Messi Exits Atletico Madrid Clash With Injury

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi exited Wednesday’s clash against Atletico Madrid with an injury.

being challenged lightly from Atletico’s Diego Godin, Messi pulled up slow and then went to the ground before being taken off.

 

Messi picked up a groin injury while playing for Barcelona earlier this season and reinjured it against Uruguay in World Cup Qualifying in early September, causing him to miss the team’s next game against Venezuela just days after.

 

It’s possible he may have re-aggravated the injury, but we’ll have to wait and see what the team says after the match.

 

The match subsequently ended in 1-1 .

Messi Exits Atletico Madrid Clash With Injury

Messi Breaks Record as Argentina Reach Copa America final

Lionel Messi became his country’s leading scorer with a superb free-kick as Argentina beat hosts the USA 4-0 reach Sunday’s Copa America final.

The Barcelona forward, 28, passed Gabriel Batistuta’s 54-goal tally with a 25-yard strike.

Messi provided the assist for Ezequiel Lavezzi’s opener, then scored his stunner before Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain fired in to make it 3-0.

Higuain scored with a tap-in in the 85th minute to complete the rout.

“I am happy to have surpassed Batistuta’s record and I want to thank my team-mates, it’s theirs as well,” said Messi, who turns 29 on Friday.

Argentina will play either Colombia or reigning champions Chile, who meet in Chicago on Wednesday.

Source : BBC

Messi Breaks Record as Argentina Reach Copa America final

Barcelona Stay Top After Overcoming Real Betis (Highlights)

Barcelona returned to the top of La Liga on Saturday evening, securing three points with a 2-0 win over Real Betis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h6kU0Ea58g

Betis were reduced to 10 men towards the end of the first half, but they put up a tough defence, and it was only a calamitous error which allowed Ivan Rakitic an easy finish to send Barca ahead.

A lovely ball into the penalty area from Lionel Messi caused confusion, as goalkeeper Antonio Adan came charging out to punch it, while centre-back German Pezzella attempted an overhead kick clearance.

Atletico Madrid are joint top with Barcelona after a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano ,with Real Madrid also beating Real Sociedad by a goal to nil to stay third

Barcelona Stay Top After Overcoming Real Betis (Highlights)

Barcelona Star Player In Serious Trouble

Lionel Messi was named last week in the Panama Papers for being involved in setting up a shell Corporation.

The fife-time Ballon d’Or winner sees his club FC Barcelona joint top with Atletico Madrid on La Liga standings, with five games to end the season.

But outside the comforts of the soccer pitch, one of the world’s most famous athletes is fighting off two financial scandals that could see him land behind bars.

This happened in the heat of an ongoing tax-evasion court case in Spain that could put him in prison for 22 months.

So far, his sponsorship deals and global image have not been affected and Messi appears unlikely to suffer a major hit to his multi million-dollar brand as long as he can stay out of prison.

Adidas, perhaps the most visible company attached to Messi in that they make his signature cleat and rely on him as a valuable asset to counter Nike’s Ronaldo, said they were aware of Messi’s situation, but did not add much.

“Adidas is aware of the on going situation regarding the Panama Papers. However, anything to do with an individual’s financial affairs is solely a matter for them and their management,” a spokesman said in a statement to International Business Times.

Messi is very popular, and represents the gold standard as an athlete partner, sports branding, experts said.

Barcelona Star Player In Serious Trouble