Raissa's Blog - Best of Sports, Culture, and Entertainment

Barcelona seem to be back to their winning ways barely a few hours after Josep maria Bartomeu resigned as president of the club. Barcelona were able to beat Juventus at Turin, thanks to a masterclass display from Messi and co. Messi assisted Ousmane Dembele's deflected opener with a stunning cross-field pass and sealed victory for Barcelona by converting a late penalty, which resulted in a 2-0 win over the Bianconeri in the Champions League on Wednesday. He also completed more take-ons (6) and created more chances (5) than any other player on the pitch. Barcelona top Group G with 6 points in two games played. Italian football legend Vieri was left dumbfounded by the Argentine's brilliance on the pitch and told CBS Sports:  "An amazing Barcelona, there was no game. They could've scored six, seven goals easy. They played fantastic. "Messi is a magician, he's the Harry Potter of soccer and when he stops playing, I'm throwing my TVs away. I'm not going

Lionel Messi scored for Barcelona in their 5-1 win vs Hungarian side Ferencvaros in their first Champions League outing of the season. He scored his 116th Champions League goal - a first half penalty, becoming the first player to score in 16 consecutive Champions League seasons. So far, Manchester United great Ryan Giggs is the only player to have scored in 16 Champions League seasons, though not in consecutive years. Messi also extended his record of teams scored against in the Champions League to 36. He has now scored 69 goals in the Champions League group stage - more than any other player. 17-year-old Ansu Fati also scored, becoming the first player under the age of 18 to score two Champions League goals after scoring Barcelona's second goal for the night.

Former Real Madrid ace Hugo Sanchez blames Messi's father, Jorge Messi, for Messi's failed Barcelona exit. Last week, Lionel Messi informed Barcelona of his decision to leave, sending shockwaves throughout the football world. Messi was desperate to leave with things not moving well at Barcelona.  Alas, Jorge who serves as Messi's agent and representative was unable to reach an agreement with Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu, so Messi withdrew his request to leave.  Jorge coached Messi at his first club, Grandoli, in Rosario and has been in control of his son's off-field affairs for the past 20 years. On Friday, On Friday, Messi announced he would remain at Camp Nou because the financial demands made by the Barcelona board for a transfer to happen made his exit "impossible". Sanchez who scored 208 goals for Los Blancos during his career told ESPN:  "That untimely burofax only strengthened the image of the president of Barcelona and gave him time

Messi was once more sensational for Barcelona as they beat Napoli 3-1 in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 (4-2 on aggregate). Barcelona were already leading in the 10th minute at Camp Nou thanks to Clement Lenglet's header from an Ivan Rakitic corner. Messi then doubled the lead for Barcelona in style in the 23rd minute as he wriggled his way past three defenders, before bending a shot between a further two Napoli players, and into the far side of David Ospina's net. Messi scored another goal 7 minutes later, but it was ruled out by VAR. Luis Suarez scored Barcelona's third goal of the night - a penalty awarded after Kalidou Koulibaly felled Messi. This happened to be Suarez's 25th Champions League goal. Napoli scored their lone goal of the game at the end of the first half, through Lorenzo Insigne. Messi's performance for Barcelona earned him the Man of the Match (MOTM) award. Barcelona are set to play Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter

The World Health Organization defines obesity and overweight as abnormal and excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. The most commonly index used in classifying overweight or obesity in adults is the body mass index (BMI). This is weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m2). A BMI equal to or greater than 25 is classified overweight, and that which is equal to or greater than 30 is classified obese.  Obesity usually results from consuming more calories than the quantity spent. When a person consumes more energy dense foods without an equivalent increase in energy expenditure (physical activity), weight gain follows. Also, a decrease in the amount of physical activity without a decrease in calories consumed will result in weight gain. Here are some interesting facts about obesity: 1. Obesity and being overweight in general predisposes a person to noncommunicable diseases like type 2 diabetes; cancers like endometrial, colon, kidney, bre

France Football has announced that there will be no Ballon d'Or awards or ceremony this year, due to the "lack of sufficient fair conditions". The prestigious award has been handed out to the best player in the world since 156, but the decision to cancel this year comes as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the detrimental effects it has had on football. In a statement in their official website, France Football said: “For the first time in its history, which began in 1956, the Ballon d'Or will not be awarded in 2020, due to the lack of sufficient fair conditions.  “Messi and Rapinoe (as well as [Mattijs] de Ligt and Alisson, winners of the Kopa and Yachine Trophies [for young player and goalkeeper]) will have to wait a year. The winners of the last edition will have no successors at the end of the year. Because there will be no Ballon d'Or 2020 edition. "Why? Because such a singular year cannot - and should not - be treated as an ordinary ye