Five-year-old Thiago Messi is obviously too young to understand that there’s nothing more serious than a football awards gala. That’s why FIFA and UEFA spend hours patting themselves on the back while dragging out an exercise that should really only take roughly 10-15 minutes. It’s a place for old men in expensive suits to enjoy upper, upper class high society, not general mirth.
Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta are rightly considered both two of the best dribblers and two of the best passers in the world. One of the main reasons this is so delightful is they are on the same team, and get to flash their brilliance in tandem. That's what they did against a packed-in Valencia defense Sunday.
Barcelona and Valencia drew 1-1 Sunday, moving Real Madrid two points closer (although still very far away) to their rivals at the top of the table in La Liga. That result, though, was tainted by what should have been the opener via Lionel Messi and poor goalkeeping from Valencia's Neto being declared not a goal by the referee.
Take a look for yourself:
FC Barcelona has confirmed that superstar Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with the club that will keep him there until the end of the 2020-2021 season. The new Messi contract includes an astronomical $835 million (700 million euro) buyout clause, which virtually ensures that the Argentine forward will remain at the club through the end of the contract.
Lionel Messi has extended his Barcelona contract through the 2020-21 season, putting an end to growing speculation that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was looking to negotiate with other clubs come January. Messi has now committed himself to the Camp Nou until the age of 34.
According to a statement from the club, the buyout clause is set at €700 million ($835m). By the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Messi will have spent 17 years with the first team.
El Clasico may not mean much this year, with Barcelona having opened up a 10-point lead on Real Madrid atop La Liga.
Or El Clasico may mean much more than usual. If Real Madrid win and get a few bad Barcelona results they could be right back in this thing.