Barcelona’s Leo Messi and Juventus Ronaldo are seen as the two greatest footballers in the 21st century. Both have won so many trophies with different clubs.
Leo played four finals, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 without having glory in any of the them, and then he finally ended the trophy drought with his national team as they beat their own rivals Brazil in the Copa America 2021 final.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the first to lift a major trophy with his country at the Euro 2016, then Messi with Argentina in 2021 Copa America at the Maracana stadium in Brazil.
Here are the statistics of both players at the 2016 and 2021 competitions
Lionel Messi statistics with Argentina at Copa America 2021
Games:7 Starts:7 Sub appearances:0
Goals:4 Assists:5
Free-kicks scored: 2 Penalties scored:1
Minutes per goal: 157.5 Minutes per non-penalty goal: 210 Minutes per goal or assist: 70
Cristiano Ronaldo statistics with Portugal at Euro 2016
Games: 7 Starts:7 Sub appearances: 0
Goals: 3 Assists: 2
Free-kicks scored: 0 Penalties scored: 0
Minutes per goal: 208.3 Minutes per non-penalty goal: 208.3 Minutes per goal or assist: 125
Lionel Messi celebrate with teammates after Copa America win
Argentine hero Lionel Messi on Saturday broke a historical record away from the football pitch this time, but to his Instagram page with his Copa America photo.
The Copa America 2021 winner took a photo of him alongside with Copa America trophy and posted it on Instagram which is now the most liked picture ever posted by an athlete with 19.8m likes surpassing his long time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
It was also marked as the sixth most like post in the history of the social network.
After Rodrigo De Paul’s long through ball somehow made its way to the feet of Angel Di Maria just beyond the 20-minute mark, the PSG winger did superbly to control, before playing a lobby clever finish over the head of the Mancity’s Ederson.
After a bitter season for Barcelona, poor start to the season, early knockout in the round of 16 stages of the UEFA Champions League, a great run of form but eventually fall at the ending of the La Liga title race, a Copa Del Rey trophy won.
Everyone knew Suarez as the goalscorer monster during his tenure with barca, but since he left for rivals Atletico Madrid, Barcelona has found it difficult to get his replacement. Ronald Koeman’s three strikers only contributed 21 goals and 12 assist in a combined 95 matches. Summer signing Depay scored a total of 20 goals and provided 12 assist on his own.
Let’s see how they might lineup:
Defense
Goalkeeper:
Barcelona currently has no problem in the goalkeeping spot, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been a regular starter for Barcelona for the past four years and with 100% percentage of being the first choice for Koeman next season.
Defenders
With the signing of Eric Garcia from Manchester City and Royal Emerson from Real betis, Barcelona defense is likely to look like the wall of Jericho. So many defensive errors were seen last season, in fact the Barcelona downfall in the La Liga league and the elimination in champions league came from defensive errors. Clement Lenglet will be forced out of the starting XI due to lot’s of commitment of penalty last session. Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo look’s favorite to stand as the center back for the Spanish giant. Jodi Alba and Sergino Dest will continue as right and left back for Ronald Koeman
Midfielders
Mainly, Barcelona is made up of so many talented midfielders, you can see the likes of Pedri who is currently seen as one the best young midfielders in Europe football, De Jong the 360° player and experienced and talented Sergio Busquets. Pedri’s performance with Spain at the Euro 2020 was extraordinary which means that he has glued his position as a starter for Barcelona. Coutinho was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and Everton, he might has been given a second chance by koeman to see if he can get back to his playing ways when he was with Liverpool. Miralem Pjanic, Ilaix Moriba, Ruqui Puig are also available.
Forwards
With the signing of Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay, Barcelona’s attack might seems to look like the previous MSN. Lyon forward Depay came close to joining Barcelona last summer transfer window, and has seemingly been forced to wait 12 months to finally get the move done. Depay reignited his career in France league 1 after a disappointing spell with Manchester United and will be keen to prove to the world he can Continue with it with one of the big clubs.
Sergio Aguero, who recently signed for Barcelona on a free transfer from Manchester City. At 33-years-old, it is unclear whether the Argentine will be a regular starter for Barca.
Antoine Griezmann had a good season with Barcelona statistically, Along with that, France had a below-average run in Euros and Griezmann only managed to score one goal created one in four matches. He could retain his starting role at right wing for barca.
Lionel Messi’s performance at the Copa America 2021 was absolutely brilliant which saw the Barcelona captain winning his first major trophy with Argentina and also grabbed the best player and top scorer in the tournament. The Argentine is always known as a free man in the field, so will best fit the attacking midfield.
Ansu Fati could start as backup for now, due to his marathon injury in November 2020, still he can play the preseason as a starter since the full squad won’t be available. Martin Braithwaite, Ousmane Dembele and Sergio Aguero are also available.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1)
Who would you like to see in the starting lineup, let us know in the comment below. Thanks.
After it was canceled last year, the prestigious award has come again with strong contenders. The award is based on a number of different things. Firstly, specific performance is a major part of winning the award. Things such as goals, assists, clean sheets, and man of the match performances are all considered when it comes to awarding the trophy.
After the end of the European top leagues, Euro 2020, Copa America 2021, using their performances, we could see who fits best to claim the award which was last awarded to Lionel Messi back in 2019.
#6. Kelvin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
10 goals, 10 assist, won premier league, carabao cup and PFA player of the year.
#5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
27 goals, 4 assist, won Coppa Italia, supercoppa italiana, golden boot in Euro 2020,
#4. N’golo Kante (Chelsea)
1 assist, Champions League won,
#3. Kilyan Mbappe (Paris Saint Germain
29 goals, 7 assist, won coupe de France and trophee des champions
#2. Robert Lewandowski (BayernMunich)
34 goals,4 assist, won bundesliga & club world cup, won bundesliga player of the year
#1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
33 goals, 14 assist, won Copa Del Rey, Copa America 2021, Golden boot in both La Liga and Copa America 2021, best player in La Liga and Copa America
Lionel Messi and Argentina are winners of the Copa America 2021
Argentina subsequently lifted their first major trophy since 1993.
Argentina’s and Lionel Messi trophy less campaign comes to an end as Lionel Scaloni’s men fought hard to triumph over Brazil on Saturday night in the Copa America final at the Maracana stadium.
Angel Di Maria scored the only goal in the 22nd minutes when Rodrigo De Paul’s found the Paris Saint Germain forward with a superb long pass as he composed a lobby finish past Ederson to give Argentina the lead.
Richarlison had a goal assisted by neymar but it was ruled off for offside 7 minutes into the second half and then forced Emiliano Martinez into a great save 2 minutes later.
Brazil came out more eager to score in the second half and as the time ticked on, they threw more players forward — and at one point having five recognized strikers on the field, but it couldn’t give them an equalizer.
It was Messi’s fourth Copa America final, Argentina’s win was a particular triumph for the Barcelona captain Messi, who picked up his first-ever title in a blue-and-white shirt after more than a decade of club and individual honors with Barcelona.
When he heard the final whistle, Leo Messi went down on his knees and put his face in his hands. immediately afterwards Messi’s teammates all ran over to congratulate their captain. It was a non-forgettable moment for Argentina and Lionel Messi.
Messi finished as the tournament’s joint top goal scorer with four goals and was elected joint best player along with former teammate Neymar.
“This is a very big title,” I hope that Argentines can enjoy it.
“The fans love the team unconditionally and I think they identify with this side that never drops its guard.” Lionel Scaloni said after the match.
“It’s crazy, the happiness I am feeling is not something that could be explained. I’ve left sad before but I knew that at one point it was going to happen,” Messi told reporters, per journalist Roy Nemer.
“I had a lot of confidence in this group which got stronger since the last Copa America. It’s a group of very good people, that always pushes forward, that never complains about anything.
Messi is tossed in the air by his Argentina teammates.
Barcelona’s midfielder Carles Alena has completed a move to Spanish side Gatafe on a five year deal.
The Catalan giant desperately need to raise funds if they want to keep their talisman Lionel Messi, who is officially a free agent.
The club are unable to register any of their new signings due to La Liga salary cap regulations or agree a new deal with club’s captain Messi who’s contract expired at the end of last month.
So in other to do all of those things, they need to offload as many as they can, reduce the wage bill, in other raise funds for the club expectations.
“FC Barcelona and Getafe CF have reached an agreement for the transfer of Carles Alena.
“We would like to thank Carles Alena for his commitment and dedication and wishes him all the best for the future.” Barcelona said when confirming the deal.
” 16 years at Barcelona… It’s not easy saying goodbye to a place that has always been my home. I was a lucky one and can only thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. I’m speechless… A cule for life. Always the best, Barcelona,” Carles Alena writes.
Alena started as a barca boy back in 2005 at the of 7 and made his senior debut in 2016. Since then he has appeared for Barcelona 44 times scoring 3 times.
Barcelona’s and Denmark forward Martin Braithwaite becomes the second richest player in Barcelona after Lionel Messi according to Forbes.
The Danish man currently earns £105,000 per week, £895,000 less than the Argentine, but he becomes rich through some excellent investments.
In 2017, The Barcelona flop invested $850,000 in a real estate business, on the other hand he has a clothing business with his wife, and also runs a large restaurant in Barcelona, so there is no surprise seeing him as the second richest player for Barcelona.
“We want to teach people about financial freedom and the power that they possess.
“We have so many things that we want to do and always with the mindset to give back.” Braithwaite said.
Denmark was knocked out by England in the semifinal of the Euro 2020 when Harry Kane scored a rebound from a penalty kick.
Braithwaite joined Barcelona from Leganes half of the season through the 2019/20 season, making 40 appearances for the blaugrana and scoring three goals since. Before turning up at Camp Nou, Braithwaite had represented Esbjerg fB, Toulouse, Middlesborough and Bordeaux. He played a key role in the Copa Del Rey competition helping Barcelona to win it only major trophy last season.
The Catalans giant gave out €500 thousand for the loan deal, Barcelona could make Demir a permanent Barcelona B player if he can impress with Sergi Barjuan’s side.
At 18, he became one of the brightest young stars in the Austrian bundesliga scoring six goals in 25 matches. Rapid Viena finished as runners up seven points behind league winner RB Salzburg.
Japanese video game company Konami digital entertainment Co. Has announced the termination of Spanish club forward Antoine Griezmann as ambassador over a mocking video of the Japanese hotel staff.
The video was recorded in 2019 during a trip to Japan, it showed Barcelona’s player Ousmane Dembele commented at the language and appearance of the Japanese hotel staff with Griezmann laughing at the comments.
In the video, Dembele was heard asking “What kind of backward language is that?” and, “Are you technologically advanced in your country or not?” while zooming in on the faces of the hotel staff. Onthe other hand, Griezmann did not say anything but smiles approvingly to it.
But the World Cup Winners later apologized to the clip since it was out.
The CEO of Rakuten Hiroshi Mikitani with Barcelona’s former president Josep Maria Bartomeu
On Wednesday, Konami decided to end its contract with Griezmann to serve as an ambassador for Yu-Gi-Oh. “Konami Digital Entertainment believes, as is the philosophy of sports, that discrimination of any kind is unacceptable,” according to reports.
The CEO of Rakuten Hiroshi Mikitani, one of the club’s main sponsors, also demanded a full explanation from the club for the video. Both Griezmann and Dembele have made public apologies but have denied any racist intent. Griezmann also has personally apologized to Mikitani.
“I am completely against all forms of discrimination” and that he “refuted the accusations made against me and I’m sorry if I have offended any of my Japanese friends.”Griezmann said.
FC Barcelona also Released a statement on its official website saying “FC Barcelona deeply regret the displeasure amongst Japanese and Asian fans and partners of our Club caused by a video that appeared a few days ago on social media in which two first team players (Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann) displayed a lack of respect in their attitude towards several employees in the hotel in which they were staying.”
Barcelona left back Junior Firpo has signed for premier league club Leeds United with four year contract
Premier league club LeedsUnited, have completed a £13 million signing of Barcelona left back Junior Firpo on a four year deal. The veteran left back becomes the third signing for the West Yorkshire club and has been given the number three shirt.
Firpo who did not get much playing time during his stay at Camp Nou, now heads to one of the most watched leagues as he hopes to get back on the field regularly.
“This summer for me, there were many clubs interested,” Firpo said. But when [Leeds director of football] Victor Orta spoke with me and showed me the project, I said ‘Wow, this is interesting, they really want me.’ In this moment, I said ok I want to go to Leeds. The people said to me that a full Elland Road is incredible. I want to see this!”
Héctor Junior Firpo Adames known as Junior Firpo, born 22 August 1996 in Dominican Republic, the 24 year old spent most of his life in Spain and represented the country at the U-21 level. He made his breakthrough with Real Betis in the Spanish Laliga before joining Barcelona in 2019 which he spent two years with the club and also managed to play 41 times helping it win the Copa del rey last season.
Since Ezgjan Alioski left the club on Monday at the end of his contract following a four-year spell, the premier league side will like to strengthen the left back errors.
Leeds united, who finished ninth in the premier league table last season, will hope to begin the new season with style when it starts on 14th of august 2021, as they face a tough side ManchesterUnited who finished behind league winners Manchester City last season.
