Goal #100: An acrobatic side volley that’s made to look effortless. Goal #99: A velvety first touch loaded with purpose, a graceful cut beyond a defender and a curled finish inside the far post.
And now there are 98 superior goals?! As Ray Hudson once said, “The insane becomes the routine with this man.”
As the final whistle approached, it looked as if Barcelona would have to settle for a draw. The Blaugrana had led with just five minutes remaining in normal time of El Clásico, but James Rodriguez leveled the score at 2-2 for ten-man Real Madrid. Enter Lionel Messi.
Messi was coming.
For the first and only time — barring a grizzled move to Inter Miami — the greatest footballer ever was going to play competitive matches on American soil. The fact that it was the Copa América — a grand old competition summoning the specters of Zizinho, Javier Zanetti and Carlos Valderrama — made it all the more fantastic. By all rights and definitions, the tournament didn’t even belong here.
Barcelona coach Quique Setien is pessimistic that the Spanish top flight season will be able to be completed and has called LaLiga's conditions for the campaign recommencing "a non-starter" due to the continued threat of the novel coronavirus.
LaLiga has been on hold since March 10 due to the pandemic although president Javier Tebas has said matches could start up again on either May 29, June 7 or June 28, most likely without spectators. Tebas has estimated Spanish clubs would lose around $1.09 billion if the season is not completed.
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has proposed a grand idea for the return of football. The current FC Porto shot-stopper tweeted on Monday the thought of bringing all the former Real Madrid and Barcelona stars together for a massive El Clásico charity match.
Have you ever wondered how Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo compare at every single stage of their lives with regards to appearance (in this particular timeline, not in the one where we all have dorsal fins)? No? Then I’ve wasted my time.
But if you're interested, here are the two amigos aging at a disconcerting rate. With Ronaldo three years the senior, we’ll just have to wait and see how Messi's mid-30s play out. But don’t you worry, I’ll be diligently updating this photographic journey until I’m in the grave.
Barcelona players will make an extra contribution on top of the 70% pay cut they have agreed to take during the enforced LaLiga break so that the club's other employees can earn their full salaries during the coronavirus crisis, captain Lionel Messi said.
The club's all-time top scorer was among many Barcelona players who released identical statements on social media on Monday to confirm the decision.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola have each donated $1.08 million towards the fight against coronavirus. Argentina international Messi’s donation will be split between Hospital Clinic in Barcelona and another medical center in his home country, according to a report in MARCA.
I’ll be honest, self-isolation has begun to take a toll on my body. I haven’t left my apartment except to take out the trash in over seven days now and there’s only so much you can do indoors. Unless, that is, you have a gym like the Lionel Messi home.