Tag: MESSI

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MESSI MISSING AS SPAIN DOMINATES IN 2024 BALLON D’OR NOMINEE LIST

For the first time since 2003, neither Argentina’s Lionel Messi nor Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo feature as nominees for the Ballon d’Or, while Olympic champions Spain and Champions League winners Real Madrid headline the list of players vying for football’s most prestigious individual award.

Lionel Messi will not win another Ballon d’Or this year after being left out of the nominees revealed by organisers on Wednesday, as stars of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning team and Real Madrid’s Champions League victors feature heavily.

Messi claimed the eighth Ballon d’Or of his glittering career last year. Now aged 37, he is not among the 30 contenders this time despite winning another title with Argentina at the Copa America in July.

The former Barcelona superstar, now playing club football in MLS for Inter Miami, was also missing from the nominees in 2022 when Karim Benzema took the honours.

However, he returned to win last year after leading Argentina to glory at the World Cup in Qatar.

His rivals include Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Spain’s Luis de la Fuente.

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ARGENTINA MATCH AGAINST MOROCCO SUSPENDED FOR AN HOUR DUE TO DISORDER FROM CROWD

Argentina’s match against Morocco at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard was suspended for over an hour following a reaction from the crowd when Cristian Medina scored a late equaliser.

Morocco led the Group B clash 2-1 and in the final stages of the game Argentina hit the frame of the goal twice before midfielder Medina struck in the 16th minute of stoppage time to level the match.

However, his equaliser sparked objects being thrown onto the pitch and players were taken off for their safety.

Fans were then asked to leave the stadium with a message being projected on screens that read: “Your session has been suspended, please leave the stadium.”

After over an hour without play, the game resumed behind closed doors with three minutes left on the clock and Medina’s 106th-minute leveller was chalked off for an offside in the build-up.

The game finished 2-1 to Morocco thanks to Soufiane Rahimi’s brace.

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MESSI’S FATHER ARRIVES BARCELONA TO DISCUSS SON’S FUTURE.

Lionel Messi’s father arrived in Spain early Wednesday and is expected to meet with Barcelona club officials to discuss his son’s future.

Jorge Messi, who is also Lionel Messi’s agent, landed in Barcelona from Argentina. He is expected to meet with club president Josep Bartomeu and other team officials, but it’s unclear when then meeting will take place.

“I don’t know anything,” Jorge Messi said briefly after being questioned at the airport.

Lionel Messi last week told Barcelona he wanted to leave the club and invoked a contract clause that allowed him to depart for free at the end of the season.

But Barcelona claimed the clause expired in June and said he must see out his current contract until June 2021, or leave by paying the buyout clause of $700 million euros ($837 million).

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MESSI WANTS MARCELO BIELSA AT BARCELONA – REPORTS

Manager Marcelo Bielsa is attracting interest from Barcelona before a Premier League ball has been kicked at Elland Road, reports have say

Bielsa is yet to agree a new contract with the Lilywhites and, according to the report, Lionel Messi wants his Catalan employers to do everything in their power to tempt the 64-year-old to Camp Nou to replace under-fire Quique Setien.

Barca would appear to be in turmoil after having lost out to Real Madrid in the title race, and their finances are such that they’re having to sell up to 11 players.

Setien’s position is under threat after just six months, and his strained relationship with Messi appears to be one of the biggest issues, with the Barca talisman believing Bielsa would sort out Barcelona in the short term.

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PITCH INVADER TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES

MALLORCA, SPAIN - JUNE 13: A member of the public is dragged away by security guards after invading the pitch during the La Liga match between RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Son Moix on June 13, 2020 in Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

La Liga says it will take legal action after a pitch invader breached security to get a selfie with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi at a behind-closed-doors game.

The fan, wearing an Argentina shirt with Messi’s name and number, appeared on the pitch early in the second half of Saturday’s 4-0 win away to Mallorca.

He managed to pose for a picture within a couple of metres of Messi before being grabbed by security staff.

La Liga said it considers the incident “to represent a criminal act”.

In a statement the Spanish league said it made clear its “total condemnation” of the incident.

“This type of conduct puts the health of others at risk and risks damaging the integrity of the competition,” it added.

The fan claims he scaled a two-metre high fence to gain access to Mallorca’s stadium.

“I had planned this ever since I knew the match was happening. I wanted a photo with Messi and to meet him because he’s my idol,” the French Mallorca resident told radio station Cadena Cope.