FILE PHOTO-Soccer Football – World Cup – South American Qualifiers – Argentina v Ecuador – Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina – September 7, 2023 Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are on the short-list for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award, while Spain’s Aitana Bonmati is among the nominees for the Best Women’s Player on the back of winning the Golden Ball at the World Cup.
Half of the dozen nominees in the men’s category were part of Manchester City’s 2022-23 treble-winning squad, while City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola is nominated for Best Men’s Coach.
Spain’s World Cup win sees four of their players among the 16 nominees for the women’s award. World Cup runners-up England have four players on the list, with Sarina Wiegman up for the women’s coaching award, while Australia have three players.
World Cup winners Messi of Argentina and Spain’s Alexia Putellas are the current holders of the top player awards.
The nominees were shortlisted by a panel of soccer experts that included retired players Mia Hamm and Didier Drogba.
Witnessing the GOAT get stopped from in close? Unbelievable.
Singer and actress Selena Gomez was left with her jaw dropped watching Inter Miami star Lionel Messi get stopped by LAFC keeper John McCarthy on Sunday.
Gomez’s reaction to the stop — just one of the highlights in a 3-1 Inter Miami win in which Messi added a pair of assists — quickly went viral.
The “Only Murders in the Building” star got in on the fun as well, posting a screenshot of her disbelief on her Instagram Story, captioned, “Mood.”
Gomez wasn’t the only one who caught the high-profile matchup at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Lionel Messi during Sunday’s match. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConSelena Gomez couldn’t believe John McCarthy’s save on Lionel Messi on Sunday night. MLS/Apple TV
Among the star-studded crowd were Prince Harry, “Ted Lasso” stars Jason Sudeikis and Brandan Hunt, Lakers All-Star LeBron James, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Owen Wilson, Mario Lopez and Edward Norton.
The A-listers got a little extra show for their evening as Messi’s personal bodyguard tackled a pitch invader who approached the Argentinian star wearing his Barcelona jersey.
The glitzy unveiling came just one day after Major League Soccer (MLS) and Inter Miami finalised 36-year-old Messi’s signing through to the 2025 season. He will reportedly be paid between $50m and $60m a year.
Lionel Messi is introduced on stage with Inter Miami officials
Lionel Messi was unveiled at his new club Inter Miami on Sunday in a glamorous stadium.
He was presented with his pink No 10 jersey in a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that left the packed stadium soaked after a downpour.
The glitzy unveiling came just one day after Major League Soccer (MLS) and Inter Miami finalised 36-year-old Messi’s signing through to the 2025 season.
He will reportedly be paid between $50m and $60m a year.
“I’m sure we’re going to have many wonderful experiences,” Messi told the crowd.
“I’m very much moved to be here in Miami, to be with you. I want to thank you, all of you, on behalf of my family, for the kindness that you have given me,” he added.
David Beckham, the club’s co-owner and president, said during the telecast of the show: “Tonight is a typical Miami welcome for one of the greatest players to ever have played the game.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi on Tuesday scored his 100th international goal for the reigning world champions as they romped to a 7-0 friendly win over outclassed Curacao. Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi opened the scoring against the Caribbean island minnows on 20 minutes in Santiago del Estero. It came 17 years after he opened his Argentina account in a 3-2 defeat to Croatia in March 2006. The 35-year-old soon added another just after the half-hour mark to make it 3-0, and then completed his hat-trick on 37 minutes with the fifth as Argentina toyed with their overmatched opponents. It was his seventh hat-trick for the national team.
“You cannot describe Messi in words,” said fellow goalscorer Nicolas Gonzalez.
“He’s the best in the world and he shows it match after match, day after day. Every time he touches the ball, he makes you smile.”
Messi came into the game not just as his country’s all-time record goalscorer, but with more goals than the next two top marksmen — Gabriel Batistuta on 56 and Sergio Aguero with 41 — put together.
This was Argentina’s second match since winning the World Cup in dramatic style against France in Qatar in December — triumphing 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw — and it was always going to be about Messi reaching 100 goals.
Now with 102, he remains third in the all-time list, behind great rival Cristiano Ronaldo (122) of Portugal and Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
Messi had come up short on Thursday last week when he notched his 99th goal for the Albiceleste as Argentina toiled in their homecoming celebration match against Panama.
The Central Americans had held out until the 78th minute before 21-year-old MLS sensation Thiago Almada broke their resistence.
Messi then scored direct from a free-kick a minute from time — his 800th goal in professional football — in front of 83,000 delirious fans in Buenos Aires.
