Sports Buzz

Tag: Lionel Messi – English

  • Erling Haaland has more league goals than 2012 Lionel Messi after 16 fixtures

    Erling Haaland has more league goals than 2012 Lionel Messi after 16 fixtures

    Nobody is saying Erling Haaland will get to score more than 91 goals in a full year, what Leo Messi did back in 2012 is almost impossible to replicate. However, the Norwegian striker is keeping an even better pace than Leo did after 16 league games. The Manchester City striker returned to activity after missing the FIFA World Cup with a certain level of anger, he wants to prove himself as the best goal scorer in the world right now. On Saturday, the last game of 2022 for the Citizens got Haaland to score once more and reach his 21st goal of the Premier League season. His side didn’t get to win but Haaland is almost certain he will score, for as long as he remains healthy.

    Comparing Messi’s first 16 games vs Haaland’s first 16 games

    In terms of goal scoring, the 2011-12 Leo Messi did play the first 16 La Liga games of the season for FC Barcelona. He scored an incredible 17 goals in that time. Haaland played one less game after 16 Premier League fixtures for Manchester City and reached 21 goals already. He he keeps this same rhythm, there is a good chance he may be able to acore 50 goals after 38 games. Perhaps scoring those 91 goals is not as easy as it looks but Erling Haaland is the one player who can reach those wild numbers.

    Remember how he presented himself to the world, back in 2019 when he scored 9 goals in a single match against Honduras. His U20 World Cup Norway side won that game 12-0 against the Concacaf team in Poland. Haaland hit the ground running from that moment forward, he’s been a non-stop goal-scoring machine everywhere he’s played. At this point, Manchester City has a tough chance to reach Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners just won another three points after winning away against Brighton, which led them to a 7-point lead over City.

    Haaland‘s goals are one of the few hopes Pep Guardiola’s side has to shorten that point difference, especially at this pace. Both he and Kylian Mbapp are currently the most prolific goal-scorers in the world, they combined for 101 goals in 2022. Ten years ago, Messi alone scored those 91 goals, only 10 goals less than these two finished the year with. In order to reach those types of numbers, Haaland will need to bag quite a few hat-tricks in all competitions. But as far as the league is concerned, Erling is outpacing 2012’s Leo Messi. Can he pull it off?



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  • Lionel Messi posts emotional New Year tribute to his family and all his supporters

    Lionel Messi posts emotional New Year tribute to his family and all his supporters

    For over 15 years, Lionel Messi started his World Cup journey in that Argentina game against Serbia where he even scored a goal. Since then, he never stopped believing he could conquer the most desired trophy by any footballer. Now tht he finally got it, Leo has been partying for two straight weeks. He is set to report with PSG on Monday but he wanted to send out a New Year’s message to everybody.

    Messi thanks his family before enybody

    Leo posted a beautiful picture where he appears with his wife Antonella and his three sons. Thiago, Mateo and Siro are the ones who give him the strength he needs to continue fighting. This is what he wrote on Instagram: “A year I will never forget comes to an end. The dream I always pursued was finally fulfilled. But that wouldn’t be worth anything if I couldn’t share it with a wonderful family, the best family anybody can have. And friends who always support me and never let me stay down every time I fell.

    “I also want to keep a very special memory to everybody who follow and support me, being able to share this journey with you is incredible. Getting to where I am today would be impossible without all that support from people from my country, Paris, Barcelona and so many cities from mamy countries from where I receive all that love. I hope this year has also been wonderful for everybody and I wish all the health and strength to continue being happy in 2023. A massive hug for everybody!”

    Don’t count Messi out just yet

    Even though he already stated that he probably won’t be active for the 2026 World Cup, Leo Messi still dominated the biggest stage at the age of 35. Cristiano Ronaldo might’ve thrown the towel but Messi seems like he is only getting started. The next coupe of years will get us to experience the twilight of his career without that added pressure of not having won a World Cup yet. He will only enjoy himself and likely deliver more memorable nights. Stay tuned for what he does in 2023.



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  • Is Lionel Messi the best player in the history of soccer?

    Is Lionel Messi the best player in the history of soccer?

    Lionel Messi is just one win away from cementing his status as one of the greatest-ever players to grace the game of football. The Argentine forward’s performances at the 2022 World Cup have been superb so far, with Messi almost single-handedly dragging Argentina to final.

    While Argentina will have its work cut out, France is looking to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup, Messi will be hoping he can banish the demons from 2014 and achieve what has alluded him so far in his career.

    However, assuming Messi does lift the World Cup in a few days’ time, is the Argentinian football’s greatest ever player? Here is a list of football’s greatest legends and what they have achieved.

    1. Lionel Messi

    If Messi can claim the World Cup he would at least move ahead of his contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of accolades. The Argentine has played over 1,000 games and has 11 goals in 25 World Cup games.

    2. Diego Maradona

    While Messi has achieved more success at the club level, Diego Maradona has achieved the holy grail of winning the World Cup in 1986. However, Messi does have the better overall stats with Maradona scoring 345 goals in 678 games including eight goals in 21 World Cup matches.

    3. Pele

    Pele remains the World Cup’s greatest-ever talent with the Brazilian winning three out of the four tournaments he played in. Pele‘s goal stats can also rival Messi‘s with the Brazilian forward scoring 753 goals in 813 games including 12 goals in 14 games at the World Cup.

    4. Johan Cruyff

    While Johan Cruyff doesn’t have a World Cup to his name the Dutchman revolutionized football with the Dutch team’s “Total Football” approach in 1974. The Dutchman’s philosophy set the foundation for the likes of Pep Guardiola to build on with his contributions to the game still evident today.

    Cruyff‘s best finish at the World Cup was a runner-up spot in 1974 with the Dutchman scoring a total of 424 goals in 754 games including three goals in seven World Cup games.

    5. Alfredo Di Stefano

    Alfredo Di Stefano is one of Real Madrid‘s greatest-ever stars with the striker scoring 468 goals in 643 games at club level. His performances helped Real Madrid win five European Cups with the club’s foundation for success in the Champions League being set during that time.

    However, Di Stefano wasn’t as successful at the national level only winning the Copa America with Argentina in 1947 and nothing with Spain. Di Stefano also never played at a World Cup.

    6. Cristiano Ronaldo

    Any comparison of Messi would be incomplete without Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward has tried to match Messi blow for blow in terms of statistics scoring a total of 820 goals in 1,143 games, with Ronaldo scoring eight goals in 22 World Cup appearances. Ronaldo also has five Champions Leagues titles to Messi‘s four. Messi outperforms Cristiano in almost every other significant statistic.

    Determining who is the greatest player of all time is a tricky and ultimately futile task. Football today is not representative in any way of football from 50 years ago and with the game shifting towards a more attack-minded approach it wouldn’t come as a shock to see further goal records being smashed by future generations.



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  • Messi equals Mbappe as World Cup top scorer… and has scored in round of 16, quarter-finals and semis

    Messi equals Mbappe as World Cup top scorer… and has scored in round of 16, quarter-finals and semis

    Lionel Messicontinues his quest for the perfect World Cup with Argentina as the Albiceleste captain added his fifth goal at Qatar 2022 by masterfully converting a penalty against Croatia after Livakovic brought down Julian Alvarez.

    He is, along with Kylian Mbappe, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals to match his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate.

    In addition, the number ’10’ has managed to score in the round of 16 (against Australia), in the quarterfinals (penalty against the Netherlands) and also in the semifinals.

    Previously, he had scored against Saudi Arabia (from the penalty spot) and against Mexico. The only game he did not score in was against Poland, against whom he missed a penalty.

    Aiming for the trophy

    Messi is in a position to win his first World Cup with Argentina and to win the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the tournament.

    Such a feat would be a hat-trick that would be historic and would put the finishing touch to his career as a footballer.

    With his goal against Croatia, Lionel Messi is also the Argentine player with the most goals in the history of the World Cup after overtaking Gabriel Batistuta to reach a total of 11 goals in five World Cups.



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  • Mbappe-Messi: The World Cup in Qatar is spelt with M

    Mbappe-Messi: The World Cup in Qatar is spelt with M

    Nasser al Khelaifi has achieved one of his goals at the World Cup in Qatar, which is being held in his country.

    “I’m going with my national team and then with my players, I hope they will be the best,” he told MARCA.

    Then in L’Equipe days later, the PSG president took the same line before discussing the future of both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

    “This year is the World Cup. After that, we’ll talk,” he added.

    The fact is that every time Messi appears, Mbappe responds afterwards.

    If Leo was the best player in his match against Australia to get Argentina through to the quarter-finals, scoring another goal that takes him to nine in the World Cups and three in Qatar, then Kylian appeared to score another brace, the second after the one against Denmark.

    He has now scored five in Qatar, which puts him at the top of the Golden Boot chart. Both are undisputed leaders for their respective national teams with the number 10 shirt on their backs and both could only meet in a hypothetical final.

    Mbappe is determined to make his assault on the World Cup throne right now despite Messi’s resistance. His numbers, it is true, are frightening because the World Cup looks like his competition.

    Only Pele was younger than him in reaching seven goals, after the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, but Kylian, without having turned 24, has already scored nine, surpassing Diego Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    He was a World Champion at the age of 19, he was the second youngest player to win the World Cup and to score in a World Cup final after the former Brazil No.10, his great idol. In less than two World Cups, he already rubs shoulders with players like Messi and Cristiano, who have needed five World Cups to reach the same goalscoring stats.

    “This World Cup is my obsession, it’s my dream competition. I’ve built my whole season around this competition,” Mbappe declared in his post-match press conference on Sunday.

    “I’ve prepared myself to the maximum both physically and mentally to win it, which is the goal I’ve set myself, although it’s still a long way off. The only goal is to win the World Cup, the rest is secondary.”

    Messi and his unfinished business

    If France are entrusting themselves to Mbappe, even more so Argentina are entrusting themselves to Messi.

    The Albiceleste know that everything depends on the PSG striker to dream of a World Cup that they have not lifted since Maradona did it in Mexico 86.

    With the former Barcelona star at the helm of the national team, they returned to play in the final at Maracana in 2014, but lost to Germany (1-0).

    Now, despite the unexpected defeat to Saudi Arabia, a whole country believes again that the dream is possible thanks to Leo.

    Messi is experiencing a very special World Cup, probably because it is his last.

    “For me, the experience makes me see it in a different way and I really enjoy everything we are going through and enjoying it with the people. I hope it lasts and that we can keep going forward. Now comes the Netherlands, who will be a very tough opponent.,” Messi explained.

    Uncertain domestic futures for both

    What no one doubts is that the takeover of the world football throne is happening. Both face an uncertain future at PSG and the World Cup could have a big influence on the decision they make.

    In Leo’s case, he has one more year on his contract which he himself can execute if he wants and which PSG expect to happen. Both parties agreed that this matter would be dealt with after the World Cup.

    In Mbappe’s case, that same clause as the Argentine’s is in his contract, but for 2024.

    After two years at the club, he must decide whether to leave on a free or continue for another year and honor the biggest contract in history for an athlete.

    However, before June 2024, both parties must decide whether to stay together. Mbappe has not yet wanted to speak in Qatar in the mixed zone despite being the big star of France and the World Cup.

    Aware that after it was revealed just two months ago that he could leave the club this June, he would have to address this issue and does not want anything to distract him from his goal and that of an entire country.

    After winning his third Player of the Match award, and after a FIFA fine for his federation, he had no choice but to give a press conference in which he explained the reasons for his silence.

    After the World Cup, his future is an issue that will have to be addressed by both parties because if he wants to leave at the end of this season, it would be need to be a sale with PSG’s blessing.

    In the meantime, it remains to enjoy the two of them at this World Cup and until June, at least, in Paris. Anything can happen.



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  • Al-Khelaifi: I hope Messi and Mbappe will be the best players at the World Cup, then we'll talk…

    Al-Khelaifi: I hope Messi and Mbappe will be the best players at the World Cup, then we'll talk…

    Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who reviewed Paris Saint-Germain‘s current affairs a few days ago in an extensive interview with MARCA, has also acknowledged that they may have been too hasty with their target of winning the Champions League.

    The president of the French club also hoped that two of the club’s biggest stars would shine at the ongoing World Cup, before discussing what the club needed to do during the winter transfer window.

    Speaking with L’Equipe, Al-Khelaifi offered a candid take on the club’s ambitions to win Europe’s most coveted prize.

    “Was it a mistake in the past to say too quickly that you wanted to win the Champions League?” he was asked. “Maybe. There is no shame in saying we made mistakes,” Al-Khelaifi told L’Equipe.

    The PSG president also confirmed that the club isn’t actively looking to strengthen their squad during the upcoming transfer window.

    “We’ll see, but I don’t think so,” Al-Khelaifi continued.

    “We don’t need anyone. We have to keep the same team. I think we’ve found a collective spirit and we’re doing well.”

    He also had good words for Christophe Galtier, the coach who joined the team this summer.

    “I respect the coach a lot, I appreciate him because he has human values,” Al-Khelaifi continued. “He is a very good coach.”

    The Qatari boss also stated that the rumors indicating that he did not want appoint Galtier were completely false.

    “Another unbelievable comment we read,” Al-Khelaifi stated.

    “This is not true. Otherwise, I would never have hired him. He is one of the two coaches for whom I have the greatest respect.”

    Al-Khelaifi also commented on the future of Messi and Mbappe.

    “This year is the World Cup, I hope Messi and Mbappe will be the strongest at the World Cup. Then we will talk,” Al-Khlaifi said.

    Qatar’s culture

    Nasser Al-Khelaifi also addressed all the controversy surrounding Qatar during this World Cup.

    “Everyone is welcome in Qatar,” Al-Khelaifi commented.

    “Whatever their nationality, origins, beliefs, gender. But we ask for one thing: respect for our culture. When we are in Paris, we respect [French culture].”



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  • Canelo Alvarez vs Lionel Messi: the funny web tool that will protect Leo from crossing paths with the angry Mexican boxer

    Canelo Alvarez vs Lionel Messi: the funny web tool that will protect Leo from crossing paths with the angry Mexican boxer

    After Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarezmade a scandal on social networks for the alleged kick given by Lionel Messi to a shirt of the Mexican team, which Argentina defeated 2-0, the memes, criticisms, comments and others have not been long in coming.

    But what Canelo surely did not expect is that a group of fans launched a website that will help Messi to know the distance between him and the Mexican boxer, to avoid meeting him.

    Meet the Messimetral

    Canelo threatened Messi after a video went viral in Argentina’s dressing room in which Messi has clothes lying on the floor while he is changing. Among the clothes is a Mexico jersey lying on the floor, and when Messi takes off one of his boots, he moves the Tri shirt, which Alvarez interpreted as disrespectful.

    In response, Canelo, in a tweet that has now been deleted for violating Twitter rules, threatened Messi that if he finds him, the Argentine will be in a very bad way.

    A couple of days after Canelo has been slammed in social media for his violent messages -not only against Messi but also against anyone who criticizes him-, in Argentina a group of fans found a fun and original solution so that both sportsmen do not cross paths: the Messimetral.

    How does it work?

    When you open the page (not available in app), Messimetral shows a map of the world with two locations: the place where Canelo Alvarez is and where Messi is.

    The map calculates the distance in kilometers between both athletes and also has a “risk traffic light” that indicates the probability of both of them meeting. At the moment Messi is in Qatar and Canelo -supposedly- is in Zapopan, Jalisco, the distance between them is approximately 14,196 km, so the risk of crossing is low.

    We’ll have to see how that data is updated after Argentina’s participation in the World Cup is over, but at least Messi can rest assured that Messimetral will help him avoid running into the very angry Mexican boxer. At least until Canelo cools down.

    Such euphoria has been generated by the fight between Canelo and Messi that artist Mojahed Fudailat created the following animated short to make fun of the situation:



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  • Mexican footballer Miguel Layun backs Messi up in dispute with Canelo Alvarez

    Mexican footballer Miguel Layun backs Messi up in dispute with Canelo Alvarez

    Mexican footballer Miguel Layun has taken the side of Lionel Messi after famous boxer Canelo Alvarez criticized the Argentinian for his conduct in the dressing room.

    After the match between Argentina and Mexico at the Qatar 2022 World Cup which ended 2-0 to the Albiceleste, Canelo became very angry at a video that appeared to show Messi slightly kick away a Mexico shirt on the floor in the dressing room after the match.

    The boxer spoke out against Messi and said that he should hope that the two do not run into each other. Despite also being Mexican. Layun has taken the side of Messi.

    “Brother, you have always defended Mexico; like few others, you have made millions of us proud. I share my opinion with you,” Layun said.

    “We leave the jerseys on the floor because they are sweaty and, normally, they take them to be washed before handing them over,” the Mexican said on Twitter.

    Someone who took serious issue with the fighter was former Argentina and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

    “You earned the hatred of all Argentina, not just with Messi, it’s like saying something against Maradona. You played with fire. So, sorry, I used to follow you on Instagram, but I stopped following you. I liked you, today I don’t like you,” Aguero said.



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  • Lionel Messi: 'We went back to who we are'

    Lionel Messi: 'We went back to who we are'

    When Argentina needed him the most, Lionel Messi kept his word and didn’t leave his team or their fans stranded, as he scored the first goal during their crucial match against Mexico and assisted Enzo Fernandez for his squad second and definitve goal in the game, which secured their victory with just a few minutes left to play.

    Messi had some encouraging words for his team and country

    Lionel Messi was named the Man of the Match after he had a not so spectacular but effective game in which a couple of his individual plays allowed Argentina to secure the win in a crucial match to keeping their chances at winning the World Cup alive.

    During his post game interview, Messi said that it was a complicated game against Mexico, that has a team that plays well and has a good coach, like Mexico, due to them having good ball handling skills and aren’t afraid to win in time of possession.

    “In the first half we played like we needed to do so, with a lot of intensity, then in the second half we settled ourselves on the field and started to touch the ball all over the field, as we went back to who we are. Then the result brings euphoria due to the need we had, we had to get the win to settle ourselves.”

    Messi equaled Maradona in World Cup goals

    Lionel Messi’s goal against Mexico was his 8th in 21 World Cup games, the same number that the late Argentinian great, Diego Armando Maradona, had in World Cups.

    The difference is that Maradona managed to secure a World Cup title for his home country in 1986 and reached the final in 1990, while Messi has only advanced to the final in 2014, but unfortunately lost to Germany, just like Maradona in Italy.



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