Jose Mourinho was quick to dismiss comparisons of Eden Hazard to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi following the Belgian’swonderful hat trick against Newcastle United on Saturday. Hazard scored all three goals as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 win, emerging at the end of the weekend at the top of the Premier League standings,after Arsenal was […]
lionel messi
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Former Barca Assistant Blasts Messi's 'Lack of Passion'
Former Barcelona assistant coach Angel Cappa has criticized four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi for his ‘lack of passion’ since his returnto the Barcelona lineup from a muscular injury. “To play soccer you need to be brimming over with passion, like what Messi had, what the great players had, [Diego]Maradona…” Cappa told Esports en Xarxa. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Barca Loses Top Spot Following Valencia Defeat
Barcelona’s record run of 59 consecutive games at the top of Spain’s La Liga ended this weekend as the Blaugrana lost 3-2 at home to Valencia on Saturday. The next day, Atletico Madridrose to the top of the table with a 4-0 trouncing of Real Sociedad. Barca took a seventh-minute lead through Alexis Sanchez’s bungled […]
Posted inCommentary, Soccer America Daily
Dempsey joins Messi and RVP in Pepsi lineup
[SOCCER BUSINESS] American Clint Dempsey is part of Pepsi’s global lineup of soccer stars that includes Leo Messi and Robin van Persie in the 2014 Pepsi Football campaign.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Media Reaction to Cristiano's Big Night
The reaction in the Spanish press to Cristiano Ronaldo winning the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or was nearly unanimous: that the best man had won soccer’s top individual prize.In the capital, the top sports papers celebrated the Real Madrid forward’s victory. AS led with ‘The Best Won’ on its cover, while Marca chose the headline‘Lloro’ — […]
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Messi Bags Brace in Return, Wants Barca Stay
He’s back! Lionel Messi bagged a brace in 26 minutes of action on Wednesday as Barcelona thumped Getafe, 4-0, at the Camp Nou. Messi, who had been sidelined by a hamstringinjury since mid-November, added gloss to a comprehensive performance from the home team, scoring two late goals after coming on as a substitute in the […]
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Report: Messi to Return for Copa Clash
Lionel Messi on Tuesday received the all-clear from Barcelona’s medical staff to make his return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since October.According to Mundo Deportivo, coach Gerardo Martino will give the Argentina international some playing time in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey first-leg clash with Getafe.
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Ronaldo to Attend Ballon d'Or Ceremony
Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed on Monday that he will attend the FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich on Jan. 13, despite the Real Madrid forward’s strained relationship with theorganization’s president, Sepp Blatter. Last fall, Blatter revealed that he prefers Barcelona’s four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi to Ronaldo, acomment for which the FIFA chief was widely […]
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Martino Won't Rush Messi Back
Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino says he will not send Lionel Messi back into action until he is 100 percent sure that he has overcome all his recent injury issues.Messi, who watched from the stands as Barca thrashed Elche 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Sunday, has not played since early October. After the game, Martino […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Report: PSG to Launch Massive Messi Bid
Paris Saint-Germain could be set to test Lionel Messi’s commitment to Barcelona as Le Parisien reports that the super-rich Ligue 1 club is preparing a world record 210million pound ($346 million) bid for the Argentina captain, a fee that would nearly triple the current world record transfer set by Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale last summer.Earlier […]