LAGOS DECEMBER 18TH (NEWSRANGERS0-The Lionel Messi-Diego Maradona debate has never been all that rational. It has reappeared ahead of Sunday’s 2022 World Cup final, with Messi one step away from clearing the hurdle that Maradona memorably did in 1986. And if the debate were a rational one, the current framing would be this: Messi could…
LAGOS MAY 31ST (NEWSRANGERS)-According to Lionel Messi, there is “no doubt” that Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema deserves to win his first Ballon d’Or award this year. Messi has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards as the world’s best player, but saw his new club Paris Saint-Germain eliminated by Madrid in the round of…
LAGOS MAY 13TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Less than a year after signing with Paris Saint-Germain – one of Qatar’s most prominent sportswashing projects – Lionel Messi is now the face of yet another oppressive Middle Eastern monarchy. The Argentinian was unveiled as the latest tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia during a trip to Jeddah, a port city along…
LAGOS MARCH 26TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Lionel Messi scored on his return to the national team as Argentina stretched their world-leading unbeaten run to 30 matches with a routine 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Venezuela on Friday. Goals from Nicolas Gonzalez and Angel Di Maria, both created by Rodrigo De Paul, also kept a packed Bombonera stadium…
LAGOS JANUARY 14TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Lionel Messi said on Thursday he needs more time to recover before playing again after contracting Covid-19 earlier this month. Paris Saint-Germain star Messi, 34, tested positive while on holiday in his hometown of Rosario before flying back to the French capital on January 5. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has missed…
LAGOS DECEMBER 4TH (NEWSRANGERS)-This week’s Ballon d’Or ceremony was the subject of plenty of debate after Lionel Messi was handed his seventh award, with many believing the Argentine – despite potentially being the best player in history – did not do enough to warrant bagging first place. And while Messi himself admitted that Robert Lewandowski…
LAGOS NOVEMBER 30TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi beat out Bayern Munich’s runner-up Robert Lewandowski and 28 other nominees for the 2021 men’s Ballon d’Or, which he received at a ceremony on Monday in Paris. The honor is awarded by France Football magazine to the male soccer player considered to be the best…
LAGOS SEPTEMBER 29TH (NEWSRANGERS0-It had to be him. The occasion had called for it. The crowd had come to see it and they had spent most of this box office Champions League tie willing it to happen. And then it did. When Lionel Messi picked up possession and scuttled in from the right wing, he…