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Tag: Lionel Messi

  • Ballon d’Or top five contenders revealed

    Ballon d’Or top five contenders revealed

    A fresh ranking has highlighted the top contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or, with a strong showing from Euro and Copa America stars, according to sportskeeda.com.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gave a detailed account of Spain’s triumphant victory at Euro 2024, thus propelling some of their key players into the race for football’s most prestigious individual award.

    Meanwhile, Argentina’s successful defense of their Copa America title has placed their captain, Lionel Messi, among the top five contenders for the award.

    Here are the current favorites to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or:

    Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina)

    Messi has become the first Major League Soccer (MLS) player to remain a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or. He has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in just 12 MLS appearances this season. Additionally, he contributed to Argentina’s Copa America triumph with one goal and one assist in five matches. Messi has won the award a record eight times, and he is also the current holder of the Ballon d’Or, having won its most recent edition in 2023.

    Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/Argentina)

    Inter Milan’s star striker, Lautaro Martinez, scored 24 goals in Serie A last season, leading his team to a league title. He also netted five goals during Argentina’s Copa America campaign, securing his third international trophy.

    Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)

    Bellingham scored seven decisive goals for both club and country last season, earning Real Madrid up to 10 points with his late strikes. The England international has emerged as one of the top players in world football and is a strong candidate for the Ballon d’Or.

    Rodri (Manchester City/Spain)

    Rodri has been outstanding over the past year, playing a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, where he was named ‘Player of the Tournament.’ He also helped Manchester City secure the Premier League title last season and is among the leading contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

    Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/Brazil)

    Vinicius Junior has been a key player for Real Madrid, playing a vital role in their UEFA Champions League victory last season. He scored six goals and provided four assists during the competition, including a crucial goal in the final, making him the current frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or.

  • Argentine President, Milei queries Spanish government over Vandalization of Messi’s Ibiza Mansion

    Argentine President, Milei queries Spanish government over Vandalization of Messi’s Ibiza Mansion

    Argentinian President Javier Milei has expressed solidarity with star footballer Lionel Messi and his family following the vandalism of their mansion in Ibiza by climate change activists. He called on the Spanish government to ensure the safety of Argentine citizens.

    The vandals broke into Messi’s €11 million property on the Spanish island on Tuesday, covering the walls with red and black paint. They also posed in the garden with a banner that read, “Help the planet. Eat the rich. Abolish the police.”

    Milei criticized communism, calling it an ideology driven by envy, hatred, and resentment towards the successful, and stated it has no place in a free and civilized world.

    According to ESPN, Messi, who purchased the home in 2022 after leaving Barcelona, was not at the property at the time but uses it for vacations. The activists claimed their act of “non-violent civil disobedience” was to highlight the responsibility of the wealthy in the climate crisis and criticize the Spanish government’s inaction. They also alleged that Messi’s mansion was built “illegally.”

    Messi, currently an Inter Miami forward, is recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the recent Copa América.

  • Lionel Messi ruled out of MLS All-Stars game

    Lionel Messi ruled out of MLS All-Stars game

    Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi will not play in this week’s MLS All-Stars Game, Major League Soccer (MLS) said on Monday.

    This has come eight days after the Argentine superstar left the Copa America final match with an ankle injury.

    Messi was listed among unavailable players for Wednesday’s match in Columbus, Ohio, pitting MLS All Stars from 18 league clubs against top talent from Mexico’s LIGA MX.

    The game would have been the 37-year-old’s MLS All-Stars Game debut after he joined Inter Miami in July 2023 following a storied career in Europe.

    The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has 12 goals and 13 assists in his first 12 games of 2024 for Inter Miami, making him the quickest to 25 goal contributions in an MLS season.

    The All-Stars Game will be played at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) on Wednesday.

  • EPL: Why I stopped Messi from coming to Manchester City – Guardiola

    EPL: Why I stopped Messi from coming to Manchester City – Guardiola

    According to the biography “God Save Pep” by Marti Perarnau, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola prevented Lionel Messi from transferring to the club from Barcelona. It is claimed that Messi reached out to his former coach in 2020 to discuss a potential reunion at the Etihad Stadium.

     

    During a meeting at his home in Barcelona, Guardiola suggested that playing for Manchester City might be too challenging for Messi, who was 33 at the time.

    However, Messi disagreed with this assessment. Despite their conversation, Manchester City ultimately allowed Paris Saint-Germain to complete a dramatic move to bring Messi to France.

    The Argentine now plays club football for Inter Miami in the MLS.

  • MLS: Inter Miami lament Messi’s injury

    MLS: Inter Miami lament Messi’s injury

    Argentina and Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi is set to miss the next two matches after injuring his right ankle during the 2024 Copa América final against Colombia.Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino revealed this on Tuesday.

    Messi was substituted off in the first half of the encounter due to injury.

     

    Following further testing, the MLS club announced that Messi “has suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle.” The statement added that Messi’s “availability will be determined by periodic assessments and the progress of his recovery.”

     

    Inter Miami will face Toronto FC on Wednesday night and Chicago Fire on Saturday night. They will then begin defending their Leagues Cup title on July 27 against Puebla.

  • How Lionel Messi ended Copa America with complex injury

    How Lionel Messi ended Copa America with complex injury

    Lionel Messi was forced off with an apparent right ankle injury in the second half of Argentina’s 1-0 Copa América final win over Colombia at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.

     

    Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal for Argentina in extra time, securing Argentina’s record 16th Copa crown and their third consecutive major tournament title following their Copa win in 2021 and World Cup victory in 2022.

     

    Messi collapsed to the field in the 64th minute and immediately signaled his concern to the Argentina bench. He remained down for several minutes as trainers attended to him before being helped to his feet and immediately taking off his right shoe.

     

    As he walked off the field, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner removed his captain’s armband and threw his shoe to the ground in frustration. An emotional Messi was then shown covering his face, sobbing on the bench, while TV cameras revealed his severely swollen right ankle.

     

    He was replaced by Nicolas Gonzalez.

     

    Messi had earlier gone down holding his right ankle after a strong challenge in the first half. The Inter Miami player chased the ball and attempted to kick it before it went out of bounds, planting his right leg awkwardly and appearing to take contact from Colombia’s Santiago Arias.

     

    The 37-year-old writhed in pain and rolled over several times, clutching his lower right leg. Trainers worked on the area for a few minutes before helping him to his feet. He walked slowly toward the sideline before reentering the game.

     

    Messi had been dealing with a leg injury and discomfort throughout much of the tournament and missed Argentina’s group stage finale. He had one shot attempt in the first half on Sunday.

     

    The final was tied 0-0 when Messi exited, but he watched from the sidelines as his team battled to a hard-fought victory over a tough and talented Colombia team that had gone unbeaten in 28 straight games.

  • Copa America: Messi writes emotional message to Argentina fans ahead final with Colombia

    Copa America: Messi writes emotional message to Argentina fans ahead final with Colombia

    Argentina captain Lionel Messi has shared an emotional message on Instagram ahead of his country’s 2024 Copa America final against Colombia on Sunday.

     

    Argentina will face Colombia in the Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.

     

    Ahead of the match, Messi posted several pictures from Argentina’s training session with the caption:

     

    “Last day of Copa America. Once again, we reached the end… This incredible road would have been impossible without the hard work of everyone, the ones who watch the most and the ones who are always behind the camera.

     

    “Thanks to all for the effort and passion, to all the teammates and the technical body, to the workers of the National Team and all the Argentinians who came to encourage us in America and to those who could not come but support us from our country and from other places where they are living.”

     

    Messi has recorded one goal and one assist in the Copa America 2024.

  • Copa America: Messi scores as Argentina beat Canada to qualify for final

    Copa America: Messi scores as Argentina beat Canada to qualify for final

    Lionel Messi, the current Ballon d’Or holder, showcased his talent with a precise touch of his legendary left boot to score his first goal of this summer’s Copa America tournament.

    With Messi’s goal early in the second half and Julián Álvarez’s first-half strike, Argentina triumphed over Canada, 2-0, in their Copa America semifinal at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday night.

    “It’s incredible what this team has achieved and what the Argentine national team continues to do,” Messi remarked after the match. “Now, the importance of all the finals that I and the veteran players have participated in will be recognized even more.”

    Argentina will compete in the Copa America final on Sunday in Miami, awaiting the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Colombia and Uruguay, for a chance to further solidify its soccer dynasty.

    As the defending World Cup champions, Argentina aims for its second consecutive Copa America title, potentially securing its fourth major international championship in three years, including the 2022 Finalissima victory over 2021 Euro champions Italy.

  • I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    Inter Miami forward and Ballon D’or winner,  Lionel Messi has revealed that he hated former coach, Pep Guardiola’s method of training at Barcelona, insisting it was confusing.

    The Argentina captain said he did not like how Guardiola’s tactics were taught to young kids at La Masia.

    Continuing, Messi said that kids’ natural ability would be restricted as they were forced to follow a strict method.

    Messi made this  known during an interview with JP Varsky on Clank Media, added that six-year-olds were taught to take two touches and play faster.

    Messi is of the opinion that instead of such training, the kids should be taught to understand the game and work on their movements to find spaces instead.

    The former PSG star said (via Mundo Albiceleste): “The Guardiola era was a bit confusing. … Many times, six and seven-year-old kids are already starting to be told that they have to play with two touches, to play fast, that they can’t have much of the ball.

    “I think that at that age it has to be a bit like what happened to me: to teach them to better understand the game, to know how to move, to find spaces, to play quickly, but not to take away the spontaneity of each one.”

  • Messi goes spiritual, reveals secret of his success in football

    Messi goes spiritual, reveals secret of his success in football

    Inter Miami superstar, Lionel Messi, has finally revealed the reasons behind his success.

    The Superstar said he was “chosen by God”.

    The Argentine made this known while speaking about his footballing talent.

    According to Messi, he has tried to make the most of the gift he was given.

    The 37-year-old is currently with Argentina at the Copa América in the US.

    “It’s very clear to me that I was born like this because God chose me,” Messi told Argentina podcaster Juan Pablo Varsky.

    “It was a gift he gave me. I tried to take advantage of it, I did everything possible to squeeze the most out of it.

    “The truth is, although I did many things, I did nothing to become the player that I already was when I was little.”

    Messi began his playing career at Newell’s Old Boys and joined Barcelona’s youth team aged 13.

    He is the most decorated football player of all time, having won the Ballon d’Or eight times and lifted his 44th trophy after helping Inter Miami lift the 2023 Leagues Cup in August.