Tag: Lionel Messi

Leboeuf wants 2026 World Cup “dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo”

Cristiano Ronaldo
December 2025

World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf hopes the 2026 tournament becomes Cristiano Ronaldo’s crowning moment, arguing that while the Portuguese icon’s legacy is already secure, lifting the trophy after Lionel Messi’s 2022 triumph would fundamentally change how his career is judged. Leboeuf admits he has criticised Ronaldo before but says a World Cup win is the one missing piece when compared with Messi. Seeing Portugal’s stacked squad, he believes they have the tools to emulate Argentina’s 2022 run and finally give Ronaldo the ultimate international prize.

Leboeuf says PSG needed Mbappe exit to finally win Champions League

Kylian Mbappe
December 2025

Frank Leboeuf argued that PSG’s long-awaited Champions League title only became possible once Mbappe, Messi and Neymar had departed, insisting the previous superstar trio lacked collective balance, with three forwards and “eight other guys” leaving the club more like an all-star showcase than a cohesive team. Praising Luis Enrique’s decision to rebuild around work rate and tactical discipline, Leboeuf said removing untouchable stars allowed a true system to emerge, turning PSG into “the best team in the world” within months, and compared the dangers of overloaded frontlines to Real Madrid’s early-2000s Galacticos era.

Messi’s Kolkata GOAT Tour stop descends into chaos after security meltdown

Lionel Messi
December 2025

Lionel Messi’s highly hyped appearance in Kolkata turned ugly as overcrowding, pitch invasions and political entourages restricted visibility, left fans furious and forced the Argentina icon to leave after barely twenty minutes, turning a showcase event into a public relations embarrassment. With more than eighty thousand fans inside Salt Lake Stadium, dozens of politicians, officials and celebrities swarmed Messi on the pitch, overwhelming security and triggering unrest in the stands, where angry supporters ripped seats and threw objects while organisers rushed the Inter Miami group away for safety.

Reguilon lined up as Alba successor as Inter Miami move into post-MLS Cup era

Jordi Alba
December 2025

Inter Miami are set to replace retiring left-back Jordi Alba with free agent Sergio Reguilon, with the Spaniard spotted in Miami and a deal described in Spain as close after Alba bowed out by lifting the MLS Cup alongside Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets. Reguilon has been without a club since leaving Tottenham in 2025, maintaining fitness through individual work ahead of an expected January return, and is seen by Inter Miami as an experienced, possession-friendly full-back who can slot straight into Alba’s role for the 2026 MLS season.

Enzo Fernandez openly targets Argentina captaincy after Messi era

Enzo Fernandez
December 2025

Enzo Fernandez has admitted he dreams of captaining Argentina once Messi steps aside, stressing he is not chasing the iconic No.10 status but would be honoured to wear the armband when the coaching staff decide the team is ready for a new leader. The Chelsea midfielder pointed to his own experience as captain at club level and said he would gladly accept the responsibility if chosen, while acknowledging the timing and decision rest entirely with Lionel Scaloni’s staff and the natural evolution of the squad.

Messi told to ditch “parody of football” in MLS for World Cup detox

Lionel Messi
December 2025

Fernando Signorini has urged Messi to put Argentina’s World Cup defence above everything, branding MLS a “parody of football” and arguing the forward is stuck in a record-chasing cycle that does little to prepare him for elite international demands. The former Argentina fitness coach says Messi should step back for a “detox” period, spend time with his family and even pursue a short-term loan away from Inter Miami so he arrives at the 2026 tournament sharper than rivals coming from Europe.

“German Messi” Lennart Karl cools comparisons after record Bayern burst

Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich)
November 2025

Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl underlined his breakout season with a goal and an assist in Bayern’s 6-2 win over Freiburg, adding to records as the club’s youngest Champions League scorer and third-youngest Bundesliga scorer in only 15 senior appearances. Labelled the “German Lionel Messi” for his low centre of gravity and dribbling, Karl rejected the comparison after the match, telling Sky Sports he cannot compare himself to Messi, who remains his idol and a distant benchmark rather than a realistic parallel.

Flick salutes Messi’s decade of dominance and dodges Barca comeback talk

Lionel Messi
November 2025

Hansi Flick called Lionel Messi one of the best players of the last decade and admitted he has always enjoyed watching him, as fresh excitement grew after Messi posted about hoping to play again at Camp Nou following his visit to the stadium. Asked about a possible reunion, Flick joked that his own Barcelona contract expires before Messi’s Inter Miami deal, stressing the decision is out of his hands. Messi’s long Barca legacy, PSG spell and MLS impact frame any return as emotional, but there is still no concrete plan.

Messi and Lautaro combine to sink Angola as Argentina close out year in style

Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez (Argentina)
November 2025

Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) each scored and assisted in a 2-0 win over Angola, guiding the world champions through a competitive friendly in Luanda and underlining Argentina’s continued strength as Lionel Scaloni’s side look toward more trophies in North America next summer. Angola started brightly, forcing Geronimo Rulli (Argentina) into an important early save before Martínez finished a Messi through ball before half time. After the break Angola battled hard, but Martínez returned the favour late on, setting up Messi for a clinical second that capped another dominant individual display.

Neymar weighs exit paths as Santos cools on extension, Inter Miami links persist

Neymar
November 2025

With his deal expiring December 31 and injuries muddying value, Santos have cooled on an extension. Inter Miami are exploring a move as slots open, while at least one Brazilian club aims to outpace MLS and reunite Neymar with Thiago Silva. Santos’ financial caution plus Neymar’s fitness record drive hesitation. Miami’s DP flexibility and existing Barca-era ties add pull. Neymar has publicly welcomed a reunion with Messi and Suárez; any deal must balance wages, medical risk, and marketing upside.

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