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[ad_1] BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said Thursday he understood Lionel Messi's desire to avoid the "pressure" of a return to the Catalan giants this summer. Messi, 35, announced Wednesday he will play at American side Inter Miami in Major League Soccer after ending his two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine playmaker, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, had options to return to the Catalan club where he carved out his legacy, or take a megabucks move to Saudi Arabia. "He hasn't had a good time in these two years (in Paris) and now he doesn't want that type of pressure," Xavi said on Twitch. "It's a personal decision and the circumstances didn't help, but the decision is Leo's and we have to respect it, he's the best in history." Xavi said he had spoken a lot with Messi over the past few months but he noticed "a change" over the past few days. "Maybe he didn't see it s

[ad_1] NASHVILLE: Lionel Messi scored a screamer and won his first trophy in North American soccer as Inter Miami beat Nashville on penalties (10-9) after their final ended 1-1 in 90 minutes. The Argentine World Cup winner had put Miami ahead in the 24th minute with a wonder strike into the top corner but Fafa Picault levelled for Nashville in the second half. After Messi hit the post and Leonardo Campana missed a last second chance to win the game in regulation for Miami, the game went to a shoot-out which ended in a duel between the two keepers and Elliot Panicco's shot being saved by Miami's Drake Callender. Messi and his team-mates rushed to celebrate with the American goalkeeper, who had made some key saves late in the game to keep his team alive. Miami, in their third season of existence, were rock bottom of Major League Soccer when Messi joined them a month ago but Messi, along with Spanish pair Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, has utterly transformed the te

[ad_1] Football legend Lionel Messi’s set of six jerseys that he wore during Argentina's victorious 2022 World Cup run will be auctioned in December and is expected to fetch more than $10 million, the world’s top dealer of fine collectibles announced on Monday. “The 2022 FIFA World Cup stands as one of the greatest events in sports history, intrinsically connected to Messi’s valiant journey and firmly establishing his status as the greatest player of all time,” said Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles Brahm Wachter. “The sale of these six shirts stands as a monumental occasion in auction history, offering fans and collectors a connection to Messi’s crowning achievement. It is an honor for Sotheby’s to present and exhibit these invaluable collectables to the public, which encapsulate the sheer brilliance of a player who has redefined the boundaries of football excellence.” The football star donned these shirts during the first halves of the group-stage rounds against Sa

[ad_1] PARIS: Lionel Messi is "much more likely" to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season than sign a new deal, a source close to the club told AFP on Tuesday. "The dynamics have completely changed with PSG less pushing to renew (his contract)," the source said, adding that there was "no deal, no exit yet. But exit is much more likely." World Cup winner Messi , who will turn 36 in June, joined in 2021 on a two-year deal which expires at the end of this campaign. On Sunday, the Argentine's name was jeered by some PSG fans as the teams were announced prior to the 1-0 home defeat against Lyon in Ligue 1. Supporters of the Qatar-owned club are unhappy at the malaise around the team since they were eliminated from the Champions League in the last 16 by Bayern Munich last month. PSG have lost eight times in 18 games in 2023, a run which has seen them go out of the French Cup prematurely although they remain six points clear at the

[ad_1] As Cristiano Ronaldo now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr, Lionel Messi continues to play in one of Europe's top-5 leagues like the Ligue 1, with Paris Saint Germain and this Saturday he scored his 702nd goal in Europe following his stint at FC Barcelona before arriving to the French squad a couple of seasons ago. With this goal, Messi edges Cristiano Ronaldo once again after his World Cup win at Qatar 2022. Messi also reached 1,000 goal contributions, as on top of his 702 goals he also has given 298 assists in European football. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's future is still up in the air as his contract expires next summer and much has been speculated in the media. The Argentinian forward is still in great shape and might choose to continue playing in the highest level of competition as he hasn't been able to win a UEFA Champions League after his exit for Camp Nou. Messi is 35 years old and it could be said that he has the soccer world at hi

[ad_1] MIAMI: Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets has signed a contract with Inter Miami that will see him reunited with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi through the 2025 season, the Major League Soccer club said Sunday. Completion of the deal comes a day after Messi, who sparked Argentina to a World Cup title last year in Qatar, signed his own contract with the club. Inter had announced last month that they were acquiring Busquets, who will be reunited with his former Barcelona teammate Messi. The one-time World Cup champion, nine-time La Liga winner and former Barca captain will occupy a Designated Player slot and is expected to join the team "in the coming days," Inter said. "I am excited to welcome Sergio Busquets to Inter Miami," managing owner Jorge Mas said in a statement. "Since day one we have set out to bring the world's best players to Inter Miami. Sergio's repertoire speaks for itself." Busquets, 34, said in May that he wo

[ad_1] FORT LAUDERDALE: It rained on his parade, but Lionel Messi greeted his new Inter Miami fans and was hailed by the club's owner as "America's number 10" at a damp but celebratory unveiling event on Sunday. Miami's 20,000 capacity stadium was close to full despite a huge thunder storm just before the event to celebrate the arrival of the Argentine World Cup winner was due to begin. A massive tropical downpour forced organizers to delay the start of "The Unveil" as fans took cover or waited out the rain in their cars. The event started around two hours later than originally scheduled with wet but delighted fans chanting Messi's name as the lights dimmed on the venue. The club's co-owner David Beckham opened the ceremony saying Messi's arrival was a "dream come true". "Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for the next stage in your career," said the former Manchester United player whose move

[ad_1] A sold-out crowd of about 20,000 waited through a delay caused by torrential rain and heavy lightning to officially welcome Lionel Messi to Inter Miami on Sunday. Accoding to international media reports, the ceremony, dubbed La PresentaSIon, at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also marked Miami’s official signing of former FC Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. The 35-year-old Spaniard landed a deal that runs through the 2025 season. The event started about two hours later than originally scheduled with wet but delighted fans chanting Messi’s name as the lights dimmed on the venue. The club’s co-owner David Beckham opened the ceremony, saying Messi’s arrival was a “dream come true”. “Leo, we are so proud that you have chosen our club for the next stage in your career,” said the former Manchester United player whose move to MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 was the league’s previous biggest arrival. “Welcome to our family Leo,” Beckham added in Spanish,

[ad_1] MIAMI: Lionel Messi's next club, Inter Miami , announced Friday it will hold a presentation event, called 'The Unveil', on July 16 at its home stadium. Argentine seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi said last month that he was moving to the Major League Soccer club after allowing his contract at Paris Saint-Germain to run out. "The major unveiling event will include exciting entertainment, speeches on the pitch and more," the club said in a press release, which did not mention Messi by name. Messi , who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, is expected to be joined at Miami by his former Barcelona teammate and ex-Spain international midfielder Sergio Busquets and the pair could be presented together. The club recently appointed former Barcelona and Argentina coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino to take charge of the team. Messi is expected to make his debut on July 21 against Mexican club Cruz Azul in the new Leagues Cup – a tourn