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Messi's masterclass display and hat-trick vs Celta Vigo have seen Barcelona return to the top of the La Liga table. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are on 25 points but Barcelona are back to the top of La Liga thanks to a +2 superior goal difference over Real Madrid. With just nine points so far, Celta remain in the relegation zone. Messi scored from the penalty spot then scored two impeccable freekicks. Messi's first goal was scored in the 23rd minute. Lucas Olaza equalized for Celta Vigo via free kick 42 minutes into play. Messi's second goal came in just before the break, in the 46th minute of the encounter. He went on to score his third three minutes after half-time Sergio Busquets scored Barcelona's fourth goal in the 85th minute of play to close up Barcelona's comprehensive win.  Messi has scored two freekicks in one match in his career three times altogether. The first time was against Sevilla in the 2015/2016 UEFA Super Cup, and the second time was

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is without a doubt the heartbeat of Barcelona and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is doing everything he can to keep the Argentine at Barcelona for the rest of his career as a professional football player. Leo's current contract with Barcelona is set to expire in 2021 and Bartomeu wishes to offer Messi an 'indefinite' contract so he ends his career in Catalonia. During an interview with Associated Press, Bartomeu said, 'Over the next two or three seasons, our leader will continue to be Messi.  'However, there will be other young players coming in. Some will come from abroad, some will come from La Masia. We are content because we are preparing for the post-Messi era.' The 32-year-old Argentine has shown no signs of slowing down yet, and if properly managed can give Barcelona three to five more productive years.  ‘I always make a comparison with Pelé,' explained Bartomeu. 'Pelé was a man from only one club [in B

Lionel Messi has now scored six goals in the last five games he has played for Barcelona. In yesterday’s (November 2nd) La Liga encounter with Levante, a 38th minute goal scored by Messi from the penalty spot put Barcelona ahead, but the hosts flabbergasted the visitors in the second half scoring three goals within eight minutes. Jose Campana equalized at the hour mark (61st minute), and Borja Majoral and Nemanja Radoja scored in the 63rd and 67th minute respectively. Messi scored again a few moments later but the goal was ruled out for an offside by Griezmann after a VAR review. Messi has now scored 500 goals with his left foot for Barcelona in all competitions, 82.15 of his total tally of 609 for the Catalan giants. Barcelona shall host Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday then face Celta Vigo at Camp Nou in La Liga next Saturday. If Real Madrid beat Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Saturday, they shall overtake Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Following Levant

For the first time, Barcelona's attack trio of Messi, Suarez and Griezmann marked their names on the scoresheet in the same game. Barcelona had a 3 - 0 victory over Eibar in Saturday's game. Antoine Griezmann was the first to score for Barcelona in the first half. He later on provided an assist for Messi's goal, which came second. What was even more striking was the third goal, which once more portrayed Messi as a selfless player. Messi was charging through on goal, and decided to lay the ball into the path of Suarez so he could score, instead of scoring himself given the clear opportunity he had.  This is not the first time Messi has been unselfish in his career. He usually allows him teammates to take penalties when they ask him. He also passes the ball to players whenever they are better positioned to score.

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi was awarded his sixth Golden Shoe on Wednesday at a ceremony in Barcelona. The said award is given to the player who scores the most league goals across Europe’s top leagues. The Golden Shoe award was created in 1967 when it was won by Eusebio. This happens to be Messi’s third successive Golden Shoe award. Messi scored 36 goals in 34 appearances in the 2018-19 La Liga season. Receiving the award on the 16 th of October was special for Messi and Barcelona as it was the 15-year anniversary of his Barcelona debut. Messi has two more Golden Shoes than Cristiano Ronaldo who last won the award in the 2014-15 football season. Messi received the award from his sons Thiago and Mateo. His wife Antonella Rocuzzo supervised the handing of the award by the couple’s sons. Messi thanked his family and colleagues after receiving the award, saying: "Thank you all for being here to all those present, especially my family. Luis [Suarez] and Jordi [Alba] are

The Barcelona No. 10 has suffered a rather frustrating start to the season, plagued with injury. Messi was forced to sit out Barcelona's first four league games with a calf injury. His first start - against Villarreal - only lasted 45 minutes then he suffered an adductor strain and had to miss another game. He was able to set up Antoine Griezmman's first-half goal before succumbing to injury. Messi returned last week, midweek and set up Luis Suarez's second goal in Barcelona's 2 - 1 win over Inter in the Champions League. That was his first 90 minute game this season. His second was against Sevilla yesterday. Luis Suarez, Arturo Vidal and Ousmane Dembele scored 3 goals and gave Barcelona an early first half lead, with Messi sealing the comprehensive win over Sevilla in the last ten minutes (through a stunning free-kick). That was Messi's 420th league goal. He broke Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 419 goals scored in Europe's 'top five' leagues

Lionel Messi just played his first whole 90 mins game since the start of the 2019/2020 football season. Barcelona were taken unawares with Inter Milan striking first in yesterday's Champions League game. Eventually, the Blaugrana won the game 2 -1, with Luis Suarez netting twice to earn Barcelona the much needed three points. Suarez's second goal was clinically set up by Messi.  Messi may not have scored in yesterday's game, but he had so much influence on Barcelona's attacking play. After the game, the 32-year-old Barcelona captain said, "I am still getting started. "This the first time that I have completed 90 minutes. As the season goes on I will gradually let loose." Messi did a bit of everything for Barcelona’s attack 🔑 pic.twitter.com/CuQZzeQpya — B/R Football (@brfootball) October 2, 2019 Messi was asked about his relationship with Antoine Griezmann, one of the team's summer signings, to which he replied, "Obviously we ha

Lionel Messi has conquered the football world and is now looking forward to doing same in the world of fashion. Messi took the night off football yesterday, to debut his new clothing range "Messi" on the Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona. Messi's sister, Maria Sol Messi, was heavily involved in the project. She told the crowd,  "It's a dream come true. Fashion is what I like the most, ever since I was a child, and it was always a dream of mine to be involved with a clothing brand. I studied a lot to dedicate myself to this profession. When an opportunity such as this one presents itself, you have to take advantage of it." Rodrigo Messi, Messi's brother was also in attendance. The 'Messi' debut drew a lot of attention with large crowds turning out to see with the Barcelona talisman had come up with.

Ramon Besa of  El Pais  recently reported that there is a clause in Lionel Messi's contract with Barcelona - which runs until 2021 - that says he is free to walk away from Barcelona at the end of any given season. This information has been confirmed by Goal.com. Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andres Iniesta all had similar clauses in their contracts during their final years at the club. World Cup-winning defender Gerard Pique revealed he was aware of the clause but doesn't think Messi would be leaving Barcelona anytime soon. He told  Cadena Ser , "I already knew Messi is able to leave for free at the end of each season.  “But we all know the commitment Leo has to Barca and it doesn't worry me at all. He's earned the right to be able to choose what he does with his future after everything he's given the club.” 32-year-old Messi made his senior Barcelona debut at the age of 17, in 2004. Since then, he has won 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagu

In an interview broadcast by Portuguese television channel TVI, Cristiano Ronaldo opened up about his relationship and rivalry with Lionel Messi. Both players are considered to be two of the greatest players in football history. In the interview, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo said his rivalry with the Barcelona ace has pushed him to become a better player.  "I really admire the career he has had so far and, for his part, he has already said that he had trouble when I left the Spanish league because it is a rivalry that he appreciates,” he said. "It is a good rivalry that exists in football, but this is no exception. “Michael Jordan had rivals in basketball, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were great rivals in Formula 1, the only common point between all the big rivalries in the sport is that they are healthy. "Messi makes me a better player and vice versa.” Both players have five Ballon d'Or awards each, and share nine Champion League titles - five for

10 candidates have been shortlisted by FIFA for this year's Puskas Award. The Puskas Award is bestowed on the most beautiful goal scored in the calendar year. Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah won the 2018 edition of the award for his virtuoso goal against Everton in the Premier League. A fan vote, which ends on September 1, will decide on the goals that make the top three. A panel of FIFA legends will them decide upon the overall winner from the final three.  Messi's outrageous chip against Real Betis in La Liga in March is among the nominated goals. Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo however didn't make the cut. Africa is represented by Cameroon's Ajara Nchout. You can vote your favorite goal here . The full list of nominees: ·          Billie Simpson  (Northern Ireland) - Sion Swifts Ladies vs Cliftonville Ladies (9 August 2018) ·          Fabio Quagliarella  (Italy) - Sampdoria vs Napoli (2 September 2018) ·          Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)   - T

Former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho is about to be a Bayern Munich player. Barcelona and Bayern Munich reached an agreement in which Coutinho would play for Bayern Munich for a season. "I can confirm [Bayern sporting director] Hasan Salihamidzic and I were in Barcelona last Wednesday. And we reached an agreement with both the club and the player over a transfer," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.    "The player is expected here in Munich in the next days, Sunday or Monday at the latest. He'll do his medical and then sign his contract," he added. 27-year-old Coutinho is expected to travel to Munich in the coming days to finalize the transfer and undergo a medical with the club. The contract gives Bayern Munich the option to make the transfer permanent at the end of his loan spell. In his 76 games played for Barcelona, Coutinho has scored 21 goals. He has however been unable to replicate the exceptional displays of his Liverpool days whi

One can confidently say Lionel Messi is one of Cristiano Ronaldo's favorite discussion themes given that Ronaldo has regularly spoken about the Barcelona talisman and their fierce rivalry throughout his career. He's either claiming to be the better of the pair, praising him or requesting he follows him to Italy. Messi on the other hand being a very private person rarely speaks about Ronaldo. In March, he however admitted to missing he and Ronaldo's battles in La Liga.  Ronaldo recently claimed the difference between Messi and himself is that he has won the Champions League with different clubs. Herewith a compilation of all of Ronaldo's comments about Messi. May 2009 | ‘I’m still No.1’ Prior to the 2009 Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona, Ronaldo claimed he would remain the world's best player regardless of the outcome of the final. Ronaldo went on to be crowned World Player of the Year for 2008 ahead of Messi. “It made me p

Lionel Messi's free-kick against Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals was voted UEFA Goal of the Season for 2018/2019. Messi's free-kick was his second goal of the night and 600th for Barcelona. This is the third time the Argentinian has claimed the award, winning the first two editions of the award - 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Messi won the vote ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo who was in contention thanks to his group stage volley for Juventus against Manchester United. UEFA.com Goal of the Season roll of honor 2018 : Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) v Juventus, 03/04/18 2017 : Mario Mandžukić (Juventus) v Real Madrid, 03/06/17 2016 : Lionel Messi (Barcelona) v Roma, 24/11/15 2015 : Lionel Messi (Barcelona) v Bayern, 06/05/15  

34-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo was a guest in the latest DAZN documentary 'The Making Of'. In the documentary, he throws light on the ongoing debate of who the better play is between himself and Messi. When asked how he differs to Messi, he points out that he's won the Champions League for different clubs. “The difference with Messi is that I played for several clubs and won the Champions League with different clubs,” said Ronaldo. “I was top scorer in the Champions League six seasons in a row. There aren’t many players who won five Champions League trophies, so this is why I feel that I can identity myself with this tournament. “Messi is an excellent player who will be remembered not just for his Ballon d’Or wins, but also for having improved – like me – year after year. “I wake up every morning with the idea in my head of training with the objective of achieving something more, not just to earn money.  “Thank God, I don’t lack money, so what I want to ear

Former Barcelona and Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal hit out at Lionel Messi on the latter's birthday with stern criticism. Van Gaal blames the Barcelona captain for Barcelona's failure to win the coveted Champions League trophy since 2015. The 67-year-old also believes his successors have given the Blaugrana 10 too much freedom in recent years. He claimed Messi should be adapting to the team and not the team to him. Last season, Barcelona lost to eventual Champions League winners, Liverpool, in the semi-final. “I believe that there is nothing more important than the team player,” said Van Gaal. “Barca suffer from that. I think Messi should ask himself how it is possible that he’s gone so long without winning a Champions League. “Look at Barcelona. How many Champions Leagues have they won with the one everybody says is the best player in the world? Look at Neymar at PSG. How many Champions Leagues has he won? “He’s the best individual player in the world because

Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi and close friends. The pair have played together from the age of 12 to 16, at La Masia, and were reunited in 2011 when Fabregas returned to Barcelona, for a three-year spell, before joining Chelsea. The former Chelsea man believes Lionel Messi is now "a more complete player than ever" at the age of 32. Fabregas currently lays for Monaco, and had earlier played for Arsenal, aged 16. Fabregas outlined to Goal why he believes Messi has gotten better with age, despite taking on players less often.  “That's the thing with Leo, he reinvents himself season after season,” Cesc said of the Rosario-born star. “Maybe he is not the player who dribbles past three, four or five players and score an outstanding goal any more. “Instead, now, he prefers to do 50-yard passes, leaving Jordi Alba one-versus-one with the goalkeeper.  “He sees one-twos around the box, he might do a chip and an assist... I think now he is more complete than ever.” W