PSG extend Ligue 1 lead with Montpellier win as Mbappe limps off
PARIS : Lionel Messi scored as Paris St Germain stretched their Ligue 1 lead to five points with a 3-1 win at Montpellier after Kylian Mbappe limped off the pitch on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi Sport News
Neymar to miss struggling PSG's trip to Montpellier
PARIS :Leaders Paris St Germain will be without Neymar at Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Wednesday with the Brazil forward suffering from "muscle fatigue" as the capital side struggle for form.
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.
Ronaldo's Saudi switch another symbol of Chinese football's decline
HONG KONG: Cristiano Ronaldo's headline-grabbing arrival at Al Nassr on a bumper pay deal captured global attention last month, but in an alternate world, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner may well have been destined for a move further east.
Ronaldo's Saudi switch another symbol of Chinese decline
HONG KONG : Cristiano Ronaldo's headline-grabbing arrival at Al Nassr on a bumper pay deal captured global attention last month, but in an alternate world the five-time Ballon D'or winner may well have been destined for a move further east.
Barcelona beats 10-man Sociedad 1-0 to reach Copa semifinals
MADRID: Ousmane Dembélé’s goal early in the second half helped Barcelona defeat 10-man Real Sociedad 1-0 at home on Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey. The result ended a nine-game winning streak for Sociedad, which played a man down from the 40th minute after Brais Méndez was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. It was Sociedad’s 27th straight loss to Barcelona as a visitor.
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.