Lionel Messi Archives ⋆ Page 18 of 19 ⋆ LSU

Oct22018 by JBNo Comments

Pochettino: Messi almost joined Espanyol

Pochettino is preparing his Tottenham side to face Messi and Barcelona in a Champions League showdown at Wembley on Wednesday. But the head coach used to play for, and then managed, Barca's rivals Espanyol - and he says Messi came close to joining him in the summer of 2005. Pochettino said: "I started to hear about him when I was a player at Espanyol. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "A small guy, playing in the academy in Barcelona. "Then I heard he was so close to signing for Espanyol - very close - in the season Barcelona played against Juventus in the Joan Gamper (an annual pre-season tournament). "I remember that summer. "But, because he was so fantastic in the Joan Gamper, they changed their minds. They kept Messi at Barcelona. "So, if ...

Sep172018 by JBNo Comments

Griezmann: I’m on the same level as Messi and Ronaldo

Transfer Info, La Liga, Premier League

Antoine Griezmann claimed he is on the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as he set his sights on winning the Ballon d'Or, despite conceding he can still make improvements to his game. The France international missed out on the three-man shortlist for FIFA's The Best award, the winner of which will be announced on September 24, but he is still feeling confident of being named the world's best player later in the year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "I think the Ballon d'Or has more prestige and history," he told AS. "There's three months left to give everything. "It is clear that I am a different player than Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar or [Kylian] Mbappe. I'm at the top but I can improve. "I seek to be as complete as possible. I'm...

Sep102018 by JBNo Comments

REVEALED: How naked Ronaldo trolled Messi to United mates

Premier League

Peter Crouch has made public a revealing anecdote about how a naked Cristiano Ronaldo used to boast he was better looking than Lionel Messi in front of Manchester United's dressing room. In the Stoke City striker's new book, Crouch explains stories told to him by Rio Ferdinand, a team mate of Ronaldo's for six years with Manchester United. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); One of those stories reveals Ronaldo's rivalry with Lionel Messi as well as his habits in dressing room during his stay in England. "Rio Ferdinand would tell us stories about how Cristiano Ronaldo would stand in front of the mirror naked, running his hand through his hair, and say, 'Wow. I'm so beautiful!'," Crouch said in his new book, as per the Daily Mail. "The other United player...

Sep32018 by JBNo Comments

Lionel Messi: Real Madrid aren’t as good without Ronaldo

La Liga, Seria A

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi considers Real Madrid to be “less good” without Cristiano Ronaldo, but concedes Juventus have now become “clear favourites” for the Champions League trophy. Having spent nine years locking horns with an eternal rival in La Liga, an important figure at Camp Nou now finds himself freed of a long-running duel in Spain. With Ronaldo having made a €112 million move to Italy, the path has now been cleared for a five-time Ballon d’Or winner to monopolise a domestic stage. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Messi believes Barcelona can take advantage of that, with Clasico foes Real Madrid not the force they once were, but is also aware that a quest to win the Champions League could be disrupted by Juventus. The Argentine forward...

Jul172018 by JBNo Comments

Cristiano Ronaldo sends message to Lionel Messi after completing Juventus transfer

Seria A, La Liga

Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he does not view Lionel Messi as a rival after completing his transfer to Juventus. The two players have been considered as the best in the world for the last decade and have been at the centre of the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona since Ronaldo joined Real in 2009. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But the battle between Messi and Ronaldo may no longer have the same spark after the 33-year-old was unveiled as a Juventus player on Monday. Ronaldo, who joined Juventus for £88.5m, is now aiming to replicate his outstanding goalscoring record in Italy and win titles with the club. But when asked about his rivalry with Messi, Ronaldo said: ‘I do not see other players as rivals, that’s not who I am. ‘It was a good cha...

Jun272018 by JBNo Comments

Argentina boss asks Lionel Messi for permission to make substitution against Nigeria

Uncategorized

Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli consulted Lionel Messi about substitutions in the game as they overcame Nigeria to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup. Barcelona star Messi gave Argentina an early lead with a remarkable goal but, after Nigeria equalised through Victor Moses, it was defender Marcos Rojo who struck the late winner to send the side through. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Argentina have been much of a debate after failing to win their first two matches, and there were rumours prior to the game that the players had staged a coup and selected the team themselves. There were five changes to the starting XI, with Gonzalo Higuain brought back to lead the line and Willy Caballero dropped for debutant Franco Armani. Incredibly, even during t...

Jun222018 by JBNo Comments

Diego Simeone slams Lionel Messi and praises Cristiano Ronaldo in attack

La Liga

Diego Simeone has hit out at Lionel Messi and suggested the Barcelona star cannot raise his game in an average team the way Cristiano Ronaldo can after Argentina’s shock defeat to Croatia. Argentina are on the brink of an early World Cup exit after a 3-0 loss to Croatia and Messi could not help his team with a win. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Messi’s performance was far off the heights he was known with Barcelona and the forward’s display was in contrast to Ronaldo’s superb performance for Portugal. Despite Portugal lacking quality, Ronaldo has led from the front well, scoring four goals in just two games. Simeone is Argentinian himself and his furious comments in a Whatsapp message were leaked by Cadena COPE. ‘Messi is very good but that is b...

Jun52018 by JBNo Comments

‘No one shouts at Messi for walking’ – Pogba hits back at critics

Premier League, La Liga

Paul Pogba has hit back at critics who have questioned his style of play and off the field display, arguing it would not be different than slamming Lionel Messi for “walking” on the field. The United midfielder has starred for club and country in the past, starting both the 2015 Champions League final for Juventus the Euro 2016 final for France, though both games ended in defeat for him. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); However since his record move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016, Pogba has come under fire for everything from his social media accounts to his choice of hair colour. "I've always been like that,” Pogba told France Football. “When I've won, I've won being like that. That's my style of play. “You're not going to criticise Messi when...

May262018 by JBNo Comments

Low: Messi is more complete than Ronaldo

La Liga

Lionel Messi's ability to both score and create goals means Germany boss Joachim Low would favour him in his team ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. Debate over which of the two La Liga stars boasts the greater legacy is set to continue during the World Cup as they both seek to claim football's biggest team prize for the first time. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ronaldo will hope for a similar success Portugal enjoyed at Euro 2016 while Messi is seeking to atone for Argentina's defeat in the final against Germany in 2014. Low got the better of the Barcelona star in that match, but he would love to have the attacker in Germany colours over Real Madrid's Ronaldo. "I would stick with Messi," Low told Bild. "Cristiano Ronaldo is sensational, a very good prof...

May212018 by JBNo Comments

Messi confirms he wants Griezmann at Barcelona

Transfer Info, La Liga, UEFA

Barcelona's players continue to talk in a positive way about the possible arrival of Antoine Griezmann during the transfer summer with the latest being Lionel Messi. A couple of weeks ago, it was the turn of Luis Suarez, who revealed that he would welcome the signing of the France international. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Now, it is Lionel Messi who has conceded that he would be happy to see Griezmann arrive at the Camp Nou during the transfer window. "It is obvious that I like him, he is one of the best players right now," Messi said. "I don't know if there's anything in it but we're delighted to have the best here and Griezmann is one of them." Messi also talked about the season as a whole as the league came to an end and believes that it h...