Messi, Mbappe and Neymar set to join forces for first time since World Cup

13.01.2023 - 15:03 guardian.ng

Paris Saint-Germain’s (L-R) French forward Kylian Mbappe, Argentinian forward Lionel Messi and Brazilian forward Neymar pose during a press conference in Tokyo on July 17, 2022. (Photo by TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA and Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP)Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to Rennes on Sunday is set to be the first time their superstar front three of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have all played together since the World Cup.Mbappe returned to training on Thursday having been given 10 days off after coming back from Qatar and playing in PSG’s first two games following the tournament.He jetted off to New York for a break and was nowhere to be seen as Messi made his comeback, and scored, in a 2-0 victory for the Ligue 1 leaders against Angers on Wednesday.The World Cup was a clear motivating factor in the trio’s outstanding form during the early months of the campaign, and how they play together will be crucial in determining how the remainder of the season goes for PSG.They are six points clear of Lens before completing the first half of the season in Rennes, but the Champions League is their main objective.After failing to come top of their group, Christophe Galtier’s side were drawn to play Bayern Munich in the last 16, with the first leg at home set for February 14.Galtier described the 35-year-old Messi as “relaxed and in great shape physically” after his first match since captaining Argentina to a penalty shoot-out victory over Mbappe’s France in an epic World Cup final last month.The question now is how much motivation the former Barcelona star has after that career-defining triumph.PSG are keen to extend his contract in the French capital into a third season and Messi’s biggest goal now will be to win the Champions

Neymar cup Lionel Messi Kylian Mbappe Christophe Galtier Qatar France Brazil Argentina Tokyo New York

TANGIERS, Morocco: Egyptian giants Al-Ahly brushed past New Zealand’s Auckland City 3-0 on Wednesday in the opening round of the Club World Cup in Morocco.

Messi says World Cup trophy 'called out' to him

BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi won the World Cup because the sparkling solid gold trophy picked him to lift it, the Argentine star said in a radio interview aired on Monday (Jan 30).

Messi says World Cup trophy 'called out' to him

The 35-year-old inspired his country to World Cup glory last month by scoring two goals and a penalty in the South Americans' shoot-out triumph over previous holders France following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Qatar. "The cup called out to me, it told me: come and grab me, now you can touch me," Messi told the Argentine Urbana Play radio station. "I saw it sparkling in that beautiful stadium and I didn't hesitate" to kiss it, he added, referring to the stunning Lusail Stadium in Doha, where the final was played. Messi finally lifted the trophy in his fifth and final World Cup tournament, having lost in the 2014 final to Germany. He also played in three losing Copa America finals before finally clinching that trophy in 2021. "After so much suffering and lost finals, God kept it for me," said Messi of the World Cup. He thus became the first Argentina captain since Diego Maradona in 1986 to lift the World Cup. "I would have liked Maradona to hand me the cup, so he could at least see Argentina champions." Maradona died of a heart attack two years ago. "From up above he gave me strength, as did so many people who love me." Many people expected Messi to retire, at least from international duty, after the Qatar triumph but he decided to continue so he could take to the field with his teammates as world champions.

World Cup star Mbappé gets 5 goals for PSG in French Cup win

PARIS: Kylian Mbappé scored five goals, including a 12-minute hat trick in the first half, as Paris Saint-Germain won 7-0 at amateur team Pays de Cassel in the French Cup on Monday to set up a round-of-16 match at bitter rival Marseille. It was his first hat trick since France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina on Dec. 18.

Argentine corn field planted with face of World Cup winner Messi

LOS CONDORES, Argentina : Lionel Messi has been immortalized in Argentina in tributes ranging from tattoos to murals after leading the national team to win the soccer World Cup. Now his face can be seen from the heavens too - on a specially designed corn field.

FIFA charges Argentina over World Cup final celebrations

ZURICH: FIFA opened a disciplinary case against the Argentine Football Association on Friday for alleged offensive player misconduct and violations of fair play at the World Cup final. FIFA cited its media and marketing regulations for prosecuting the case, which appears to relate to a boisterous celebration by players running through the interview zone after the game on Dec. 18. Argentina beat France in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium in Qatar. About three hours later, players led by captain Lionel Messi ran and sang through the official interview area and damaged flimsy partition walls without stopping to speak to international broadcast and print media.