All posts by h716a5.icu

The recent summer transfer window saw Manchester United end their search for a new number nine, with the Red Devils forking out roughly £72m in order to prise Danish sensation Rasmus Hojlund from Serie A side, Atalanta.

With manager Erik ten Hag having been forced to muddle through with Anthony Martial and Wout Weghorst as his senior centre-forward options last term – following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo – the hope will be that young Hojlund can hit the ground running following his return from international duty.

In truth, the Red Devils have been crying out for a long-term solution in that number nine berth for a number of years, having too often sought out a short-term fix with the signings of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and that man, Ronaldo.

Ever since Robin van Persie powered Sir Alex Ferguson and co to the Premier League title in 2012/13 with 26 top-flight goals, Old Trafford has been crying out for a prolific presence to lead the line in the hope of reviving those prior glory years.

In the case of Hojlund, the 20-year-old will need to avoid suffering a similar fate to that of United's last big-money centre-forward signing – Romelu Lukaku – with the Belgian hitman having underwhelmed both during his time in Manchester and since.

How much did Manchester United pay for Lukaku?

The towering marksman had first caught the eye of Premier League audiences after scoring 17 league goals during his season-long loan stint with West Bromwich Albion in 2012/13, memorably bagging a hat-trick to spoil Ferguson's farewell game in the 5-5 thriller at the Hawthorns on the final day of that campaign.

That was followed by a haul of 15 league goals while on loan at Everton the year after, with the former Anderlecht man subsequently scoring 87 goals in total for the Toffees after signing on a permanent deal in 2014.

Having seemingly seen enough to be impressed by the 6 foot 3 powerhouse over the previous five years or so, then-United boss Jose Mourinho – who had coached Lukaku at Stamford Bridge in the past – was keen on a reunion with his former asset at the Theatre of Dreams in the summer of 2017.

As it proved, the Red Devils willingly coughed up £75m in order to sign the Antwerp-born goal machine, with two goals on his league debut for the club appearing to suggest that it had been money well spent as far as Mourinho and co were concerned…

What went wrong for Lukaku at Man United?

While unable to have quite the impact that was expected, it was hardly a dismal debut season at United for Lukaku as he scored 27 goals and provided nine assists in 51 games in all competitions, with Ten Hag likely to count himself lucky if Hojlund can get anywhere close to such a tally.

That being said, however, the polarising figure would go on to net just a further 15 times in the following season as his form swiftly tumbled, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst stating at the time that the striker had been partly responsible for Mourinho's subsequent sacking due to his "woeful and costly finishing".

The misfiring asset wasn't only something of a liability in front of goal, however, with former title winner Lee Sharpe particularly critical at the time of the forward's hold-up play, stating: "I've never seen a centre forward with such a bad touch.

“If your centre forward can't hold the ball up, it makes it a very hard game".

While Luckhurst predicted that the marksman would "doubtless benefit from being coached by [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer", his face didn't fit as far as the Norwegian was concerned, with the treble winner favouring a more fluid forward line in the second half of the 2018/19 campaign, involving the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

Alexis Sanchez

£350k

Paul Pogba

£290k

David De Gea

£200k

Romelu Lukaku

£180k

Juan Mata

£160k

Luke Shaw

£150k

Fred

£120k

Ashley Young

£120k

Nemanja Matic

£120k

Ander Herrera

£115k

Stats via Capology

That decline had partly been impacted by Lukaku's own admission that had "bulked up too much" following the 2018 World Cup, with club legend Gary Neville subsequently stating that the departing forward was "overweight", amid his impending move to Inter Milan in 2019.

How much did Man United sell Lukaku for?

To United's credit, a club that has typically been rather poor with regard to selling players – after leading the way in Europe over the last decade due to their negative net spend – managed to recoup almost all of their initial investment in Lukaku, after moving him on to Italy for £74m.

That sale proved a blessing for both parties as Belgium's record scorer rediscovered his scoring touch at San Siro, firing in 47 league goals combined across the next two seasons, while enjoying Scudetto success with Antonio Conte's side in 2020/21.

Such a golden period of consistency attracted the attention of clubs back in the Premier League – despite his mixed fortunes at United – with former employers Chelsea coughing up a mammoth £97.5m in order to prise Lukaku in the summer of 2021.

How much is Lukaku worth now?

The Blues must be kicking themselves to have invested so heavily in the £325k-per-week man only to have seen it blow up in their face, with the 109-cap international lasting just one season back in England before returning to Inter on loan last summer.

That reunion with the Italian giants did not prove a happy one, however, as Lukaku scored just 15 goals in all competitions last season after slipping behind Edin Dzeko in the attacking pecking order, with the 30-year-old subsequently souring his relations with the Nerazzurri after reportedly negotiating a move to rivals Juventus in the recent window.

Now back under the watchful eye of Mourinho at AS Roma, the Belgian's stock has fallen to such an extent that he is now said to be worth just €30m (£25m), according to CIES Football Observatory, with that £49m less than what Solskjaer and co sold him for just four years ago.

That would suggest that while it hasn't been said often in the post-Ferguson era at United, the club did hit the jackpot by managing to move on Lukaku so quickly and without taking a major financial hit – with the less said about his time at Old Trafford, the better.

The New Zealand coach disagreed with his England counterpart Trevor Bayliss over how much T20 cricket should be played at international level

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2018New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has said that Eden Park, the ground at which Australia mounted a record T20 chase of 244, is a “great cricket venue” and that games held there were not just run-fests. He also emphasised the importance of the Auckland venue for New Zealand cricket, with Eden Park receiving one of the higher footfalls in the country.”I think you’ve just got to look at history haven’t you, and how many great games of cricket we’ve had at Eden Park,” Hesson said after New Zealand qualified for the final of the Trans-Tasman T20 tournament. “Not all of them have been 244 in a T20. We’ve had that many different games here – a couple of Chappell-Hadlee games in recent times, the World Cup where the Black Caps only just got home chasing 152 in a one-day international. Every game’s different. It’s a great cricket venue.”Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, had called for T20 internationals to be struck off, save for “maybe six months” before a World T20. “Look, I haven’t changed my opinion on it. I wouldn’t play T20 internationals,” Bayliss had told “I’d just let the franchises play. If we continue putting on so many games there’ll be a certain amount of blowout, not just players but coaches as well.”Hesson, however, disagreed with Bayliss, and said there was a “revenue-generation issue” that couldn’t be discounted in the context of New Zealand cricket. “In some countries that’s not as big a deal, but for New Zealand Cricket, to get 35,000 at Eden Park or whatever it was the other day, that’s huge for us, and huge for the game, and huge for the promotion of the game,” he said. “We certainly get great support for T20 internationals over here. Too right they are [meaningful]. Every international you play is incredibly meaningful. You’ve got guys who only play T20 and that’s their chance to play international cricket, so absolutely.”Looking ahead to the tri-series final at Eden Park on Wednesday, Hesson said Australia were favourites after winning all four of their league games. The match will be played on the same pitch on which Australia chased 244 against New Zealand on Friday.”Sometimes when you’re under pressure like that, you do end up chasing the game,” Hesson said. “A big part of T20 cricket is trying to be ahead of it, and that’s easier said than done when you’ve got such good ball strikers on a good surface. We’re going to come up with a couple of different things and see how that works.”

Tottenham Hotspur could "potentially" make a deadline day move for another Chelsea player in versatile ace Trevoh Chalobah, with journalist Sami Mokbel sharing what he knows.

Will Spurs sign anyone else on deadline day?

As reliably reported, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has been boosted by the pending arrival of Wales international forward Brennan Johnson, who is set for a medical at Hotspur Way.

This comes after both the north Londoners and Nottingham Forest reached an agreement over the transfer of Johnson, which amounts to around £40 million plus add-ons (Fabrizio Romano).

The 22-year-old comes in as a replacement for Harry Kane after the striker sealed a multi-million pound move to Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich earlier in the window.

Not exactly a like-for-like successor to Kane, Johnson could however slot into Postecoglou's fluid, attacking system and provide an extra dimension for goals/assists.

As the clock on deadline day ticks down, Spurs have been linked with a couple of more signings throughout the day, namely Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly and Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

With time running out, those aforementioned moves are growing more and more unlikely by the second, but Mail reporter Mokbel has shared an interesting update on another possible late Spurs target.

Indeed, the north Londoners could actually end up making a late move for another Chelsea player in Chalobah. However, they'll face competition from Nottingham Forest.

Mokbel explained on the Mail's live stream (via TBR):

"Trevoh Chalobah. His versatility, we know all about it he can play across the back four and he can even play in the midfield. I had a tip this morning that even Tottenham have had a dalliance with him over the past 48 hours. Can you explain how Steve Cooper might use him if they can get this deal over the line?” Mokbel said.

“A lot will depend now on Palhinha moving forward, Hojbjerg, Chalobah – now he can’t go to Bayern Munich, he could be going to Forest or potentially Tottenham we hear.”

How good is Trevoh Chalobah?

The 24-year-old has proved a versatile asset at Stamford Bridge, with former Chelsea midfielder and manager Frank Lampard calling him "selfless" and a "delight" in training.

“He’s such a selfless lad. He doesn’t say ‘I want to play in this position," said Lampard.

“Maybe (his best position) will become apparent, but I think he’s played really well in a back three for the club. (He had) a really good period when he first got into the team, he can play well as a centre-back in a back four and at right-back. The bigger picture is the way he’s been applying himself since I’ve come back.

“He’s a delight to train with every day because he comes in with an enthusiasm, low maintenance, and when you talk about the things you want, he tries to do them on the pitch, which is a great thing.

“In my short period here, you look at what are the games and the individual players, I’ve been very happy. I was looking forward to working with Trev because I didn’t get that chance when I was here before.”

New Zealand’s captain said he was pleased with his bowlers’ performance on pitches that demanded patience of them

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Dec-2017New Zealand captain Kane Williamson credited his bowlers for the 2-0 series win against West Indies on what he described as pitches where wickets were hard to come by. Left-arm fast bowlers Neil Wagner and Trent Boult led the hosts’ bowling efforts during the series, using predominantly short-pitched bowling to pick up a combined 24 of the 38 wickets that West Indies lost to bowlers over the course of two Tests.”They all bring a variety of styles so they all do a different type of job and I think they were outstanding in the second innings of both Tests. Wickets were fairly tough to come by. Both times the surfaces slowed down a little bit. Here, the bounce became a little variable, which is great late in a Test match. You expect the surface to age a little bit and the way they were able to pick up the wickets was outstanding.”The fast bowlers had also chipped in with crucial runs during the second Test, with Tim Southee stitching a half-century stand with Boult for the last wicket in the first innings, and holding one end up as Ross Taylor got to his 17th Test hundred at the other end.”[Ross] is such a fine player. It was great that he could achieve such a fantastic thing for himself and for the team as well. To get the team to such a good position in the second innings, you know, a 150 lead, is a nice place to be,” Williamson said.”Lower-order runs are so valuable. Throughout the series our lower order have contributed nicely. That was a big partnership for us, especially after getting put in. To get that extra 50 to 370 [373] was a good effort. “This was New Zealand’s seventh series win at home in their last nine since 2013, with their only losses coming against South Africa and Australia. In between, they won a Test match in England, who will be their next opponents.”I think the highlight would probably be how we adapted and stuck to our plans and executed those plans. We knew coming against this West Indies side, how talented they are. Winning away in England was a great effort and we were expecting a tough challenge.”We want to be winning as much as we can. But we know we have two Test matches [against England] coming up in the summer, so we’ll have to be very good again.”

Liverpool have now been given a promising update as Bayern Munich may sell midfielder Ryan Gravenberch "in the final few days of the window" accordung to reporter Ben Jacobs.

What's happening with Ryan Gravenberch?

Gravenberch is at the centre of a transfer battle this summer, with Liverpool and Manchester United both keen on signing him, having already tabled contract offers, and there is a belief that Bayern could let him leave for a fee of around £22m.

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood believes the Reds will win the race for the midfielder's signature, recently saying: "I am sure Ryan Gravenberch will go in there, the midfield player from Bayern. Hasn’t played since he has been there."

After missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who both joined Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp will be determined not to lose out to another Premier League rival in the race for a midfielder this summer, particularly considering the Bayern ace is high on his list of targets.

However, it appears as though both clubs are currently well-placed to sign the central midfielder, with Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg claiming they will be the favourites, should his current employers give the green light for him to leave.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has now spoken about the Reds' ongoing pursuit of a new midfielder, telling CaughtOffside:

“Liverpool do still want another midfielder, but not necessarily a No.6 unless the right opportunity presents itself. That’s partly because Stefan Bajcetic is back in the squad.

“Keep an eye on long-standing target Ryan Gravenberch, though, who is a more versatile midfielder. Bayern’s position all summer has been that they don’t want to sell, but the player is open to Liverpool having endured a tough first season in Germany. Let’s see if Bayern’s position changes in the final few days of the window.

“Liverpool have also been linked with Kalvin Phillips. I have been told all summer Phillips wants to stay at Manchester City and fight for his place. Nonetheless, this one could still be one to keep an eye on, because Liverpool did look at Phillips when he was still at Leeds.”

Read The Latest Liverpool Transfer News HERE

How old is Ryan Gravenberch?

The Bayern midfielder is just 21-years-old, but he has already started to make a real impression in European football, having made 103 appearances for Ajax, while he has also appeared in 20 Champions League matches.

Over the past couple of years, the Dutchman has also made his breakthrough at international level, amassing 11 caps for the Netherlands, but his career has stalled since arriving at the Allianz Arena, having received very sparse game time for Bayern.

If the "outstanding" central midfielder is to fulfill his lofty potential, after being lauded as a future star by former Liverpool man Dirk Kuyt 18 months ago, then a move to Anfield, where he should feature more regularly, could be the perfect option.

Having received confirmation that Gravenberch is open to the move, Liverpool now need to make sure they beat Man United to his signature, as they cannot afford a repeat of the Caicedo and Lavia situations at this stage in the window.

Khulna Titans ran down a 161-run target with 10 balls to spare to rise to second position in the 2017-18 BPL, beating Chittagong Vikings by five wickets

The Report by Mohammad Isam17-Nov-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBCBKhulna Titans ran down a 161-run target with 10 balls to spare to rise to second position in the 2017-18 Bangladesh Premier League, beating Chittagong Vikings by five wickets. It was the fourth defeat in six matches for Chittagong, who are quickly slipping out of the reckoning for a spot in the knockouts.Rilee Rossouw razed Chittagong in the early parts of the chase, hammering 49 off 26 balls. Rossouw was part of a middle-overs slide that saw Khulna lose three wickets for 25 runs, before Mahmudullah and Ariful Haque added 70 runs for the fifth wicket. Ariful, who made 34 off 24 balls, fell with 12 runs required, but Carlos Brathwaite tonked a four and a six to level the scores. Mahmudullah then scorched a four through cow corner to hit the winning runs and stay unbeaten on 48 off 35 balls.Earlier, Anamul Haque top-scored for Chittagong with 62 after they were put in to bat. Like Khulna, Chittagong lost ground, moving from 101 for 1 to 107 for 4. Stiaan van Zyl and Najibullah Zadran then shared a 50-run stand for the fifth wicket to lift Chittagong to 160 for 5 in 20 overs.Zadran made 24 off 16 balls, while van Zyl was unbeaten on a 15-ball 23. Abu Jayed was Khulna’s most impressive bowler, finishing with 3 for 26, although he very well could have had five. In a shoddy fielding performance, Khulna dropped six catches, Mahmudullah, the captain, culpable of four of those lapses.Anamul makes his chance countAnamul Haque’s lack of batting opportunities in the tournament ended when he walked out at No. 3 with 19 overs left in the innings. He started out by offsetting the early loss of his captain Luke Ronchi with a 95-run second-wicket stand with Soumya Sarkar. In the process, Anamul raised his first fifty in T20 cricket since November last year. His brace of pulled sixes against Shafiul Islam and a straight one off Carlos Brathwaite especially stood out.Three overs after reaching his fifty, Anamul nicked off to the wicketkeeper, finishing with 62 off 47 balls. His innings was a study in contrast to that of his partner Sarkar, who clawed to 32 off 34 balls, and survived a number of chances before being caught at long-on.Hard handsKhulna’s horrid day on the field began in the first ball of the match, when Rossouw spilt a tough offering from Ronchi. Fortunately for Khulna, the Chittagong captain got out later that same over when he skied a catch to Mahmudullah at mid-on.Then, in the 11th over, Mahmudullah let Sarkar’s reverse-sweep burst right through his fingers at square-leg. Sarkar survived two more chances in the 13th over. Ariful Haque put down an extremely tough chance after being slightly late to get around the ball. Sarkar persisted with the reverse sweep and sent one straight to Mahmudullah three deliveries later only for the captain to shell it again.More lapses followed in the slog overs. Jayed had two chances go down off his bowling in the 18th over. First, Michael Klinger dropped Najibullah Zadran at extra cover, before Mahmudullah couldn’t close his fingers on Stiaan van Zyl’s uppish shot at mid-on despite timing his jump well.The six-heavy initiationPlaying their first match, van Zyl and Zadran created an immediate impact with their big hits. They struck two sixes each in the last four overs, Zadran clearing the cover and long-off boundaries while van Zyl went comfortably over midwicket and long-off. It meant Chittagong managed a decent recovery, collecting 44 runs in their last four overs.Rossouw’s early burstThe first six of the chase took just two balls coming, Rossouw blasting Sikandar Raza over long-on. Khulna started the chase requiring a little more than eight an over, but Rossouw slashed it down to under 7.5 in just four overs. Rossouw was relentless in his assault, regardless of reprieves and wickets at the other end. Michael Klinger fell in the second over, playing against the turn of Sunzamul Islam’s left-arm spin, but Rossouw responded with a brace of fours against Taskin Ahmed in the next over. Ronchi missed a stumping chance when Rossouw, on 30, charged down to Islam; Rossouw’s response was a swept four through square leg and a straight six over the bowler’s head. It took an arm ball from Al-Amin to end his charge, as it skidded on to beat the inside edge and clatter the stumps.Mahmudullah, Ariful settle chaseWhen Nazmul Hossain Shanto fell halfway through the 10th over, beautifully caught by Tanbir Hayder off his own bowling, Khulna were wobbling at 79 for 4. Mahmudullah, however, had just settled in nicely, having crunched a straight six in the previous over, sent down by Al-Amin.With Ariful supporting him ably, Mahmudullah rebuilt Khulna’s innings quickly. Apart from finding timely boundaries, the duo ran the singles hard and kept the score ticking, a rare sight for a Bangladesh pair. With 44 needed off the last five overs, Ariful hit Hayder for back-to-back sixes to bring the equation down to just over a run a ball. That ended up being the turning point as the balance never tilted thereafter. Ariful followed it up by slogging Jordan over midwicket to bring the equation down to 18 off the final three, before Brathwaite hastened their march towards the finish line.

Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers in history, was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. Raised in a working-class family, he displayed a remarkable talent for football from a young age. His journey began at his local club, Newell's Old Boys, where his incredible dribbling skills and innate understanding of the game were evident.

However, Messi's early life was not without challenges. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, a condition that would have hindered his growth and potentially ended his football dreams. Yet, his talent caught the eye of Barcelona, who offered to cover his medical expenses and provide a platform for his development, and the Argentine's move to Barcelona changed the course of football history.

His rise through the ranks of the club's famed La Masia youth academy and subsequent integration into the first team marked the beginning of an extraordinary career. Despite his initial struggles adapting to life in Spain, Messi's dedication, work ethic, and natural talent paved the way for a legacy that would transcend the sport and inspire millions worldwide.

Lionel Messi at Barcelona

From his humble beginnings to becoming a global icon, Messi's journey with Barcelona is one of unparalleled success, records and milestones.

Messi's time at Barcelona began in 2000 when, at the age of 13, he joined the club's famed youth academy, La Masia. His tremendous talent quickly became evident as he progressed through the ranks. Messi made his official first-team debut on October 16, 2004, in a league match against Espanyol, and it marked the start of a legendary journey.

The following years saw the Argentine evolve into a footballing phenom. He formed a potent attacking trio with Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o, helping Barcelona secure their first UEFA Champions League title in 2006, as well as capturing the La Liga crown. As the years rolled on, Messi's influence grew, and he became Barcelona's focal point on the pitch.

One of the most defining moments in Messi's career came in 2009. Under the guidance of coach Pep Guardiola, Barcelona achieved a historic treble by winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League. The forward's performance throughout the season was nothing short of exceptional, and it led to him being awarded his first FIFA Ballon d'Or in the same year.

Messi went on to collect individual and team accolades at an astonishing pace. He claimed his second, third, fourth, and fifth Ballon d'Or awards in consecutive years, establishing himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time. In 2011, he scored a record-breaking 91 goals in a calendar year, cementing his status as one of the most prolific goalscorers to have ever played the game.

Barcelona and Messi's dominance in both domestic and international competitions continued. They clinched numerous La Liga titles and Champions League trophies, with Messi's on-field brilliance being the catalyst for such successes. In 2014, he signed a contract extension that made him the highest-paid player in the world and solidified his commitment to the club.

But Messi's connection with Barcelona transcended mere statistics. His dribbling, vision, and ability to unlock defences with precision passes made him the focal point of the team's playing style. The famous "tiki-taka" philosophy of quick, intricate passing was epitomized by Messi's tricky link-up play.

In August 2017, Messi scored his 500th career goal for Barcelona, a remarkable feat that further etched his name into the club's history books. His partnership with Luis Suarez and Neymar, forming the famed "MSN" trio, showcased an unparalleled attacking force that led Barcelona to more domestic successes. During this period, the Spanish giants were simply unstoppable.

However, even the most extraordinary chapters must eventually conclude. In August 2021, due to financial and contractual issues faced by Barcelona, Messi's contract with the club was unable to be renewed, leading to his departure. Messi's tearful farewell press conference marked the end of a 21-year journey with the club.

However, Lionel Messi's legacy at Barcelona will forever remain nothing short of monumental. He became the club's all-time leading scorer, notching a staggering 672 goals in 778 appearances. He lifted 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, and four UEFA Champions League titles with the club, among numerous other honours. His impact on the team's playing style, tactics, and success has left an indelible mark.

Lionel Messi's career at Barcelona serves as a saga of records shattered, milestones achieved, and achievements that redefined the standards of football excellence. His journey from a talented teenager to a global icon was marked by moments of brilliance, teamwork, and dedication that will forever be etched in the annals of football history, let alone Barcelona's.

Messi's Honours at Barcelona

La Liga (10)

2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2012/2013, 2014/2015, 2015/2016, 2017/2018, 2018/2019

Copa del Rey (7)

2008/2009, 2011/2012, 2014/2015, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2020/2021

Supercopa de Espana (7)

2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018

UEFA Champions League (4)

2005/2006, 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2014/2015

UEFA Super Cup (3)

2009, 2011, 2015

FIFA Club World Cup (3)

2009, 2011, 2015

Lionel Messi at PSG

Lionel Messi's transition from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) marked a seismic shift in the football landscape. His arrival at the French club brought a wave of excitement, anticipation and a new chapter in his storied career.

After an emotional departure from Barcelona in August 202, Messi found his new home in the French capital. On August 10, 2021, he was officially unveiled as a PSG player, and the football world watched with bated breath as Messi embarked on this new era.

Messi's PSG tenure began with great expectations, and he didn't take long to make his presence felt. On August 29, 2021, he made his debut for the club against Reims in Ligue 1. The sight of Messi in a PSG kit was surreal for fans around the world who had grown accustomed to seeing him in Barcelona colours. His arrival injected a new level of star power into Ligue 1 and added a new layer of competitiveness to PSG's pursuit of domestic and continental dominance.

On September 15, 2021, he scored his first goal for the club in a UEFA Champions League match against Club Brugge. This goal not only opened his PSG account but also added to his incredible tally of goals in the Champions League, a competition he had previously excelled in.

Messi's partnership with fellow superstars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr. captured the imagination of football fans. The trio formed an attacking trio known as the "MNM." Their combination of flair, speed, and creativity posed a frightening threat to opposing defenders.

One of the most significant milestones in Messi's PSG career came on December 8, 2021, when he scored a hat-trick against Club Brugge in the Champions League. This performance made him the first player to score a hat-trick for two different clubs in the competition, adding another feather to his cap of records.

While Messi's time at PSG was relatively short compared to his lengthy Barcelona tenure, his impact was clear. His ability to adapt to a new team, league, and environment showcased his footballing intelligence and versatility. As he integrated himself into the PSG setup, his influence on the field and in the locker room was evident.

Beyond the individual accolades and records, Messi's presence at PSG raised the club's global profile and intensified their pursuit of domestic and European titles. During his two seasons in France, the Argentine helped PSG to two Ligue 1 titles and the Trophee des Champions, adding three more trophies to his bulging cabinet of silverware.

On 3rd June 2023, it was revealed Lionel Messi would be leaving PSG at the culmination of the 2022/2023 campaign, and the Argentine called time on his stint in France with an impressive 32 goals in 75 first-team appearances.

Messi's Honours at PSG

Ligue 1 (2)

2021/2022, 2022/2023

Trophee des Champions (1)

2022

Messi at Inter Miami

Despite links with a return to Barcelona and a big-money switch to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal, Messi opted to sign for MLS side Inter Miami, who are owned by David Beckham.

Messi had confirmed that he would not remain in Europe if he was unable to resign for Barcelona, but continued financial constraints at the Catalan giants meant they were unable to make his dream come true, and paved the way for Inter Miami to secure Messi's signature.

Messi's arrival in the USA was officially announced on 15th July 2023, with the Argentine signing a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Messi with Argentina

Messi made his senior debut for the national team on August 17, 2005, quickly becoming a vital component of Argentina's footballing identity.

Despite his remarkable success at the club level, Messi faced criticism for his perceived inability to replicate that form with the national team. It was a narrative that stuck with Messi for much of his international career, with Argentina regularly falling short in major tournaments.

However, in the 2021 Copa America, held in Brazil, Messi led Argentina to glory against the hosts in the final, clinching his first major international title. His performances earned him the tournament's Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards.

That Copa America victory was a defining moment not only for his career but for the nation as a whole. It shattered the notion that Messi couldn't achieve success on the international stage.

The following year, in what was widely reported to be Lionel Messi's final appearance at a World Cup, the Argentine legend led his country to glory once again, with La Albiceleste lifting their first World Cup since 1986 securing Messi's legacy on the international stage.

Messi's journey with Argentina is full of records and milestones, much like his club career. He is Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing the record held by Gabriel Batistuta (54) in 2016 and then scoring his 100th international goal against Curacao in 2023.

Messi's Honours with Argentina

FIFA World Cup (1)

2022

Copa America (1)

2021

CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (1)

2022

Lionel Messi's Personal Accolades & Records

Lionel Messi's exceptional football career is underlined with a plethora of personal records and prestigious awards.

He has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or a record seven times, securing his first in 2009. His extraordinary goal-scoring ability has led to numerous milestones, including becoming the all-time top scorer for Barcelona and Argentina.

In 2011, Messi set a new record by scoring 91 goals in a calendar year, while he has consistently topped the goal-scoring charts in various leagues and competitions, showcasing his lethal goal-scoring prowess.

The Argentine's name is synonymous with consistency, evidenced by his multiple seasons as the top scorer in La Liga. His achievements extend to the UEFA Champions League, where he holds records for most goals in a single season and most hat-tricks.

Messi's Personal Honours

FIFA Ballon d'Or (7)

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021

FIFA World Player of the Year (1)

2009

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2019, 2022

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2014, 2022

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2022

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2009, 2011

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2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2014/2015

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2015, 2021

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2021

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2011

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2011, 2015, 2016, 2021

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2018, 2022

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2022/2023

Messi's Individual Club & International Records

All-time Barcelona Top Scorer

672

All-time La Liga Top Scorer

474

Most goals in a calendar year

91 (2011)

All-time Argentina Top Scorer

103

All-time Argentina Appearances

175

All-time Supercopa Espana Top Scorer

14

All-time UEFA Super Cup Top Scorer

3

Jake Weatherald followed up a first-innings score of 152 with a measured 143 to set up a five-wicket win for South Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Nov-2017
ScorecardJake Weatherald celebrates his second century of the match•Getty ImagesJake Weatherald’s centuries in each innings led South Australia to a remarkable comeback victory over Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground.The Redbacks won by five wickets after conceding 514 to WA in their first innings – the highest losing first-innings tally in a Shield match since SA were themselves defeated by Victoria after posting 517 in 2009-10.Following up on his rollicking first-innings 152, Weatherald played more deliberately to make 143, largely in the company of Callum Ferguson. Their third-wicket stand of 180 took the visitors most of the way to their target, before Jake Lehmann helped collect the winning runs in the final session with an unbeaten 24.SA could not have won the match without the efforts of their bowlers, who rounded up WA for 173 in the second innings on what – as Weatherald was to prove – was an excellent batting pitch.

Arsenal could be set to cap off their fine summer of spending, with one addition that would certainly have Pep Guardiola worried…

Who do Arsenal want to sign?

The purpose of this transfer window for Mikel Arteta has been to find ways to bolster his squad so he can finally usurp Manchester City. At present, he has taken great strides towards such a goal.

And yet, his wide options remain largely unchanged, likely praying on the continued fitness of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Despite this, reports from football.london have begun to suggest that they may make a move for a winger before the transfer period slams shut should they raise funds via player sales, and Brighton and Hove Albion's Kaoru Mitoma is one such target they have earmarked.

To give credence to these rumours, the Seagulls have reportedly opened contract discussions to ward off interest, and have a window of opportunity given the Gunners likely have to offload a few players before they can spend big again.

Football Transfers value the Japan international at €25m (£22m).

How good is Kaoru Mitoma?

With an unparalleled ability to beat a man, there are few wingers as tricky as Mitoma in world football at the moment.

Given how Arteta's whole philosophy revolves around working the ball into a position where it allows his wide men to be one-on-one with their full-back, should the 26-year-old slot into that system, he would instantly thrive.

After all, when compared to others in his position across Europe, he sits in the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90, and the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, via FBref.

Everyone has heard the story regarding his dissertation on dribbling, but it truly has had an astronomical effect on his abilities in this area. Journalist Richie Mills even suggested he was a "menace", given his devilish ability to leave defenders in his wake.

However, the skilful star has much more to his game than just a bag of tricks, as he added ten goals and eight assists across all competitions last season to bolster his reputation further. All signs point towards this being a match made in heaven, should Arteta get the deal done before his contract is signed. The scary thing is that this is just the beginning of his legacy in England.

To once again snag a star from the Amex Stadium could even see the north London outfit outdo their success from January, as they tempted Leandro Trossard to trade the south coast for the Emirates.

The Belgian took to life at his new club with ease, having enjoyed an outstanding first half of the campaign under Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi.

Across the whole season, he ended up with eight goals and 13 assists in the league alone, earning huge praise from his Spanish boss in April: "Seriously, we knew about his quality and what he could bring to the team. We are really pleased with him, he can play on the right, he can play on the left, he can play as an attacking midfielder, as a nine, a false nine.

“He’s really contributing to the team and he really takes a lot of responsibility in games to make things happen and we love that."

Whilst it might be tough to surpass such impressive form, the silkiness and slowly improving figures of Mitoma do suggest that he is capable of at least emulating everything about the £27m deal that has been so successful thus far, with an impossibly high ceiling that many expect him to soon meet.

The middle-order batsman has prescribed that Bangladesh take inspiration from their performances in away Tests earlier this year before they go into the Bloemfontein Test

Mohammad Isam03-Oct-2017Bangladesh’s batsmen should take inspiration from their performances in away Tests earlier this year before they go into the Bloemfontein Test against South Africa. This is Mahmudullah’s prescription for his team to bounce back after their 333-run defeat in the first Test in Potchefstroom, where they were bowled out for 90 in the second innings.Mahmudullah was one of Bangladesh’s few bright spots with the bat, marking his comeback with a first-innings half-century. He said their collapse in the second innings was down to a number of “silly mistakes”.”We are disappointed,” Mahmudullah said.”The pitch was good but we couldn’t bat the way we wanted to. We made a lot of silly mistakes. But I am very confident that we will bat better in the second Test, whatever the wicket is. I am sure we can make a comeback.”It is only natural that conditions will be in the home side’s favour. We are here after a long time. But if we look at the New Zealand tour. where Shakib [Al Hasan] got the double-hundred and Mushfiqur [Rahim] made 150-plus, we should get confidence from it. We believe that our skills are good enough if we can execute it.”Mahmudullah, who played on to South Africa’s fast bowlers in both innings, defended the approach of Bangladesh’s batsmen, even the ones who went for their shots early in their innings, but said their application had to improve in Bloemfontein.”Everyone has a different batting approach,” he said. “Some feel that by playing some strokes early, they can settle down. Some feel comfortable by middling a defensive push. At the end of the day, application is everything.”It is not wrong to play shots. Why not hit bad balls for boundaries, if it gives a batsman confidence? He should play his own game. Conditions should be considered but it was good batting conditions. We couldn’t execute our skills. We were very poor.”Rain arrived in Potchefstroom a few hours after Bangladesh were bowled out on the fifth day, but Mahmudullah said their batsmen hadn’t made any specific plans with an eye on the weather.”We were thinking of saving the match,” he said. “We weren’t really thinking about the rain. Our target was to draw out the game. But we couldn’t cope in the first session.”