Latest news with #Messi
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Why Argentine club Boca Juniors's fans have invaded Miami, and why they said sorry to Messi at Club World Cup
Victoriano 'Toto' Caffarena never kicked a ball for Boca Juniors; he was from an affluent business family, but was more inclined to writing poetry and reporting crime for a local newspaper in the predominantly working class neighbourhood of La Boca in Buenos Aires. He devoted his weekends to his favourite club, Boca, travelling to wherever they played. In 1925, the club got its first invitation of a European tour and Caffarena decided to break his savings, sell some of his property to travel with the team and partly fund the club's trip, resisting stiff resistance from his family and the potential debts the trip would land him in. In the three-month trip where they played in Spain, Germany and France, he was the lone supporter in the stands, waving the Boca flag, beating the drums and hooting the whistles, apart from occasionally performing the roles of kit man, masseur and water carrier. In Germany, he even assumed the role of the team's technical director. He became such a loved figure in the team that forward Agustín Cerrotti began to call him, La Doce, or the twelfth player. A century later, the one-man 'La Doce' has become the loudest and most passionate fan-group in the world, thronging the stands wherever the team plays, filling the arena with life, music and colour. So passionate the fans are that before the Super Clasico against arch-enemies River Plate, a rivalry that divides the country as much as Peronism, that there had been public-service announcements instructing those with health problems to visit their doctor and make sure they did not run out of medicine, or avoid the game altogether. Doctors implore, through radio and television, 'to get plenty of exercise beforehand, to drink lots of water and not so much alcohol.' So hysterical are they that bursts of violence and hooliganism erupt frequently, despite an army of policemen. Their vitality has been ubiquitous in the Club World Cup, where games of Boca Juniors have run full-house, as opposed to half-empty stands for most games in a tournament where officials have sold tickets at throwaway prices to fill the seats. The blue and gold tide have washed the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with an estimated inflow of 50,000 fans, and taken over the beaches, streets and pubs of the sunshine city. In one of the thousands of videos in circulation, a fan is heard singing: 'Leo, please forgive us.' Miami is home to the club Messi turns up for, Inter, but loyalty is unshakeable. But Messi is not their biggest icon. It is not Diego Maradona, or Carlos Tevez, two of their own either. It is Juan Roman Riquelme, the playmaker of divine imagination and intelligence, a rebel of the pitch, embodying the 'pibe' of the 'potrero' soul (the kids from the alleys). Riquelme is now the club's chairman and his face adorns a thousand furious flags waved in the stands. They have been winless in both their games, after a narrow defeat to German champions Bayern Munich (1-2) and a tough draw to Porto (2-2). Their knockout hopes are slim, but that has not deterred them from packing their bags back home. The energy of the fans left Bayern captain Harry Kane positively stunned: 'A big part of their game is to have the fans behind them, to use them as the energy and to take them into tackles and to battle.' GOOOOOOOOOL DE BOCAAAA!! Merentiel takes matters into his own hands! 💪 A dazzling run and a cold finish — it's all square at 1-1! ⚽ Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #BAYBOC — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 21, 2025 Monikered Los Xeneizes, or the Genoese as the club's founding members were Italian immigrants, they instil their own rhythm into the game. The passion and emotion, by a natural extension, are the soul of Argentine football too. In Qatar, Argentina's supporters defied the government's plea to not travel halfway through the globe to the Middle East as part of austerity. The government was wading through its worst phase of economic slump, inflation and unemployment were at its zenith, but that did not deny a lakh fans descending for the 2022 World Cup. Three images were omnipresent. Maradona, Messi and Pope Francis cohabited on flags, drums, banners, their face inked on human skin and their names blaring from jerseys. Several Argentina lodgings covered the facade with a poster of Maradona handing a ball to Messi, a symbolism that found a befitting climax. Another flag re-imaged Michelangelo's most-famous as well as parodied fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel The Creation of Adam, in which Maradona, from the clouds reaches his index finger out to Messi. Not just the most feverish, they were the most imaginative ones too. They spilled into Doha's downtown locales Msheireb and Souq Waqif, where one night they held a memorial service for Maradona. Just as they had lashed into Times Square during the COPA last year and the Copacabana Beach promenade in Rio a decade ago. Their song, Muchachos, ahora nos volvimos a ilusionar (it's time to get excited again), set to the tune of Argentinian band La Mosca's song, became quite a hit among neutrals too. Next year, during the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the Argentina fans would descend again to cheer for their nation, potentially the last dance of Messi, but moreover to fill the stands with flavour and life. To knock the champions off the perch, their rivals would have to first beat the twelfth man too. What Kane beheld in Miami was only a test dose.
India.com
5 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
Lionel Messi opens up on rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo with candid comment, says 'we're not friends...'
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. New Delhi: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are pretty much believed to be the most outstanding footballers of the twenty-first century. They have many team titles, and individual awards in their glittering careers. The two main protagonists spent the unforgettable nine seasons meeting each other at their most significant forces as representatives of two arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid. Mutual respect also exists between the two and this has been shown in a number of interviews. Ronaldo has already confessed that their competitive days were some form of motivation to keep on being better. Messi recently ended his silence and talked about his relations with the Portugal international. In an conversation with D sports at the sidelines of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, he confessed, 'I hold a deep respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and everything he has achieved in his career, and continues to achieve, as he's still performing at an elite level.' 'Our rivalry was purely on the pitch, driven by our desire to give everything for our respective teams. Off the field, we're just ordinary people. While we're not friends in the traditional sense, as we don't socialize, there has always been mutual respect between us,' he added. The two players have an impressive record of 79 senior-career trophies between Messi and Ronaldo, with a record of 45 trophies won individually by Messi and 34 trophies by Ronaldo. They have also managed to regularly score more than 50 goals in one season contributing to their exceptional stability and capability. The IFFHS noted that Messi and Ronaldo are the only two players who have scored over 800 goals in their respective careers in club and country. Ronaldo is also the record holder of the highest number of official goals scored in the history of football. Messi is the highest goal scorer in history of La Liga besides being the highest assist maker in the history of the league. Ronaldo has been second in La Liga in goal scored and fourth in Assists. Ryan Giggs is ahead of him in the number of assists, but he is still on top of the list in all-time appearances and goals in the Champions League.
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
‘Team Ronaldo' Palmeiras defender Murilo eyes win over Messi, vows to do ‘siu' celebration if he scores
Palmeiras defender Murilo has set his sights on cancelling out the threat of Lionel Messi when his side plays Inter Miami on Monday — in part because he is 'team Ronaldo'. The centre-back has played 90 minutes in each of his team's Group A matches so far, helping them keep clean sheets against Porto and Al Ahly. Advertisement Now comes a first-vs-second clash with the MLS outfit, and a chance to test himself against perhaps the greatest player of all time. Not that Murilo would describe Messi in those terms. He prefers the Argentine's great rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, as he admitted in Sunday's pre-match press duties. 'I'm team Ronaldo,' Murillo said when asked which player he holds in greater esteem. 'I think he's a really complete player. I think even his temper is good, a positive thing. I think what sets him apart is his discipline. I really try to emulate that — his discipline, his routine. I really like him.' Asked by reporters whether he would consider reproducing Ronaldo's trademark 'siu' celebration if he scores against Inter Miami, he responded in the affirmative. 'Yes,' he said. 'Yes, I'll do it.' As for the possibility of swapping shirts with Messi at the final whistle, Murilo said he was happy to let his team-mates fight over the momento. 'I'm not going to get involved in that,' he said. 'There are already a lot of people who are going to be asking for it. It's all good. I'm just focused on marking him.' Palmeiras face Inter Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, at 3pm ET.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lionel Messi practices with Inter Miami ahead of crucial Club World Cup match
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi practiced with his Inter Miami teammates on Sunday, three days after experiencing some right leg discomfort during their historic win in the FIFA Club World Cup. It's unclear to what extent Messi practiced with Inter Miami – media was allowed to observe the first 15 minutes of the training session. Still, it's a positive development for Messi – who acknowledged the injury in his thigh/quadricep region has been a recurring one he has managed late in his career, particularly with Inter Miami. Inter Miami can clinch a trip to the Club World Cup knockout stage on Monday, June 23 against Brazilian club Pameiras at 9 p.m. in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. The match will be available to watch on TBS/TruTV in English in the United States, and available to live stream for free on DAZN. Inter Miami could advance with a win or draw, but could need some help if they lose the match. "I've had a problem with that for a while now," Messi said in an interview with DSports after the club's 2-1 match against FC Porto at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday. "It did bother me a little bit, but it's something I've had before, something I've been dealing with." Messi scored a dynamic free-kick goal in the 54th minute to propel Inter Miami to the first victory for a North American team over a European club against Porto, a Portuguese team. It was also the 50th goal he scored since joining Inter Miami in July 2023. Shortly after, Messi made a run on a ball after an up-field pass by Benjamin Cremaschi in the 57th minute. He was seen touching his right thigh and stretching the muscle near midfield in a stoppage during the 59th and 60th minutes of the match. An Inter Miami trainer also massaged Messi's thigh above the knee on the pitch, while defender Marcelo Weigandt was treated for an injury in the 62nd minute. Messi finished the Porto match, with Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano acknowledging Messi's will to play despite the discomfort. Mascherano will have a pre-match press conference later Sunday evening before the Palmeiras match. Inter Miami essential has one foot already into the knockout stage, but can't afford to rest Messi in the final group-stage match. If they manage to beat Palmeiras, they would win Group A. If they draw with Palmeiras, they would enter the round of 16 as a group runner-up. If they lose, they need Porto to beat Egyptian side Al Ahly to advance. If Inter Miami loses and Al Ahly wins, Inter Miami would need to rely on goal difference or other tiebreakers if Al Ahly doesn't win in blowout fashion. "I think the team is focused on winning, on doing the best they can," Inter Miami leftback Jordi Alba said before Sunday's practice. "We've never gone into a game without the intention of winning, and that's the mindset of everyone – to try to win, to play well like we did against Porto. And from there, hopefully that will be the case, and we can go through in first place." Messi has dealt with a thigh/adductor injury at least three times in the last two years. Messi had a low-grade injury in his left adductor muscle earlier this season, revealed after an MRI following a March 16 match against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The injury caused him to miss two World Cup qualifying matches with Argentina during the month. He returned to action on March 29 and scored a goal in Inter Miami's win against the Philadelphia Union. Messi had his right groin/adductor area massaged by a trainer during Argentina's second group-stage match during last summer's Copa America on June 26, 2024. He rested in Argentina's last group-stage match on June 29, 2024, because they had already secured a berth to the quarterfinals. He returned to action in the knockout stage on July 4, 2024. He played until Argentina reached the final against Colombia on July 14, 2024, where he suffered a severe right ankle injury that sidelined him until his return on Sept. 14, 2024. Messi also experienced an adductor injury during Inter Miami's international preseason tour before the 2024 season. Messi left an exhibition against Al-Hilal on Jan. 29, and briefly played with the injury against Al-Nassr on Feb. 1, 2024, when Inter Miami played in Saudi Arabia. He did not play during a friendly in Hong Kong on Feb. 4, 2024, but returned to action for a friendly in Japan on Feb. 7, 2024. He appeared fully healthy for a preseason match against his Argentine boyhood club Newell's Old Boys on Feb. 15, 2024. If Inter Miami advances to the Club World Cup round of 16 after the Palmeiras match, it would play on either June 28 in Philadelphia (if it wins Group A) or June 29 in Atlanta (if it is the group runner-up). If Inter Miami is eliminated from the Club World Cup, its next match will be June 28 vs. Atlanta United at home in a return to the Major League Soccer regular season.
Scottish Sun
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Brucey was crying' – What Pep Guardiola said to Steve Bruce about Lionel Messi left him in tears
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PEP GUARDIOLA left Steve Bruce in tears of laughter during a conversation about bringing Lionel Messi to Manchester City. A reunion between the pair was on the cards in 2020 when Messi's contract with Barcelona started to wind down. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Pep Guardiola almost lured Lione Messi to Manchester City in 2020 Credit: AFP 4 Former Burnley boss asked the City boss about his pursuit of the Argentine during a meeting of Prem bosses Credit: AFP 4 Guardiola's response left former Newcastle and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce in tears Credit: AFP Messi was said to have been convinced by his old manager to move to the Etihad but performed a U-turn due to his belief Barca would offer him a new deal. That deal didn't end up coming to fruition and he ended up joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in August 2021. The prospect of Messi moving to the Prem quickly became the talk of players and managers alike. And at Premier League meeting with all the managers present, former Burnley boss Sean Dyche quizzed Guardiola about his pursuit of the footie icon while getting a cup of tea with Bruce. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL SPAINFUL END Chaos as England's U21 Euros quarter-final win over Spain ends in mass brawl During an appearance on talkSPORT, he recalled: "I said, 'What was that thing about Lionel Messi?' "He (Guardiola) goes, 'Sean, Steve, I tell you this. Lionel, he said no way can he come to Manchester City. "Because I tell Lionel it rains. 'It rains and rains. And when it stops raining, it rains again.' "Then he goes, 'Lionel, on a Monday night, you have to go to Burnley, Sean's team. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 Sean Dyche couldn't fathom the prospect of Lionel Messi turning up at Turf Moor Credit: PA "And they go bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.' Brucey was crying!" Dyche, 53, added: "I went, 'That's exactly what we're going to do, Pep You warned him correctly.' Lionel Messi gives rare insight into his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo "Me and Brucey were crying, honestly. It was genius. Pep, brilliant." The prospect of eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi rocking up at Turf Moor tickled Dyche, who said: "Imagine that. "His face turning up at Turf Moor going, 'What on earth? " "Absolutely smashing it down with rain, wind blowing across and knocking you over." Messi spent two seasons with PSG before upping sticks to the MLS to join David Beckham co-owned Inter Miami.
