Tag: Lionel Messi

  • Lionel Messi out of Argentina World Cup qualifiers squad

    Lionel Messi out of Argentina World Cup qualifiers squad

    Lionel Messi is out of Argentina’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia after sustaining ankle injury.

    He has yet to play for Inter Miami since their victory over Colombia in the Copa America final. Coach Lionel Scaloni has recalled Roma forward Dybala, but he has not made an international appearance since March 2023.

    Argentina is at the top of South America, qualifying for the 2026 tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The top six teams out of 10 will be eligible for the finals.

    Argentina’s Squad

    Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Walter Benitez, Juan Musso

    Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Valentin Barco, Leonardo Balerdi, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella

    Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez, Rodrigo De Paul, Ezequiel Fernandez, Enzo Fernandez, Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister

    Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolas Gonzalez, , Giuliano Simeone, Valentin Castellanos, Matias Soule, Paulo Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Valentin Carboni, Julian Alvarez

  • David Beckham ends GOAT debate, calling Lionel Messi greatest football player

    David Beckham ends GOAT debate, calling Lionel Messi greatest football player

    Manchester United legend David Beckham has ended the debate of GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) among fans, calling Lionel Messi the greatest player.

    In a talk show with Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday, Beckham talked about how he always wanted to sign Messi and bring him to the United States to inspire the younger generation.

    David said, “It’s just that effect that Leo has on the game and the world. One of the reasons we wanted to bring him to America was to inspire the next generation. That was my plan.”

    Beckham added, “I have played against him twice, but I’ve been a fan of him and watched him for many years. And I always had the plan to bring the greatest player to ever play the game, in my opinion, to our team. Luckily, it happened.”

    He said, “I think everyone’s got their own opinion. There are a lot of great players who have played the game over the years, but in my opinion, he is the perfect player.”

    Messi is currently signed with the Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, co-owned by Beckham.

    There is always a debate among fans of Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi as to who is the GOAT.

  • Lionel Messi wins FIFA Player of the Year award for record third time

    Lionel Messi wins FIFA Player of the Year award for record third time

    Argentina’s star footballer Lionel Messi has won the 2023 FIFA Player of the Year award for a record third time.

    The FIFA Awards ceremony was held in London on Monday, in which the best players of the year were honored with awards.

    In the Men’s Footballer of the Year category, tough competition between France’s Mbappe, Norway’s Erling Holland and Lionel Messi ended with the Argentinian beating his rivals.

    Messi previously won the Men’s FIFA Player of the Year award in 2019 and 2022.

    Portugal’s Ronaldo has also won the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award twice.

    However, Messi has now won the award for the third time, surpassing Ronaldo to become the player who has won the award the most times.

  • Messi’s shirts fetch $7.8 million at auction

    Messi’s shirts fetch $7.8 million at auction

    Six shirts worn by Argentina megastar Lionel Messi during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have sold for $7.8 million at auction.

    The auction house told AFP on Thursday “A total of three bids were made for the rare collection, Lionel Messi’s light blue and white striped Argentina jersey worn in a historic 2022 FIFA World Cup match.”

    The auction house stated that the hefty price broke the record for any item associated with the world-famous Argentine star, making it the most valuable sports item sold at auction so far this year.

    On December 18, 2022, Messi led his team to a 4-2 victory on penalties while playing against France at the 80,000-capacity Lucille Stadium in Qatar.

    Sotheby’s head of modern collections Wachter said, “The 2022 FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest events in sporting history, connecting with Messi’s incredible journey and cementing his status as one of the greatest players of all time,”

    “It is an honor for Sodeby to present and showcase this invaluable collection to the public.”

    “These historic shirts are a tangible reminder of one of the most important moments in sports history and fundamentally about one of the most honored, most important moments in a football player’s career,” he said.

    Earlier this month, Messi was selected as Time magazine’s “Athlete of the Year” for 2023.

  • Lionel Messi will auction jerseys worn in World Cup 2022

    Lionel Messi will auction jerseys worn in World Cup 2022

    Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi has announced that the jerseys he wore in the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be auctioned.

    Messi took to Instagram to say, “These 6 jerseys, including the one I wore in the World Cup final.”Bids for the auction can be submitted online from November 30 to December 14.

    According to reports, Messi’s jerseys can fetch over $10 million, making it one of the most expensive auctions in the history of the game. Messi announced that a portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Children’s Hospital in Barcelona.

    It should be noted that the record for the most expensive jersey auction of any sportsman is held by former American basketball player Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan’s jersey, worn in the 1998 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, was auctioned for $10.1 million last year.

    The most expensive footballer’s jersey record is held by the late Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, whose jersey worn in the World Cup quarter-final against England in 1986 was auctioned for $9.3 million last year.

    Argentina won the World Cup under Messi for the third time after defeating France in the final of the 2022 tournament.

  • Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or for eighth time

    Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or for eighth time

    Lionel Messi, the world-famous football striker from Argentina, has won the Ballon d’Or award for the eighth time. Messi was named the best player of the year 2023 in a ceremony held in Paris.

    In addition, Messi’s Argentina team-mate Emiliano Martinez won the Yashan Trophy for best goalkeeper, while England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was awarded the Copa Award.

    Lionel Messi had a significant role in Argentina winning the World Cup 2022 for the third time after 36 years. Messi scored seven goals and assisted in three goals in the World Cup, while he scored 21 goals in 41 matches last season.

    In addition, Messi also played a key role in American football club Inter Miami winning the League Cup for the first time this year, he also scored 11 goals in 14 matches in the Major League.

    Messi has won the ‘Ballon d’Or award a record eight times, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.

    Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award five times, including 2017. Last year, the Ballon d’Or award went to French footballer Karim Benzema.

    It should be noted that the Ballon d’Or award is given by France Football to the best footballer of the year, while 100 journalists from around the world vote for the winner.

  • Are Aima Baig and Shahbaz Shigri back together?

    Are Aima Baig and Shahbaz Shigri back together?

    Star-singer Aima Baig took to her Instagram stories to announce that she has called off her engagement with Shahbaz Shigri in September last year. 

    The Balma Baghora crooner shared a lighthearted note on her Instagram story confirming her break-up with long-term boyfriend turned fiancé’ Shigri.

    The Chan Ve diva wrote: “Yes, I will always respect this person for giving me a good time. Sometimes, shit happens and happens for a reason. And to answer all your questions, yes we have parted ways. but we both are doing good and fine so don’t worry.”

    “I wanted to do it in the most respectful way and so I did. People can choose their ways of expressing their feelings, which defines who they are from the inside.”

    “That’s me, telling the truth to anyone wondering if are they or are not together. And the answer is Nope, I and Shahbaz are not together anymore. P.S no more “feeling sorry texts” please! We are doing just fine. Music is life, let’s see where it takes us”, she added.

    Aima Baig and Shahbaz Shigri were in a relationship since 2019. They announced their engagement in July 2021.  After their split, the duo unfollowed each other on social media.

    Latest Update

    Seems like the new year has brought a change in the ex-couple’s equation as they followed each other again on Instagram. This digital move of Shigri and Baig has made their fans extremely happy.

    Recently, the Sajna Door star indulged in a Q&A session on her official Instagram handle. She opened up about her colleagues and revealed her favourites.

  • The significance behind the black cape Lionel Messi wore at the FIFA world cup ceremony

    The significance behind the black cape Lionel Messi wore at the FIFA world cup ceremony

    The most significant part of the FIFA world cup ceremony was when Messi had been invited to the stage to receive the trophy, the King of Qatar had given him a black cape to wear before he lifted up the world cup to celebrate with his team members.

    Since yesterday social media users, mostly people in the West, were mostly expressing disappointment about Messi’s pictures being ruined by a black cape and even saying that it had ruined a significant moment for the football player. Many Arab critics and journalists were quick to highlight the racism in the media coverage of the West, and its overt disregard for Eastern culture and tradition.

    As Eastern journalists and critics had shared, every time the FIFA world cup would take place in different countries, the winner would be crowned according to the traditions of the host. For instance in 2004 when the Olympics were hosted in Athens, the winners were crowned with an olive wreathe. But the negative coverage over Messi wearing the bisht is proof of how racism in the Western media will remain an unresolved issue

    The black cape that Messi had worn on the final ceremony is called the bisht and historically, it holds a lot of significance within Arabic culture. The bisht is worn by Arabian warriors after a victory. At the ceremony, when the King of Qatar had given Messi the cloak, it was giving someone the highest form of respect and signified him as the King of Football.

  • Lionel Messi’s World Cup win Instagram post crosses 45 million likes

    Lionel Messi’s World Cup win Instagram post crosses 45 million likes

    Lionel Messi finally received the World Cup trophy in what he declared to be his final game, regardless of the win.

    While the match appeared to be a straightforward victory for Argentina over a fatigued France team for much of the final, Kylian Mbappé’s extraordinary brace at the start of the final 10 minutes of regulation time transformed the game into a nail-biting thriller that has been hailed as one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time.

    Messi himself scored twice, including a goal late in extra time that appeared to finally give Argentina the victory. But Mbappé scored from a penalty spot seconds later to seal his hat-trick and trigger a penalty shoot after the game finished 3-3. Argentina ultimately won the penalty shootout 4-2 thanks to goals from Messi and Mbappé, who are also Paris St. Germain colleagues on the club level.

    He next shared pictures of himself rejoicing with the trophy along with a heartfelt Instagram post in which he congratulated his teammates, family, and Argentina’s supporters.

    Although it could be his last World Cup game, he still plans to play for Argentina. “WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!! I dreamed it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still haven’t fallen, I can’t believe it,” Messi said in Spanish.

    “Thank you very much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We demonstrate once again that Argentines when we fight together and united we are capable of achieving what we set out to do. The merit belongs to this group, which is above individualities, it is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the dream of all Argentines… We did it!!! GO ARGENTINA!!!!! we are seeing each other very soon,” Messi wrote in his latest Instagram post.

    The latest post currently has more than 45 million likes, making it the most popular Instagram post from a sportsperson.

    A post featuring Messi also held the previous record, but it was posted by his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The picture appeared to show Ronaldo and Messi engaged in a game of chess.

  • Lionel Messi determined to win football’s greatest prize as Argentina reaches the World Cup final

    Lionel Messi determined to win football’s greatest prize as Argentina reaches the World Cup final

    Lionel Messi’s lifelong dream of leading Argentina to World Cup will remain alive until the last day of Qatar 2022, as the South American powerhouse outclassed a weary-looking Croatia in a 3-0 victory in Tuesday’s semifinal.

    Argentina has made its eighth appearance in a World Cup semifinal (defeating the USA in 1930, Belgium in 1986, Italy in 1990, and the Netherlands in 2014). It has additionally made the final six times. The last time Argentina won the World Cup was in 1986.

    According to CNN, Argentina and Croatia both played conservatively at the beginning of the game in an effort to avoid making a mistake. But after a half-hour, Argentina took charge and never looked back.

    When Julián Álvarez and Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković faced off in the 32nd minute, Livaković knocked Álvarez down, earning a penalty kick. Then Lionel Messi, a star for Argentina, took the initiative and did what he seemingly usually does. He struck the ball high and to the right with calm and composure, giving his team a 1-0 lead.

    Álvarez had not finished. He led a counterattack in the 39th minute and dribbled all the way from midfield, racing through three Croatian defenders before lofting the ball past Livakovi to put Argentina ahead 2-0 at the break.

    In goal, Livaković excelled during the competition. However, a relentless Argentina onslaught and a few defensive mistakes by Croatia proved to be too much.

    Against Croatia, Messi and Álvarez had one more brilliant moment as a team. Messi displayed incredible ball control in the 69th minute against Croatian goalkeeper Joko Gvardiol on the right side of the net. Then Messi connected with Álvarez, who scored to make it 3-0. Only two of Croatia’s twelve shots on goal were successful.

    Only one of their previous 41 international games had Argentina lost, coming into this encounter (28 wins, 12 draws). Croatia, who finished second in the 2018 tournament, had only dropped one of their previous 12 World Cup games.

    Messi moved slightly ahead of Kylian Mbappé of France (five goals and two assists) for the lead in the Golden Boot competition with his fifth goal of the tournament (and third assist). In the championship game, Messi plans to smash another record. In terms of overall FIFA appearances, he now has 25 World Cup games under his belt and is tied with Lothar Matthäus.

    On Sunday, Argentina will take on the winner of the semifinal match between France and Morocco on Wednesday. The World Cup competition for Croatia is still ongoing. It will compete against the loser of tomorrow’s semifinal in the third-place game on Saturday.