Messi’s current deal expired at the end of the current season and nothing has been finalised on a new contract.
The Argentine is looking at some jaw-dropping offers from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer and could be on his way out of PSG.
The PSG President for this reason is said to have identified the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finalist as a potential replacement for the football king.
Salah has scored 17 goals and has provided seven assists in 31 games across competitions for the Red this season despite Jurgen Klopp’s side struggles.
The Egyptian forward, who moved to Anfield in 2017, has scored 173 goals in 285 games and provided 70 assists for the Reds, helping them win the Champions League and the Premier League
As he arrived at the King Fahd International Stadium for the clash, Ronaldo received a rather surprising reaction from the home crowd.
The 37-year-old, who has been treated like royalty since making his big-money move to the Middle East, was greeted by chants for his eternal rival Messi.
Ronaldo played against Messi last weekend in a friendly and is now settling into domestic action with his new side.
Former Premier League stars, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher engaged in a heated argument about Argentina captain Lionel Messi on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.
Recall with 𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 that Neville had claimed after Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup 2-1 loss against Saudi Arabia in their first group game that, over recent years, it has become easier for defenders to win the ball back off Messi, adding that ‘people don’t fear him anymore’.
Neville’s words aged like milk as Messi and his Argentina teammates went on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup after beating France in the final last December.
Messi also won the Golden Ball, scoring seven goals and providing three assists during the tournament.
However, Carragher recalled the incident and asked Neville on the MNF show: “Tell us your real thoughts on Messi?”
Neville responded: “Do you think I said Messi would not win the World Cup?”
Carragher then said: “No, you said he was easy to take the ball off. What did you say in the green room before?”
Neville then justified his previous comments, saying: “No. My words were, on Messi, that Messi now from ten years ago, you can take the ball off him a lot more – words along those lines. He was not beating players like he used to!”
The former Manchester United captain then went on to point out Carragher’s mistakes as a pundit, saying: “You said Rashford should be sold by United! You said Conte should be at United! You said [Lisandro] Martinez could not play in the Premier League! You’re a disaster!”
A member of Oman’s parliament, Ahmed Al Barwani, has offered Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi $1 million (Watch Video Here) for the bisht which the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, gifted him following his team’s victory over France at the finals on Sunday in Doha. (Watch Video Here)
The bisht is an Arabic robe traditionally worn for special or ceremonial occasions such as Weddings or religious festivals.
The Qatar Emir decorated the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner with the bisht as he was about to lift the coveted trophy. (Watch Video Here)
Making his offer in a Twitter post Al Barwani, who is also a lawyer wrote, “My friend Messi, I congratulate you on winning the World Cup. (the Emir of Qatar) dazzled me as he placed a bisht, a symbol of magnanimity and wisdom, over your shoulders. (Watch Video Here)
“I’m offering you a million dollars to give me that bisht,” he further said.
Argentina dethroned France as world champions following 4-2 victory on penalties after 3-3 draw in a dramatic 120 minutes of football that saw Mbappe score a hat-trick while Paris Saint-Germain teammate Lionel Messi scored a brace for Argentina, with Angel Di Maria scoring the other goal for the South American champions
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera on Friday accused (Watch Video Here) Argentine players of being “inelegant winners” and “vulgar” for mocking her country’s star Kylian Mbappe after winning the World Cup final. (Watch Video Here)
“As much as our French team knew how to lose with panache, so the manner in which this Argentine team acted after this victory was not worthy of the match we saw”, the minister told French radio station RTL. (Watch Video Here)
Oudea-Castera singled out goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was seen in the victory parade in Buenos Aires holding a baby doll, its face covered with a photo of French star Mbappe. (Watch Video Here)
Immediately after the match, a call for “a minute of silence… for Mbappe,” was heard from Argentina’s changing room. (Watch Video Here)
Mbappe scored a hat-trick as France twice fought back to take the game to a penalty shootout and then beat Martinez with the opening spot kick. (Watch Video Here)
“I find it pitiful,” said Oudea-Castera.
“It’s just vulgar, inappropriate, really not up to the occasion,” she said.
“This Emiliano Martinez is not distinguishing himself. It is rather pathetic”. (Watch Video Here)
The minister said she was pleased that the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noel Le Graet had written to his Argentine counterpart to complain of “abnormal excesses” in the celebrations.
The FFF has also said it intends to file complaints against French fans who posted racist comments on social media after Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed in the shootout and Kolo Muani squandered a chance late in extra time.
Lionel Messi will celebrate his World Cup triumph by agreeing to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, local media claimed Wednesday, as he attempts to steer the French side to an elusive Champions League title.
The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to victory in the World Cup final against France in Qatar last weekend, will pen a one-season extension to his current deal in the French capital which expires in the summer.
Le Parisian and RMC Sport reported that Messi will sit down with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and other top club officials when he returns after his World Cup break.
Messi joined PSG in 2021 on a two-season deal with an option for another year after having spent his entire professional career with Barcelona.
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Messi’s fans went on a bid to make his photograph the most liked picture on Instagram
Remember the picture of a brown egg that became the most liked photo on Instagram in 2019? Argentinian football team captain, Lionel Messi, just broke the record, as his photograph lifting the World Cup trophy became the top liked post on Instagram today.
On Tuesday morning, Messi’s fans went on a bid to make his photograph the most liked picture on the social media platform, just two days after his team won the FIFA World Cup 2022 finals in Qatar.
Many fans took to Instagram and Twitter to say that they were “unliking” the picture of the egg to make their sport idol win.
On Tuesday morning, the Guinness World Records, on their official Twitter account (@GWR) shared a meme with the caption: “Us watching the amount of likes on Messi’s recent Instagram post against the world record egg’s current record.”
The record was previously held by the ‘photo of an egg’, which had garnered over 56 million likes after it was posted on Instagram on January 4, 2019, to beat the number of likes on Kylie Jenner’s post.
Messi, who reached 400 million followers on Instagram on December 20, now has over 60 million likes on his picture. His fans celebrated with memes and reposted his picture on their social media accounts, congratulating him.
Messi finished the World Cup with seven goals, one behind tournament’s top scorer Kylian Mbappe, and three assists. He was honoured with the Golden Ball for his performance.
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The bank also denied reports that it wants to close some deposit money banks in Nigeria over their inability to dispense new naira notes amid a cash crunch in the…
The victorious Argentine national team, accompanied by their illustrious captain Lionel Messi, arrived back in their homeland at the Ezeiza international airport in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Tuesday to a rapturous welcome, after having clinched the World Cup title on foreign soil.
Having beaten France in Sunday’s thrilling final, the players will now spend the night at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training complex near the Ezeiza airport where they arrived in Buenos Aires and where thousands of supporters were waiting to greet them.
They will then begin a tour of the Buenos Aires city center from midday on Tuesday with millions expected out in the streets on what is a public holiday.
“Crowned with glory,” read a banner on a newspaper kiosk in Buenos Aires on Monday, while Clarin and La Prensa dailies both sent a huge “Thank you” to Messi and his teammates for winning the country’s third world title, and first in 36 years.
Argentina won the final in Qatar 4-2 on penalties after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw over 120 minutes of unparalleled drama.
Messi, who scored twice in the final, was the first player to emerge from the plane, holding the World Cup aloft, with coach Lionel Scaloni right behind him.
Forward Julian Alvarez, a revelation in Qatar with his four goals, was one of the next players to emerge.
A picture of Messi was emblazoned on the plane’s tail with the words: “one team, one country, one dream” on its side.
The players made their way from the plane along a red carpet straight to an open-top bus as their World Cup theme song “Muchachos” by ska band La Mosca blared out.
Better than 86 Excitement had been brewing since the party that began after Sunday’s final ahead of the players’ arrival.
“I’m going to greet them at the airport. Now that they have been crowned we have to greet them and thank them,” Jose Luis Quinoga, 56, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) at the Obelisk memorial in central Buenos Aires, where the night before more than a million people celebrated.
A private reception at a VIP suite in the airport had been arranged to greet the returning players and the AFA said they will celebrate with fans at the Obelisk on Tuesday.
“I will leave work and the first thing I will do is come here,” Julieta Rosel, 23, told AFP at the monument.
Messi finally crowned his record-breaking career with football’s biggest prize as he produced one of the greatest World Cup final performances, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
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In doing so he emulated his predecessor as Argentina’s idol, Diego Maradona who inspired the country to their second world title with a series of match-winning displays at Mexico 1986.
“I remember ’86 but this victory yesterday was much more emotional and much more stressful,” architect Ricardo Grunfeld, 65, told AFP.
“I don’t know if there’s any difference with ’86 but this comes at a good time,” added Zulema Guereri, 80.
Argentina had led 2-0 with 10 minutes of normal time left and 3-2 with only two minutes of extra time to go but Kylian Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat trick in history to take the gripping final to penalties, before Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick.
Despite the huge numbers of revelers during Sunday’s festivities “people acted in a very positive way,” a spokesperson for the municipality said.
Fewer than 20 people were arrested for isolated incidents of violence or theft.
It warms the heart France’s beaten players were given a rousing reception by fans in central Paris on Monday after their return from Qatar.
They appeared on the balcony of the Crillon Hotel overlooking the Place de la Concorde.
“Frankly, it’s magnificent, it warms the heart, it’s a great pleasure to see that we were able to make so many French people proud and happy,” forward Marcus Thuram told TF1 TV.
They landed at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport just before 8 p.m. (7 p.m. GMT) where a caravan of coaches took them straight to the center of Paris.
Goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris told TF1 that it was a chance to “greet them (the fans), to thank them for their support and, after yesterday’s pain, to seek their consolation.”
Football’s world governing body FIFA said the cumulative stadium attendance was 3.4 million spectators and that more than a million visitors traveled to Qatar to watch the matches.
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Buhari, according to a statement issued on Saturday night by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, will unveil the equipment at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Gary Lineker and Pablo Zabaleta were astounded by the sight of Lionel Messi, resplendent in a sheer black robe, triumphantly hoisting the World Cup aloft.
Argentina captain Messi scored twice in the dramatic 3-3 draw with France before his side triumphed on penalties to finally win football’s ultimate prize at age 35.
At the trophy presentation, he was offered a bisht, a traditional Arab cloak, to wear by the emir of Qatar.
Messi allowed the emir to place the robe around his shoulders before taking the trophy from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and lifting it in front of his ecstatic teammates.
BBC presenter 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 that they’ve covered up Messi in his Argentina shirt.”
Ex-Argentina defender Zabaleta agreed, saying on BBC One: “Just why? No reason to do that.”
FIFA has been asked to comment by the PA news agency.
The emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, wrote on Twitter: “I congratulate the Argentine national team for winning the Qatar World Cup 2022, and the French national team … and I thank all the teams for their outstanding play, and the fans who enthusiastically encouraged them.
“In conclusion, we have fulfilled our promise to organize an exceptional championship from the Arab countries, which provided an opportunity for the peoples of the world to learn about the richness of our culture and the originality of our values.”
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Dr. Mustafa Baig, a lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, told PA that the bisht is a formal robe worn by royalty, dignitaries, grooms on their wedding day and graduates at graduation ceremonies.
“So only a select few people would wear the best,” he said.
Baig said about Messi wearing the garment: “They honored him by putting it over his shoulders.
“It’s like a mark of honor and just kind of a cultural welcoming and acceptance.”
Baig said it is also representative of Qatar’s national dress – but only on important occasions.
“And this is a top occasion. I mean, there’s probably no bigger occasion, so they put it on him as a mark of honor,” he said.
Baig said he saw it as “an embrace by Messi of the local culture,” adding that it was “a pretty cool thing” for Qatar to do and “smart thinking” on their behalf.
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The triumphant Argentine manager, Lionel Scaloni, declared it was up to the illustrious Lionel Messi to determine whether he would be playing in yet another World Cup, as the South American nation rejoiced over their stirring victory against France in the title final match on Sunday.
Scaloni, who was emotional in his post-match news conference at the Lusail Stadium, praised his players for “breaking their backs” to win the nation’s third World Cup.
In a match for the ages in Doha, Argentina triumphed 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick ensured the game ended level at 3-3 following extra time.
Messi, 35, scored twice to win the first World Cup of his glittering career.
Earlier in the tournament, he said the tournament in Qatar would be his last but Scaloni said the ball was in the veteran forward’s court.
The coach told reporters it was up to Messi to set a timescale on his retirement when asked about the possibility of his playing at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“If he wants to keep playing, he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide whether he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or how he wants to proceed with his career. He is such a huge player for us. It is such a pleasure for us to coach him and his teammates. Everything he transmits to his teammates is unparalleled, something I’ve never seen before,” Scaloni said.
After the match, Messi vowed to continue playing international football despite realizing his lifetime ambition, but he admitted his career was in its final stages.
“I want to keep experiencing a few more matches as world champion. My career is nearly over because these are my last years,” said Messi, whose next target will be to help his club side Paris Saint-Germain bag the first Champions League title.
Fighters Scaloni, who guided Argentina to bag the Copa America crown last year, praised his men for digging deep against defending champions France.
“We have fighters who were very strong despite the goals that we conceded,” he said.
“These players play for their people, play for Argentina fans. That’s what I have always seen. There are no rivalries. Everyone is headed in the same direction and this is for the whole country. It is the greatest pride to play for your country. The players broke their backs. They have achieved this today because they understand what they had to do on the pitch and we are happy and proud,” Scaloni elaborated.
The coach was asked what he had told his players at the beginning of extra time after France had come back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 in normal time, and before the penalty shoot-out.
“I told them we had to be optimistic,” he replied.
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“We knew if we played our game, we were going to create chances. We kept attacking and before the penalty shootout I told them the same thing: To remain calm,” he replied.
Scaloni said his goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, had crucial words of encouragement before the nailbiting penalty shootout.
“He was very positive. He told his teammates he was going to save some penalties and then we had so many players ready and willing to take penalties,” the coach said.
Scaloni was also asked about what his message would be to the late Argentine great Diego Maradona, who died just over two years ago.
Maradona captained Argentina to their second World Cup crown in 1986.
“You make me realize that he’s not here. Otherwise you think he’s amongst us. Fortunately, we managed to lift this trophy, something we have been dreaming about for so long. We’re such a football passionate country. If he’d been here I’m sure he would have been the first one on the pitch. You asking me this question makes me remember he’s not here,” he said, wearing a new Argentina shirt with three stars on it to represent their three triumphs.
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During the monitoring exercise, Jerry cans containing hoarded petrol were impounded in some fuel stations with the task force cautioning against such acts.
Croatia captain, Luka Modric, has made an honest confession about Argentina captain Lionel Messi ahead of both sides’ 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final tie on Tuesday.
Modric said Croatia is going to have a lot of difficulties stopping Messi at the Lusail Stadium.
The Real Madrid midfielder also described Messi as Argentina’s best player.
Croatia and Argentina will clash on Tuesday night in the World Cup last four.
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Both nations defeated Brazil and the Netherlands, respectively, in the quarter-final stage.
Speaking to the press, Modric said: “Argentina is a big team, I don’t just want to play against one player. Of course, Leo Messi is very big, their best player, and we are going to have a lot of difficulties stopping him, but we are prepared and we are going to give it our all.
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Brazilian football legend, Ronaldo Nazario, has admitted he would be a “hypocrite” if he claimed he would like to see Lionel Messi win the World Cup with Argentina.
Last Friday, Brazil were sent home from the tournament in Qatar at the quarter-final stage by Croatia.
“But, you know, we have a great rivalry between Brazil and Argentina. But I will not be that much of a hypocrite to say I will be happy for Argentina because it’s not true,” Ronaldo said
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Argentina skipper Lionel Messi expressed his discontent with the Netherlands’ coach, Louis van Gaal, claiming he was not given the right amount of respect before the two countries’ dramatic quarterfinal match on Friday that granted La Albiceleste a triumph while dashing Oranje’s dreams of winning the World Cup.
Van Gaal, remembering the 2014 semifinal between the teams, said ahead of Friday’s game: “Eight years ago at the World Cup in Brazil, we succeeded well in neutralizing Messi. He didn’t hit a ball then.”
That comment may have been one of the issues that upset Messi, while Argentina were also fired up by suggestions the Netherlands fancied themselves if the game came down to a penalty shoot-out.
The 2014 match finished goalless, with Argentina triumphing on penalties before losing to Germany in the final, but this time the Netherlands supposedly liked their chances on spot-kicks.
As it happened, a roller coaster game at Lusail Stadium came down to a shoot-out, and Argentina cruised once again to book a semifinal against Croatia.
Messi was rankled by the Dutch approach in the game, which saw Argentina’s 2-0 lead reeled in after the Netherlands bombarded the Albiceleste penalty area with highballs in the closing stages.
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Quoted by ESPN, Messi said: “I feel disrespected by Van Gaal after his pre-game comments and some Dutch players spoke too much during the game.
“Van Gaal says that he plays good football and then he puts forward in the box and starts throwing long balls. We deserved to go through and that’s what happened.”
Reports have also claimed that when Messi approached Van Gaal and Dutch assistant coach Edgar Davids after the game, he was complaining the Netherlands boss had too much to say, and his hand gesturing suggested as much.
Van Gaal’s direct intentions were made clear when he brought on Wout Weghorst for Memphis Depay in the 78th minute, and the 169-centimeter-tall striker made a major impact against the Argentina defense.
He headed in to cut the deficit, then scored from a sublimely worked free-kick that deceived Argentina, with his equalizer in normal time coming after 100 minutes and 30 seconds, the latest World Cup knockout stage goal on record, since Opta has exact goal times (from 1966).
Weghorst became the first substitute to score twice in a World Cup match for the Netherlands, and he apparently departed with another souvenir: a tongue-lashing from Messi.
“What are you looking at, fool?” Messi said to somebody off-camera before a TV interview with TyC Sports. That bystander has been identified by the Argentina broadcaster as having been Weghorst.
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Now 35, Messi made his debut on Oct. 16, 2004, when he came on late for Barcelona in a match against crosstown rivals Espanyol.
He went on to play 778 matches for Barcelona until 2021 and now has 53 for his new club Paris Saint-Germain.
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His start in Al Rayyan gave the Argentina captain a 169th cap, highlighted by the Cpa America title last year as he is yet to win the World Cup.
Saturday’s game was his 23rd at the World Cup since his 2006 debut, level with Italy’s Paolo Maldini, one behind German Miroslav Klose and two behind the record 25 of German Lothar Matthäus.
Messi could improve the record to 26 games if he plays in every game and Argentina reach the semi-finals which means they will then also play for third place or for the title
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The ASUU president added that in order to adequately assess the extent of the harm caused by the crisis brought on by the country’s currency redesign, developmental economists would need…
Odds appear to be in the favor of Argentina to make it past Australia on Saturday in pursuit of La Albiceleste’s talisman Lionel Messi’s dream of sitting on the World Cup throne, but they more than anyone have learned not to underestimate an underdog, especially the valiant Socceroos.
Argentina suffered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history with their opening defeat to Saudi Arabia but recovered their poise to swagger past Mexico and Poland into the last 16.
Australia, ranked 35 places below Argentina, has already surpassed expectations in winning twice to earn their place at Qatar’s Ahmad bin Ali Stadium this weekend for one of the biggest games in their history.
Both teams have only two full days to rest, a factor Argentine manager Lionel Scaloni called “madness.”
“We’ve almost got no time to let it all sink in, enjoy it … it’s recovery, recovery, recovery,” concurred Australia’s assistant coach Rene Meulensteen.
“But one thing I can tell you, we will be ready.”
Overjoyed and exhausted after reaching the World Cup knockout stage for only the second time, Australia will have to play the game of their lives to overcome an Argentina side oozing talent from front to back.
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They will be relying on the same fitness, muscle and never-say-die attitude that saw off Tunisia and Denmark, epitomized by hulking defender Harry Souttar, who has played out of his skin despite only just returning from a lengthy layoff.
“They are tough. Anyone who thinks the match against Australia will be easy is wrong,” Argentina’s Scaloni said.
His side will again be roared on by an enormous following as Argentines show themselves to be easily the loudest and possibly the largest fan base in Qatar.
Argentine striker Angel Di Maria was taken off as a precaution in their last game against Poland but should be fit to play alongside Messi again, though Scaloni has plenty of options to throw against the Australians.
Reaching the quarterfinals would be a dreamland for Australia, but for Argentina, it is a bare minimum national expectation as they seek a third World Cup trophy.
Messi, on his fifth and final quest to win the World Cup and match his great predecessor Diego Maradona in the No. 10 shirt, is enjoying harmony with fans like never before and will be relishing the chance to delight them further against Australia.
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Nweke said: “Our attention has been drawn to two news items concocted from the imagination of mischievous individuals and published on AnchorNews and TrendOnline platforms.
Real Madrid’s France star Karim Benezema deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, according to seven-time laureate Lionel Messi.
Benzema was crucial in Madrid’s Champions League victory this season, culminating with a 1-0 win over Liverpool in Paris on Saturday.
Although he did not score in the final, Benzema’s back-to-back hat-tricks in the knock-out rounds, starting with a 17-minute treble against Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain to overturn a 2-0 aggregate deficit, were crucial to generating the momentum that swept the Spaniards to the title.
“There’s no doubt, it’s very clear that Benzema has had a spectacular year and has ended it by winning the Champions League,” Messi told Argentine channel TyC Sports.
“He was crucial from the last-16 onwards in every match and I think there’s no doubt” that Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d’Or.
Messi was speaking a couple of days ahead of a friendly with Italy at Wembley stadium between two continental champions.
The match between the South American Copa America holders and the European champions, where many Argentines trace their roots, is known as the “Finalissima”.
But while Argentina stormed to qualification for the Qatar World Cup later this year with several games to spare, Italy astonishingly missed out after losing to minnows North Macedonia in a play-off.
“What happened with Italy is crazy, having won the Euros and not being at the World Cup, given Italy’s history at the World Cup,” he said.
“If Italy had been at the World Cup they would have been one of the favorites. They were unlucky. No one would have wanted to play them.”
Having spent his entire career at Barcelona, the 34-year-old moved to PSG a year ago where he has struggled to reproduce his best form.
He admitted it had been “a difficult change” and that the first day he took his children to school in Paris he left “crying”.
Having caught Covid-19 at the end of 2021, Messi is convinced the virus has left “scars” in his lungs while he also admitted the Champions League capitulation against Real was “a tough blow”.
Former Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Fernández, has told current boss, Mauricio Pochettino, the best position to play Lionel Messi, insisting that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is not tired.
Messi has struggled for form since joining PSG from Barcelona last summer.
The Argentine captain has scored just seven goals in 22 games across competitions for Pochettino’s men.
His performances have drawn criticism from the French media.
However, Fernández believes Messi has performed admirably since joining the Ligue 1 giants, adding that Pochettino should play the 34-year-old in the middle, behind a striker in PSG’s squad in order to get the best out of him.
Speaking to beIN Sports, Fernández said, “I saw him [Messi] play at Barca. There was the speed with pass controls, and it went on. At PSG, he carries the ball ten times. How do you want to play with it or highlight it? When Neymar came back, he broke lines with his speed. Leave Messi alone. Until the end of the match against Real, he made good passes when we are told he is tired.”
He added, “This guy is not tired. I hear comments about it (…) He played a very good game. With PSG, he has ambition, even if it was hard at first. He has the Champions League in mind, and everyone wants to bring him. You have to put him in the middle behind the attackers. Do not ask him to go right, left, or let the guys not carry the ball and give it to him quickly.”
Despite his own insistence that no decision on his future would be made before the end of the 2020/21 season, Lionel Messi’s continuity at the Camp Nou remains in doubt, although Manchester City have moved to publicly deny reports they have made an offer to the forward.
Messi’s contract with Barcelona is due to expire in June, which means as per the Bosman transfer rules, he has been legally allowed to talk to non-domestic clubs since the turn of the year.
Whether or not this has happened remains unclear, and you would have to say it’s doubtful given Messi’s insistence that his focus was only on the remainder of the season.
With that being said, The Sun posted a story which suggested that Manchester City had made Messi an offer to sign with the club in the summer, however a spokesperson for the Manchester club has told MARCA that this isn’t true.
The information MARCA received was that Manchester City haven’t made an offer for Messi either last summer or within the final six months of his current contract.
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Paris Saint-Germain’s infinitely comfortable 4-1 victory over a poor Barcelona team on Tuesday all but confirmed Messi will not win the Champions League this term either, and this could well propel him closer to the exit door.
If this is indeed the case, you can see why Manchester City are eager to not be seen doing anything which could potentially damage their relationship with the Argentine’s camp, especially when they are likely to make their move in the summer.
Messi said during an interview in December that he would not be deciding his future until June and will not engage in talks with any clubs until that decision is made
Manchester City have ‘emphatically’ denied making any offer to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, or even opening talks with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner amid claims that they have presented him with a contract worth a total of £430m.
Messi is out of contract at Barcelona at the end of the season. He is yet to make his mind up about his future and it would not be a surprise to see him leave Camp Nou as a free agent.
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The 33-year-old wanted to quit the club last summer, only for Barça to block his attempts to trigger a clause in his contract what would have allowed him to leave a year early.
With his only option then to take the club to court, he chose to back down instead of force the issue.
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There are very few viable options for Messi outside Barcelona, but City have been most heavily linked alongside Paris Saint-Germain. Joining City would mean reuniting with mentor Pep Guardiola, while the sky blues have spent the last 10 years building their own version of Barcelona off the pitch.
Man City are alleged to have offered Lionel Messi a long-term contract | David Ramos/Getty Images
PSG haven’t hidden their admiration for Messi and magazine France Football even mocked up an image of him wearing PSG colours for a recent cover spread.
But a tabloid story this week that City have put forward an offer is thought to be wide of the mark.
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A report from The Sun alleged that City had presented Messi with a five-year contract worth £430m, including three further years of ambassadorial roles with the City Football Group. It is claimed that deal is down on a £600m contract Messi was supposedly offered last summer.
However, NoRM cites a City spokesperson who says there is no truth in the story: “There have been no offers made, either in the summer or since. And there are no talks.”
That version of events also ties into what has previously been reported on the developing saga.
Earlier this month it was revealed that City are taking the opposite approach to PSG and are being much more patient and distant than the noisy French champions.
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City have been tipped to delay making any sort of approach until at least or April, which could command greater respect from Messi himself, with the player said to hate the media circus that surrounds his uncertain future and that PSG are helping to fuel.
Messi said during an interview in December that he would not be deciding his future until June and will not engage in talks with any clubs until that decision is made, even though he is now already eligible to do so with a view to signing a pre-contract agreement.
Players can talk and can say what they want. They do so from feelings, just as Real Madrid and Barcelona players do. ..
Mauricio Pochettino has insisted PSG have shown no lack of respect by talking about their desire to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer.
Messi handed in a transfer request in the summer of 2020 following Barcelona’s chaotic season on and off the pitch. His lofty release clause meant he was unable to force an exit, but the Argentinian’s contract expires in June 2021, enabling him to leave the club for nothing.
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PSG are considered one of the few clubs in world football who possess the financial muscle to land the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, and both players and members of the club’s hierarchy have discussed the possibility of signing Messi in recent weeks. This has been criticised by Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman and presidential candidate Joan Laporta.
PSG have not lacked respect by speaking about Messi according to Pochettino | Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Pochettino himself has always remained diplomatic regarding the rumours, and insists no harm was meant by his colleague’s comments.
“When a player speaks, he is talking out of affection, excitement and friendship,” the PSG boss said. “There’s no controversial issue that has been generated by the club. At no time has there been a lack of respect or gone against a situation that is not the correct one.
“Players can talk and can say what they want. They do so from feelings, just as Real Madrid and Barcelona players do. They can talk about teammates that are at other clubs.”
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PSG sporting director Leonardo began stoking the flames in January when he stated that players like Messi ‘will always be on PSG’s list’. Laporta – who has had the future of Messi front and centre of his presidential campaign – hit back with a dig at PSG’s financial fair play record.
Messi’s international teammate Angel Di Maria admitted that he ‘hopes’ the diminutive forward signs for PSG – comments that Koeman criticised for having a ‘lack of respect’.
Koeman did express his delight with his team’s performance on the night after Barca came back from two goals down in normal time and then scored three goals in extra time.
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has hit out at Angel Di Maria over the PSG forward’s comments suggesting Lionel Messi could join him in Paris next season.
Messi’s contract at Camp Nou expires at the end of the season and PSG have been mentioned as a possible destination, in part because they are one of only a handful of clubs that could afford the Argentine star’s massive wages.
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PSG’s sporting director Leonardo has opened the door to a move, telling France Football last month: “Great players like Messi will always be on PSG’s list. But this is of course not the time to talk about it, or to dream about it.”
Di Maria echoed his sporting director’s comments on Wednesday after his side’s 3-0 win over Nimes.
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“Yes, yes, I hope so,” Di Maria told Canal Plus of a possible PSG move for his international team-mate. “There are many possibilities. We have to be calm and things will develop.”
Koeman got word of those comments and speaking after Barcelona defeated Granada 5-3 in an extra-time thriller in the Copa del Rey, the Dutch manager accused Di Maria of being disrespectful.
“It seems to me a lack of respect. Someone can be wrong in saying something like that,” Koeman said.
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“It is not fair, I do not think it is respectful towards Barca to speak like that of a player who is ours. So many people from PSG talk a lot about Leo, who plays for Barca.
“Besides, we have a tie against them,” Koeman added, referring to the teams’ upcoming Champions League last-16 matchup.
Koeman did express his delight with his team’s performance on the night after Barca came back from two goals down in normal time and then scored three goals in extra time.
“It’s incredible,” Koeman added. “The football is incredible. I think we’ve done well. We had chances to win the game earlier.
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“The team has been huge. In the last five minutes of the second half, we scored two goals. Then extra time was incredible
“The first thing that stands out about the team is their mentality. We never stop trying.”
Barcelona will take legal action against the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it published details on Sunday of Lionel Messi’s current contract, which it says is worth up to 555 million euros ($674 million) over four years.
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Barca responded by also insisting they were not responsible for the leak, although the club did not deny the details of the report.
El Mundo say the deal signed by Messi in 2017 is the “largest in the history of sport” and called it the “colossal contract that ruins Barcelona”.
The 33-year-old could end up collecting a maximum of 555,237,619 euros before it expires on June 30 this year, if all conditions were met.
With six months left of the deal to run, “the player has already earned 511,290,052 euros, almost 92 per cent of the possible total”, the report claims.
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The leak comes as Barcelona are wrestling with a dire financial situation, worsened by the pandemic, and with Messi’s future still up in the air, given the striker can leave the club for free this summer.
“In view of the information published today in the newspaper El Mundo, in relation to the professional contract signed between FC Barcelona and the player Lionel Messi, the club regrets its publication given that it is a private document governed by the principle of confidentiality between the parties,” said Barcelona in a statement.
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– ‘Absolute support’ –
“FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.
Sky-high price: Lionel Messi’s salary is in the spotlight J. Bassa AFP/File
“FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the club where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history.”
According to the report, Messi earned 115 million euros just for signing the contract in 2017 and among his potential bonuses is a 3,548,644-euro reward for winning the Champions League and 2,365,766 euros for winning La Liga, El Mundo claims.
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His club contract dwarfs those of the other top earners in global sport.
Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, last year signed the biggest contract in North American sport, worth a minimum of 450 million dollars, but it is 10 years long.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Juventus is worth a reported 30 million euros a year, but bonuses may have taken it up to 70 million euros last season. Ronaldo also earns more from endorsements than Messi.
Messi is set to decide in the coming months whether he wants to stay at Barcelona or leave the club he joined as a 13-year-old and where he has become arguably the greatest player of all time.
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Frustrated with Barca’s decline in recent years, the Argentinian also feels unfairly blamed for worsening performances on the pitch.
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to sign Messi if he chooses to leave.
News of Messi’s contract comes just days after the club revealed their 2019/20 financial report, which showed Barcelona are facing gross debts of £1bn.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s current contract will see him earn £492m by the time it expires next summer, making it the biggest deal in the history of sports.
Messi became the highest-paid footballer in the world when he penned the four-year deal with Barça back in November 2017, with club officials more than happy to pay up to prevent him from walking away for free in 2018.
Rumours in the infamous Football Leaks drama in 2018 shed some light on just how much Messi would earn from that contract, but El Mundo now claim to have a copy of the paperwork which reveals the true extent of Messi’s earnings.
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It’s stated that Messi is guaranteed to take home £122m each season, but that’s not even the craziest part. There was a £102m bonus handed to the Argentine simply for signing the contract, on top of a £69m loyalty bonus he gets every season for staying at the club.
The deal also includes bonuses like more than £520,000 for winning FIFA’s The Best award, something he did in 2015 when it was known as World Player of the Year, and £3.1m if Barcelona reach the Champions League final.
With a total value of £492m, Messi’s contract is now understood to be the biggest in the history of sports, beating the £402m ten-year deal inked by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and boxer Canelo Alvarez’s £292m five-fight deal with DAZN.
It’s prompted claims that Messi has ‘ruined’ Barcelona – something El Mundo go along with in their headline – but presidential candidate Victor Font has hit back at the idea that Messi has run the club into the ground.
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“Leo Messi has earned every euro paid to him by Barca,” Font wrote on Twitter. “He has not ruined us. On the contrary. He is the best player in history and we want him to stay with us forever more.”
Instead, others have pointed to the combined £384.5m which was spent to sign Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann, none of whom have really justified their lofty price tags at Camp Nou.
Spanish Football Federation Competition Committee deemed a two-game suspension sufficient – but Barcelona have announced their intention to appeal and this has been supported by Koeman.
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has backed the club’s decision to appeal Lionel Messi’s suspension following the Argentinian’s red card against Athletic Club in the Supercopa de Espana final.
With Barcelona trailing 3-2 in injury time, Messi’s run was blocked off by Asier Villalibre and the forward responded by striking the Athletic Club striker round the back of the head.
The incident was not initially seen, but after the referee consulted the VAR monitor, Messi was shown a straight red card – the first of his club career.
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Despite reports suggesting the six-time Ballon d’Or winner could be slapped with up to a 12-game ban, the Spanish Football Federation Competition Committee deemed a two-game suspension sufficient – but Barcelona have announced their intention to appeal and this has been supported by Koeman.
“The club has told me that they do not agree on it and we will see,” said the Barcelona manager (via Blaugranagram.) “There are things that can be defended and it is a matter for the club, hopefully they will reduce the sanction, otherwise we will play two games without Messi.
“He has trained without problems this morning and it means that he has recovered well from the last game and will be good to play when he has to play after his suspension.”
With his two game suspension, Messi is currently poised to miss Barcelona’s Copa del Rey last 32 tie against Segunda B outfit Cornella on Thursday evening, followed by Sunday’s La Liga clash with struggling Elche.
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He would then be in contention to return the following Sunday for Barcelona’s league meeting with Athletic Club – the side against whom he initially incurred his suspension.
Barcelona currently sit third in La Liga – seven points behind leaders Atletico Madrid – after another turbulent season on and off the pitch.
Messi was well off the pace and allowed his frustrations to boil over in stoppage time, striking Asier Villalibre and being shown the first red card of his club career after VAR intervened, but Koeman insisted that it was the 33-year-old’s decision to play.
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has defended his decision to play Lionel Messi in Sunday’s Spanish Supercopa final defeat to Athletic Club, in which Messi picked up the first red card of his club career.
The Argentine had been a doubt for the game after missing the semi-final with a hamstring injury, but he was surprisingly named in the starting lineup and played the entire 120 minutes, putting in a performance which looked like that of a player who wasn’t fully fit.
“After so many years, he knows when he is fit to play and when he is not,” Koeman said (via Marca). “He has decided to play, nothing more. He was fine.
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“I understand what happened. I don’t know how many fouls he has made. The player tries to dribble and cannot. Can I excuse him? I have to see the play first.”
Koeman also declined to give his opinion on the performance of referee Gil Manzano, adding: “I’d better not speak. It would be repeating things and I don’t like it. I’m not going to give an opinion.”
Ronald Koeman defends Lionel Messi’s appearance despite historic career red card. (Noble Reporters Media, Olamide)
Fortunately for Barcelona, Manzano did not describe Messi’s foul as ‘aggressive’ in his match report, instead stating the Argentine used ‘excessive force’, a charge which brings about a lighter punishment.
It’s expected that Messi will now miss just two matches – the Copa del Rey third round against Cornella and the league meeting with Elche – whereas he could have been sidelined for anywhere up to 12 games if it was deemed as aggressive.
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That decision will likely frustrate Villalibre, who claimed after the game that it was clear Messi set out to physically hurt him.
“I put my body in his way to stop him from going forward, he has got angry, he has put his hand in my face and I think it was a clear show of aggression,” the Athletic forward said.
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