The iconic attacker highlighted the young athletes he believes are the ‘future of football’ as part of a promotional effort with Adidas. ..Continue Reading
Young Premier League stars are among those chosen, likely gaining a confidence boost from being acknowledged by someone widely regarded as the GOAT.
Liverpool’s 17-year-old prospect Rio Ngumoha features on Messi’s list, alongside Chelsea’s midfield talent Andrey Santos.
One more Chelsea player received recognition from the Inter Miami icon—Kendry Paez, currently on loan at Strasbourg, is also included.
Rounding out the Premier League names, Brighton’s German midfielder Brajan Gruda has been identified as one of the top young players.
Messi’s other male selections include Rodrigo Mora from Porto, Belgian forward Mika Godts of Ajax, Como’s Nico Paz, and Renne’s teenage talent Kader Meite.
Among the female athletes, Messi spotlighted Lyon’s Lily Yohannes and Barcelona’s Clara Serrajordi as future stars.
This isn’t the first occasion Messi has highlighted rising talent, though his previous picks haven’t always proven accurate.
Back in 2015, he named 10 players who ultimately didn’t live up to the expectations.
Those earlier selections were: Accursio Bentivegna, Marcos Lopes, Kenedy, Maxwel Cornet, Jeremie Boga, James Wilson, Timo Werner, Gyasi Zardes, Khiry Shelton, and Aleksey Miranchuk.
At 38, Messi revealed this week that the Lionel Messi Cup will debut in Miami this December, featuring eight under-16 teams.
Chelsea and Manchester City will participate, along with Barcelona, Newell’s Old Boys, Inter Milan, River Plate, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Miami.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘Thrilled to finally share this with you.
‘This December, Miami will host a very special youth football tournament featuring some of the top clubs from around the world.
‘The future of the game will be on full display, and it’s more than just matches – we’ve got an incredible few days planned with lots of other exciting activities.
‘This is about the next generation. Hope you like it!’
Roughly 3,000 visiting supporters take up their place in the bottom corner of the Anfield Road End every other week in the Premier League, but some are noisier (and sounder) than others.
Factoring in general volume, chant creativity and class, here’s our guide to the best and worst away fans the top flight has to offer…
I quite enjoy that they appear to have leaned into their reputation as upper-class train snack enjoyers, but when the whistle goes, they might as well not be there.
18. Burnley
I haven’t got much for this one, sorry! Very football league, very on brand.
Their fans had a go when they gave us a little scare in February, but it’s never been a fixture that feels you with much dread.
17. Chelsea
They’ve got more songs about Steven Gerrard than we have which, given the success they’ve enjoyed since 2005, smacks of insecurity.
Of the traditional ‘big six’ clubs, they’ve definitely got the least about them as far as travelling support is concerned.
16. Bournemouth
The novelty of their almighty climb up the English football pyramid appears to have worn off as they have been pretty tame upon recent jaunts to L4.
There is plenty to like about Bournemouth and their fans have always been gracious towards us, but aside from their Dominic Solanke chant of a few years ago, I’m not sure I could name you a Bournemouth song.
15. Tottenham
They’ve been present at two of the biggest days of our lives and, judging by how long they stayed behind when we won the league, they didn’t seem to mind!
A couple of decent songs and relatively inoffensive, this seems a fair enough place to put them.
14. Wolves
They get very noisy and angry if a VAR decision goes against them because they’re convinced it was designed to ruin their lives.
They do have a few catchy tunes, and then there’s the ones they’ve not copied from us.
13. Arsenal
Speaking of pinching songs!
Real-life Arsenal fans should by no means be tarred with the same brush as those you encounter online, but their sub-par Anfield record across the last decade seems to have left a few scars.
For all his flaws, Mikel Arteta has raised the bar at the Emirates somewhat. Whether that translates on the road with some proper silverware remains to be seen. We might never find out, at this rate!
12. West Ham
Certainly not as good or as important as they seem to think they are, but also one of the capital’s louder sets of fans, in fairness.
Judging by their team over the first couple of weeks of the season, though, we might get a little break from them after this season!
11. Man City
While their home support lends itself to jibes and stadium nicknames like ‘The Emptihad’, the core group of matchgoing Man City supporters appear to have survived the Sheikh Mansour revolution and all its ill-fated cultural trimmings.
They are by no means the nicest bunch, but they do know how to make themselves heard, more than making up the numbers at some of the Premier League‘s greatest-ever clashes.
You won’t catch me doing the Poznan nonsense at Oasis later this month, though.
10. Sunderland
It has been far too long since the Mackems have rocked up to the Anfield Road End and, if I’m honest, I’ve had to dig deep into the memory bank in order to afford them a fair rating.
It will be no picnic when they arrive in December, but for me, they have always been slightly dwarfed by their northeast neighbours.
They won’t like to hear that, don’t grass me up!
9. Aston Villa
On their day, Aston Villa fans are among the best in the division.
For whatever reason, it has been a little more hit and miss in recent years. Still, the evidence has been sufficient to land them a top half place on this occasion.
8. Brentford
Unacquainted observers might reasonably assume singing about your own team comes as a prerequisite, but the Brentford faithful are a breath of fresh air in that regard.
Still basking in the glory of jumping two divisions in less than a decade and locking down a stable top-flight slot, the Bees are among the most likeable supporters in the league.
7. Everton
It is difficult to compare those turning up for a derby to those attending on more ‘normal’ occasions, though the pre-determined misery often inflicted upon them at Anfield isn’t particularly conducive to showing defiance across the park.
That grown adults still turn their backs towards YNWA is in fact really funny, but the 3,000 that made the short trip prior to the Bramley Moore move certainly haven’t left quite the same footprint on proceedings that tended to hamper us at the Old Lady.
6. Nottingham Forest
One of the loudest sets of away fans in the league, sometimes let down by chants that ought to be beneath them.
The banner condemning tragedy chanting presented at our home meeting in 2023 was certainly a welcome step in the right direction.
5. Man United
It pains me to do this, but it is hard to deny that our Mancunian neighbours travel better than most.
While the fun continues to be drained by Jim Ratcliffe (and long may that continue, by the way), Man United supporters continue to show up and make themselves known – certainly more than the players, anyway!
They remained in the ground during that famous 7-0 whooping a lot longer than I would have done in their shoes.
It might be a while before we see them this high up an actual table, so I suppose we should give them something!
4. Newcastle
They have become a bit annoying and picked up ideas above their station since coming into wealth, but this is unquestionably one of the most passionate fanbases in the entire country.
It would appear being topless or sporting an official club jersey are the only two acceptable methods of meeting the dress code, but the noise certainly offsets some of the weirdness.
3. Brighton
It is difficult to find much to dislike about Brighton.
Their fans are great. They have built a top-flight team about as organically as the 21st century will permit and, I’ll say it again, they sing about their own team. Plus points for that, always.
2. Leeds
Not especially pleasant, but Leeds fans will always bring the noise and their showing during the 6-0 thrashing in 2022 has always stuck with me.
Like them or loathe them, Leeds are a club that belong in the Premier League and it will be an occasion, one way or another, when we welcome them back to Anfield over Christmas.
1. Crystal Palace
If Liverpool ceased to exist and I had to pick another Premier League team to care about, I think I’d go with Crystal Palace.
A really good bunch. No club deserved the day they had at Wembley in May more than they did and they bring the pugnacious, vibrant energy from Selhurst Park every time they come.
I’ll say it one more time, they sing about their own team and that goes a long way in this day and age. You won’t hear any of the usual nonsense from them, proper football club.
The debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time has raged on for years, with fans and pundits alike passionately arguing the merits of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Both players have achieved extraordinary success, breaking records and winning numerous titles.
However, when it comes to naming the best player football has ever produced, former Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos has made his choice clear. ..Continue Reading
In an interview, Ramos, who has had the unique experience of playing alongside both Messi and Ronaldo, revealed that he considers Lionel Messi to be the greatest footballer of all time.
This admission is particularly noteworthy given Ramos’s long history with Ronaldo during their time together at Real Madrid, where they won countless trophies and formed a formidable partnership.
Ramos explained that his opinion is based on the years of “suffering” he endured while playing against Messi in La Liga.
As a defender for Real Madrid, Ramos faced Messi numerous times in the intense El Clasico matches against Barcelona.
The Spanish center-back admitted that Messi’s skill and ability to change the course of a game single-handedly made him the toughest opponent he ever faced.
Ramos expressed his admiration for Messi, stating that he enjoyed playing alongside the Argentine forward and witnessing his brilliance up close.
He described Messi as the best player football has ever produced, a sentiment echoed by many fans and experts around the world.
While Ramos’s comments may come as a disappointment to Ronaldo and his supporters, they highlight the respect and recognition that Messi has earned from one of the game’s top defenders.
Messi’s numerous Ballon d’Or awards, league titles, and recent World Cup victory with Argentina further solidify his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
The Messi vs Ronaldo debate is unlikely to be settled anytime soon, as both players continue to dazzle fans with their performances.
However, Sergio Ramos’s endorsement of Messi adds another layer to the ongoing discussion and provides a unique perspective from someone who has played alongside both legends.
In conclusion, while the debate over the greatest footballer of all time may never be definitively resolved, Sergio Ramos’s admiration for Lionel Messi offers a compelling argument in favor of the Argentine maestro.
As fans, we can only appreciate the incredible talent and achievements of both Messi and Ronaldo, who have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the beautiful game.
Inter Milan secured a thrilling 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona to book their spot in the final.
Barcelona appeared poised to reach the grand stage at the Allianz Arena after overturning a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 in the closing minutes. ..Continue Reading
However, Inter struck a late equalizer in normal time before sealing the win in extra time, in what will be remembered as one of the most dramatic ties in Champions League history.
Either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal will face Inter in the final, with the two teams meeting in Paris for their decisive second leg on Wednesday.
PSG holds a narrow 1-0 advantage following their hard-fought win at the Emirates Stadium last week.
While many pundits believe Arsenal has a real chance of mounting a comeback in Paris, Salah has cautioned that they will once again be facing the ‘best team in Europe’ in PSG.
The French champions eliminated Aston Villa and Premier League winners Liverpool on their way to the semi-finals, also thrashing Manchester City during the league phase.
Luis Enrique’s side dominated Liverpool at home but still arrived at Anfield trailing by a goal after Harvey Elliott’s late strike for the Reds.
Despite the setback, PSG responded with a crucial 1-0 away win before triumphing in the penalty shootout to keep their hopes alive of lifting their first-ever Champions League title.
‘I have to be very honest, PSG were playing a very good game in the first leg,’ Salah told French outlet L’Equipe.
‘We were so lucky that Alisson had his best game in the club’s history probably. Then they came to Anfield. We were so unlucky because we hit the post two to three times.
‘That game was honestly 50/50 who deserved it more. No one could say. We played a very good second half. They played a very good first leg. Nobody here would say they deserved it 100 per cent.
‘It was their day and I shook their hands and said to their players after “congratulations, go and win” and that’s it. We faced the best team in Europe in that tie.’
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, meanwhile, expressed his pride at his team after their semi-final defeat to Inter Milan.
‘I’m very disappointed that we’re out – but I’m not disappointed about the performance of my team. They tried everything,’ he said.
‘We’re out, but next year we’ll start again and we’ll make our fans, the club and everyone around us happy.
‘They [Inter] are a really good team, a strong team who defend well but also they have a really good striker.
‘In the second half we were really good. We gave everything but in the end it was like that and that’s what made me a bit sad.’
Arne Slot’s dominant squad celebrated their title win last Sunday with a commanding victory over Tottenham at Anfield, while the Gunners continue their fight to secure second place for the third consecutive year. ..Continue Reading
Despite falling behind Liverpool in the standings, Arsenal has performed admirably against the league’s top sides and held their own in a thrilling 2-2 draw against the champions earlier this season, with Mohamed Salah’s late equalizer salvaging a point for the Reds.
Mikel Arteta’s men remain unbeaten against the rest of England’s elite and have enjoyed a smooth path through the Champions League knockout rounds—until Tuesday, when Inter became the first team to defeat them in Europe this season.
Now, Arsenal faces a major challenge in their quest for a place in the final in Munich, after Ousmane Dembele’s decisive goal secured a first-leg victory for Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG has developed significantly since their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal earlier this season, leading Saka to declare them the strongest side he has encountered all campaign.
‘100% they were like a different team,’ said Saka in an interview with Sky Sports, when asked to rate PSG’s performance in midweek.
‘I know they only changed two players from the line-up against us previously but how much cohesion they have, how they flow, how they move the ball they were a lot better and they impressed me to be fair.
‘I would say so probably yes. They have a lot of threat up at the top end of the pitch and I think in the midfield as well they keep the ball really well and try and make you run. I don’t think anyone likes to run if I’m honest’.
Saka got the better of his opponent Nuno Mendes when the two clashed back in October, but it was a far more even contest in midweek.
‘It was a good battle, he’s a top full-back he’s so quick,’ said Saka. ‘I enjoy those battles and look forward to going against next week.’
Despite a far from ideal scenario heading to the Parc des Princes, the England star remains confident his team are capable of raising their game and overturning a one-goal deficit.
He said: ‘I think it’s important to stay calm but obviously we know we have another level to go and I think we’re going to show it in Paris and I’m confident we can turn it around.
‘It was tough to find space, they put a lot of bodies around me, they defended well and I’m looking at the space I can find in the second leg.’
August, for the football fan in general, is very hard to beat. Here’s why:
It’s high summer
Picture the scene. It’s January and the weather hasn’t risen above zero all day. It’s basically already dark. It’s a league game against someone northern (I don’t actually remember who it was against, and perhaps it wasn’t against someone northern but I just associate the cold with the north). Not a lot is happening, but almost in unison the north bank starts bouncing up and down on the spot. Not as some kind of choreographed terrace spectacular, but because we all implicitly know that if we don’t start frenziedly hopping up and down we would all expire from frostbite.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I would prefer football to be a summer sport. Just think how much more pleasant it would be in the warmth of summer, or what passes for it in the UK. We could all noodle outside a bit, perhaps in a beer garden, then enjoy the dappled sun on the pitch before going home to plenty more hours of sunlight. The season could end just before the bleakest months of the year and recommence with spring just round the corner.
Instead, we enjoy about 6 weeks of warmth before it all goes to pot. Only in early May (or April if we are lucky) does the sun make any form of contact with any part of our body that isn’t our face or hands.
Optimism is universal
August is the only point of the season where every single football fan isn’t at least a little bit optimistic. Squads are being remodelled, the slog of the previous season has retreated into the past, everyone has had a bit of time off and hope is in the air. I have no empirical evidence to prove it, and can’t be bothered to find it, but I suspect attendances on the first day of the season are at their zenith.
It’s the hope that kills you though. If you are lucky, as Arsenal have been over the years, then August folds into September with the minimum of bumps, and you can look forward to building some momentum and having a good season.
This is not the experience of most football fans, though. By September, an awful lot of them will have already realised that hope has not sprung eternal. In fact, it’s not sprung at all. Hope is a mirage; a fickle beast. They will look back wistfully at August and probably sigh.
The chequebook is well and truly out
As we know, new arrivals are like paraffin on a bonfire. All of your team’s ills can be cured – or so it seems – by millions of pounds being dropped on some new players, and August (especially after a summer tournament) is the time when this all gets turbocharged. It’s breathless and silly, and reporting on it is an entire industry in itself, with its own language, but it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement.
A cursory glance at NewsNow confirms it. The current favourite is to put everything into quotes – ‘incredible’ player wants out, contract agreed with ‘world-class’ star, ‘transfer clause agreed’. Then there are the old classics, when players become wantaway stars, teams start swooping and – my favourite of all time – when players issue come-and-get-me pleas.
I’ve always wondered how you issue a plea. It probably involves a trip to the Post Office.
I fall for it all, hook line and sinker. Even though the Euro final was only 15 days ago, it feels like ages since the final game of the season (it’s 73 days and that feels as long as it sounds). I have forgotten the disappointment, and armed with a Calafiori I am ready to go into battle again.
