s Golden Ball award.

    It therefore remains to be seen whether he is ready to move to a league which, for all its development in recent years, would undoubtedly be a step down in the quality the magician is used to.

    Remain in Paris

    Lionel Messi has formed an impressive partnership with fellow World Cup finalist Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain
    Lionel Messi has formed an impressive partnership with fellow World Cup finalist Kylian Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain

    PSG remain hopeful they can extend the two-year deal Messi signed in the summer of 2021 following his departure from Barcelona.

    Club president Nasser Al Khelaifi said: “No decision will be made on Leo Messi’s contract before the new year. We are very happy and Leo’s very happy with us too.

    “We will find the best solution together with Messi, we’re so happy and this is fantastic.”

    His first season in the French capital — his first away from Barca for 21 years — was somewhat underwhelming as he seemingly struggled to settle in his new surroundings.

    But he was back to the very top of his game prior to the World Cup break, managing an incredible 25 goal involvements in 18 games in all competitions for Les Parisiens.

    If he can continue that kind of form upon his return, there seems plenty of motivation to continue lighting up the Parc des Princes alongside Kylian Mbappe and Co.

    Barcelona return

    Lionel Messi was in sensational form for Paris Saint-Germain before the World Cup break
    Lionel Messi was in sensational form for Paris Saint-Germain before the World Cup break

    Despite leaving the Camp Nou in somewhat acrimonious circumstances 14 months ago, Barcelona still seem intent on sealing the return of their club legend.

    Crippling financial problems forced Messi to emotionally end his long-term association with the Blaugrana but he is still held in the highest regard in Catalonia by clubs chiefs and supporters alike.

    President Joan Laporta has rarely stopped talking up a potential return for the superstar since his departure.

    In October, he said: “Leo knows that at Barca he always has his home.”

    With former team-mate Xavi at the helm, a return to the club he won countless domestic and European titles with could well remain a tempting prospect for Messi.

    A move back home

    Boyhood club Newell's Old Boys remain close to Lionel Messi's heart
    Boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys remain close to Lionel Messi’s heart

    Where better a place to spend the twilight of an extraordinary career than the place where it all started?

    The Rosario native spent five years at local side Newell’s Old Boys before joining Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000 and an eventual move back to his boyhood club has always seemed a strong possibility.

    Former Old Boys player Fabian Costello, who hails from the same neighbourhood as Messi, believes it would be the perfect way to sign off in the game.

    He said: “Everybody says now that Messi is going to go back to Newell’s Old Boys. It’s a rumour. It would be so special in many ways.

    “This [the World Cup win] is his greatest achievement, but the rumour is they want to make all his dreams come true, and his dream was to play for Newell’s Old Boys.”

    Given his proven longevity in the game, a final swansong there remains a possibility even if it does not come to fruition next summer.

    Source: Livescore

  • Deschamps set for France future talks this week 

    Following France’s loss to Argentina in the World Cup final, Didier Deschamps is scheduled to hold the first round of negotiations on his future as the team’s coach this week.

    Although Deschamps’ contract is up, it is widely anticipated that a new one will be offered if he wants to continue and pursue success at Euro 2024.

    It will take some time for the sadness of failing to win the World Cup a second time, four years after triumphing in Russia 2018, to sink in.

    Deschamps’ future was therefore not a topic for discussion on Monday as the team traveled back to Paris.

    However, French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet does not want to waste any time, and he is seeking clarity so has promised to call Deschamps by Wednesday at the latest.

    Le Graet told French broadcaster BFMTV on Monday: “I will call him tomorrow or the day after tomorrow when he has recovered, too. We will see each other as soon as possible, of course.”

    Speaking in the aftermath of the final, Deschamps said on Sunday night in Qatar that a decision about his future was one for early in the new year.

    Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has long been linked as the likely next national team coach, but he may have to wait a while longer if Deschamps decides he still has the hunger required for the job.

    Former midfielder Deschamps has completed a decade in charge of Les Bleus, and said on Sunday when asked about his future with the team: “You’re not the first to ask. Even if we had won, I would not be able to answer that tonight.

    “Of course, I am very sad for the players and staff, but I’ll have a meeting with the [FFF] president at the start of next year and then you’ll find out.”

    France were beaten 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw against Argentina, with Kylian Mbappe hitting two penalties in a rare World Cup final hat-trick but still ending on the losing side.

    French president Emmanuel Macron told RMC Sport on Sunday he had encouraged the 54-year-old Deschamps to remain in post, saying: “Of course, I asked Didier Deschamps to continue, I want him to continue!”

  • Lionel Messi’s Argentina jerseys all sold out globally

    Following the soccer star’s first-ever FIFA World Cup victory, fans hoping to purchase his official Argentina jersey may be out of luck.

    Adidas announced in a statement to CNN that it has been “working to meet the extraordinary demand for jerseys” and that “more stock will be available soon” after selling out of Messi and Argentina team uniforms globally.

    On Sunday, in one of the most exciting finals in tournament history, Argentina defeated France to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on penalties. Messi, who was competing in his fifth World Cup, scored twice to solidify his status as a football legend.

    Messi’s Adidas jerseys had been sold out even before the game, according to multiple reports. A search on Adidas’ website shows that generic Argentina jerseys are sold out, but there some other team items still available, including a basketball top and T-shirts.

    Argentina's Lionel Messi
    Argentina’s Lionel Messi

    Searches for Messi Argentina jerseys on Amazon also show them sold out. StockX, a popular reseller website, has a few jerseys selling for as much as $500. Messi jerseys from Paris Saint-Germain, his European club, are wildly available online, however.

    Don’t fret though, Adidas (ADDDF) said it will soon unveil new merchandise.

    “Since their history-making win we have produced a range of immediately available celebratory apparel and we will also create a brand new version of their iconic jersey, featuring three stars to mark their third World Championship, for fans around the globe as soon as possible,” the company said.

    The World Cup has been a boon for Adidas’ bottom line. Adidas has sold around $424 million (€400 million) in “event-related sales” in the fourth quarter, with its soccer merchandise growing by 30% in the first nine months in 2022 compared to the year prior. Adidas said it’s also “seeing stronger demand” during this edition of the World Cup compared to the previous tournament.

    Source: CNN

     

     

     

     

  • Howe quizzed on Fernandez as Shearer praises Argentina star

    The idea that Newcastle United should sign Enzo Fernandez, an Argentine World Cup standout, was mocked by Alan Shearer.

    Following his outstanding midfield exploits for La Albiceleste, who defeated France 4-2 on penalties in a dramatic final on Sunday, Fernandez won the Young Player Award at Qatar 2022.

    At Lusail Stadium on Sunday, Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick, but Lionel Messi and Argentina prevailed in the penalty shootout following a 3-3 tie.

    One of the tournament’s breakout stars, Benfica’s Fernandez played in all seven of Argentina’s games and started five of them after scoring an incredible goal in a 2-0 victory over Mexico in the group stage.

    Newcastle great Shearer, a BBC Sport pundit during the World Cup, quipped he would love the cash-rich Magpies to make a move for the 21-year-old, saying: “Absolutely yes. See if he wants to play against Bournemouth on Tuesday.”

    Naturally, ahead of that EFL Cup tie, Howe was quizzed on whether he had heard Shearer’s comments.

    “Sorry, I didn’t, I think I was on the other channel,” Howe said with a smile. “That’s a mistake on my part.”

    Asked if he would like to target Fernandez, Howe replied: “I’m aware of him and I know him. But I think the transfer fee might be quite lumpy.”

    Howe also noted it would be unlikely that any team buys a player based solely off their World Cup displays.

    “From a recruitment perspective you never just analyse a World Cup and sign a player on the back of those performances,” he said.

    “There’s a huge body of work that goes into signing a player, it’s never after four weeks. There’s a period of work that goes into it. It’s not to say we wouldn’t use the World Cup as a recruitment tool.”

    Howe, who also dismissed the idea Newcastle would move for Messi in January should the 35-year-old be available, is also pleased that England manager Gareth Southgate has elected to stay on with the Three Lions following their World Cup exit.

    Southgate will take charge of England heading into Euro 2024, with Howe having often been cited as a possible replacement.

    “The only time it affects me is sat here [in front of the media],” Howe said.

    “I’m pleased Gareth made his decision so I don’t have to field questions on it.

    “My focus has only ever been Newcastle and making sure that we return from this break in the best possible form we can. I’m enjoying the job and loving the challenge of managing this huge club.”

    After playing Bournemouth, Newcastle, who sit third in the Premier League, face Leicester City on Boxing Day in their first top-flight game after the World Cup break.

  • Varane satisfied with France squad after World Cup final defeat

    Raphael Varane has expressed his pride in the France team following their heartbreaking loss to Argentina in the World Cup final.

    Kylian Mbappe became just the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final after Geoff Hurst for England in 1966 in a six-goal thriller that saw Didier Deschamps’ team come from behind twice to force a penalty shootout.

    Gonzalo Montiel scored the game-winning goal to give Argentina their third World Cup victory, but Emiliano Martinez stopped Kingsley Coman’s penalty kick and Aurelien Tchouameni missed the target first.

    After a woeful first-half display, France valiantly fought their way back into the match but ultimately fell short, though that has not altered Varane’s assessment of the squad’s quality.

    “We are very disappointed. We gave it our all,” he told TF1. “We faced a lot of obstacles during the competition, we fought until the end. We didn’t give up.

    “Today, for an hour, we were not in the game. We came back and we could have won too. Very proud of the French, of this group. We gave everything, we keep our heads high.

    “We came back in this match when we were not in it, it was complicated. It played out very quickly. We came back and then physically, we were better than them.

    “We started pushing and we believed in it. We were not far from managing to reverse the match which was badly started.

    “There is mental strength in this group, a lot of heart. It allowed us to get to the final, but it wasn’t enough to win.”

    France will regroup for the start of their qualification campaign for the 2024 European Championship, which begins in March against the Netherlands.

     

  • Transfer Talk: Red Devils favourites in Rabiot race

    Manchester United are in pole position to land France and Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

    The Red Devils are set to battle it out with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona for the 27-year-old but his desire to play in the Premier League has given them the advantage, according to The Mirror.

    Rabiot featured in the nail-biting World Cup final on Sunday but was defeated as Argentina came away with the trophy for the first time since 1986.

    It stopped Les Bleus, who had several stars struggling with a virus in the build-up to the game, from becoming the third nation to win the tournament back-to-back.

    Rabiot’s performances under Didier Deschamps have put him in the spotlight and he is out of contract in the summer.

    The Frenchman is familiar with Manchester having spent time at City’s academy early in his career, which could help influence his decision.

    It is likely the 35-cap international, who was among the sick players and sat out of the semi-final win over Morocco, will have no shortage of options when deciding on his future.

    In other news

    Josko Gvardiol has been a colossus for Croatia in Qatar
    Josko Gvardiol has been a colossus for Croatia in Qatar

    Chelsea are hoping to beat both RB Leipzig and Manchester City to the signing of Josko Gvardiol by making a £45million move for the Croatian in January, say The Sun.

    The Mirror report that Barcelona maestro Frenkie de Jong has spoken to Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag and admitted he would be happy to move to Old Trafford.

    Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in signing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo but a deal would be difficult to complete in the January transfer window, suggest Sky Sports.

    Source: Livescore

  • Not the time for France retirement talk – Lloris

    Following France’s loss to Argentina in the World Cup final, Hugo Lloris claims that it is “not the time” to talk about his future in the international arena.

    Argentina ultimately prevailed in a six-goal thriller, as the all-time leading appearance holder for the Les Bleus was unable to save any of the penalties he was presented with in the shootout.

    It has been questioned whether Lloris, who is now 35 and has been a member of France’s national team for 14 years and has been as captain since 2010, will remain among Didier Deschamps’ players.

    However, the captain batted away those queries and believes the result will take time to digest, telling TF1: “Now is not the time to answer those questions.

    “It’s a painful night for all the players, the staff, the management and all the supporters, even if we achieved great things.

    “It has to be an experiment for the future. It will take a little time for everyone to digest it.”

    Lloris also expressed his belief that the France squad did everything they could to emerge as victors, highlighting the response after the break following what was a poor first-half display.

    “We were too reactive. It was almost a boxing match, we surrendered blow for blow. The only regret we can have is that we may have missed our first half,” he added.

    “Despite that, we didn’t give up, we believed in it until the end. It took a winner, it was played on penalties.

    “It’s always cruel to be on the wrong side. But we will have given everything from beginning to end in this competition. We come out empty, it’s been almost a month of competition.

    “In this final, we could have dropped at 0-2 but we continued to believe until the end, we were able to turn the game around. It’s football.

    “We must congratulate the Argentines who made a great tournament, a great final. The match could have swung either way, but we were too reactive.”

  • John Terry teases Aguero for joining Argentina World Cup celebrations

    When Sergio Aguero donned a game shirt to join in with Argentina’s World Cup celebrations, John Terry, a former Premier League foe, teased him.

    When doctors revealed that former striker Aguero had a heart condition, he decided to retire in December 2021, not long after moving from Manchester City to Barcelona.

    After Sunday’s thrilling final against France, Aguero was out on the field with Lionel Messi and many other ex-teammates, in the middle of the partying players. Aguero scored 41 goals for his country before having to hang up his boots.

    As the celebrations intensified, Aguero joined the players in the locker area and drank champagne.

    The former Chelsea and England captain Terry, who is well-versed in turning out in full gear despite not participating in a game, was alerted by the sight of him wearing a shirt but mismatched shorts, socks, and white trainers.

    Following Chelsea’s victory over Bayern Munich on penalties in the 2012 Champions League final, Terry became infamous for donning his Chelsea jersey to participate in the trophy-lifting celebrations.

    Due to his standing and contributions during the season, the captain had a right to participate in the presentation of the awards despite missing that game due to a suspension. Terry promptly showed up in full match gear.

  • Pele celebrates Messi, Argentina for World Cup victory

    Pele, a legend of Brazil, has congratulated Argentina on their stunning World Cup victory and said Lionel Messi’s success was what “his trajectory deserved.”

    Pele, who has recently been hospitalized, has been paying attention to the happenings at Qatar 2022 and stated that the late Diego Maradona would have enjoyed Argentina’s trophy victory.

    The significant milestone for 35-year-old Messi means he now matches compatriot Maradona, who was the inspiration behind Argentina’s success in Mexico 86, by winning his first World Cup. In November 2020, at the age of 60, Maradona passed away.

    “Congratulations Argentina! Certainly Diego is smiling now,” Pele wrote on Instagram.

    Pele, 82, expressed sadness for Kylian Mbappe, who lost after scoring two penalties and a spectacular volley to clinch just the second hat-trick in a men’s World Cup final, following Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick for England against West Germany in 1966.

    Following a Sunday 3-3 tie, Argentina won the trophy after a 4-2 victory in the penalties shootout, thanks to misses from Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni.

    Before he and Mbappe, a teammate from Paris Saint-Germain, both scored a penalty to start the shootout, Messi scored twice in a memorable game.

    Messi was awarded the Golden Ball for the second time as the tournament’s best player, and Mbappe took home the Golden Boot for leading scorer with eight goals.

    Three-time World Cup winner Pele hailed Mbappe’s feat of hitting the back of the net four times, including the shoot-out, and he also offered praise to Morocco, who finished fourth after becoming Africa’s first World Cup semi-finalists.

    “Today, football continues to tell its story, as always, in an enthralling way,” Pele said. “Messi winning his first World Cup, as his trajectory deserved.

    “My dear friend, Mbappe, scoring four goals in a final. What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport.

    “And I couldn’t fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign. It’s great to see Africa shine.”

  • World Cup: Hundreds of thousands of Argentine fans throng Buenos Aires streets after Argentina win

    Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in football – the only trophy to have eluded him – and it was he that fans back home hailed for their victory.

    Argentina’s triumph in the World Cup final has sent hundreds of thousands of ecstatic fans pouring out onto the streets of Buenos Aires.

    The rollercoaster game saw Lionel Messi’s team give up leads of 2-0 and 3-2 before ultimately prevailing over France in a nail-biting penalty shootout.

    Messi finally won the biggest prize in football – the only trophy to have eluded him – and it was he that fans back home called out for their victory.

    Argentina fans are pictured climbing street lights as they celebrate winning
    Image:Argentina fans are pictured climbing street lights as they celebrate winning

    “I can’t believe it! It was difficult, but we did it, thanks to Messi,” said Santiago, 13, as he celebrated with his family outside the former home of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona.

    Bearing flags, hats and the country’s iconic blue-and-white jerseys, fans took over Buenos Aires’ downtown and other iconic spots within minutes of the win.

    “It is an immense joy after so much tension,” said lawyer Nicolas Piry, 46.

    “The harmony between the team, headed by a leader who plays at a level making him the best in the world, and the players’ condition in general led us to this well-deserved success. Let’s go Argentina!” he added.

    Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Final Qatar 2022 - Fans in Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires, Argentina - December 18, 2022 General view as Argentina fans with a Diego Maradona banner celebrate after winning the World Cup by the Obelisco REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
    Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Final Qatar 2022 - Fans in Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires, Argentina - December 18, 2022 Argentina fans at the Obelisco celebrate winning the World Cup REUTERS/Martin Villar

    There were similar scenes of jubilation among Argentina fans who had travelled to Qatar for the tournament.

    “Probably for the people of my generation one of the biggest things we have ever lived (through),” one supporter told Sky News.

    “I thought I died for a moment, my heart stopped for a minute. It was a battle until the last minute.”

    There were more sombre scenes in the French capital, where dreams of two World Cup titles in a row for Les Bleus were dashed in heart-breaking fashion.

    In the packed Belushi sports bar in Paris, some stood still, shaking their heads in disbelief in the match’s aftermath as Kylian Mbappe’s historic hat-trick brought France just short of glory.

    “To lose on penalties is horrible,” said high school student Ousman Diaw, who used his French flag to shield him from the rain as he headed home.

    Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Final Qatar 2022 - Fans in Paris watch Argentina v France - Paris, France - December 18, 2022 A France fan reacts as they watch the final REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

    “Messi deserves it though. He’s a good player and he had done everything except this.”

    “It’s so disappointing. We came back and believed we could do it,” said supporter Romain Cyne.

    Riot police were seen moving towards fans along the Champs Elysee in Paris and in Nice, small fires were seen in one street as a group of people congregated with one holding a flare, as local media reported clashes.

    In Boulogne, scenes of violence were reported with police using tear gas.

    French President Emmanuel Macron, who watched the match from the stands, later consoled Mbappe on the pitch.

    “‘Les Bleus’ let us dream,” the President tweeted.

    Footballing legend Pele, who has received well-wishes from players during the tournament concerned for his health, said the match was “enthralling”.

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Pelé (@pele)

    He said on Instagram: “What a gift it was to watch this spectacle to the future of our sport.

    “And I couldn’t fail to congratulate Morocco for the incredible campaign. It’s great to see Africa shine.

    “Congratulations Argentina! Certainly Diego is smiling now.”

    Messi’s club teammate Neymar posted his congratulations on Instagram, as social media was awash with people crowning the Argentine the greatest player of all time.

    Meanwhile, tweets came in praising Messi from the likes of Declan Rice and Andy Murray, who tweeted: “Is messi the best athlete of all time? Forget just football. What a man.”

     

  • Football fan hijacks bus full of people to catch World Cup Game

    An Argentinian football fan was recently arrested after allegedly hijacking a bus full of people to make sure he gets home in time to watch his country’s game against Croatia at the World Cup.

    Argentina is one of the few countries on this planet where football is as close to a religion as you can possibly imagine. People live and breathe the beautiful game and stars like  Diego Armando Maradona are worshipped, so when Argentina played Croatia in the semifinals of the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar the whole country was buzzing. Missing the game was an unimaginable travesty, so when one man found himself on a bus at rush hour, just minutes before the start of the historic football match, he basically felt forced to take desperate measures.

    The incident took place on December 13, in the heart of the Buenos Aires town of Ciudad Santa María. The 53-year-old man was riding a bus on line 440 between Fraga and Avenida Ricardo Balbín when he realized that there was no way he would catch the start of the game at the rate that the bus was moving.

    So when the vehicle stopped at a red light and the driver stepped out to buy something from a nearby kiosk, the man jumped behind the wheel and started driving towards his home. As soon as he saw the bus drive away, the driver called the police to report the hijacking, and multiple police cars were dispatched to its last known location.

    According to Argentinian news sources, the man drove the bus about four miles before abandoning it near his residence and continuing the rest of the way on foot. Unfortunately, the running football fan was caught by police near the intersection of Callao and Maestro Ferreyra streets and taken in for questioning.

    Despite his desperate efforts to catch the start of Argentina’s match against Croatia, the die-hard football fan ended up missing the whole game. He did however take comfort in the fact that his country won 3-0 and qualified for the World Cup Final. He was charged with hijacking a public transportation vehicle and it is unclear if he will be released from jail until Sunday when Argentina faces off against France.

    People sure do some crazy things in the name of football. Just a few days ago, we wrote about a Chinese fan of the beautiful game who ended up with facial paralysis after staying up to watch every game at the World Cup for a week.

    Source: Oddity Central

  • Messi’s Argentina win 2022 World Cup final against France to prove ‘GOAT’ tag

    Lionel Messi has led Argentina to World Cup glory after beating France on penalties on Sunday.

    This proved to be one of the most thrilling climaxes in final history.

    Argentina won 4-2 in the shootout after a spectacular game which developed into the much-anticipated confrontation between the 35-year-old maestro Messi and his France opposite number Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick – the first in a World Cup final since 1966 – but still ended up on the losing side.

    Messi had given Argentina lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute following Ousmane Dembele’s foul on Angel Di Maria. It made him the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of a single tournament.

    He then contributed a delicate touch within a magnificent counter-attack that ended with Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister setting up Di Maria for the second 13 minutes later.

    Argentina were untroubled until the closing stages, only for Mbappe to give France a lifeline from the penalty spot with nine minutes left – then restore equality with a magnificent volley moments later.

    Messi bundled Argentina back in front in extra time, but Mbappe completed his treble from the spot two minutes from the end of a frantic, chaotic added spell.

    And so it went to penalties, with the two greats opening the scoring. But Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saved from Kingsley Coman, before Aurelian Tchouameni missed, leaving Gonzalo Montiel to win the World Cup.

    Messi, a World Cup winner at last, collapsed to his knees in the centre circle and was engulfled by jubilant Argentina team-mates.

    More soon….

    Source: BBC

  • France’s World Cup fate in Lloris’ capable hands

    Hugo Lloris will be essential to France’s ambitions of making World Cup history as they are just one victory away.

    He will become the only player to have won the championship twice if Les Bleus overcome Argentina.

    Only two other countries—Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962)—have accomplished the feat.

    We examine how Lloris can help France win the championship as we get ready for the tantalizing final against Argentina.

    Mr Reliable

    A reliable goalkeeper is a key component of any world-class side — and France have been set in this department since Lloris made his debut in 2008.

    He was excellent at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, keeping three clean sheets and only conceding six goals in 540 minutes.

    The 35-year-old has kept up those standards in Qatar, conceding only four times — though he may be disappointed to only have only kept one clean sheet.

    Lloris’ experience — particularly of winning a World Cup final — will be invaluable for France as they seek to repeat the trick.

    Hugo Lloris has been key to France's run to the World Cup final
    Hugo Lloris has been key to France’s run to the World Cup final

    High praise

    Before Lloris earned his record-equalling 142nd cap for Les Bleus in the World Cup last-16 clash against Poland, France manager Didier Deschamps heaped praise on his captain and compared him to the man whose record he was matching — Lilian Thuram.

    He said: “Records are made to be broken.

    “It’s the longevity of two exemplary players, two great professionals who have both kept themselves at a very, very high level.

    “These records mean something. Some are more anecdotal than others, but this one speaks for itself.”

    Stepping up

    Hugo Lloris has conceded four goals at the World Cup so far
    Hugo Lloris has conceded four goals at the World Cup so far

    France had to dig deep in both their quarter-final against England and their semi-final against Morocco — but managed to emerge victorious on both occasions.

    They endured spells where they were forced to defend deep and Lloris was required to make some important saves to keep his side in the game.

    Against England, the captain made an impressive six saves overall — a real sign that he can step up when required for his nation.

    In the final, the stopper will almost certainly be called upon again as Lionel Messi looks to fire Argentina to victory.

    Error free

    Lloris has been a reliable figure for most of his career but in recent seasons the veteran has earned a reputation for making unforced errors.

    Despite an excellent tournament overall four years ago he made an unforgettable blunder in the final which cost his side a goal — thankfully for the Tottenham skipper, it did not impact the result.

    In Qatar, however, the 35-year-old has not made a single error leading to a goal.

    If Lloris can maintain his aura of steady calm for one more game, he could write himself into history as France’s greatest goalkeeper.

    Demands in possession

    Hugo Lloris frequently looks to play the ball long
    Hugo Lloris frequently looks to play the ball long

    The biggest criticism of Lloris’ game is his ability on the ball and his lack of fluidity in possession.

    The France captain has only completed 70 passes at the tournament so far, which works out at just 14 per 90 — low even for a goalkeeper.

    His passing accuracy is also just 56.91%, which can likely be explained by the fact that he primarily sends his kicks long.

    However, Dechamps’ style masks that weakness with France ranking 11th at the World Cup for passes attempted per match (521.17) — Les Bleus’ boss will hope Lloris is not found out on the ball in the final.

    Source: Livescore

  • Messi on song but Alvarez is no backing singer

    Even though Lionel Messi may be the star of the show, Julian Alvarez could be crucial for Argentina as they aim to win the World Cup.

    Although Lionel Scaloni did not start the match with the Manchester City striker, his performances have made him an irreplaceable member of La Albiceleste.

    In the final on Sunday, where Argentina will try to defeat France and win their third championship, his danger in the last third will be crucial.

    In advance of the World Cup match, we examine the factors that have led to the 22-year-old becoming his country’s starting No. 9.

    Too good to ignore

    Lautaro Martinez began the World Cup as Argentina’s first-choice centre forward.

    The Inter Milan marksman has developed a fine relationship with Messi over the last few years and it made sense that he would continue playing that role in Qatar.

    But sub-par performances against Saudi Arabia and Mexico saw Scaloni drop the 25-year-old in favour of Alvarez, who was impressing too much off the bench to be ignored.

    The decision has paid off — the Calchin native has scored four goals in the 364 minutes he has played in Qatar.

    Only the peerless Messi, with five strikes and three assists to his name, has contributed more to the cause.

    Putting Croatia to the sword

    Argentina forward Julian Alvarez has been on form at the World Cup
    Argentina forward Julian Alvarez has been on form at the World Cup

    Hard-running and intelligent, Alvarez is the perfect foil for Messi in the final third but he exploded in his own right during Argentina’s dominant 3-0 semi-final victory over Croatia.

    The striker won the penalty that Messi converted in the 34th minute to give La Albiceleste the lead and then scored twice himself to put the result beyond doubt.

    Given his previous goals at this World Cup came in must-win games against Poland and Australia, it is safe to say that the former River Plate prodigy has a taste for the big occasion.

    Alvarez has certainly not looked out of place since forcing himself into the side despite having never previously started for La Albiceleste at a major tournament.

    Praised by Messi

    Argentina forward Julian Alvarez often attacks the left side of the box
    Argentina forward Julian Alvarez often attacks the left side of the box

    Considered the greatest footballer of all time by many, Paris Saint-Germain talisman Messi has exacting standards and needs his colleagues to meet them.

    That is what makes the 35-year-old’s comments when asked who aside from him deserved to be named Player of the Match after Argentina’s victory over Croatia so impressive.

    He said: “Every player did very well but if I have to choose, I would give this award to Julian. He had an extraordinary game”.

    A boost for Manchester City

    Alvarez’s excellent form could be a real boon to Manchester City as well as Argentina.

    The Citizens are five points shy of current league leaders Arsenal ahead of the resumption of club football following the break for the World Cup — and a strikeforce of the Argentine and the on-fire Erling Haaland would strike fear into the hearts of many a Premier League defence.

    The Argentine has impressed in his early form for City following his summer move from River but he only has 357 minutes of Premier League football to his name, scoring three goals.

    Playing a key role in an Argentina side that could lift their first World Cup since the days of Diego Maradona could see him figure more prominently under Pep Guardiola.

    World Cup final role

    Argentina forward Julian Alvarez has scored four goals at the World Cup
    Argentina forward Julian Alvarez has scored four goals at the World Cup

    Some of the greatest players in history have never played in a World Cup final — but Alvarez will do it at 22.

    And he will play a key role, too. The centre forward’s selfless, hard-running style is the perfect counterbalance to Messi’s more relaxed approach.

    But that does not mean that the City star sacrifices individual contribution in the final third — only Messi and Kylian Mbappe have outscored him in Qatar.

    Nobody has been more accurate with their shooting than the youngster, who has hit the target with seven of his 10 shots (70%).

    If a chance falls Alvarez’s way at Lusail Stadium on Sunday, he will be ready and waiting.

    Source: Livescore

  • 2022 World Cup: A win for Messi or France repeat?

    Can Kylian Mbappe help France win back-to-back titles, or can Lionel Messi lead Argentina to a World Cup victory?

    In the Sunday final at the Lusail Stadium (5:00 GMT), Argentina takes against France.

    Despite having a record seven Ballon d’Or medals, which are given to the world’s finest player, Messi, 35, has never taken home the biggest team trophy in sports.

    “People say France are favourites, but we have the advantage of having the greatest player of all time,” said Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

    “We always like to hear the opponent is the favourite because we don’t feel superior or inferior to anyone.

    “But, as I always say, we have the greatest player of all time. And with a good defence, we have many chances to reach our goal.”

    France manager Didier Deschamps captained his country to World Cup victory in 1998 and then, as boss, guided them to another success in Russia four years ago.

    He said: “I know Argentina, many people around the world, and maybe some French people, hope Lionel Messi could win the World Cup, but we’re going to do everything to achieve our objective.”

    Can Messi help Argentina win World Cup for first time since 1986?

    The final sees the tournament’s top two goalscorers go head-to-head in the race to win the Golden Boot. Both Messi and Mbappe have scored five times in Qatar, while France’s Olivier Giroud and Argentina’s Julian Alvarez are one goal behind on four.

    Messi assisted Argentina in reaching the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, but the Europeans ultimately prevailed 1-0 in extra time thanks to a goal from Germany’s Mario Gotze.

    However, the star for Paris St. Germain has been the inspiration behind Argentina’s effort in Qatar.

    He scored in the crucial 2-0 victory over Mexico after converting an early penalty in their opening match, which saw his nation suffer a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. Argentina won Group C after defeating Poland 2-0. Messi also scored in Argentina’s 2-1 victory over Australia in the round of 16.

    Argentina appeared to be in control of their quarterfinal match against the Netherlands after taking a 2-0 lead after 82 minutes, but Wout Weghorst scored twice for the Dutch, including an equalizer in the 11th minute of injury time to force extra time.

    It eventually went to penalties but Martinez saved two spot-kicks as Argentina advanced, before a goal from Messi and two from Manchester City’s Alvarez gave them a routine 3-0 win over Croatia in the semi-finals.

    Argentina have won the tournament twice, on home soil in 1978 and in Mexico in 1986, and are looking for their third success on Sunday.

    “I’m already getting emotional because they’ve given everything sincerely,” said manager Lionel Scaloni. “Let’s hope we win the title and if it can’t be, they should be proud, because it’s a moment to enjoy.”

    2022 World Cup: Messi World Cup final win or France repeat?

    Sickness bug hampers France’s preparations

    Mbappe, 23, is chasing his second World Cup success and has been instrumental in guiding France to the final. He scored once in their 4-1 win over Australia and twice in the 2-1 victory over Denmark as France reached the last 16 with a game to spare.

    That enabled Deschamps to rest players and, despite losing 1-0 to Tunisia, they won Group D, with Mbappe on target twice more in the 3-1 last-16 triumph over Poland.

    In the quarter-finals they faced Gareth Southgate’s England and took the lead through Aurelien Tchouameni, but Harry Kane equalised with a penalty. Olivier Giroud put France ahead and they won it 2-1 after Kane missed a second spot-kick.

    France beat the tournament’s surprise packages Morocco 2-0 in the semi-final to reach their fourth World Cup final in seven tournaments, having won the competition in 1998 and 2018 and losing in the final in 2006.

    But their preparations have been hampered with a sickness bug.

    Midfielder Adrien Rabiot, defender Dayot Upamecano and winger Kingsley Coman have been among those struggling with illness.

    “We’ve had a few cases of flu-like symptoms,” said Deschamps. “We’re trying to be careful so it doesn’t spread and players have made great efforts out on the pitch and obviously their immune systems suffer.

    “We’re taking all necessary precautions, trying to make sure it doesn’t spread but we have had to take precautions against it.”

    Match facts

    • They have met three times before at the World Cup. Argentina won both group matches in 1930 and 1978, but France were victorious in their only knockout encounter, winning 4-3 in the last 16 in 2018.
    • Argentina are competing in their sixth World Cup final, with only Germany (eight) participating in more. They won in 1978 and 1986 and lost in 1930, 1990 and 2014.
    • They could become the second side in World Cup history to lose their opening game and go on to lift the trophy, emulating Spain in 2010.
    • Messi can become the third Argentine player to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup after Guillermo Stabile in 1930 and Mario Kempes in 1978.
    • France have reached the World Cup final for a fourth time, all since 1998. This is twice as many as any other nation in this period.
    • Les Bleus are looking to become only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups, after Italy (1934-38) and Brazil (1958-62).

    Source: BBC

  • Messi’s World Cup performances show evolution of sport – Wenger

    According to former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Lionel Messi’s outstanding achievements at the 2022 World Cup “show the evolution of modern sport.”

    At a press conference for FIFA’s Technical Study Group, Wenger and Germany icon Jurgen Klinsmann made the statement.

    Many older players have played prominent roles for their national teams during the tournament in Qatar, with 35-year-old Lionel Messi set to captain Argentina against France in the World Cup final.

    While Olivier Giroud, 35, will likely start for France on Sunday after surpassing Thierry Henry’s record as the Les Bleus’ all-time leading scorer, Luka Modric, 37, shone for Croatia as they advanced to the semi-finals.

    On the other hand, if France defeats Argentina, Kylian Mbappe, 23, may become the youngest player to win two World Cup championships since Pele. Jude Bellingham, 19, was a key role in England’s progress to the quarterfinals.

    Wenger believes that this World Cup is an example of how modern sport is developing and how new technology is enabling athletes to extend their careers.

    “I managed [Arsenal] in 2006 against Barcelona in the Champions League final and Messi was already starting to play,” Wenger said at the press conference.

    “That’s 2006, we are in 2022 – that’s 16 years later and he’s still in contest for being player of the tournament.

    “This tournament shows the evolution of modern sport.

    “This tournament is the tournament of young players who are ready earlier and earlier in top-level sport, and as well the tournament of players who last longer and longer than ever before.

    “We have not experienced World Cups with 35-year-old players being dominant, but we have Giroud, we have Messi, Modric – 37 – dominant players at this tournament.

    “It shows that despite all the negativity about health and welfare of players, the life of a top-level sportsman lasts longer. They are ready earlier and they finish later.”

    Klinsmann thinks there is a great desire in the game for Argentina’s outstanding player to finally win football’s top honor now that Messi may be close to cap his career.

    “Messi – everybody wants him to do well,” Klinsmann stated. “We talked before the tournament about the big superstars who will put their stamp on the tournament and most of them delivered.

    “Most of us are Messi fans no matter what. We want him to win the World Cup and be seen on the same level in his home country as [Diego] Maradona.

    “We all know that for [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Messi it could be the last tournament. They have established themselves on the world stage for the last 15 years.”

    Klinsmann cited Mbappe as the potential heir to Messi and Ronaldo’s throne, adding: “We talk about those big superstars towards the end of their career but also who is the next one taking over.

    “Mbappe has the advantage because of his age.

    “I was amazed about a lot of young players coming through, like [Cody] Gakpo from the Netherlands, or even with Germany going home early, there’s a special kid coming up with [Jamal] Musiala.”

    The World Cup in Qatar has come under intense scrutiny, particularly on the host nation’s treatment of migrant workers and views on same-sex marriages.

    With the end in sight, FIFA president Gianni Infantino labelled it “the best World Cup ever”, with Klinsmann agreeing it had been a great tournament.

    “It’s been wonderful,” Klinsmann declared. “[A] huge success off the field and on the field.

    “We all have many moments with people here, the atmosphere, the stadiums, the organisation itself.

    “Every time you are at a World Cup you think it’s the best. I’ll leave that up to other people. It’s been an unbelievable experience and tomorrow will be an amazing final.”

     

  • France raining on Messi’s parade does not worry Deschamps

    Didier Deschamps, the head coach of France, is unfazed by the possibility that Les Bleus may interfere with Lionel Messi’s attempt to win the World Cup on Sunday.

    Messi has already declared that the championship match at Lusail Stadium will be his final appearance at a World Cup.

    In that sense, it is his final chance to win the single major award he has yet to take home, potentially solidifying his title as “best of all time.”

    For many, Messi must win the World Cup in order for his legacy to surpass that of Diego Maradona, the legendary player for the Albiceleste.

    As such, there is undoubtedly huge anticipation surrounding Argentina’s prospects in the final, but Deschamps – whose France side are bidding to become the first European side to retain the World Cup since 1938 – is not worried about the likelihood of it feeling like it is France against the world.

    Asked if he got the feeling France were “alone” in that respect, Deschamps said: “I often get that feeling, but I’m fine being alone, that doesn’t bother me. These uncertainties always arise.

    “We are here, we’ve done all we can to be well-prepared for the game against Argentina.

    “Lionel Scaloni has also had some challenges; they lost their first match to Saudi Arabia, of course, but they are still here.

    “And like us, we haven’t had to face everyone in this tournament, but in the games we’ve played, we’ve managed to come out as victors.

    “I don’t have any particular worries or stresses for [the final]. I think when you prepare for a game like this, you need to keep your focus, remain composed, and with a World Cup final in particular you have the match but also the context around it.

  • Benzema ‘not interested’ to join France ahead of World Cup final

    Just two days before France’s World Cup final match against Argentina, Karim Benzema sent a mysterious statement on social media claiming he is “not interested.”

    Due to a thigh injury he aggravated in practice, Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema was ruled out of Qatar 2022 on the day of the competition.

    There were rumors that the current Ballon d’Or winner, who had recovered from his injury and resumed training with his club, may rejoin the team.

    However, asked if Benzema could make a shock return ahead of Sunday’s final, France boss Didier Deschamps said: “I don’t want to answer you. It’s a stupid question.”

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Karim Benzema (@karimbenzema)

    Further reports from Spain on Friday claimed Benzema was unhappy to have been sent home in the first place and did not take kindly to Deschamps’ latest comments.

    The 34-year-old has now posted an ambiguous message on social media, simply translated as “I’m not interested”, accompanied by an explosion emoji.

    Former Lyon striker Benzema has scored 37 goals in 97 appearances for France.

    Les Bleus are aiming to become just the third side – and first since Brazil in 1962 – to retain the World Cup trophy after beating Morocco 2-0 in the semi-finals to advance.

     

  • Messi is on a par with Maradona ahead of World Cup final, Zanetti claims

    According to Javier Zanetti, a former Argentina player, Lionel Messi is on par with Diego Maradona and deserving of winning the World Cup for the first time on Sunday.

    On Sunday at the Lusail Stadium, Argentina will compete in their sixth World Cup final, hoping to keep France from becoming the first team to win the championship back-to-back since Brazil in 1962.

    With his 26th and likely final game remaining in the World Cup, Messi will break the record for most appearances in the tournament. He also has a chance to become the first player to score 20 goals during the tournament (currently 11 goals, eight assists).

    The talismanic performances of the Argentina skipper in Qatar have been compared to Maradona’s during the Albiceleste’s victory in 1986, and Zanetti cannot distinguish between the two legends.

    “Messi is a great player, I think he’s on a par with Diego,” he told reporters in Doha on Thursday.

    “I think a lot of people want Messi to win because of what he represents in the world and because of the way he interprets football.

    “Leo deserves it and the boys are making a great effort to get to that moment. He is the strongest player in the world and he makes a difference on the field.”

    However, the Inter great is not taking victory for granted, adding: “I hope that Argentina can bring the World Cup to our country.

    “I’m worried about [Kylian] Mbappe, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Olivier] Giroud, if [Adrien] Rabiot plays he is a quality player, and they have a great goalkeeper.

    “It’s a group that has been working for a long time with this coach. It’s a very complete team, very organised. But it’s a final and anything can happen.”

    In the meantime, fellow former Argentina international Diego Milito praised Messi’s performances and stated both teams deserved to be in the championship game.

    “We know him, we know what he is capable of, that he is the best player in the world,” Milito said of Messi. “He is having an extraordinary World Cup and he deserves it.

    “The best two teams reached the final. It’s a very difficult match but we are confident in the team.

    “We are happy to be able to be in the final. Hopefully this Sunday will be a good final and we can achieve what we have been looking forward to for a long time.

    “This team has given much joy to the people, they have come on a path from the [2021] Copa America, and must be very happy and excited.”

     

  • World Cup final to be officiated by Marciniak

    Szymon Marciniak will officiate Sunday’s World Cup final between France and Argentina, according to FIFA.

    Marciniak has already presided over matches involving both of the winners in Qatar; he oversaw France’s 2-1 victory over Denmark in the group stages and Argentina’s 2-1 triumph over Australia in the last 16 matches.

    In his two matches in this year’s tournament, the Polish official, who also officiated matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has only issued five yellow cards. He has not yet issued a single penalty or red card.

    Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who issued 15 yellow cards during Argentina’s victory over the Netherlands in the quarterfinal of the World Cup, is one of the referees who have come under fire for their performances in the knockout rounds.

    Regarding Cesar Ramos’ officiating during Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal loss to France, the Moroccan Football Federation has filed a protest with FIFA.

    The third-place playoff between Croatia and Morocco will be overseen on Saturday by Abdulrahman Al Jassim of Qatar, according to FIFA.

  • 2022 World Cup: Why Lionel Messi missed Argentina training ahead of match with France

    Prior to the World Cup final match versus France on Wednesday, December 15, 2022, Argentina captain Lionel Messi was absent from the Albiceleste practice.

    According to earlier rumors, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar missed group training because of a minor knock.

    However, a training ground report by Ghanaian Sports journalist, Samuel Kusi Appiah, suggests Messi is not injured as he trained at the gym together with Angel Di Maria.

    According to Appiah, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni gave his first team a rest while the reserves engaged in intense training.

    Despite the rest, the first team players turned up for the session but did not engage in it.

    Argentina will hold another training session on Friday, December 16, 2022, in preparation for the final.

    Argentina and France have both won the World Cup twice, and the winner of the match on Sunday, December 18 will take their total to three.

  • Dalic admits Croatia observed the ‘true Messi’

    Lionel Messi’s performance was what Croatia “expected to see,” according to Zlatko Dalic, as the Argentina great crushed Croatia’s World Cup hopes.

    Messi scored a goal and provided an assist as the Albiceleste won 3-0 on Tuesday in the semifinals, preventing Dalic’s team from reaching a second straight final.

    The Croatia head coach, who intends to continue leading the side until his contract expires in 2024, was not overly surprised by the PSG forward’s heroics.

    Luka Modric, his 37-year-old captain, is probably one of the players from this generation who won’t be available by the finals in 2026, according to Dalic.

    “Nothing much needs to be said about Messi’s qualities,” he said. “In the past 15 years, he’s probably the best player in the world, and today again, he was very good and dangerous.

    “He made the difference in quality for the Argentina team. He had this explosiveness and technique at a very high-level performance. It’s the true Messi we expected to see.

    “This is perhaps the end of this generation in World Cups, a couple of them have reached an age and the World Cup in 2026 – we have to wait and see what happens then.

    “We’ve had great achievements for the Croatia national team, and a lot of players with a lot of potential.

    “I believe this generation will finish their careers with Euro 2024. We have the Nations League finals, and it’s an excellent generation that reached the semi-finals twice in a row.

    “It would have been great to have won the gold medal to crown this generation.”

    When asked if he would remain at the helm, Dalic added: “I will continue my contract until 2024 and the European Championships and, in six months, we have the Nations League [finals].

  • Romero lauds Messi for helping Argentina’s World Cup driving force shine

    According to Argentina teammate Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi is the living example of the saying you can’t keep a good man down as he advances to yet another World Cup final.

    On Sunday, another opportunity to win football’s top trophy awaits, eight years after Lionel Messi and Argentina were devastated by Germany’s victory at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

    On Tuesday, Messi’s penalty and a double by Julian Alvarez helped the Albiceleste defeat Croatia 3-0 in the semifinal match.

    Argentina will look to the captain for motivation in the final against France or Morocco. Messi was superb as usual, setting up Alvarez’s second goal by dancing past Josko Gvardiol.

    At the age of 35, the Paris Saint-Germain forward could be about to experience his career’s crowning glory.

    Defender Romero said: “Leo’s of course a wonderful player, but more than that he’s a reference and he’s somebody who is a personality, who is always going for more.

    “He’s been hit so many times and every time he gets back up again and goes for more and he has the strength to do that. He won a Copa America, he’s a benchmark like others, [Angel] Di María, Kun [Sergio Aguero], who is no longer here.”

    Messi has now appeared in as many World Cups as Lothar Matthaus, who previously held the record with 25 appearances.

    With 11 goals, he now holds Gabriel Batistuta’s World Cup scoring record for Argentina.

    Argentina, which is attempting to win its first World Cup since 1986 when the similarly charismatic Diego Maradona was in charge, benefits greatly from having the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner among its ranks.

    Romero added: “You put your life into this, to bring the trophy home. We’re here to deliver. It was shown once again that we are lions. No matter what happens on Sunday, we are going to give all we’ve got to bring the cup home.”

     

  • World Cup: Suarez praises Messi after Argentina’s triumph

    Luis Suarez has hailed his former Barcelona team-mate, Lionel Messi, after he helped Argentina qualify for the 2022 World Cup final.

    Messi scored the game’s first goal from the penalty spot in the 34th minute and assisted Julian Alvarez in scoring a second goal to complete Tuesday’s spectacular 3-0 triumph over Croatia.

    After finishing as Argentina’s runner-up in 2014 when Germany defeated La Albiceleste 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner now has a chance to win Argentina’s first World Cup since Diego Maradona led them to victory in 1986.

    “You never get tired of showing that you are the best in the world,” Suarez, who spent six years with Messi at Barcelona from 2014 to 2020, wrote on Instagram.

    “The whole world stops to applaud this guy and what he’s given to football. Incredible my friend!”

    Messi’s longtime La Liga rival with Real Madrid, defeated Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, claimed the Argentinean deservingly won the World Cup.

    “Hopefully [Messi] wins this World Cup, he is the best player in history and he deserves it,” Modric told reporters after the game.

    Argentina will play the final on Sunday against either reigning world champions France or Morocco, who will meet at Al Bayt Stadium in the second semi-final on Wednesday.


     

     

  • I am proud to be able to finish my World Cup journey playing this final – Messi

    Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, announced that Sunday’s championship game against either France or Morocco will be his final World Cup appearance as he looks to go out in a flourish.

    With a goal and an assist, the 35-year-old was instrumental in Argentina’s 3-0 semifinal victory over Croatia.

    Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi had previously stated that this will be his final World Cup, a statement he reaffirmed following Tuesday’s victory.

    “I am proud to be able to finish my World Cup journey playing this final,” Messi told reporters. “What I’m experiencing is exciting. Sunday will be my last game in a World Cup.

    “It will be many years before the next one [2026] and I don’t think I’ll be able to make it, so I hope I can finish in the best way.”

    With his 11th goal against Croatia, Messi surpassed Gabriel Batistuta to become his nation’s all-time best scorer at World Cups.

    In addition, Messi scored his 16th goal for Argentina in 2022, giving him the most international goals in a single year of his career.

    “I’m enjoying it all very much,” Messi said about the 2022 World Cup. “I feel good. I feel strong to face every game. We have been making a big sacrifice.

    “The last game we played was with extra time. That was not easy at all. We were tired, but the group got strength. We played a very important game. We knew it was going to be the match it was.

    “I’m very happy. Throughout this World Cup I’ve been having a lot of fun and, luckily, I was able to help the group to get things done.”

    Messi will be gunning for the ultimate crowning glory with his maiden World Cup title on Sunday, having played in 2014 when La Albiceleste were runners-up.

    Argentina are into their sixth World Cup final, with only Germany (eight) having reached more in the competition.

  • Messi’s best international moments for Argentina

    When considered separately, Lionel Messi’s international career with Argentina has been extraordinarily successful.

    He is, after all, the player with the most caps for his country as well as La Albiceleste’s all-time leading scorer.

    Messi has had such success at the club level, first with Barcelona and most recently with Paris Saint-Germain, that his international career does, nevertheless, seem quite insignificant in contrast.

    His journey to Argentina has undoubtedly included highs and lows. Major awards have been received, but there have also been a lot of heartbreaks and finals defeats.

    We look back on Messi’s international career’s high points as he makes what may be his final try to win the World Cup.

    Sent off on debut

    Messi was the focus of an international dispute between Argentina and Spain when he was a youngster.

    At the 2005 South American Youth Championship, he opted to play for his country and did so, scoring the game-winning goal against Brazil in the championship match.

    Later that year, in a friendly match against Hungary, Messi made his full debut for his country. The 18-year-old player replaced another player in the second half, but he did not have the impact that everyone had hoped for.

    His debut lasted just two minutes before he was dismissed for striking the full-back with his arm while trying to avoid Hungarian defender Vilmos Vanczak.

    Copa America losses

    Despite a rocky start to his international career, Messi quickly cemented his place as a fixture in the Argentina team.

    He participated in the 2006 World Cup and started for a team that was predicted to win the 2007 Copa America. He would win the award for the best young player, but Argentina fell to Brazil 3-0 in the championship game.

    In 2015, eight years later, they made it to another Copa America championship game. La Albiceleste lost a penalty shootout against Chile 4-1 after a 0-0 tie, with Messi scoring the sole goal.

    The next year, the competition was organized once more to commemorate its centennial.

    Again Argentina met Chile in the final and again the match ended 0-0 and went to penalties. This time Chile won the shootout 4-2, with the talisman missing the opening kick.

    Olympic champion

    Lionel Messi was a gold medal winner at the Olympics
    Lionel Messi was a gold medal winner at the Olympics

    One year after that first Copa America final defeat, Messi tasted international success at senior level but only after the intervention of his club manager.

    Barcelona did not want him to play for Argentina at the 2008 Olympics as it clashed with their Champions League qualifiers.

    They even took legal action to prevent him joining the squad until the newly-appointed head coach Pep Guardiola persuaded the club to relent.

    Messi starred in a team that went all the way to the final in Beijing, beating Brazil in the semi-finals.

    A 1-0 victory against Nigeria secured gold for Argentina — four years after being crowned champions at the Athens Olympics.

    World Cup defeat

    The Copa America is not the only international tournament where Messi has suffered plenty of heartbreak.

    Argentina were knocked out of both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups at the quarter-final stage by Germany. In the latter tournament, a tactically naive team managed by Diego Maradona were thrashed 4-0.

    Four years later in Brazil, the pressure was on Messi to repeat the accomplishments of Maradona as a player and lead the nation to World Cup success.

    He scored four goals to help the team through to the 2014 final, where they would once again play Germany.

    For the third World Cup in a row, the Germans beat Argentina. Messi spurned several scoring opportunities and Germany eventually edged it 1-0 in extra-time.

    The Golden Ball award for best player was controversially awarded to Messi but provided little consolation.

    Copa success

    Lionel Messi finally got to hold the Copa America trophy in 2021
    Lionel Messi finally got to hold the Copa America trophy in 2021

    Messi’s long streak of international heartbreak finally came to an end in 2021 at the Copa America in Brazil.

    Argentina and Colombia were meant to be co-hosts, but the coronavirus crisis saw Brazil step in. On home territory, the Selecao were hot favourites to win the tournament.

    Messi and Argentina had other ideas. This was a much less star-studded side compared to the ones that had tried and failed to win past editions and they were perhaps all the better for it.

    A defensively solid team built around their star man would beat Brazil 1-0 in the final.

    Messi was key to the victory, finishing as top scorer and being named Player of the Tournament.

  • Martinez taking pain-killing injections to play at World Cup – Agent reveals

    According to his agency, Lautaro Martinez has received pain-relieving injections to enable him to represent Argentina at the World Cup.

    Despite four outings at the tournament in Qatar, the Inter striker is still without a goal, and La Albiceleste have advanced to the round of eight.

    Martinez made the starting lineup for both the 2-0 victory over Mexico and the shocking opening loss to Saudi Arabia, in which two goals were disallowed for offside.

    However, he was chosen for the bench against Poland in the last group match, and he also entered the game against Australia in the round of 16 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

    The attacker is seeking treatment for an ankle ailment, Martinez’s agency said before of Argentina’s quarterfinal matchup with the Netherlands on Friday.

    “Lautaro has been taking injections because he has a lot of pain in his ankle,” Alejandro Camacho told La Red.

    “He’s working hard to make that pain go away, and as soon as that happens, he’ll be flying on the pitch. Martinez is a top player in the world.

    “He is very strong in the mind, but the goals that were disallowed against Saudi Arabia were hard moments for him.”

    Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez has been the man that Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has selected to start in Martinez’s place.

    Camacho believes Alvarez and Martinez are helping each other’s performances, adding: “The competition makes him [Martinez] and Julian stronger, because contrary to what you might think, they are good for each other.”

  • World Cup: Van Dijk hoping for clash with Argentina superstar Messi

    Virgil van Dijk asserts that Lionel Messi will pose a threat to the Netherlands even when he is “chilling” and that the Dutch must have a “good plan” to deal with Argentina’s great player.

    In a match with a long World Cup history, the Dutch and La Albiceleste will renew their hostilities on Friday in Qatar.

    The Netherlands fell to Argentina in the 1978 championship game, but Louis van Gaal will get the chance to exact retribution because he was in command when his team lost to Messi and co. on penalties in the semifinals eight years ago.

    When Liverpool overcame Barcelona in the 2018–19 Champions League semifinals, Van Dijk faced off against Messi, who has already scored three goals in Qatar, including one in the 2-1 last-16 victory over Australia.

    So, naturally, he knows the Paris Saint-Germain star and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is a player you can never take your eyes off.

    “The difficult thing about him is when we are attacking, he is chilling somewhere in a corner or something,” Van Dijk said.

    “You have to be so very sharp in terms of defensive organisation. They always looked for him to try to make it difficult for us on the counter.

    “It is an honour to play against him. It is not me against him, or the Netherlands against him, but the Netherlands against Argentina.

    “No one can do it on his own, we will have to come up with a good plan.”

     

  • Messi primed for World Cup glory after ‘liberating’ Copa America triumph – Aguero

    Former teammate Sergio Aguero says Lionel Messi is enjoying his pivotal role in Argentina’s World Cup ambition after feeling liberated by last year’s Copa America victory.

    Argentina defeated Australia 2-1 on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals against the Netherlands thanks to a goal from Messi, who scored his ninth World Cup goal and first in a knockout match.

    With his goal, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner surpassed Diego Maradona’s record of eight World Cup goals for Argentina. He finished with his trademark left foot after cutting inside from the right. Only Gabriel Batistuta (10) now contributes more to the nation.

    Messi highlighted his “beautiful” bond with Argentina’s supporters after the win, but Aguero believes that is a recent development, one which came about as a result of the Albiceleste ending a 28-year wait to win the Copa America last July.

    “Leo is going to do everything possible to achieve the goal that we all want,” the former Argentina international told ESPN.

    “Leo is happy and content. The Copa America changed his life, it gave him life. After the Copa America, he was happy again in the national team, like when we were in the under-20s.

    “He lived with criticism and lost finals for a long time. The Copa America was liberating for him.”

    Messi had the disgrace of losing four important international finals before to Argentina’s victory over the hosts Brazil last year, failing to carry his team to victory in the 2014 World Cup or the 2007, 2015, or 2016 Copa Americas.

    Aguero suggested Brazil, who might face Argentina in the World Cup semifinals, would not enjoy a rematch after that victory in Rio de Janeiro.

    “If we made it to the quarter-finals, let me be excited,” Aguero said. “Do you think that Brazil wants to meet Argentina in the semi-finals?

    “Brazil has just lost the Copa America final, I think they don’t want that match.”

  • World Cup: Magic Messi guides Argentina past Australia

    Argentina beat Australia 2-1 on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals, and Lionel Messi scored his first goal in the World Cup elimination stage to commemorate his 1,000th career appearance.

    At Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Australia was content to delay their opponents, but as halftime drew near, Messi used his signature style to split the Socceroos open, picking out the bottom-left corner to score.

    As exquisite as Argentina’s first goal was, their second goal almost bordered on the ludicrous as Australia goalie Mathew Ryan sent the ball to Julian Alvarez, who scored the game-winning goal with ease.

    When Craig Goodwin’s shot bounced off Enzo Fernandez and past Emiliano Martinez, Australia cut the deficit in half, but Argentina never looked like they would be beaten as they set up a quarterfinal matchup with the Netherlands.

    Argentina found it difficult to advance early on due to Graham Arnold’s team’s staunch defense, but La Albiceleste can credit their seven-time Ballon d’Or winner for helping them take the lead with their first significant attack.

    After 35 minutes had passed, Messi ducked inside from the right flank to grab Nicolas Otamendi’s pass before putting a brilliant side-footed finish over Ryan’s helpless dive.

    As Argentina sought a second goal after the break, Messi had a shot ricochet into Ryan’s arms. However, Ryan was at fault when Argentina extended their lead after 57 minutes.

    When pressured by Rodrigo De Paul and Alvarez, Ryan puzzlingly attempted to dribble his way out of difficulty, and the Manchester City striker executed the easiest of finishes after seizing the ball.

    When Fernandez unintentionally deflected Goodwin’s long-range shot into the bottom right corner, Australia unexpectedly cut the lead. Lisandro Martinez then made a superb last-ditch block to stop Aziz Behich from scoring a dramatic equalizer.

    As Argentina clung on to secure their advancement, substitute Lautaro Martinez came close on three separate occasions until Emiliano Martinez stopped Garang Kuol from close range at the end.

    Messi surpasses Maradona, chases Batistuta

    On the day Messi brought up 1,000 career appearances – 169 of them for Argentina, he also inched closer to making another piece of history for his country.

    Messi’s opener saw him surpass Diego Maradona and Guillermo Stabile’s tallies of eight World Cup goals. Only Gabriel Batistuta (10) has now outscored Messi when representing the country at the tournament.

    Alvarez impresses once more

    While Messi stole the headlines on Saturday, his 22-year-old strike partner also demonstrated his worth with another energetic performance.

    Alvarez’s goal may have owed much to the poor decision-making of Ryan, but it made the City striker just the sixth Argentina player to score on each of his first two World Cup starts, and the first since Hernan Crespo did so in 2006.

  • Gakpo, Kudus and the breakout prospects of the World Cup group stage

    Once every four years players from across the globe get a chance to perform on the world stage and force their way into the football zeitgeist.

    Whether it is a young midfielder from Ghana who has been battling injuries the past couple of seasons, or a mercurial Dutch forward trying to push his way out of the Eredivisie, it is the perfect launchpad to alter the course of a player’s career.

    Stats Perform has identified four players who have lit up Qatar and, in turn, have seen their profile and transfer stock skyrocket, opening the door to a new world of possibilities come the January transfer window.

    Take a look at these young leading lights…

    Cody Gakpo, the Netherlands

    Cody Gakpo has perhaps been the breakout star of the tournament, finding the back of the net in all three of the Netherlands’ group matches.

    Having spent his entire career with PSV, the 23-year-old six-foot-four forward took a huge step forward in the 2021-22 season when he shattered his best goal return, following up his 11 goals in the 2020-21 campaign with 21 last time out.

    While those in the Netherlands set-up were waiting to see if he could replicate his terrific 12 months, he has taken another leap, with 12 goals and 14 assists in 19 combined Eredivisie and Europa League contests this term.

    There were rumours in the most recent transfer window that Leeds United were among the clubs looking to lure Gakpo away from PSV for a fee in the range of €30million, but he opted to reject their contract offer in the hope of landing at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

    That bet on himself has proven to be a masterstroke, with his performances on the Qatar stage well and truly putting him on the radar of Champions League sides including Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, per Dutch journalist Marco Timmer.

    He became the first player from any European nation since 2002 to score in each group match, while he also became only the second player to put his side 1-0 up in all three group fixtures.

    Enzo Fernandez, Argentina

    Just over six months ago, Enzo Fernandez was playing for River Plate back in Argentina, but just half a season after arriving at Benfica for a deal worth up to €18m, the attacking midfielder could be moving on to greener pastures.

    Fernandez, 21, broke into the Argentina squad while still with River Plate, but did not receive his senior debut until September 24 this year.

    His lead-up to the World Cup was strong enough to book his ticket to Qatar, and after coming off the bench in Argentina’s first group-stage loss to Saudi Arabia, he came on and scored against Mexico, forcing his way into the starting XI before contributing an assist against Poland.

    His rapid rise has not gone unnoticed, and Marca is reporting Benfica have slapped a €100m fee on their new star if any team wants to pry him away while his contract still has another four seasons locked in.

    Real Madrid are one side said to be accepting of that figure, with Marca claiming they now view him as an alternative option to Borussia Dortmund and England prodigy Jude Bellingham.

    Mohammed Kudus, Ghana

    Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus had begun to break out at the club level this season heading into the World Cup.

    The 22-year-old central midfielder scored four goals – including one each against Liverpool and Napoli – while adding two assists in six Champions League fixtures.

    After being awarded his first senior international cap for Ghana back in 2019, he was spotted at Danish side Nordsjaelland and brought over to Ajax for a €9m fee in 2020.

    He missed extended stretches of both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns through injuries, and still has not been used as a guaranteed starter this season, but his emergence on the World Cup stage has been undeniable.

    Against South Korea, Kudus delivered Ghana their only win of the group as he found the back of the net twice in a 3-2 triumph, and it was a performance that is said to have caught the eye of European powerhouses.

    Fichajes named Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain as interested parties, and Sports Illustrated believe his price will be around £90m.

    Harry Souttar, Australia

    Australia have now qualified for five World Cups in a row, but after not winning a game at both the 2014 and 2018 editions, they had centre-back Harry Souttar to thank for finally taking three points against Tunisia.

    Souttar, 24, stands at a towering six-foot-six and showed off an impressive ability to cover ground in a hurry when he was called upon for a potentially game-saving, last-man challenge to defend Australia’s 1-0 lead.

    It was one of the most spectacular defensive efforts of the tournament so far and one that will go down in Australian football folklore, and it is even more significant when taking into account his recent history.

    Tipped as a potential £20m transfer target late in 2021, Souttar then tore his ACL and missed 12 months of action, returning to the field in time to get three games under his belt with Stoke City before jetting off to the World Cup.

    While he could be forgiven for needing time to work his way into form, he has instead started all three group games and been the Socceroos’ top performer, including his stellar efforts in a second clean sheet against Denmark to help his side through to the knockout stage.

    Clearly back to the player he was before his injury – at least – Souttar’s showings on the world stage have been the kind that can take a career to a new level.

    Source: Livescore

  • 2022 World Cup: Maradona would be ‘super happy’ I broke his record – Messi

    Argentine forward Lionel Messi claims that Diego Maradona would be very thrilled following his victory as Argentina’s most capped player at a World Cup.

    Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday earned them first place in Group C and a matchup with Australia in the round of 16. Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi was heavily involved in the victory.

    “I only learned about this record recently,” Messi said when told about his latest achievement. 

    “It’s a pleasure to be able to continue achieving these kinds of records. I think Diego would be super happy for me because he’s always shown me a lot of affection. He was always happy when things went well for me.”

    With the score tied, Wojciech Szczesny stopped a penalty shot from Messi, who was playing in the competition for the 22nd time overall—one more than his old mentor Maradona.

    Messi could yet take another record from Maradona, as the 63 chances he has created at World Cups in recorded history is second only to his compatriot, who created 67.

    The 35-year-old scored in Argentina’s opening two games in Qatar, a 2-0 victory over Mexico and a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, before going scoreless against Poland.

    His seven shots against Poland were his most for Argentina without a goal since a 1-1 draw with Iceland at the 2018 World Cup (11).

    However, thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez in the second half, Argentina got the victory they needed and are now the heavy favorites to beat Australia.

    “After the first goal, everything went our way,” said Messi, who was part of the Argentina squad that finished runners-up to Germany at the 2014 World Cup.

    “We started doing again what we had been trying to do since the start of the World Cup, but which we hadn’t been able to achieve for various reasons.

    “Having been able to do it today, it gives us confidence for the future.”

    On Saturday, Messi will try to score in the World Cup’s knockout rounds for the first time because all eight of his previous goals came in the group stage.

    In 23 attempts, he has failed to score after the opening round, although in the final 16 in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 competitions, he did contribute.

  • Szczesny made penalty bet with Messi during Argentina clash against Poland

    During Poland’s World Cup match against Argentina, Wojciech Szczesny and Lionel Messi wagered that the referee would not give a penalty, the goalkeeper has said.

    In the opening period of Poland’s 2-0 defeat in Group C, the Juventus goalkeeper denied Messi from the penalty spot after a contentious call in which Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot after studying the event and acting on VAR instructions.

    Szczesny was one of many who believed that there shouldn’t have been a penalty, even going so far as to wager against Messi during the game’s delay, but he has no plans to fulfill his end of the bargain.

    “We spoke before the penalty. I told him I can bet him €100 that he [the referee] wasn’t going to give it. So, I’ve lost a bet against Messi,” he said after the match.

    “I don’t know if that’s allowed at the World Cup and I’m probably going to get banned for it but I don’t care right now. And I’m not going to pay him either! He doesn’t care about €100, come on.”

    After stopping Salem Al Dawsari of Saudi Arabia in the previous round of matches, Szczesny’s denial of Messi from the penalty spot became the Polish goalie just the third goalkeeper to save two penalties at a single World Cup tournament, excluding shoot-outs.

    However, the close race in Group C to qualify to the knockout stage, with Poland barely winning on goal differential over Mexico, kept his celebrations in check.

    “Yeah it was nice, I didn’t know at the time it was going to help us get through so I tried not to celebrate,” he added.

    “But I’ve had some bad luck at the big tournaments so far, the World Cup four years ago was awful for me and I owed this much to the team and in the last two games I managed to help them a little bit.”

    Poland will face defending champions France at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday in the nation’s first appearance in the knockout stage since 1986.

  • Argentina ‘strengthened’ after penalty miss to seal last-16 spot – Messi

    Lionel Messi praised Argentina’s spirit and willpower, saying they “strengthened” after he missed a critical penalty to secure their 2-0 World Cup victory over Poland.

    After Wojciech Szczesny saved Messi’s penalty kick, Lionel Scaloni’s team advanced as the Group C champions thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez in the second half.

    La Albiceleste, who lost their opening game 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, have advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds for the 13th time in their last 14 outings. On Sunday, they will face Group D runners-up Australia.

    “The team came out strengthened after that mistake of mine,” said Messi, who surpassed Diego Maradona in playing the most World Cup games for Argentina (22).

    “We knew that once the first goal went in it was going to change the game. The previous game gave us a lot of peace of mind and we went out on the pitch thinking we should win.

    “The game with Australia is going to be very difficult. Anyone beats anyone, everything is very even. We have to prepare for the game in the best way we always do.

    “We must be calm and go game by game. Now, another World Cup starts, and hopefully we can continue to maintain what we did today.”

    Nicolas Otamendi concurred: “This is a team that strengthens under pressure, it was demonstrated. Today we had a final, and we never lost focus.”

    Rodrigo De Paul praised the team’s “personality,” but Mac Allister thinks the performance will give them more confidence going into the knockout rounds.

    “I think today was a great team game, and that gives us a lot of confidence for what’s coming,” he said.

    “It was a convincing performance. We look for the goal at all times. I think we went back to being the team we used to be. We handled the ball more, we had peace of mind, and we didn’t despair. We played well collectively. It fills us with confidence.”

     

  • Barca claims Messi deserves one last dance at Camp Nou

    Lionel Messi will eventually return to Barcelona because the player and team “deserve one last dance together,” according to Jordi Cruyff, sporting director of the Catalan giants.

    Messi’s 21-year affiliation with Barcelona ended in August 2021 due to the club’s inability to pay a new contract in accordance with LaLiga’s financial fair play regulations. Messi now plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

    Messi is currently in his second season with PSG, but his deal expires at the end of the current campaign, and he has been linked to a transfer to Inter Miami of the Major League Soccer.

    Next year, when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner turns 36, Cruyff expects to see him return to Camp Nou, albeit he acknowledges it might not be in a playing role.

    “It’s clear Barcelona and Messi have to be together again one day,” Cruyff told RAC1. “It may be after his career, but they deserve a final hug, one last dance together.”

    Asked about the possibility of Guardiola managing the Blaugrana again further down the line, Cruyff said: “He’s reached the level of being able to choose his own destiny.

    “Not many have reached that point; it’s the dream of every professional. Whether he returns or not, I have no idea. I think he’s happy at City.”

  • Canelo issues Messi warning over alleged Mexico disrespect

    Following Saturday’s World Cup match, Canelo Alvarez has accusing the Argentina forward, Lionel Messi, of disrespecting the Mexican flag.

    With a 2-0 victory over Mexico, Argentina maintained their chances of winning the title. Messi scored the opening goal with an exquisite shot from outside the penalty area.

    After video of the Argentina captain was shown in the locker room during the post-match celebrations with either a Mexico shirt in front of him on the floor, Messi earned the wrath of boxing legend Canelo.

    Messi appeared to have caught the shirt with his foot as he removed his footwear, which left Canelo unimpressed.

    “Did you see Messi cleaning the floor with our shirt and flag ???? I ask God that I don’t find [him]!!” he posted on Twitter.

    The Mexican fighter added: “Just as I respect Argentina, you have to respect Mexico!! I’m not talking about the country [Argentina] I’m talking about Messi because of the b******* he did.

    Canelo wrote in another social media post: “Since the Mexico shirt is on the ground, it’s already an insult. Stop b*******ing about what was or wasn’t.”

    Argentina go into their final Group C game against leaders Poland knowing a win will put them into the round of 16, while a draw will be sufficient if Mexico draw with Saudi Arabia.

    Mexico need a win to have any chance of progressing, while they also need a helping hand from Poland.