USA 2016 Final: The Night Messi Missed

Leo Messi’s legacy was expected to have been sealed with victory over Chile in the final of USA 2016.

The one that silenced the doubters, that killed off the question mark hanging over his greatness, that gave him his place in the pantheon next to Diego Maradona and showed he could achieve the same success with Argentina that has become so staggeringly routine at club level. Instead, it became The Night Messi Missed.

Goalless after 120 minutes, a game that during the first half looked on course to be decided by over-zealous officiating, instead had to be settled by penalties. This wasn’t the first time the stomach-churning lottery of spot kicks has been needed to separate Argentina and Chile.

With Chile shooting first in the spot kicks, Sergio Romero’s thwarting of Arturo Vidal’s first kick, handed Argentina the early advantage. Then a calm and ticless Messi stepped forward, after a game in which he’d been consistently excellent but struggled to apply the finishing touch, destiny surely awaited. He took his kick, but blasted high over the bar and into the stands. Clearly agonized, once again at an international tournament, Messi had missed.

Francisco Silva, brought on late during extra-time for Sánchez, proved a perfect proxy for the hero of the 2015 shootout. He shot hard; Romero dived the wrong way; the Copa became Chile’s once again.

USA 2016 Final: The Night Messi Missed

No Olympic Show For Messi

Argentina captain Lionel Messi concedes he is disappointed he will not represent his country at the Olympic Games in Rio.

The Barcelona talisman was left out of his nation’s Olympic squad in order to take part in the Copa America Centenario, which begins on June 3 and will be held in the United States.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino stressed that Messi, who won gold at the Beijing Games in 2008, agreed with the decision as Argentina aim to make up for last year’s disappointing Copa America final loss to Chile.

Having savoured the 2008 Olympics and the U20s World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005, Messi is frustrated to miss the event in Brazil.

“I would have liked to go because it was a spectacular experience for me to play in the Olympics, just as it was for the U20 World Cup,” Messi told ESPN.

“Not just because we won, but for the experience I gained.

“It was a great experience to stay in the Olympic Village and meet other elite athletes from other sports and to be just another athlete among them; that was very spectacular even though we didn’t spend a lot of time in the village.

“The World Cup is great but the Olympics are something special.”

Skysports

No Olympic Show For Messi

Laureus Awards 2016: Djokovic, Williams, Messi, Spieth All Win

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams claimed the top accolades at this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards.

The tennis duo were named sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the Berlin ceremony for their 2015 achievements.

Djokovic, 28, reached all four Grand Slam finals, winning three of them, a feat emulated by Williams, 34.

Brazil’s Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias was named disabled sportsperson of the year after winning seven golds at the IPC Swimming World Championships.

Other awards

Team of the Year: New Zealand, who won the Rugby World Cup

Comeback of the Year: Rugby player Dan Carter, who helped the All Blacks become champions after missing the 2011 final because of injury

Breakthrough of the Year: US golfer Jordan Spieth, who won the Masters and US Open

Action Sportsperson of the Year: German triathlete Jan Frodeno, who became World Ironman champion

Athlete of the Year: Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi

Lifetime Achievement Award: Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda

Spirit of Sport Award: Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff

Cruyff, who died of cancer aged 68 on 24 March, was recognised for his work helping to deliver sport-related projects for underprivileged children around the world.

“He represented everything that was good about sport,” said Laureus World Sports Academy chairman Edwin Moses.

Credit: BBC

Laureus Awards 2016: Djokovic, Williams, Messi, Spieth All Win

Lionel Messi Closes In On Batistuta"s Record

Lionel Messi closed in on Gabriel Batistuta’s goals record for Argentina as he scored his 50th for his country.

Barcelona forward Messi, 28, brought up his half-century from the penalty spot as Argentina beat Bolivia 2-0 in a qualifier for the 2018 World Cup.

It leaves him just six goals short of former Fiorentina and Roma striker Batistuta’s tally of 56.

“I’m happy with goal number 50 but more because we won and this helps to keep growing,” said Messi.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer with 449 goals in all competitions.

He could get his 500th career goal when Barcelona meet arch-rivals Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday.

Credit: BBC

Lionel Messi Closes In On Batistuta"s Record

Lionel Messi A "New" Award For The First Time

Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi for the first time he has won the award as Spain’s La Liga player of the month for January.

 

The award has been in existence since the beginning of the 2013-14 primera division season, but the five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner had not won it until now. Barcelona’s star man finally won the award at the 23rd time of asking after scoring six goals in as many league games in January.

 

La Liga explained on its official website how Messi ‘further demonstrated his quality’ via ‘his great form in the first month of the year’.

They added that ‘this accolade, which is awarded by the competition’s main sponsor, and voted for by writers, recognises Messi’s outstanding displays and his goal-scoring prowess, which make him one of the most feared strikers in the division’.

 

The 28-year-old scored a hat-trick against Granada as well as scoring in victories over Athletic Bilbao, Malaga and Atletico Madrid to take his total of league goals for the season to 12.

Lionel Messi A "New" Award For The First Time

Woodwork Denies Messi, Suarez And Neymar In Draw Aginst Espanyol

Espanyol Hold Barcelona To A Goalles Draw; ‘MSN’ Failed To Score, Yes They Did!

Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw by a city rivals, Espanyol on Saturday afternoon at Cornellà-El Prat.

 

The game like all derbies was very intense and fiesty as both teams were tangling each other especially during corners and free kicks. Barcelona hit the post in each half, but Espanyol battled the whole way to frustrate their city rivals and earn a point in front of their new Chinese owner.

Messi under check from Espanyol defenders

Manager Luis Enrique reverted back to his full-strength starting XI, with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suárez in attack but Espanyol showed plenty of gust to start, with Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo in particular posing as the danger man. But it was Barcelona who had the first real look at goal when Alba fluffed a ninth minute chance at the back post.

Luis Suarez battles for the ball against an Espanyol defender

Espanyol stayed difficult to beat as ever, frustrating the Barcelona forward, while using the push of the home crowd to move forward on the counter.

Neymar beats Espanyol defender

Neymar tried breaking the deadlock with a scissor-kick side volley in the 75th minute, and Messi missed with an 89th minute free kick, while at the other end Espanyol nearly stole a late win with Marco Asensio all alone at the back post, but the cross was too heavily for the Real Madrid loanee.

 

These same two teams will renew acquaintances on Wednesday in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Woodwork Denies Messi, Suarez And Neymar In Draw Aginst Espanyol

Jury: Lionel Messi Vs Cristiano Ronaldo 2015 Stats In Review

Messi, Ronaldo; Who Ended The Year 2015 On Top Of  The Ladder

 

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two best footballers of their generation if not ever. This statement many will disagree but the pair are a breath of fresh air to watch on the field of play. Like all mortals, they are fallible, as is the case when they represent their respective Argentina and Portugal. But in the coulours of the Blaugrana (Barcelona) and Los Merengues (Real Madrid), they are ‘immortals’ and their performances.

 

In this review, footballcrusader.com will focus on la liga, champions league and Other Cups (Copa Del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup) appearances excluding international or national appearances  .

Lionel Messi ended the 2014/15 season with FC Barcelona as a treble winner – La liga, UEFA champions league and Copa del rey. The Argentine made a total of 57 – appearances in all competitions. His competitor, if not ‘enemy’, Cristiano Ronaldo, went the 2014/15 season  trophy less with a combined club appearances of 54.

Ronaldo celebrates scoring for Real madrid

In the 2014/15 la liga season, Cristiano Ronaldo made 35 – appearances and scored 48 – goals making him the winner of the ‘pichichi’ – spanish goal king crown. He ended the season with 16 assists, something many question his desire towards and as a result has been tagged by many as a ‘selfish’ player more than a team player.

Lionel Messi, four times Fifa world player of the year winner made 38 – la liga appearances – three more than his immediate competitor and scored 43-goals – 5 fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo and had a credit assist of 18.

Reigning Fifa world player of the year, Ronaldo, made 12-appearances in the 2014/15 UEFA champions league and scored 10-goals and made 2-assists. This was not enough to help the Madrid based team retain the Europe crown they won for a record 10 – times. Lionel Messi, had a much successful UEFA champions league after his 10 – goals and 5-assists in 13 – appearances helped Barca win the champions league crown.

Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi

In other cup competitions (Copa Del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup) the duo made a total of 13 – appearances, Six for Messi and 7 appearances for Ronaldo. The former scored 5 – goals to the latter’s 3 – goals and made 4 – assists and 2 – assists respectively.

From August, 2015 to December 31, these two football geniuses have been at it again battling one another ‘knowingly or unknowingly’ with impressive and record-breaking performances.

 

Still early days into the 2015/16 season, Messi has 6 – goals in 11 la liga appearances. The Argentine has been out injured for 8 weeks. so one then may jump to his defence for the low number of goals scored. On the Madrid side, Ronaldo seems to be keeping Rafa Benitez at post with an impressive 14 – goals in 17 – la liga appearances and on par with Messi on 4 – assists made.

In the just ended UEFA champions league group stages round of matches, Messi made 3 – appearances and has scored 3- goals and 1- assist to his name. Ronaldo, 30, played in all six group stage matches and is leading the goal king chart with 11 – goals and 3 – assists.

 

Messi, 29, has been involved in the Spanish Super Cup final, which Barcelona lost to Atletico Bilbao on aggregate after losing the first leg by 4 – goals to nil and has also played in the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

The Argentine number 10 has made a total of 4 – appearances in other cup competitions and scored 4 – goals.

 

We end the year 2015 and leave you our cherished readers to answer who among the two is the king of world football?

Jury: Lionel Messi Vs Cristiano Ronaldo 2015 Stats In Review