Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola engaged in a sombre “argument” following his removal from the lineup during their decisive victory over RB Leipzig on March 14.
Haaland scored five of the seven goals Manchester City scored against their German opponents to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.
After an hour had passed, Haaland was taken off the field to a standing ovation from the fans at Etihad Stadium and his manager, who congratulated him. He joined Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano as the only players in Champions League history to score five goals in a single match.
But as the Norwegian later revealed, he questioned Guardiola as to why he had denied him the opportunity to complete a double hat-trick. Haaland was of the idea that had he been accorded a few
However, Guardiola downplayed the incident, revealing his satisfaction with his striker who has now broken the record for most goals for Man City in a single season. “If he achieved this milestone at 22, 23 years old, it will be boring, his life. Now he has a target.
That’s why I make the substitution,” Guardiola said as quoted by the Independent. The Spanish manager also admitted he had no idea about Messi’s record when he took the Norwegian off.
Sports Brief also reported on football fans on social media being unable to understand Guardiola’s decision to sub Haaland in Man City’s 7-0 thrashing of Leipzig on Tuesday.
The Norwegian scored five goals with only 30 touches with his hat-trick being completed before half-time, but the 22-year-old was keen on more goals when he was hooked off.
Haaland missed out on the chance to achieve another special milestone after his manager,Guardiola substituted him in the 64th minute in an act of mercy towards the Germans.
The 2023 award is in danger of being rocked by allegations of favouritism and daylight robbery because previous events like 2013 and 2010 are still being questioned.
Lionel Messi remains the front-runner to win a record eighth title when the ceremony goes down sometime in October this year. His World Cup heroics with Argentina have given him a perfect head start.
Second on the list is Kylian Mbappe, who nearly led France to a lone World Cup victory.
All of this occurred prior to Bayern Munich’s merciless elimination of Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League.
The World Cup dilemma
Even though the Ballon d’Or award is frequently decided by individual merit, the Champions League typically has a significant impact on the outcome.
In the case of a World Cup year, the once-in-four-years competition takes precedence over any other trophy – Luka Modric is a witness.
Questions have already started streaming in on how this year’s award will be determined by a ‘seven-game tournament.’
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain were viciously attacked by Bundesliga club Augsburg after Bayern Munich eliminated them from the Champions League earlier this week.
PSG was eliminated in the round of 16 by Bayern Munich over the course of two legs, prolonging their wait for their first Champions League victory.
Against the Bavarians, PSG’s feared trio unexpectedly failed to score even once, with Messi and Mbappe in particular being muffled at the Allianz Arena. Due to an ankle injury that would end his season, Neymar was unable to play.
Augsburg played Bayern Munich on Saturday in a top-flight game, and despite losing 5-3, they took solace in the fact that they did score thrice against the league champions – a fete PSG couldn’t.
Ironically, had Christophe Galtier’s side scored three goals over the two ties, the game could have gone to extra time and possibly penalties. Mergim Berisha scored twice on march 11th to add to the strike he got in the first leg against the same opposition in a surprise 1-0 win in September.
Fans reactions
Fans trooped online to respond to the online troll.
@jogabonito said: “Mbappé alone has more trophies than your club. Know your place.”
@ahmdan said: “I’d never thought I’d see the day where Berisha outscores the whole PSG team”
PSG bounced back to beat Brest in Ligue 1 on Saturday evening to cement their lead in France, while Augsburg’s defeat saw them remain in 13th place.
Messi achieves new milestone Sports Brief had earlier reported that Messi reached 300 club assists as Paris Saint-Germain wiped their midweek wounds with a hard-fought victory over Brest.
The genius number 10 added further gloss to his greatest of all-time claim when he set up Kylian Mbappe, who made no mistake by rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home from close range.
Due to the incredible achievements they have made in their careers,Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are regarded as the best players of the twenty-first century and among the greatest players of all time.
They have been in a head-to-head competition to see who is the better, and this has led to a worldwide cult among football fans and celebrities.
Rival fans often make fun of each other’s players during bad games to annoy them. Ronaldo experienced this during Al- Nassr’s 1-0 loss to rivals Al-Ittihad on March 9, 2023.
In a video, Ronaldo was seen upset as he left the pitch angry after Al-Ittihad fans chanted Messi’s name.
Ittihad fans, while their team lead the game, chanted Messi’s name and got the Portuguese irritated as he responded with a keep-talking hand gesture.
After Nassr lost the game 1-0, the fans continued to chant while Ronaldo walked off the pitch as he furiously kicked a bottle on the pitch side.
The Real Madrid legend and five-time Ballon d’Or winner expressed his disappointment after the defeat but acknowledged the Nassr fans for their support.
“Disappointed with the result, but we stay focused on our season and the games ahead.
Thank you Al Nassr fans for your support, we know we can count on you!”
Lionel Messi is the toughest opponent that legendaryReal Madrid defender Marcelo Vieira has ever faced. During their time in Spain, Messi, who was then playing for Barcelona, and the 34-year-old, who spent nearly two decades with Los Blancos, frequently ran into one another.
In one of their 2017 matches, Marcelo claimed credit for Leo Messi’s last-second goal on a counterattack, which led to a heartbreaking loss for Real Madrid.
“It was a mistake, it could happen to anyone, but I take the blame for the goal,” the Brazilian said via MARCA.
It thus comes as little to no surprise Marcelo picked the former Barcelona talisman as the toughest opponent he has encountered during an interview session at his unveiling as a new Fluminese player. When quizzed about his “toughest opponent”, the Madrid icon answered: “Messi.”
The 34-year-old’s career truly blossomed once he swapped his native Brazil for Spain.
He becameReal Madrid’s most decorated player, winning 25 trophies during his time with Los Blancos, per Reuters. Marcelo played 546 games for Madrid, notched 38 goals and provided 103 assists.
He spent 16 years with the Spanish giants before signing as a free agent for Olympiacos in Greece, which lasted for only 10 games.
Marcelo terminates Olympiacos contract
Meanwhile, Marcelo’s stint in Greece after leaving Real Madrid ended abruptly following the termination of his contract with Olympiacos.
The Real Madrid legend joined Olympiacos on a free transfer last summer after bringing an end to his 16-trophy-laden years at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In his brief stint in Greece, he made 10 appearances and scored three goals in all competitions for Olympiacos this season, according to Transfermarket.
Marcelo copies Ronaldo’s ‘Siuu’ celebration
Sports Brief also reported that Marcelo Oliviera stole Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous ‘SIUU’ celebration as he scored for Olympiacos in the Greek Cup on Wednesday night. Olympiacos advanced to the quarterfinals of the Cup competition after drawing 2-2 with Atromitos at the Peristeri Stadium.
The 34-year-old paid a tribute to his formerReal Madrid teammate, Ronaldo, by hitting the legendary forward’s iconic goal celebration.
Football fans have made fun of Lionel Messi, the star player forParis Saint-Germain, on social media, particularly Twitter, for going eight years without taking home a UEFA Champions League trophy.
Many people thought the legendary football player would be inspired to end his lengthy quest for a fifth UCL championship after helping Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
But on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich defeated PSG 2-0 (3-0 overall) to eliminate the French team, ending his quest to end the curse.
Choupo-Mouting and Serge Gnabry’s goals in the second half guaranteed Bayern’s qualification.
The exit means that the seven-timeBallon d’Or winner has now gone almost a decade without winning the competition. His last triumph came in 2015 when he inspired Barcelona to a 3-1 win against Juventus and his last goal in the final dates back to 2009.
This is also the second time the Argentine has suffered a round of 16 exit in his second season at PSG.
Following yet another disappointing night for Lionel Messi, some rival fans have branded his move to PSG as a bad investment by the club.
A section accused him of not turning up for his team in UCL when it matters most.
Others also argued that Messi’s biggest rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the competition five times(won his last in 2018), would have done better and that the defeat typifies the difference between the two.
Cristiano Ronaldo has talked openly about how his ritual of talking to his late father and son motivates him to improve himself as a person. Due to his outstanding accomplishments, the Al-Nassr captain is regarded as one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game.
Despite being on the wrong side of 40, the 38-year-old has not lost his enthusiasm for his work and still strives for greatness in the latter stages of his professional life. After scoring eight goals in four games during the reviewed month, he was recently named the Saudi Pro League’s Player of the Month for February.
Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a plane load of care items to the victims of recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey.
He has paid for tents, medical supplies, warm clothes, bedding, food and baby supplies to boost the aid effort 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ne4wK4n8tq
Aside from his prowess on the field, Ronaldo is also admired for his humanitarian works, which was evidenced as he sent relief items to victims of the Turkey and Syria earthquake. Ronaldo takes inspiration from dad and son Throwing light on where he derives his passion for striving to be the best version of himself, Ronaldo said, as quoted by Frank Khalid.
Ronaldo and his late dad
Although Ronaldo admits he never really shared a father-son moment with his late dad Jose Dinis Aveiro, the former Manchester United ace holds him in high esteem.
As a result of his father’s struggles with alcohol, the five-timeBallon d’Or completely abstains from alcohol. Ronaldo was just 20 when his father died in 2005, per the Sun. Cristiano loses baby son Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez were expecting twins in April last year; however, one of the twins, his son, died during childbirth. He admitted the death of his son was the worst moment of his life.
“[It was] probably the worst moment that I passed through in my life since my father died,” the ex-Real Madrid forward said, as quoted by Eurosport. “When you have a kid, you expect that everything will be normal, and you have that problem, it’s hard…we had quite difficult moments because we don’t understand why it happened to us.
Kaka picks Ronaldo as GOAT Sports Brief previously reported that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been compared as the greatest players in football history throughout their careers – but which one is the true GOAT?
Ronaldo and Messi have broken, rewritten, and set enough records to practically last a lifetime in their illustrious careers, some of which may never be matched. Kaka, who won the 2007 Ballon d’Or prize ahead of the GOAT duo, once described Messi as a genius while commending Ronaldo for his mentality.
On March 2, 2023, gunmen who attacked a supermarket inLionel 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.
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.
Arsene Wenger has weighed in on the never-ending debate overLionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo as the superior football player. The football landscape has been dominated by the Argentine genius and the Portuguese phenomenon for almost two decades, demonstrating their extraterrestrial endurance.
While the pair has provided football fans with mesmerising skills, spectacular goals, and breath-taking moments to savour, it has grown more and more challenging to choose the better of the two given their accomplishments. Nevertheless, the debate has shifted in Leo Messi’s favour as a result of his historic year, in which he finally motivated Argentina to win a third World Cup.
His triumph in Qatar with La Albiceleste has comfortably placed him among the pantheon of greats, per Sky Sports. Conversely, Messi’s longstanding rival Cristiano Ronaldo has endured an indifferent last 12 months. He was kicked out of Manchester United and saw his last dance at the World Cup end at the quarterfinal stage.
Regardless, after swapping Europe for Asia, the 38-year-old appears to have rediscovered his mojo and is firing from all cylinders. He was recently crowned the Player of the Month for February in the Saudi Pro League after notching eight goals and contributing two assists in four matches for Al-Nassr, MARCA reports.
While opinions are sharply divided on who the GOAT is between Messi and Ronaldo, Wenger has a more holistic view of the discussion.
“When they [Ronaldo and Messi] will not be there anymore. We will realize what they have given us, both of them. He added: “I always refuse to make a hierarchy on that because they are two different players. Completely different players, but two exceptional players who have shown the world for 15 years how great football can be.
Sports Brief earlier reported that Paris Saint-Germain superstarKylian Mbappe has appeared to change the tune on who is football’s greatest of all time between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The debate on who is the better player between the two football icons remains divided among fans, pundits, and even footballers. Ronaldo and Messi have dominated the football scene for some time now, with the duo winning an incredible 12 Ballon d’Or awards between them.
Thelegendary France striker Just Fontaine, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 89, will always be remembered for his incredible feat of scoring 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup, a feat that seems unlikely to be repeated.
Even though Fontaine only participated in one tournament and played in six games, only three players have ever scored more goals at the World Cup.
In Qatar, Lionel Messi equaled his previous total of goals scored, but it took him five World Cups to get there. Most people associate the 1958 World Cup in Sweden with the emergence of a 17-year-old Pele, who propelled Brazil to victory after scoring a hat-trick in their 5-2 semifinal victory over France.
Part of a wonderful attacking trident alongside Roger Piantoni and Raymond Kopa, Fontaine might never have gone to Sweden at all.
Only injuries to Thadee Cisowski and his Reims teammate Rene Bliard saw him make the squad and then the starting line-up.
“It was only at the airport before leaving for Sweden that Paul Nicolas (part of the national team staff) and Albert Batteux (the France coach), who didn’t really want me, told me I would be playing as centre-forward,” Fontaine told AFP in 2013.
Only Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16), Brazil’s Ronaldo (15) and Gerd Mueller, the West German hero of the 1970s who scored 14 times, have netted more World Cup finals goals.
Just two other players — Mueller with 10 in 1970 and Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis with 11 in 1954 — have reached double figures at a single World Cup.
Yet Kopa is remembered as the biggest French star of the era. When he died in 2017, Fontaine remembered fondly his “big brother”. “Raymond had character,” he said. “So did I, and that made us a magical duo.” Born in Marrakech in August 1933 to a French father and Spanish mother at the time of the French Protectorate in Morocco, Fontaine went to school in Casablanca, and began his football career there.
Career cut short by injury
In 1953 the stocky penalty-box poacher moved to France, joining Nice.
His three years there were spent combining football with military service,but Fontaine still won the French Cup in his first season and a league title in 1956. He then moved to Reims, the great French side of the 1950s who had just been beaten by Real Madrid in the first European Cup final and that summer lost Kopa to the Spanish giants.
He scored 10 goals in that European campaign, but 1958 was his crowning glory — in his second season with Reims, they won a league and cup double and he was the league’s top scorer with 34 goals.
However, his career ended in 1962 aged just 28. He had hardly played for two years after suffering a double leg fracture. In all he won 21 caps for France, scoring 30 goals. “We talk a lot about my record but I would definitely have swapped it for another five or six years, because football was my passion,” he said. “I was at the very top, and I was earning a lot of money at the time. It was not the money you see nowadays, it was five times the minimum wage, whereas now it would be more like one hundred times that.
Fontaine went into coaching and in 1967 took charge of France. However, he lasted just two games, both defeats in friendlies. A spell with Paris Saint-Germain was more successful, as “Justo” took the side from the capital into the top flight in 1974.
His career in football ended back where it began, in Morocco, as he led the national team to third place at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. He then retired to Toulouse, in the south-west of France.
The best football players in the world gathered under one roof as the world’s governing body of the sport honoured and praised their extraordinary efforts over the previous twelve months.
World Cup champion Lionel Messi of Argentina won the award for best male player of the year for the seventh time, defeating Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe.
Messi is joined by Champions League winner Luka Modric, former Bundesliga leading scorer Erling Haaland, and Africa’s Best Player Sadio Mane on the list of the top ten footballers in the world for 2022.
Along with Achraf Hakimi, who assisted Morocco in reaching the World Cup semifinals for the first time, Julian Alvarez, who also helped Argentina win the World Cup and Copa America, also made the top 10 list.
Brazil’s famous player Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne who is considered one of the best midfielders in the world completed the top 10 footballers in the world list.
Racist insults were directed at the former star of Bayern Munich for not selecting Karim Benzema, a Real Madrid teammate, as his first choice.
The award is chosen by coaches, captains, and journalists from every country. Following Monday’s ceremony, FIFA released a complete breakdown of who received the most votes. According to this breakdown, Austria’s captain Alaba chose Messi over Benzema as his top pick.
Only a little more than two months have passed since Messi led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar before being named the best male footballer in the world at FIFA’s annual awards ceremony on Monday night.
Alaba’s vote did not go down well with Los Blancos supporters, so much so that he was targeted with vile racist messages and calls to leave their club on social media.
Yet after receiving the sickening abuse, Alaba has come out and clarified that Austria’s vote for Messi was a collective decision.
He posted on Twitter:‘Regarding FIFA The Best Award: The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone. Everyone in the team council is able to vote and that’s how it’s decided.
‘Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his performances’.
Benzema had to settle for third in the voting despite inspiring Madrid’s astonishing Champions League triumph last season.
The France striker scored back-to-back hat-tricks in last-16 and quarter-final victories over PSG and Chelsea, before scoring a crucial goal in their second-leg win against the Blues.
He also fired home three goals across both legs as they got past Manchester City in the semi-finals.
Kylian Mbappe previously stated his opinions on the Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi debate for the title of greatest player of all time, but the Paris Saint-Germain star now seems to have changed his mind.
The star of Paris Saint-Germain Kylian Mbappe appears to have made a sharp about-face regarding who he thinks is superior to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The two forwards have developed a spirited rivalry over the course of their individual careers, which peaked during their time with Real Madrid and Barcelona. After finally winning a World Cup championship medal in Qatar last year, it seemed that Messi had put the discussion to rest.
Messi’s glorious campaign has also seems to have definitively changed the mind of his PSG teammate Mbappe. The Frenchman was previously a huge admirer of Portuguese icon Ronaldo.
The striker’s father admitted that the veteran was among Mbappe’s heroes within the game. Speaking in 2016, he said: “He [Mbappe] is a Real Madrid fan and his idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. He used to spend hours watching videos [of Ronaldo] on the internet.”
That was a claim that was backed up by Mbappe’s former teammate Abdou Diallo. He previously suggested that the striker was under no illusions over who was better.
Speaking in December, the defender said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is literally everything to Kylian Mbappe. If you mention Lionel Messi against Cristiano, Mbappe will debate with you for at least an hour. For him, Cristiano is untouchable.”
Mbappe performed his change of opinion on social media in the aftermathof The Best FIFA Awards. A glitzy ceremony was held in Paris on Monday evening to celebrate the best players in both the men’s and the women’s game in 2022.
Messi was named as the Best Men’s Player of the Year following his outstanding performances as Argentina lifted the World Cup, whilst he has also managed to find electric form. The veteran was also named in the FIFPRO Men’s World XI alongside his club teammate Mbappe.
The latter issued his response to the pair’s evening, whilst sending his congratulations to Messi with a telling message. Taking to Instagram, he wrote: “Another trophy at home. Big congratulations to @leomessi you are #TheBest.”
After winning the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for a second time, Lionel Messi thanked his Argentina team-mates for a “dream” year.
At the awards ceremony on Monday in Paris, the superstar from Paris Saint-Germain beat out Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and clubmate Kylian Mbappe for the top prize.
Messi was a key player in Argentina’s victory at the 2022 World Cup, winning the Golden Ball after contributing to three more goals and scoring seven of his own.
In the first half of the 2022–23 season, which was considered in the voting, he also made an impression at the club level, contributing to 14 goals and 11 goals in 18 games.
That matched the 35-year-old’s total of 34 games during his first season at Parc des Princes in both categories.
Upon collecting his Best FIFA award, which he previously won in 2019, Messi said: “Wow, this is amazing. It’s been a tremendous year, and it’s an honour to win this award.
“Without my team-mates, I wouldn’t be here. 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 joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski as two-time winners of the trophy, with Luka Modric the only other winner since the award was first handed out in 2016.
Lionel Scaloni was crowned the Best FIFA Men’s Coach, meanwhile, and Emiliano Martinez ensured it was a clean sweep for Argentina by taking the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award.
In the women’s prizes, Sarina Wiegman took the Best FIFA Women’s Coach award for a third time and Alexia Putellas pipped Beth Mead to the Best FIFA Women’s Player accolade.
England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps was named the Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper.
Christophe Galtier hailed Kylian Mbappe for his “magnificent” feat of becoming Paris Saint-Germain’s joint-record goalscorer in Sunday’s dominant 3-0 win at Marseille.
Mbappe scored a terrific volley to match Edinson Cavani’s tally of 200 goals for PSG as the Ligue 1 leaders went eight points clear of their old rivals with a crushing win at the Stade Velodrome.
Mbappe and fellow attacking star Lionel Messi had earlier put PSG in command by exchanging assists before the break, and they have now combined for 10 goals in Ligue 1 this term — more than any other duo.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video after the win, Galtier said: “Mbappe is a player who has a sense of movement, who obviously goes very fast; he is technically fast too.
“He not only has the legs but an exceptional speed of execution. These are players of stats and records; he equalled this magnificent record of Cavani, and it is obvious that he will beat it.
“His presence is important to the team, it gives us other options in the game, especially with our depth and his presence in front of goal.”
200 – Kylian Mbappé has scored 200 goals for Paris in all competitions, matching Edinson Cavani's record. History. #OMPSGpic.twitter.com/Tnee7KVFGm
PSG suffered an early setback when a tearful Presnel Kimpembe was carried off injured, but they hit the front 25 minutes in as Messi found space to send Mbappe through on goal, with the striker applying an unerring finish.
Mbappe repaid the favour four minutes later, combining with Nuno Mendes on the break before teeing Messi up for a tap-in with a pinpoint low cross.
Messi should have had a second when he somehow blazed over from just six yards out, before Marquinhos fired narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner after beating the hosts’ offside trap.
Mbappe nodded Vitinha’s cross narrowly wide of the left-hand post six minutes after the restart, but the France star had his landmark goal four minutes later.
A flowing move ended with Messi scooping a wonderful ball into the path of Mbappe, who lashed a left-footed volley beyond Pau Lopez to effectively end the contest.
Alexis Sanchez and Marseille’s Vitinha went close to pulling one back, but Gianluigi Donnarumma denied both with sharp saves to preserve PSG’s clean sheet.
⌛️ It’s over in Marseille! Our Parisians win #LeClassique and get the 3 points! ❤️💙
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s current deal at PSG expires in June, and he has not yet agreed to a new one. Inter Miami has been mentioned as a potential next stop for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has also been linked with a return to Barcelona, even though talks over a new contract are believed to be ongoing.
Inter Miami manager Neville weighed in on what could the move mean for his club in an interview with The Athletic, stating: “I think it goes bigger than Inter Miami. I think it’s in MLS. It’s big for the MLS. I think this would be probably the biggest signing ever in American sports.”
Pressed on whether Inter Miami would be prepared for the media circus that follows Messi, Neville added: “The trees might have to be bigger (around the training ground.) The security might have to be tighter. The walk that the players have today over to that stadium; that might have to be different. The travel might be different. The hotels we stay in might have to be different. But really, that might be what we’re aspiring to be like anyways. It’s exciting, but I think it’d be a massive challenge.”
Messi is gradually getting back to his best at club level after guiding Argentina to their third global crown in Qatar. In his last outing with PSG against Lille, he scored a stunning free-kick in the 95th minute to maintain their five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1. However, Barca are said to be eager to bring Messi back to Camp Nou, and he is also being linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal on a mammoth $300 million (£247.4m) annual salary.
Due to their outstanding accomplishments in 2022, the two renowned sports figures have both been nominated for the award.
While acknowledging his nomination, Nadal claimed in an Instagram post that Messi was more deserving of the prize.
“An honour to be nominated again for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award… but this year, come on Lionel Messi, you deserve it,” wrote Nadal on Instagram.
Messi in response wrote: “That such a great sportsman like you thinks of me like that leaves me speechless.
“Thank you so much, Rafael Nadal; you too deserve everything for the way you compete every time you step on the court.”
“You are a winner; everyone [the nominees] deserves the Laureus Sport this year!”
Nadal has previously spoken about how happy he was to see Messi win the World Cup.
“That someone so great reaches the culmination with a title that was missing, of this calibre, with all that it means for Argentina, it seemed fair to me, I enjoyed it and I was moved,” he told AS in December.
“Without supporting Argentina, when Messi scored the third goal, tears came to my eyes because of the emotion of seeing someone so great achieve what they were missing and someone who had suffered so much to achieve it.”
Nadal and Messi have been nominated for the award alongside Kylian Mbappe, Max Verstappen, Armand Duplantis, and Steph Curry.
Nadal won Australian Open and French Open and finished 2022 as World number 2 while Messi’s landmark achievement was leading Argentina to win the World Cup.
After dominating European football for nearly two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have both been referred to as the greatest players of their generation by their supporters.
The two have amassed numerous team and individual championships throughout their careers, making them the most Ballon d’Or winners with five and seven, respectively.
The argument over which of the two is superior has been raging for more than ten years.
Beckham is the most recent player to weigh in on which of the two superstars is superior.
In an earlier interview with ESPN Argentine, via Tribuna, the Manchester United legend admitted that the Argentine was in a class of his own: “It has to be Messi,” Beckham said. I love Leo for many different reasons. I love him because he’s a great father. I love him because he’s a great personality, a character. He’s a great person. “But I think what everybody loves about him is the way he plays the game.
He plays the game with passion. He plays the game just free the way he plays. “And I think this past World Cup again. I think the way he played for his team, for his country, and to win that World Cup was an incredible moment for him. And I love watching players like him.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea legend, Joe Cole has picked Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest player in the history of football, Daily Post reports.
Joe Cole insists that neither Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo nor the late Diego Maradona can be compared to the Argentine World Cup star.
Messi’s victory with Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, according to the former England international, has put the debate between the Paris Saint-Germain superstar and Ronaldo to rest. Fernando Torres settles GOAT debate Earlier, Sports Brief reported the football world continues to be divided on who’s the greatest of all time between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The decades-long debate continues to rage on, with former and current footballers weighing in with thoughts on who’s better between both superstars. Former Liverpool and Chelsea forward Fernando Torres picked Messi ahead of Ronaldo, thereby staking his claim on the debate on which of the superstars is superior.
Paris Saint-German star and football great, Lionel Messi has been trending on social media following his brother, Matias Messi’s comment about Barcelona during a viral Twitch live video on Wednesday, February 8, 2022.
Matias Messi stated that Barcelona were a relatively smaller club and that his brother made the club who they are today.
“Barcelona started to be known because of Messi, nobody knew them, only Madrid.”
He further blamed club president Joan Larporta for Messi’s exit in 2021 and labelled the Spanish as a traitor.
“People in Barcelona did not support Leo. They should have done a march or something. Let Laporta leave and Messi stay. Spanish people are traitors. I’m telling you this because I want you to hear it from us, not somewhere else.”
The video has gone viral as Barcelona fans have turned on Matias for putting his brother, who is dear to Barcelona fans, in a bad light.
Matias after several backlashes later apologized via his Instagram story and deleted the video from Twitch.
“I want to apologize for what I said. I was only making jokes to my son and his friends. How could I think that about a club so big as Barcelona, with their history and everything they did for my family and Leo? For us, Catalonia is our second home. I’m sorry.”
Below are some reactions from Barcelona fans on social media
Survey: Following the statements made by Leo Messi's brother, Matias Messi, attacking Barça and Laporta… Do you think Leo Messi should return to Barcelona? pic.twitter.com/mYx9OOZ2dS
🚨🎙️| Lluis Carrasco (Joan Laporta's campaign manager): “Matias, FC Barcelona was big without Messi, but he made it bigger & bigger. What I wonder is what you would be without Barça & your brother. Thanks.”
Survey: Following the statements made by Leo Messi's brother, Matias Messi, attacking Barça and Laporta… Do you think Leo Messi should return to Barcelona? pic.twitter.com/mYx9OOZ2dS
World Cup winner Lionel Messi took to social media to announce he’s going to partner with assistive devices company OrCam to donate visual aids to visually impaired Ethiopians. According to BBC, visual impairment is a prevalent public health issue in the Horn of Africa nation. A study revealed 1.18% of the country’s population suffers from blindness.
Known for its visual aid technology, OrCam said its innovation enhances “the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, and have reading difficulties.” But the OrCam MyEye glass costs over $4,000, making it costly for most people to purchase.
“It is a tremendous satisfaction in helping improve the lives of blind and visually impaired people,” Messi said in the Facebook video.
La Liga club, Celta Vigo are in dire need of the best strikers in the world at the moment as the club is in a relegation dogfight in Spain’s top-tier league. The former league giants are presently in the 16th spot on the La Liga table, having garnered just 20 points from their 19 games this season.
Celta Vigo striker and club captain, Iago Aspas has now revealed the drastic and costly measures he would take to help the club turn its fortunes around, Sportskeeda reports. “If it were up to me, then [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, we sign before the deadline closes. But I know that the club are trying to bring in another teammate to help us, and if someone comes in, then it will be very welcome.”
Celta Vigo are looking to reinforce their attack before the January window closes, with the club having scored just 18 times in the league the entire season.
Celta Vigo deserved their victory Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao coach, Ernesto Valverde admits their performance wasn’t good enough in the defeat to Celta Vigo and admitted his opponents were superior on Sunday, Tribal Football reports.
Aspas’s strike in the 70th minute proved decisive for Celta Vigo, who claimed maximum points to boost their chances of escaping relegation. Athletic Bilbao had chances to score, including an Alex Berenguer volley that hit the post, but there was no way back for Valverde’s team in the contest.
Touted as possibly the last time the stars would share the same field, the game was eventually won by PSG in what was a nine-goal thriller. Since Messi and Ronaldo shared a hug in Saudi Arabia however, keen-eyed fans noted the 2022 World Cup winner has dipped in form.
Lionel Messi scored in Paris Saint-2-0 Germain’s victory over Angers on Wednesday, and Christophe Galtier was happy to see him back.
Hugo Ekitike’s early goal gave PSG a 1-0 lead over the bottom-place team in Ligue 1, but Messi’s goal in the 72nd minute gave PSG a 3-0 advantage, his first appearance back for his club since winning the trophy last month. Messi ran onto a pass from Nordi Mukiele and finished into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Galtier complimented the supporters for their celebration of Messi’s accomplishment in Qatar following the victory, despite Argentina defeating France in the World Cup final.
“Thank you to our supporters for welcoming him in the way that they did. That means a lot to him. Our fans also got behind him when the game was difficult,” the PSG head coach said.
“Messi has recovered well. He has had quite a few training sessions back with us now. He seemed lighter and in very good physical shape.
“Of course, the team is different with and without Messi. He also scored an important goal for us tonight and we all know that he loves scoring goals, he is the sort of player who needs goals.
“I spoke to him at half-time to see how he felt and he said he felt good… It is important to have Messi back at the heart of our game. The fact that he played 90 minutes is even better.”
Galtier also provided an explanation of his decision to use a 3-4-2-1 system, stressing the necessity for his team to be adaptable as they increased their advantage at the top of the standings to six points following Lens’ stalemate with Strasbourg.
“It was for this game, based on how we prepared,” he said. “I felt it was not going to work in the way we had prepared. I also spoke to my players and my staff in terms of our options, and we took a different one.
“The team performed very well in this system at the start of the season in big games. That is how it went tonight. It is important for a team like Paris Saint-Germain, for my players, and also, for me and the staff to have options, as well as the ability to switch from one system to another.”
Ghana defender, Tariq Lamptey has settled on both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are at par when it comes to the greatest footballer of all time debate.
Having led Argentina to win the Mundial in Qatar, many football fandom have rated the former Barcelona as the greatest player of all time.
However, Lamptey has described five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi as generational players.
“We are blessed to see two generational players in Messi and Ronaldo and we really have to enjoy what they do,” the Brighton defender who featured at the global showpiece told Citi Sports.
“Both have different qualities and have worked hard to get what they have.
“I enjoy both and I love watching them play.
“I try to take as many lessons as I can to try and become a better player myself.
“I will take both of them in my team if I can,” he added.
Portugal however, exited the tournament at the quarterfinals after losing to Morocco.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi look as though they will have one final dance together on a football field next week – although it won’t be in the circumstances that they have both been used to in their glittering careers.
Many El Clasicos, a Champions League final, international battles and head-to-heads when Ronaldo played for Juventus all occured, though his time at Manchester United and their subsequent failure to qualify for the Champions League put an end to any of that for the near future.
A move to Al-Nassr just before the new year seemed to be the nail in the coffin for any rendezvous between the highly-heralded pair, with Messi still strutting his stuff at Paris Saint-Germain and rumours of a move to Inter Miami meaning they would not be able to play against. one another in club competitions.
Ronaldo further said during his oddly-timed interview with Piers Morgan that a dream of his would be to beat Messi in the World Cup final to lift the famous trophy. He remarked that it would be “too good”, though that did not come to pass.
The striker was caught crying in the tunnel after being knocked out in stunning circumstances by Morocco, who became the first African team to ever make a World Cup semi-final. Knowing that he will be 41 at his next World Cup, Ronaldo perhaps knew that his time to win the famed accolade was up – and that will have been salt in the wound once Messi took home the trophy in his swansong.
Regardless, Ronaldo’s new club were meant to to face PSG last season, but COVID-19 woes saw the fixture postponed. Instead, the French giants added the fixture into their mid-season tour of Saudi Arabia that gets underway this January with the game against Al-Nassr set for the 19th.
In terms of the game, Al-Nassr won’t be pushovers. The likes of former Arsenal keeper David Ospina, former Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo and Cameroon’s World Cup hero Vincent Aboubakar all ply their trade at the league leaders, and with Rudi Garcia as their boss, predicting the score will be difficult – though the 58-year-old has shared his annoyance at the timing of the friendly.
The door will always be open for the Argentina captain to participate in the 2026 World Cup, according to Lionel Scaloni.
Last month, Messi finally received the medal he had been yearning for, winning the World Cup in Qatar with a thrilling triumph over France.
Argentina defeated Les Bleus in a penalty shootout thanks to the PSG star, who scored twice in a 3-3 draw to bring his tournament total to seven goals.
As he motivated his side in what he declared would be his final World Cup, Messi, 35, also made history by becoming the first person to win two Golden Balls.
When Argentina defends their title at a tournament that will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026, the mercurial Messi will be getting close to 40, but head coach Scaloni hasn’t given up hope of being able to use the striker.
“I think Messi can get to the next World Cup,” he told Radio Calvia. “It will depend a lot on what he wants, on whether he feels good.
“The door will always be open. He is happy on the pitch and it would be very nice for us.”
Scaloni does not think Argentina’s World Cup success was essential to secure Messi’s place among the best players of all time.
“I don’t think it was necessary to be one of the greatest or the greatest. You always ask for more. I don’t know what else you are going to ask for now,” he continued.
“I am happy for him and for the country. For the joy we gave him and we gave ourselves. The days we spent in Argentina were full of euphoria and affection. It was worth it.”
Speculation has continued over Scaloni’s future despite the 44-year-old becoming just the third boss to win both the World Cup and Copa America, after Mario Zagallo and Carlos Alberto Parreira achieved that feat for Brazil.
Argentinian Football Association president Claudio Tapia rubbished talk that Scaloni may not stay on and the head coach stated: “Today I am happy where I am.”
Lionel Messi watched on as Emiliano Martinez held a doll with Kylian Mbappe’s face on it during Argentina’s World Cup victory homecoming parade.
Argentina goalkeeper, Martinez was pictured cradling the toy baby – complete with nappy, with Mbappe’s face stuck onto the head – on an open-top bus parade in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The goalkeeper had raised eyebrows when he performed a lewd gesture in the seconds after collecting the Golden Glove trophy at the World Cup final presentation on Sunday. He later claimed it was a response to French jeering.
His latest act is likely to increase tensions between Argentina and France and Messi’s presence, as a team-mate of Mbappe’s at Paris Saint-Germain, raises questions for when the pair return to club duty in the French capital next month.
Emiliano Martinez reignites Kylian Mbappe feud with baby doll taunt next to Lionel Messi – GETTY IMAGES
Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final and yet still ended up losing, was the subject of another swipe from the Argentine players in the immediate aftermath of the final in Doha. They marked their win by holding a “moment’s silence” for the forward in the dressing room after the game.
Further celebrations saw a staff member dive head-first into a bin and Argentine players singing about “f—ing journalists” in the media area at the Lusail Stadium.
Martinez has become a focal point for some of the more questionable behaviour in the past 48 hours. He was hailed as a hero for his role in the shoot-out, which came after the game ended 3-3 in normal time.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper saved one penalty from Kingsley Coman and had an influential impact in a second being missed. He was pictured throwing the ball away when Aurelien Tchouameni had been expecting it to be returned to him. The France midfielder subsequently put his penalty wide.
Martinez then shocked millions of TV viewers when he held the goalkeeper trophy, a giant gold-plated hand, to his groin and waved it around on the podium. He later said he “did it because the French booed me. Pride doesn’t work with me.”
Argentina’s victory parade in their capital city would go on to be abandoned due to safety fears, with players being evacuated in helicopters.
Analysis: Messi and Mbappe may not be team-mates for much longer
By Jason Burt, Chief Football Correspondent
The futures of Messi and Mbappé are yet to be decided. Neither will go anywhere before the summer, but both have made it clear that they want to see how PSG’s latest attempt to win the Champions League plays out before deciding whether they will stay.
Pity Christophe Galtier, the PSG head coach who must now manage the reintegration of the two superstars – and their third, Neymar, whose World Cup ended in bitter disappointment in the quarter-final against Croatia – when the club’s next Ligue 1 fixture comes around on December 28, at home to Strasbourg.
Messi’s World Cup triumph will certainly hurt Mbappe, who is rightly regarded as the best player in the world at present and whose ambition burns brightly. But there has never previously been lasting animosity between the two players. They are not friends in the way that Mbappé is close to Achraf Hakimi, not least because there is a 12-year age gap, but there is respect and mutual admiration. Neymar, who is 30, is far closer to Messi than Mbappé is – as was evidenced in his exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport – and given their history at Barcelona that is no surprise.
Mbappé and Messi are not buddies, but neither is there any hostility. There is a far cooler relationship between Mbappé and Neymar, who were close, with the temperature having dropped further after Mbappé signed his new contract last May.
That caused consternation in Spain, where Real Madrid had convinced themselves he was joining them on a free transfer. PSG maintain they were always sure he would stay.
There have been outlandish claims of the level of control Mbappé now has at PSG, but it is fair to state that he is the most influential player at the club – just as he is with France. At the same time PSG are well aware that this, finally, might be his last season with them and having secured him on a new deal, up until 2025, they are prepared to sell if he wants to go and they receive an appropriate offer.
What would that be? One senior PSG source told Telegraph Sport: “If people realise how valuable Kylian is today then they will realise how important he is for the club.
“With Kylian it is huge. The value of Kylian? €300-350million. They [Madrid] offered more than us and he chose. That’s the biggest statement. He chose here and it was not about money.”
But it might be next year. PSG are relaxed about that, especially after the crisis in October when Mbappé made it clear he wanted to leave in the January window because, at that time, he felt his relationship with the club had broken down.
Sources close to Mbappé claimed promises made to him had not been kept, primarily the intention to sign a No 9 so that he would not have to play as a central striker, which became evident with his infamous “pivot gang” post on Instagram.
That led to tension with Neymar and sources claimed Mbappé regretted signing his new contract. It has calmed down since then, with PSG believing it was a cry for help.
Mbappe and Messi playing for PSG – FRANCK FIFE/GETTY
The situation with Messi is also clear for PSG. They, and sources close to the Argentine, emphatically reject reports that he will agree a deal to join Inter Miami at the end of this season.
When the claims were made last month PSG even double-checked with Messi’s camp and were assured that he was solely focused on the World Cup and that, as he had told them in talks before the tournament, he would be willing to stay another season in Paris if the conditions are right. There is already an option for him to do so.
It may also depend on how PSG fare in the Champions League, although Messi has told the club that he enjoys working under Galtier and they are reasonably confident he will remain. At the very least they are emphatic he has not decided his future.
Inter Miami, who are part-owned by David Beckham, have made no secret of wanting to sign Messi. Beckham also has close links with the Qataris, having played for PSG, and worked as an £150 million ambassador, controversially, during the World Cup. The Qataris would be surprised if a deal has been done behind their backs with Messi.
Pep Guardiola considers arguments in favor of Pele or Diego Maradona to be “sentimental,” and believes that Lionel Messi is without a doubt the greatest player to ever play the game.
Even though Messi has long been regarded as one of the greatest players ever, some people still ranked him and Cristiano Ronaldo behind Pele and Maradona while neither had yet won the World Cup.
That changed on Sunday, when Messi led Argentina to glory at Qatar 2022, matching Maradona’s achievement from 1986.
However, in the eyes of Manchester City manager Guardiola, who coached Messi at Barcelona, there was never any doubt.
“Everyone has their opinion, but nobody can doubt he’s there with the greatest of all time,” Guardiola said. “For me, I’ve said many times: he’s the best.
“It’s difficult to understand how a player can complete what he’s done in the past 50 or 70 years.
“The people who saw Pele or [Alfredo] Di Stefano or Maradona, the people can say ‘my favourite’, but these opinions are sentimental.
“On the other side, if he wouldn’t have won the World Cup, the opinion about what he has done for the whole of football and my opinion of how he is as a player wouldn’t change absolutely anything.
“But it’s normal that it depends if you win [how] you are evaluated. Of course, for him, it’s the final cherries on his incredible career.”
Messi was joined in the Argentina side by City striker Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Otamendi, who spent five years at the Etihad Stadium between 2015 and 2020.
“We are incredibly happy for him [Alvarez] – congratulations,” Guardiola added. “For him, for Nico Otamendi, personally for Messi, for Argentina the country, for a well-deserved champion.
“For Julian, he is with us, and we are delighted. He played a lot, and his contribution was amazing to the team for the way we played. We have a world champion in our team.”
Guardiola confirmed Alvarez would now enjoy “a break”, but City’s other World Cup stars have started to return ahead of Thursday’s EFL Cup fourth-round tie against holders Liverpool.
“The players that were at the World Cup are in a better condition than the players who were here, that’s for sure,” Guardiola explained.
“Sergio [Gomez], Erling [Haaland], Riyad [Mahrez], Cole [Palmer]… the rhythm they miss a little bit compared, for example, to Manu Akanji and Rodri and Aymeric [Laporte] and Nathan [Ake].
“They came back and we saw them so good, perfectly. That’s normal. They compete, they train every day, while we had holidays.”
It is fair to say that the World Cup in Qatar this year has been defined by controversy like no other tournament before.
From the controversial decision to grant Qatar the privilege of hosting the event despite its poor human rights record to the very last moment when the Emir of Qatar put an Arab cloak on the shoulders of the Argentinian football legend, Lionel Messi, as he was about to lift the trophy on Sunday.
But there is one controversy that attracted little or no attention outside North Africa. It started with the simple question: how do you describe the Moroccan team, the Atlas Lions, which stunned the whole world by its sterling performance – defying the odds to beat heavyweights such as Spain and Portugal? The “first Arab” or “African” team to reach the semi-final?
Culturally many Moroccans see themselves more as Arabs than Africans – and some sub-Saharan Africans in Morocco complain that racist attitudes are never far from the surface.
But comments by Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal after their World Cup victory over Spain brought the debate about the country’s continental identity to the fore. He thanked “all Moroccans all over the world for their support, to all Arab people, and to all Muslim people. This win belongs to you.”
After a social media backlash, he took to Instagram to apologise for not mentioning the African continent’s backing of the team – expressed at one stage by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari when he said Morocco had “made the entire continent proud with their grit and dexterity”.
IMAGE SOURCE,AFP Image caption, Morocco garnered support from the rest of Africa – including from this crowd in Senegal – as they took on France
Chastened, Boufal posted: “I also dedicate the victory to you of course. We are proud to represent all our brothers on the continent. TOGETHER.”
The furore reflects recent efforts by the monarch to encourage closer ties with the rest of the African continent. “Africa is my home, and I am coming back home,” King Mohammed VI said in 2017 as Morocco was re-admitted to the Africa Union after a 30-year absence in a row over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. This rapprochement has allowed business links to flourish, especially with West Africa.
But Morocco is also a member of the Arab League – so officially belongs to both cultural spheres.
While the adjective “African” to describe Morocco is a geographical fact, the use of “Arab” has also alienated many Moroccans who do not identify as such.
Morocco has a substantial population of Berbers, or Amazigh as they prefer to be called – some estimates put it at nearly 40% of the country’s population of more than 34 million. One major Amazigh language – Tamazight – is now recognised as an official language alongside Arabic.
But this was a controversy long time in the making. Immediately after Qatar was awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup, its media framed the event as a “Victory for Islam and pan-Arabism”, as headline put it back in 2010.
As the tournament got under way, the vocabulary of pan-Arabism and Islamism crept back to the front. In the conflict over the ban on alcohol or the use of the OneLove armband of the LGBTQ, advocates of Islamism and pan-Arabism came to the defence of Qatar, Islam and traditional values against “the imperialist West”.
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, The Amazigh are the indigenous people of North Africa
But the initial framing of the event by the Qatari media as an “Islamic or Arab Conquest“, which had gone largely unnoticed, provoked an angry reaction when it became part of the language of running commentary on the games.
So, when the Atlas Lions made history by becoming the first men’s team from Africa and the Middle East to qualify for the World Cup semi-final, it was hailed as a victory for the Muslim and Arab nations.
After other teams from the region – Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar – were disqualified early in the race, it was only natural that football lovers in neighbouring countries would rally behind Morocco.
But some vocal groups sought to portray the Moroccan success as something much larger, more ideological and political. Consequently, the Moroccan team was assigned the role of the standard-bearer of Islam and pan-Arabism.
This argument was strengthened when some of the Moroccan team’s players celebrated their successes by unfurling a Palestinian flag on the pitch.
This kind of rhetoric outraged many in North Africa, but particularly among Moroccans who do not subscribe to these ideologies and their worldviews.
‘Culture war’
In an hour-long tirade, one dissident Moroccan YouTuber blasted those who sought to politicise the game and turn it into a global culture war.
Brother Rachid also reminded his 385,000 subscribers that half of the Moroccan team, including their coach, were in fact born and bred in Europe, the children of Moroccan migrants who learned the game and became professional footballers in Europe.
“If you were to do a DNA analysis of the Moroccan team, you would find that most of them are Amazigh. Most of them don’t speak Arabic. And if they did it will be ‘broken Arabic’ because they grew up in the West,” he said.
“Morocco is different from the Middle East, because it is fundamentally a Berber society, the Arabs came as outsiders in the 7th Century. Today in Morocco there are Arabs, Berbers, Muslims, Jews, atheists, non-religionists and Baha’is, there are Shias and Sunnis.”
Considering this Moroccan success “a victory for Arabism and Islam is an attack on the various components of the Moroccan society”, he went on to say.
In response to the pan-Arabists or Islamists seeking to hijack the Moroccan triumph for their own use, posts on social media proliferated to claim back the team as Morocco’s. Some posted pictures of the team emblazoned with Amazigh symbols.
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Some Moroccan fans draped themselves in the Amazigh flag
Other critics highlighted the absurdity of turning a game of football into a religious or ethnic war, arguing that it is inconceivable that a win by France, Brazil or Argentina could be considered a triumph of Christianity.
They pointed out that would be impossible, given the ethnic and religious mix of some of the national football teams in Europe for example.
The controversy over the true identity of the Moroccan team is the latest manifestation of a “culture war” that has raged for decades across North Africa and the Middle East.
National identity has been central to the two ideologies – Islamism and pan-Arabism– that shaped political discourse in the region for decades.
While they made sense during the struggle for national liberation, prioritising social cohesion over individual freedom, they seem to have outlived their usefulness and become irrelevant in an increasingly globalised world – as the row over a football match clearly demonstrates.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
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.
“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.
By winning the World Cup on Sunday, many fans believe Lionel Messi has settled the GOAT debate between him and Cristiano Ronaldo.
And on the social media front, the 35-year-old has outdone his rival – who has more than 500 million followers – with his latest Instagram post, too.
Soon after becoming a world champion, Messi shared an image of him holding the World Cup trophy during Argentina’s celebrations.
“CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!,” he posted. “So many times I dreamed it, so much I wanted it that I still don’t fall, I can’t believe it…… Thank you so much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us.
“We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim.
“The merit is of this group, which is above individuals, is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the one of all Argentinians… We did it!!! LET’S GO ARGENTINA DAMN!!!!!We’re seeing each other very soon.”
The picture, as of Tuesday morning, has received more than 55 million likes on Instagram, which is now the most for a sportsperson on the site.
It has surpassed Ronaldo’s post of the duo sitting together at a chessboard for a collaboration with Louis Vuitton ahead of the World Cup, which stands at almost 42 million likes.
However, Messi’s is still not Instagram’s most successful ever post.
World record egg currently holds the title with 56 million likes, but Messi could find himself topping the charts very soon.
Messi played a captain’s role in Argentina’s win over France on Sunday, the South Americans’ third World Cup title and first in 36 years.
Messi scored twice, while Kylian Mbappe netted a hat-trick as the two sides drew 3-3 in extra time to send it to penalties.
Argentina would go on to score all four of their spot-kicks, stealing the crown from the reigning champions, who missed two of theirs.
Messi posted another Instagram picture with him holding the World Cup on Monday afternoon as he travelled back to Argentina on a plane with the Jules Rimet trophy.
In celebration of Argentina’s triumph over France in the World Cup final on Sunday, December 18, Lionel Messi carried the trophy while donning a black cloak.
The championship game of Qatar 2022 was a game to remember, with Argentina winning on penalties after the score was tied 3-3 after 120 minutes of thrilling action.
A penalty from Messi and Angel Di Maria’s strike put the Alibceleste in charge of the final as they went 2-0 up at half time.
They appeared to be cruising to a convincing win before Kylian Mbappe levelled for France as he scored twice in the space of 97 seconds – the first a penalty and the second a brilliantly taken volley.
Messi then struck early in the second half of extra-time but he and Argentina were pegged back once again with another Mbappe penalty.
The final was then decided via a dreaded shootout and Argentina came up trumps as Emiliano Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s spot-kick and Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide. Argentina scored all four of their penalties.
Messi won the Player of the Tournament award before getting his hands on the trophy that had eluded him throughout his career.
Before the iconic moment he exchanged pleasantries with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who put a robe on him just before the trophy lift.
The cloak Messi was wearing is a Bisht, which is a traditional men’s cloak that’s popular in the Arab world and is understood to date back thousands of years.
A Bisht is worn on special occasions such as weddings or celebration of festivals such as Eid, the religious holiday celebrated by Muslims that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.
Dr Mustafa Baig, a lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, said: “Only a select few people would actually wear the bisht.
Speaking about Messi wearing the garment, Dr Baig said: “They basically honoured him by putting it over his shoulders.
“It’s like a mark of honour, and just kind of a cultural welcoming and a cultural acceptance.”
BBC presenter Gary Lineker felt the decision spoiled what should have been a “magic moment”.
The former England striker said: “This is a magic moment. It seems a shame in a way that they’ve covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt.”
Ex-Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta agreed, saying: “Just why? No reason to do that.”
It may have been a bizarre sight to those not familiar with the custom, but it was not as strange as Infantino’s white trainers.
While nothing odd about the footwear, the fact he had them customised so ‘FIFA’ was printed on the side of them.
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.
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
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
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
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.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messihas quashed speculation and pledged to continue playing for his country, despite realising his lifetime ambition of winning the sport’s biggest prize.
“I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion,” the 35-year-old told Argentinian television following an epic penalty shoot-out victory over France in the World Cup final in Qatar on Sunday.
“I was lucky to clinch every title in my career, this was the only one missing,” Messi said. “I want to take this one there [to Argentina] and enjoy it with everybody else.”
Messi opened the scoring for Argentina with a 23rd-minute penalty and also found the net in extra-time for the 3-2 in the 108th.
France’s 23-year-old superstar Kylian Mbappe completed his hat-trick to take the game to a shoot-out, in which he and Messi also scored.
Messi, now indisputably one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, had said the tournament in Qatar would be his last World Cup.
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
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.
Leading documentary director Asif Kapadia wants to bring a Lionel Messi movie to life.
Messi won the World Cup with Argentina on Sunday, with La Albiceleste triumphing 4-2 over France on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
The World Cup was the final trophy missing from Messi’s vast collection, and now the 35-year-old has surely ended the debate as to who is the greatest player of his generation.
Messi scored seven goals and contributed three assists across his sensational campaign in Qatar, and there are sure to be no shortage of offers for his story to be taken to the silver screen.
Given his critically acclaimed prior films, Senna, about the life and death of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, Amy (a movie about Amy Winehouse’s rise to prominence), and Diego Maradona, Kapadia may have the advantage.
The latter, which was published in 2019, revealed the tale of Argentina’s former enchanted number 10 player, a feat now shared by Messi and Maradona in winning the World Cup in 1986.
“Pardon me, but I feel I should put this out there,” tweeted Kapadia on Monday.
“Dear #LionelMessi, I know you’re probably busy and need a holiday, but If you’re interested in having your epic story told at some point, I’m definitely interested & available!”
Pardon me, but I feel I should put this out there:
Arrigo Sacchi, who was Argentina’s runner-up in 1994, claims that Lionel Messi overcame the shadow cast by fellow Argentine ‘phenomenon’ Diego Maradona by bringing his nation to World Cup victory.
After putting on a string of talismanic performances in Qatar, where he scored seven goals and added three assists during a fairytale campaign, Messi won the World Cup Golden Ball.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored twice against France on Sunday in the dramatic championship match, and he also scored in the ensuing penalty shootout to become the first captain of the Albiceleste to win the cup since Maradona in 1986.
Sacchi, whose legendary Milan team competed against Maradona’s Napoli in the 1980s, declined to draw comparisons between the two legends of Argentina, but he was happy to see Messi emulate his countryman’s achievements.
“When Messi raised the World Cup to the sky, his eyes were wet with tears,” Sacchi, who led Italy to the 1994 final, wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I thought of Leo’s entire journey, of what he won with Barcelona, of his dribbling, of his goals, of his acrobatics, of the many Ballon d’Ors he placed on the bulletin board.
“Then, however, there was that sort of curse which he could not shrug off. Too often he was forced to play with the shadow of Maradona weighing on his shoulders.
“Too often they asked him what he could not give, and then he felt sad. He felt the responsibility to give happiness to an entire people and the fact of not succeeding in it pained him.
“Now all of Argentina is at his feet. I don’t feel like saying whether or not he has reached Maradona’s level.
“I don’t agree with these comparisons between champions who belong to different eras of football.
“What I know is that Maradona was a phenomenon, and I knew him well, and I know that Messi is too, albeit in a different way.”
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Des échauffourées dans le centre-ville de Nice, des poubelles en feu sur la Libération pic.twitter.com/xexS0c59OT
It’s been an absolute privilege to watch Lionel Messi for nearly 2 decades. Moment after moment of spellbinding, breathtakingly joyous football. He’s a gift from the footballing Gods. So pleased that he’s lifted the ultimate prize in our sport. Gracias y felicidades, campeón. pic.twitter.com/XTiZUcovLI
Messi’s club teammate Neymar posted his congratulations on Instagram, as social media was awash with people crowning the Argentinethe 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.”
After being the catalyst for Argentina’s victory in Qatar, Lionel Messi vowed to continue playing for his country so they could enjoy “a few more games being world champion.”
After Sunday’s thrilling final, in which Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick for France but still lost, the World Cup now belongs to Messi and Argentina.
A 4-2 victory on penalties after a 3-3 draw gave Argentina their third World Cup success, after lifting the trophy in 1978 and 1986 and means Messi’s final appearance on the biggest stage of all ended in a fairy tale manner.
It was the trophy he had been striving to win before the end of his career, and the 35-year-old finished the tournament with seven goals and three assists, becoming the first player to score in every round and the group stage.
He took the Golden Ball award as the best player but Mbappe pipped him to the Golden Boot with eight goals.
Messi told TyC Sports: “Obviously I wanted to close my career with this, I can’t ask for anything any more. Thank God, he gave me everything. Closing almost my career like this, it’s impressive.”
Messi knows his career is winding down and he put in the work to make sure he was in prime shape for one last shot at the World Cup.
His emotional reaction after the final whistle, kissing the trophy at the first opportunity, reflected how dearly Messi wanted this moment.
A double in the final meant Messi became the highest-scoring South American player in major international tournaments with 26 goals — 13 in the World Cup as many in the Copa America. That took him one goal ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo, who previously held the record.
“After this, what will there be? I was able to get the Copa America, World Cup… It came to me almost at the end,” Messi said
“I enjoy being in the national team, the group, I want to continue living a few more games being world champion.
“It’s every little kid’s dream, I was lucky to have achieved everything and what I was missing is here.”
After Argentina ended their lengthy wait to win a third World Cup title with a thrilling victory over France, Lionel Messi expressed his shock.
In a thrilling six-goal battle, the Paris Saint-Germain attacker scored twice, and Lionel Scaloni’s team prevailed on penalties.
It brought an end to a 36-year wait for World Cup glory, with Argentina previously suffering defeats at the final hurdle in 1990 and 2014 – the latter of which saw Messi on the losing side.
After a seven-goal haul and taking home the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament, Messi finally got his hands on the biggest prize of all and took to social media to share his thoughts.
“I dreamt about it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still can’t believe it,” he posted on Instagram.
“Thank you so much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim.
“The merit is of this group, which is above individuals, is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the one of all Argentinians… We did it!!!”
Awarded player of the match in the final, Messi was expected to feature in a post-game press conference but skipped attendance as celebrations continued with the squad.
However, he did speak on the field following Argentina’s triumph and made his desire to continue representing his nation clear.
“I enjoy being in the national team, the group, I want to continue living a few more games being world champion,” he told TyC Sports.
Paris Saint-Germain will put the pressure on Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to build on their incredible World Cup performances by winning the Champions League in 2019.
The team, which is controlled by Qatar, is aiming for European success, and they face Bayern Munich in the final 16 of the competition. Matches against the German champions are scheduled for February and March.
After seeing Mbappe win the Golden Boot as top scorer, and Messi take the Golden Ball prize as the outstanding player, PSG undoubtedly had a strong World Cup.
The sight of Mbappe and Messi in opposition with France and Argentina, as they were in Sunday’s World Cup final, will soon be replaced by them uniting on the field, possibly even by the end of the month.
PSG have a Ligue 1 game against Strasbourg on December 28, and it remains to be seen whether coach Christophe Galtier will have both men available for that game, given Messi is heading back to celebrate in Argentina in the coming days.
In a string of messages on social media, PSG addressed the two chief protagonists in the final, in which Messi scored twice and lifted the trophy, while Mbappe hit a hat-trick but finished on the beaten side.
“An extraordinary final from our two Parisians,” the club said. “One of them had to win. You’ll forever go down in footballing history, @leomessi.
“What a final! Bravo @leomessi, thank you @k.mbappe for all these emotions. You have been heroic. You have marked this World Cup with your talent. You should be proud.”
Whatever French envy there might be towards Messi should soon subside, with a photograph of Mbappe and Messi touching hands during the game receiving plenty of love from PSG’s players.
Club-mates Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira both posted the picture, adding emojis of applauding hands.
Midfield stalwart Marco Verratti addressed Messi’s success, writing on Instagram: “You deserve it friend. Congratulations.”
To Mbappe, Verratti wrote: “Head high. You showed the whole world that you’re a phenomenon.”
“Congratulations” was the message from defender Juan Bernat to Messi, and “Bravo to you too” he said to Mbappe.
Former PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino praised Argentina coach Scaloni, saying in a message to his compatriot: “Congratulations Lionel. Thank you!”
PSG have never won the Champions League, and it is the footballing holy grail for them now, with each incoming coach knowing winning domestic silverware alone is not considered to be fulfilling the remit of the job.
They went closest in 2020, losing out in the final to Bayern, for whom Frenchman Kingsley Coman scored the only goal in Lisbon. Coman was one of two France players to fail from the spot in Sunday’s World Cup penalty shoot-out, along with Aurelien Tchouameni.
Given the outstanding form that Messi and Mbappe have shown over the last month, PSG may never be better placed to strike for continental trophy glory.
Yet there is another matter brewing, which is that Messi and Mbappe may be in the final throes of their club alliance.
With Messi’s two-year contract at PSG due to expire at the end of this season, removing uncertainty over his future might become as great a priority as the next trophy.
President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said in early December the matter would be discussed after the World Cup, with Messi having been linked with a possible end-of-season switch to Inter Miami.
For the third time, Argentina has won the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Qatar in 2022.
In today’s championship final, the South American nation squared off against France.
In a game of many goals, Argentina had a two-goal lead at halftime courtesy of goals from Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria in the 23rd and 36th minutes respectively.
While the game appeared to be going the way of the Argentines, Kylian Mbappe turned things around for the French when he converted a penalty kick in the 8th minute.
Just a minute later, the PSG poster boy scored again with a fantastic volley to restore parity for his country.
With a goal each for Messi and Mbappe in extra time, the contest ended 3-3 at the end of 120 minutes.
In the shootout, Emiliano Martinez emerged as the hero when he made a big stop to deny Kingsley Coman.
Eventually, Argentina won the shootout 4-2 to be crowned Champions of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
This is the third time Argentina have been crowned champions of the world having conquered the world in 1978 and 1986.
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.”
Lionel Messi’s previous coach at Paris Saint-Germain, Mauricio Pochettino, called the debate over his defensive play “almost stupid.”
In their sixth World Cup final, Argentina will face France on Sunday in an effort to win the trophy for the first time since 1986. Messi’s team will be competing in the match.
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 captain of Argentina struggled early on in the competition, and several onlookers criticized his work ethic; nonetheless, he has excelled in the knockout round.
Former Albiceleste player Pochettino, who guided Messi at PSG until he was fired earlier this year, laughed off any worries and contrasted Messi with two other legendary players who weren’t known for their defensive prowess.
“Honestly, I think the debate about Messi’s defensive work is so stale, almost silly,” he wrote in The Athletic.
“You cannot pretend that [Diego] Maradona or Pele — along with Messi, the most important players in football — were focused on trying to win the ball back. He can’t participate in that. He just needs the others to run for him.
“He doesn’t need to press. When you have Messi, you need the other players to understand that they have to get the ball and give it to him so he can conserve his energy and then be decisive, as shown.”
Argentina’s run to the final has not been all about Messi, though, with Lionel Scaloni’s side proving resolute in defence.
They have restricted their opponents to just 5.7 shots per game – fewer than any other side. Indeed, they have not faced above 0.6 expected goals against in any of their six games so far.
Pochettino believes that defensive solidity and work ethic has been crucial in allowing Messi to flourish.
“Of course, Argentina need Messi, but Messi needs the other 10 players to fight for him at all times,” he added. “That’s one of the keys to this team: they all believe that playing for Messi, they can win the World Cup.
“You can see that the players give 120 per cent to achieve this. Different players: [Rodrigo] De Paul, [Alexis] Mac Allister, [Enzo] Fernandez, [Julian] Alvarez, they give everything they have and more, and they do it for Messi.
“They give everything because it’s their dream, they are so close, and when they have Messi, they know that everything is possible.
“That’s the most important thing about this Argentina team, and the reason why they are in the final. It’s because the players fully understand their role. When you have Messi in your team, you have to run for him.
“And when you have the ball, you have to give it to him as soon as possible so that he can create something. So, the players know what they have to do at all times: to give Messi everything he needs to be decisive.”
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.”
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.
In France’s journey to the World Cup semifinals, Antoine Griezmann has been “a mix of Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini,” according to Christophe Dugarry.
While Kylian Mbappe, who is tied for the tournament’s top scorer, has received much of the attention, other France players like Olivier Giroud and Griezmann have also shone.
Only Bruno Fernandes, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi have more assists than Griezmann, who played a roving position for Les Blues in Qatar.
Despite playing one fewer game than Argentina’s Messi, he is joint-second in terms of possession won in the final third and is only behind Messi in terms of opportunities created (17 as opposed to 18).
When France won the World Cup in 2018, the Atletico Madrid forward was considered the third-best player, and Dugarry thinks he has played a similar significant role this time.
“Griezmann, I find him simply exceptional since the start of the competition,” Dugarry, who was part of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning side, told RMC.
“I even find him, at times, ‘Zidane-esque’. He always has the right tone, the right pass. I sincerely think that the France team would not be the same without him.
“We often lack rhythm in our game; there’s not a lot of intensity. But, as soon as Antoine touches the ball, he puts rhythm on a pass, on a vision. He has a mix of Zizou and Platini.
“Platini, he enlightened the game, he had a vision. He saw the game before the others. Griezmann, I find him breathtaking. I find him calm, I find him serene, I find him mature.”
Griezmann drifted to the left to play in a delightful cross for Giroud’s headed winner in the 2-1 quarter-final victory against England, having earlier assisted Aurelien Tchouameni.
The 31-year-old has been involved in eight goals in his last eight World Cup starts (three goals, five assists), with seven of those involvements coming in the knockout stages.
“The strength of Deschamps is to have put him in this position,” Dugarry said of Griezmann’s unorthodox positioning.
“I think [Atletico boss] Diego Simeone will have to do it too. Griezmann must play as a midfielder. In addition, he runs, he gallops, he fills the gaps, he feels the opponents’ play.
“It’s a bit like a tennis player: the guy always returns the ball to you because he knows where you’re going to send the ball.”
Didier Deschamps’ side will now face Morocco on Wednesday for the right to play Argentina, who defeated Croatia 3-0 in the other semi-final.
France are playing in their seventh World Cup semi-final and have won each of their past three at this stage, whereas Morocco are the first African side to make it this far.
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].
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.
16 – Lionel Messi has scored 16 goals for Argentina in 2022, more than he’s netted in any other year. Icon.
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