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Tag: Messi

  • FIFA 23 predicts Argentina to win 2022 World Cup trophy

    EA Sports has used FIFA 23 to predict the outcome of the 2022 World Cup.

    Argentina has been projected to beat Brazil in an all-South American final.

    Lionel Messi is also forecasted to win the Golden Boot with a return of seven goals in eight matches.

    Interestingly, EA Sports has correctly picked the winners from each of the last three World Cup finals and are looking to make it four on the spin – while they also predicted the outcome for the team of the tournament.

    Victors Argentina unsurprisingly dominate, with Emiliano Martinez, Marcos Acuna, Leandro Paredes, and Rodrigo de Paul joining Messi in the side for this year’s competition, according to the video game.

    Defeated finalists Brazil have Marquinhos, Vinicius Junior and Richarlison in the XI, with the team completed by France duo Kylian Mbappe and Raphael Varane, as well as Portugal’s Joao Cancelo.

    The tournament gets underway on November 20 and Brazil and reigning Copa America champions Argentina will have high hopes, as they look to end a 20-year dominant streak by European nations.

  • Lenglet says Kane is to Tottenham what Messi is to Barcelona

    Harry Kane’s importance to Tottenham is as significant as the impact Lionel Messi had during his career at Barcelona, according to Clement Lenglet.

    France defender Lenglet is well known to Messi having played alongside him at Camp Nou and also against the Argentina great during his time at Sevilla.

    Messi had been a one-club man until the start of the 2021-22 season when Barca’s perilous financial situation saw him depart for Paris Saint-Germain.

    The superstar forward became the club’s all-time leading scorer and a record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner at Barca, while he counts 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions League medals among a plethora of honours won with Los Cules.

    While Kane has yet to win a medal with Spurs, Lenglet – who joined Tottenham from Barca on loan in the last transfer window – talked up the impact he has on the club.

    In quotes reported by the Daily Mail, Lenglet said: “When you stay a long time in the same place and you achieve so many good things with the club it means you become a part of this club.

    “Your face is connected to the club. For me, Messi is always a Barca player.

    “For Harry it’s the same. It’s difficult to think of Harry in another country or playing for another team. Tottenham is a big club, Harry is a big player and Harry is a big part of Tottenham.

    “We speak a lot about the player and that’s important because we are players but I give the same importance to what he is like as a guy. He is an amazing example for all his team-mates.”

    Describing what it is like to be play with and against Messi, Lenglet added: “You play with the greatest player in the world in my opinion.

    “He helps you improve every day. I played with him [for Barca] and against him for Sevilla – it’s better with him!”

    Lenglet has made just three Premier League starts for Spurs this season but said it only required a short conversation with boss Antonio Conte to persuade him to make the move to north London, where he is still adjusting to a new way of life.

    “We spoke about a lot of things. He [Conte] told me if I came here I would improve because the league is so competitive, you have to be ready and focused every game,” Lenglet said.

    “He said if I came here I would be happy because I would progress as a football player and it has been a good decision.

    “It’s a different culture, a different way to work. I was in Spain for six years. You work one way, you think one way, the football is the same. Now, you come to England – a different league, different intensity, different way to work. It’s a good way to improve.”

    Tottenham sit third in the Premier League and are out to rebound from defeat against Manchester United when they face Newcastle United on Sunday.

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Messi return to Barcelona possible next year, says club vice president

    Barcelona’s economic vice president Eduard Romeu has insisted the club can afford to bring Lionel Messi back to Camp Nou next year.

    The 35-year-old sees his contract with Paris Saint-Germain conclude at the end of the season and will reportedly decide his future after the World Cup in Qatar.

    Should Messi become available on a free transfer, a host of clubs would likely be attributed with an interest in the Argentina international, and Romeu has made it clear Barca could afford a deal.

    “As it would be on a free, surely it is something that we can do. But it’d be a technical decision, anyways,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

    While Messi would not require a transfer fee if his deal with PSG reaches its conclusion, significant funds would be required on his wages.

    He spent 21 years with Barcelona, scoring a record 672 goals in 778 appearances for the senior side, prior to departing to PSG on a shock free transfer in August 2021.

    After heavily investing in the squad in the transfer window, Romeu added further additions could be made in January.

    “There is margin but we have made a very important effort this summer and if any complement was needed, we would have to study it,” he added.



    Source: Livescore

  • Argentina 3-0 Honduras: Martinez and Messi strike in first half of friendly win

    Argentina were too good in their dominant 3-0 friendly win against Honduras on Friday, with two goals and an assist from Lionel Messi in a starring performance.

    Messi set up a goal and finished a penalty in an excellent first half, before capping off the outing with a long-range chip to capitalise on a defensive mistake.

    Julian Alvarez and Giovani Lo Celso also manufactured openings as Argentina racked up 17 shots to Honduras’ two, but ultimately this would be the Messi show.

    Argentina opened the scoring in the 16th minute, when Messi delivered a spectacular ball from the centre of the park to find Papu Gomez on his run into the box from the left wing, giving him the chance to roll a simple squaring pass to Lautaro Martinez in the six-yard box for a tap-in.

    Messi’s creativity was on full display again to create the second goal, with an almost identical pass finding Lo Celso breaking into the box from the left wing, before the desperate Honduran defence pulled him down for a penalty.

    Messi stepped up to the spot himself and made no mistake, calmly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and rolling the ball into the bottom-right corner.

    Argentina took their foot off the pedal in the second half, but when a mistake in defence saw a loose ball fall for Messi just outside the edge of the penalty area, with no defender between him and the goal, he caught everyone off guard with an audacious and picture-perfect first-time chip over Luis Lopez’s head.

    What does it mean? Unbeatable Argentina’s streak remains intact 

    With the win, Argentina remain undefeated in their 34 matches since last losing to Brazil in the Copa America semi-final back in 2019. They are three matches away from tying Italy for the longest international unbeaten streak – a mark they set just last year.

    Messi magic at the centre of Argentinian attack

    The Paris Saint-Germain star led his team in nearly every important statistical category, including shots on target (three), touches in opposition box (nine), crosses (three) and successful dribbles (two).

    His ability to pick out smart runs from the left wing behind the defence was directly responsible for both of the first two goals, and his chip finish for the third was sublime.

    Lonely day up top for Quioto

    Honduras striker Romell Quioto had very little supply all day as his side finished with 33 per cent possession, but he did himself no favours.

    Of his four passes in the final-third, only one found a teammate, and he finished with no shots and no chances created before being subbed off in the 83rd minute.

    What’s next?

    Argentina are scheduled to take on Jamaica in their next friendly on Tuesday in what will be their last match before jetting off to Qatar. Honduras will host Guatemala, also on Tuesday.

    Source: Live score

  • Messi and Griezmann separated after dressing room quarrel.

    Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann separated by Barcelona stars after dressing room quarrel after Lionel Messi was reportedly involved in a dressing room bust-up with a fellow teammate.

    Lionel Messi failed to produce the goods, as Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw against Sevilla.

    Barcelona suffered a damaging blow in the La Liga title race, as Lionel Messi was unable to inspire his side against Sevilla.

    The Argentine failed to produce the goods and was lacklustre on the night, as the Blaugrana were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

    According to Spanish publication Diaro Gol, Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann were involved in an altercation after the game, as Barcelona’s woes were compounded behind the scenes.

    The pair reportedly fell out with each other and had to be separated by the rest of the Barcelona teammates.

    Lionel Messi has almost single-handedly spearheaded Barcelona’s title challenge this season and has been in good form since the restart. With two goals and assists apiece since La Liga’s resumption, Lionel Messi starred in wins against Mallorca and Leganes.

    Lionel Messi has now scored 20+ goals in his last 12 La Liga seasons.

    However, Sevilla held their own against a star-studded Barcelona side and frustrated the title chasers, who are currently three points clear of Real Madrid.

    With a victory against Real Sociedad in the weekend, Los Blancos could go level on points with Barcelona and could also leapfrog the league leaders if they win by a margin of four goals.Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann at crossroads in Catalonia

    Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the top dog at Barcelona, but the Argentine was unable to inspire his side to victory against Sevilla. As per Diaro Gol’s report, Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi were also involved in a training ground bust-up earlier, indicating that their problems might not be a one-off.

    It has also been reported that Griezmann is not the only player who is not in the goods books of Lionel Messi.

    Fellow summer signing Junior Firpo, who previously worked under Setien at Real Betis, has reportedly lost the faith of the talismanic Argentine.

    Firpo has failed to hit the ground running after moving to Barcelona and Lionel Messi is believed to have taken notice of the defender’s poor showings.

    The Blaugrana can’t afford to let off-field activities interfere with their title challenge, as they face the most challenging period of their title defence.

    With games against Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Celta Vigo on the pipeline, Lionel Messi and co are about to enter a season-defining period.

    With Luis Suarez and Griezmann misfiring in front of goal, Lionel Messi has taken on the goalscoring burden single-handedly in recent weeks.

    Martin Braithwaite remains a substitute option and Ousmane Dembele is still out injured for Barcelona. Ansu Fati, despite his outrageous potential, cannot be relied on to score goals regularly as he is just 17 years of age.

    Lionel Messi’s side will look to make amends in their next league encounter, as they take on Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou.Also Read: EPL manager Carlo Ancelotti makes surprise Lionel Messi claim