[FIFA GALA AWARDS] At the age of 25, Lionel Messi can already lay claim to consideration as one of the greatest playersin the history of soccer. He won an unprecedented fourth straight FIFA Ballon d’Or following a year during which he scored a world record 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina. Threeplayers have won the […]
argentina
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Early leader in the clubhouse
[VIDEO PICK: Golazo] Santa arrived late for Nicolas Gaitan in Portugal on Sunday when the Benfica midfielder opened a lavish gift to us all,the best backheel of 2013. On Monday the world celebrated a left-footed Argentine for scoring 91 goals in a calendar year at the age of 25. Today we’re recognizing another forscoring just […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Lionel Messi — who else?
[VIDEO PICK: La Pulga] A looming fourth Ballon d’Or by the third best athlete in Argentina warrants melodramatic music married to epic footwork, we trust you’llagree. The video wing of Soccer America tends to shy away from Lionel Messi’s exploits, possibly because he’d have to parachute into the Camp Nou and scoreblindfolded for any of […]
Posted inSoccer Business Insider, Story
Messi interviewed on '60 Minutes Sports' premiere
By Paul Kennedy Lionel Messi will one of the interviews on the first edition of “60 Minutes Sports,”which debuts Jan. 8 on Showtime (10 p.m. ET/PT). Bob Simon went to Spain to talk to Messi foe the new monthly magazine program from the makers ofthe iconic CBS News series “60 Minutes.” Messi, who broke the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Reports of Maradona talks with Iraq quashed
The Iraqi Football Association quashed talk that it was negotiating with Argentine great Diego Maradona to coach its national team. “There is nonegotiation between Iraqi Football Association with Diego Maradona and it doesn’t have any intention to hire him,” said deputy IFA head Abdul-Khaliq Masoud. The denial follow reports out of Argentina that Maradona was […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Messi Rated Third Best Athlete in Argentina in 2012
Despite scoring 90 goals this year — a world record — Lionel Messi has been rated the third best athlete in Argentina in 2012, according to a poll of journalists in the country.Boxer Sergio Martinez and taekwondo fighter Sebastian Crismanich both finished higher than the FC Barcelona striker. Martinez won the Olimpia de Oroearlier this […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Drops to 28, Brazil to 18, in Final 2012 FIFA Ranking
FIFA on Wednesday released its end-of-year international rankings, which saw World and European champion Spain complete a full year at the summit, while Brazil plummeted to No. 18 and the UnitedStates fell one spot to No. 28. Brazil’s steady fall has had much to do with the fact that it is only playing non-competitive games, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sporting KC looks to DP Bieler to boost attack
[MLS TRANSACTIONS] Eastern Conference champion Sporting Kansas City continued its aggressive pursuit of talent by signing 28-year-old Argentine Claudio Bieler, who becomes the first Designated Player signed by an MLS club in the offseason. Sporting KC is banking on Bieler sticking around longer than theclub’s previous three DP signings.
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Blatter: organizers put on warning
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the incidents that took place at the aborted Copa Sudamericana final in Sao Paulo last week should give Brazilian organizersof the 2014 World Cup pause to consider what can go wrong if they don’t take the proper security measures. Wednesday’s abandoned match between Sao Paolo and Tigre of Argentina in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Guns, Violence Lead to Abandoned Copa Sudamericana Final
Brazilian soccer’s image suffered a massive blow on Wednesday when the second-leg of the final of the Copa Sudamericana was abandoned in Sao Paulo after the visiting team, Argentine clubTigre, refused to take the field in the second half. Sao Paulo was leading 2-0 after the first half, and was subsequently awarded the title. Tigre […]