Lionel Messi, the Paris Saint-Germain star has opened up that he has “no doubts” that Real Madrid captain, Karim Benzema, should win the Ballon d’Or this year.
Messi spent most of his career at Barcelona going head-to-head with Benzema in La Liga.
He has now tipped the France striker, who led Madrid to their 14th Champions League title last weekend, to win the Ballon d’Or.
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“I think there are no doubts Benzema should win the Ballon d’Or.
“It is very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended
Barcelona go into the brief Spanish winter break on top of La Liga after a glittering show from Lionel Messi helped the defending champions beat Alaves 4-1 on Saturday.
Real Madrid, who drew 0-0 at Camp Nou in the midweek Clasico, can draw level top on 39 points but behind on goal difference if they win at home to Atletico Bilbao on Sunday.
Seville are assured third place over Christmas on 34 points after their 2-0 win at Real Mallorca.
France World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann put Barca ahead with a lovely snap-shot from outside the area after a slick
Lionel Messi has admitted on the back of his sixth Ballon d’Or triumph that “retirement is approaching”, but the Argentine hopes to enjoy “many more years” at the top and says Barcelona have nothing to worry about when it comes to his future.
That will comes as a relief to those at Camp Nou, with it having already been revealed that an all-time great has an exit clause in his current contract.
There has been no suggestion that it will be triggered, with Messi continuing to be a talismanic presence for the reigning La Liga champions.
His efforts have …
Lionel Messi marked his 700th game for Barcelona by scoring his 613th goal on Wednesday as the Catalans beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to go through as group winners to the Champions League last 16.
Messi celebrated his anniversary in style by putting Barca two up before half-time, between laying on a pair of assists for Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann in a comfortable victory at Camp Nou.
“He was incredible,” said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. “It’s all about what he does and when he does it. It was a performance to put us through.”
England’s Jadon Sancho fired into the …
Kylian Mbappe believes Lionel Messi will once again win the Ballon d’Or award this year and claim the prestigious honour for a record sixth time.
Mbappe, a fellow shortlist nominee for the honour, feels Messi has done enough in the last 12 months to distinguish himself from the rest of the chasing pack.
Liverpool’s Champions League-winning defender Virgil van Dijk currently stands as a marginal favourite, with Messi breathing down his neck after a solid season with Barcelona.
‘Messi. In individual terms, he was the best this year.’ said Mbappe when recently asked by German publication Der Spiegel who he …
The duo of Kenneth Omeruo and Chidoziem Awaziem will have their hands full today when Leganes welcome Barcelona at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque in one of the La Liga Santander fixtures for this weekend.
The Super Eagles defensive duo, who were on duty for Nigeria during last international break in the victories over Benin Republic and Lesotho in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, have the unenviable task of stopping the duo of Barcelona’s principalities, Lionel Messi and Luiz Saurez, who are expected to lead the attack for the La Liga reigning champions.
The fixture could be likened …
The striker was then handed a three-month suspension for comments he made after the game, in which he accused CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, of corruption.
In Messi’s absence, Argentina has played four friendlies, drawing against Chile and Germany while beating Mexico
Lionel Messi became the first-ever player to score at least once in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons after opening the scoring at Slavia Prague on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Argentinian beat goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar with a low left-footed shot after robbing midfielder Petr Sevcik outside the Slavia box and a quick exchange with Arthur who put him through neatly.
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The goal was Messi’s 113th overall from 138 Champions League appearances.…
England coach Eddie Jones contrasted what he said was rugby’s down to earth attitude with that of football superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as he lauded All Blacks boss Steve Hansen ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster World Cup semi-final.
Jones and Hansen are two of the most successful coaches in the modern game, with the New Zealander looking to guide the All Blacks to a third straight World Cup title in Japan 2019 and fourth in total.
But if he is to do that his side must first beat a resurgent England in Yokohama this weekend.
The coach of his …
Barcelona’s ‘MSG’ is finally up and running as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann all scored in a ruthless 3-0 victory over Eibar on Saturday.
Griezmann’s place in the newly-formed attacking trident has not been secure this season but the Frenchman opened the scoring at Ipurua before teeing up Messi and then playing the crucial pass for Suarez to make it three.
An authoritative Barca display thrusts them to the top of La Liga, for a few hours at least before Real Madrid play Real Mallorca, and dismissed suggestions the players might be affected by Friday’s postponement of the …
Barcelona captain Leo Messi received his sixth Golden Shoe as the top scorer in the European leagues on Wednesday.
Messi won the trophy for a third straight year after scoring 36 goals, three more than his closest challenger, Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi’s sons Thiago and Mateo, presented their father with the trophy supervised by his wife, Antonella Rocuzzo and watched by team-mates, including Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba.
…
Lionel Messi was the world’s highest-paid athlete over the past year, Forbes reported on Tuesday in its annual sporting rich list.
Barcelona and Argentina star Messi dethroned retired boxer Floyd Mayweather as the sports world’s highest earner, raking in $127 million via salary and endorsement deals.
That put Messi ahead of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the Juventus and Portugal star who was second with earnings of $109 million.
Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar completed a sweep of the top three positions by footballers, coming in third with earnings of $105 million.
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