برچسب: Lionel

Lionel Messi names Chelsea, Liverpool & Brighton players in 10 of world’s best young fotballers

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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!’

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16/10/2025
Neymar snubs Lionel Messi when naming the true ‘king’ of football & it could be controversial

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Barcelona and PSG legend Neymar bypassed his former teammate Lionel Messi when naming the true ‘king’ of football.

Throughout his career, Neymar has played alongside some of the greatest footballers to ever grace the pitch, including Luis Suarez, Kylian Mbappe, and Ronaldinho.

Arguably, Messi is Neymar’s greatest teammate, with whom he shared the field at both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, accumulating 206 appearances together. ..Continue Reading

Despite this, Messi isn’t the player Neymar idolizes as the ultimate king of football. The 33-year-old is certain about who holds that prestigious title.

Since the early days of his career, many football fans have predicted Neymar would become one of the best to ever play the game, often comparing him to Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.

However, Neymar stunned the world by leaving Barcelona to join Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain, a move that didn’t quite meet the expectations set by his record-breaking transfer fee.

This earned Neymar the moniker ‘the prince who didn’t want to be a king.’ When asked about the title, Neymar revealed who he truly considers the king of football.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to be a king, it’s that for me there is only one king and that is Pelé,” Neymar explained to ‘TheGrefg’ Youtube channel

“Many things happened, I had many injuries that cost me a lot in my career and well, God wanted it that way. I have no reason to be sad, on the contrary.

“I am very happy with my story and my life. I achieved almost everything I dreamed of, and I even achieved things I never dreamed of. I am very grateful to God for changing my life, that of my family and my friends . That is the most important thing for me.”

Pele is widely considered one of the greatest Brazilian players of all time, making it no surprise that Neymar idolizes him.

Growing up, Neymar would have watched countless clips of Pele leading Brazil to three World Cup victories, which undoubtedly left a lasting impression on him.

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10/09/2025
Lionel Messi ‘blackballed’ player from playing for Argentina after angry confrontation

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Lionel Messi is facing allegations of influencing national team selections, with claims suggesting he attempted to block a fellow Argentine player from representing the country in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador this September.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi’s influence within the Argentina squad is immense, so much so that some view him as an unofficial gatekeeper whose opinions can shape careers. ..Continue Reading

In the past, it was rumored that Messi’s strained relationship with former defender Nicolás Burdisso affected Burdisso’s international prospects, especially after the latter criticized Messi’s performances.

Now, a similar controversy is brewing following the Leagues Cup final between Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders.

After Seattle’s 3-0 victory, tensions flared, leading to a heated exchange involving Messi, Pedro de la Vega, and Rodrigo De Paul.

According to former MLS striker Alan Gordon, Messi allegedly told de la Vega during the confrontation that he would never play for Argentina while Messi remained involved with the national team.

Gordon described the moment as crossing a line, suggesting Messi used his status to potentially blacklist the young winger from future call-ups.

The incident has sparked debate over the extent of Messi’s influence and whether personal disputes should ever impact national team decisions.

On the Major League Journeymen podcast, Gordon explained: “Messi told him – remember when they got into a little scuffle during the game. Messi told him to his face ‘You will never play for the national team as long as I am involved’. He basically blackballed him on the field. This happened. That is disgusting to me.”

De La Vega later addressed the incident publicly. While he didn’t disclose Messi’s words, he attempted to downplay the conflict, framing it as a typical flare-up in a competitive game while also praising his opponent and speaking of him highly as one of Argentina’s greatest ever players.

He said: “Messi and [Rodrigo] De Paul? They are the greatest. They are world champions and they are my idols. The clash was just part of the game. I tried to stay focused and not take it personally. Facing them as an Argentine carries a different kind of pressure.”

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05/09/2025
Lionel Messi makes his feelings clear on Hugo Ekitike with three-word nickname ahead of Liverpool transfer

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Reports on Thursday suggested that Liverpool have made an official offer to acquire Ekitike from Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt. ..Continue Reading

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano wrote on social media: “EXCL: Liverpool have submitted official bid to Eintracht for Hugo Ekitike!

“Eintracht already informed Liverpool that they want more, proposal rejected but it was initial contact as talks continue. Ekitike said ???????????? Liverpool, no issues on personal terms. He wants #LFC.”

Here’s a rewritten version of each sentence with varied language and structure, Bolu:

At 23, Hugo Ekitike is considered one of Europe’s top young strikers, having tallied 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 matches across all competitions.

Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, have been actively searching for a new frontman this summer, with names like Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Benjamin Sesko all linked to the club.

After encountering setbacks in their pursuit of Isak from Newcastle, Liverpool now appear focused on securing a swift agreement for Ekitike.

Ekitike began his professional journey with Reims before making the move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2022.

While at PSG, he shared the locker room with global stars such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, and Kylian Mbappe.

In October 2022, it came to light that Messi had dubbed Ekitike “the iron rod,” a playful reference to his ‘wiry frame’.

French news outlet Get Football News France wrote: “Messi, meanwhile, has taken to naming him “the iron rod” in reference to his wiry frame. The inury-prone forward has also hired a personal trainer and a physio in order to develop his body for the highest level.”

So far this transfer window, Liverpool have brought in Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez to bolster their squad.

In addition to Hugo Ekitike, several other names—Marc Guehi, Rodrygo, and Anthony Gordon—have also been linked with potential moves to Anfield.

Liverpool are set to kick off their Premier League title defense next month with a home fixture against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15.

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18/07/2025
Lionel Messi honors Diogo Jota with emotional “QEPD” tribute

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The tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has sent shockwaves through the global football community, prompting an overwhelming wave of tributes from fellow players, clubs, and supporters.

Jota, aged 28, and his 26-year-old brother André lost their lives in a fatal car crash early Thursday morning on the A-52 highway near Cernadilla in Spain. ..Continue Reading

Among the many heartfelt responses was one from Argentine legend Lionel Messi, who took to social media to honor Jota’s memory.

Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami, shared a black-and-white image of Jota on his official Instagram account, accompanied by a simple yet powerful message: “RIP.”

Brazilian star Neymar Jr., now playing for Santos, also paid tribute to the late striker. In an Instagram story, he expressed his condolences.

“My sincerest condolences to all the family and close friends. Rest in peace, Diogo and André!” he wrote, with a photo of the Portuguese striker holding the Premier League trophy, which he won with Liverpool on May 25.

The accident took place around 12:40 a.m. when the Lamborghini carrying the two brothers veered off the road due to a tire blowout.

The vehicle caught fire upon impact, and despite the fast response of firefighters and emergency services, nothing could be done to save them.

Liverpool FC, the club where Jota had played since 2020, released a statement over the incident.

“The club has been informed that the 28-year-old footballer has died in a car accident in Spain alongside his brother, André. We ask that the privacy of their loved ones be respected during this unimaginably painful time. We will continue to offer them our full support.”

The death of Diogo Jota, a player beloved by teammates and opponents alike, has left a huge void.

The emotional reactions from stars like Messi and Neymar reflect the impact he made both on and off the pitch. The football world is in mourning.

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04/07/2025
Lionel Messi in furious argument with ref after Inter Miami game & had to be ‘restrained’ by coaching staff

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Lionel Messi experienced one of the most heated moments of his career following Inter Miami’s dramatic 3-3 draw against San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS.

Playing away at PayPal Park on Wednesday night, the Herons saw Maximiliano Falcon strike in the opening minute, while Tadeo Allende netted twice to put them ahead.

Despite the intense contest, Miami dropped more points and now sit fifth in the table, having also suffered a 4-1 loss to Minnesota over the weekend. ..Continue Reading

Messi, visibly frustrated, couldn’t hide his disappointment at full-time and confronted referee Joe Dickerson.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was particularly angered by the referee’s decision not to award him a free-kick just outside the box, leading to a tense exchange after the match.

Unmoved by Messi’s complaints, Dickerson swiftly issued him a yellow card.

But the Barcelona legend was still not happy and went back to the official for more remonstrating. An animated Messi ran the risk of being shown an almost unprecedented red card, with Dickerson telling him, “Do you want me to send you off? Walk away!”.

But he had to be held back by members of the San Jose Earthquakes coaching staff, with Earthquakes boss Bruce Arena taking a step in order to stop Messi being sent off.

Lionel Messi encarándose con el árbitro tras acabar el partido con tarjeta amarilla.

Es el protegido de los árbitros ???????????? pic.twitter.com/S7LvCvawol

— REAL MADRID FANS ???? (@AdriRM33) May 15, 2025

Speaking after the match in a press conference, Arena said: “As you know, there’s a universal language when you’re talking about referees. He was obviously not happy.

“And I really wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get a red card, and that’s why I just tried to move him out of the way. Because for him to get a red card at the end of the game would have been ridiculous. So I just wanted to make sure we get him out of there and he’s ready to play the next game for Miami.”

Inter boss Javier Mascherano, who played with Messi for Barcelona and Argentina, didn’t offer much response to the heated situation and said he had “no idea” what was said.

Without Luis Suarez for the past two matches due to personal reasons, Inter return to action on Sunday when they host Orlando City at the Chase Stadium.

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18/05/2025
Mo Salah had zero doubts when picking between Lionel Messi & Diego Maradona

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During an in-depth interview with France Football, the Liverpool star reflected on his illustrious career at Anfield and shared insights into a past ‘tension’ with a former teammate. ..Continue Reading

As one of the most renowned left-footed players in modern football, Salah was asked to pick the greatest left-footed player in history.

He opted for Premier League icon Ryan Giggs over James Rodriguez and Riyad Mahrez, citing Giggs’ impressive longevity.

When comparing further attacking talents, Salah chose Angel Di Maria—who played for Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain—over Giggs, along with former Real Madrid playmakers Gareth Bale and Mesut Ozil, as well as Dutch winger Arjen Robben.

The conversation then shifted to Antoine Griezmann, with Salah preferring the Atletico Madrid forward over Di Maria.

He extended that preference to Griezmann over Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov before ultimately selecting Rivaldo, Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning star.

Faced with a choice between Rivaldo and Maradona, Salah sided with the late Argentine icon. That led to the ultimate question—Maradona or Messi? Without hesitation, Salah picked the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

In a lighthearted finale, Salah was asked to compare Messi to himself, and he amusingly conceded that he would choose the Barcelona legend.

Salah has enjoyed a phenomenal season, scoring 33 goals in all competitions while playing a crucial role in Liverpool’s Premier League triumph.

He also expressed his ambition to win the Ballon d’Or before retiring, a goal that remains firmly in his sights.

“It’s not in my hands, but obviously, one day I would like to win the Ballon d’Or for my people,” he said. “When you come from a village in Egypt, as a child, it’s difficult to dream of the Ballon d’Or.

“It was when I came to Liverpool that I started to think that, maybe, one day… But if I don’t win it, my career will still be successful”

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11/05/2025