“My deepest regret about Arsenal is….” Lionel Messi speaks about one team that he has deep regret over through out his brilliant career, Arsenal fans will not be happy

Lionel Messi spoke on the one game across his entire career he ‘deeply regrets missing’
Chris Byfield

Lionel Messi spoke on the one game across his entire career he ‘deeply regrets missing’
Lionel Messi opened up about the game he regretted missing most.

Throughout his record-breaking career, Messi’s celestial game has been characterised by several jaw-dropping moments and eye-watering amounts of silverware.

No player in history has won more trophies than Messi, with the Argentina icon having claimed 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, two Ligue 1 crowns, a Copa America and a World Cup to name but a few.

However, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner admitted he deeply regrets missing the final of Barcelona’s 2006 Champions League triumph against Arsenal in Paris,

While the Catalan giants came back from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1, Messi, who was 18 years old at the time, missed out on the game due to a hamstring injury.

The then-teenager was so upset to miss the final that he refused to attend celebrations.

Speaking to AS back in 2021, via TNT Sports, he said: “I’m sorry I didn’t [go out]. I didn’t realise what was happening.

“At least I would have liked to be on the bench that night. Until my injury, [against Chelsea in the round of 16], I participated in every Champions League game in my career.

“I was disappointed. I deeply regret that episode. We won that Champions League and I was not sure what would happen again because it is a difficult competition to win.”

Of course, Messi went on to feature in three further Champions League finals, netting in both Barcelona’s 2009 and 2011 triumphs.

Indeed the 5 ft 7 inch attacker counted his looping header against Manchester United in 2009 among the favourite goals of his career.

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Speaking to Four Four Two in 2017, Messi said: “It was hard to imagine that I’d have a chance to score a header with a defender like [Rio] Ferdinand near me, but I saw that I didn’t have anyone marking me and the ball settled down so I could make the shot.

“When the ball Xavi put in was in the box, I could already see myself scoring and thank God it was possible.

“It was a very important goal in every way: for the team, for the way that final was being played and for me. It’s one of my favourite goals.

“After missing the 2006 final through injury, it was very special to play this final and score. It completed a season in which we won everything.”

Featured Image Credit: ESPN/Getty

Topics: Football, Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Arsenal, Champions League
Chris Byfield
Lamine Yamal is set to miss out on famous Barcelona No.10 shirt donned by Lionel Messi
Chris Byfield

Published 15:55, 12 September 2023 BST
| Last updated 15:55, 12 September 2023 BST

Lamine Yamal is set to miss out on famous Barcelona No.10 shirt donned by Lionel Messi
Lamine Yamal is set to miss out on the famous Barcelona No.10 shirt donned by the likes of Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Juan Roman Riquelme.

Barcelona are in agreement with Nike over who should take Messi’s famous No.10 shirt.

The jersey has been occupied by Ansu Fati, who left the La Liga giants to join Brighton on loan in the summer transfer window.

And according to El Nacional, Nike pressurised Barca into selling Fati and allocating the famed No.10 shirt to wonderkid Yamal.

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The teenager made his debut for Barcelona last season while still only 15 years old, and became the youngest La Liga winner in Spanish history.

And last week Yamal also became the youngest ever to debut, or score, for the Spanish national team, netting in a 7-1 European Championship qualifier win over Georgia.

While the teenager is making waves on the international stage, he has allegedly been snubbed for Barcelona’s No.10 shirt.

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The report claimed that incoming star Victor Roque is now in line to take up the shirt, with the manufacturer and the club said to have already reached an agreement.

Roque will join Barcelona from Athletico Paranaense in January, with the 18-year-old having joined the Catalan giants for an initial £25.7million.

Roque, who made his professional debut at just 16, led the attack for Brazil in the South American U20 tournament in February and finished the tournament as top scorer with six goals.

Indeed, Brazil U23 coach Ramon Menezes, believes Barcelona have a world star incoming.

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“I see Vitor Roque becoming one of the top players in the world”, as per quotes from Diario AS.

“We have high hopes for him and placed a lot of trust in him. He’s never lost what’s best about him, hunger, appetite and always wanting more and more.”

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Ansu Fati
Chris Byfield
Lionel Messi wins the game for Argentina with stunning late free kick
Ryan Smart

Published 7:36, 08 September 2023 BST
| Last updated 7:36, 08 September 2023 BST

Lionel Messi wins the game for Argentina with stunning late free kick
Lionel Messi stepped up once again when Argentina needed him by scoring a stunning late winner in their World Cup qualifying clash against Ecuador.

Lionel Scaloni’s side were kicking off their South American qualifying campaign at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental, but struggled for inspiration for much of the match.

Argentina didn’t have a single shot on target during the first half, and brought on Angel Di Maria just past the hour mark in an attempt to change the course of the match.

But it took them until 78 minutes to score the winning goal – and it was Messi, as he almost always seems to do, who had the defining say.

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After Argentina won a free kick from just over 20 yards out, the 36-year-old stepped up and curled the ball perfectly over the wall and into the bottom corner.

You can watch the full clip below.

The goal was trademark Messi – the precise effort to get the ball over the wall, and the curl to match to send it beyond Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez.

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The visitors, who had British record signing Moises Caicedo and former West Ham and Everton striker Enner Valencia in their side, couldn’t find a response, meaning it was the perfect start to the qualification campaign for Messi and Argentina.

Speaking after his winning goal, Messi told reporters (quotes via Goal): “It was shown in the two friendlies and today, by the points, that this group is not going to relax beyond what it achieved. It was historic, extraordinary.

“We know that, if we go down a little, they will pass us over. There are going to be tough matches like this. Defeats, surely.

“We have to be as we are now, with our feet on the ground. Fight every game as we have been fighting since Scaloni started with all this.”

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Argentina are in action again on Tuesday when they travel to Bolivia for their second match of South American qualifying.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter / DAZN

Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Ecuador, Football World Cup
Ryan Smart
Barca wonderkid Cristian Ceballos was ‘better than Messi’ but had a very unfortunate career
Josh Lawless

Published 15:09, 05 September 2023 BST
| Last updated 15:57, 05 September 2023 BST

Barca wonderkid Cristian Ceballos was ‘better than Messi’ but had a very unfortunate career
A Barcelona wonderkid once deemed to be “better than Lionel Messi” has had a strange and unfortunate career path.

Cristian Ceballos joined the Blaugrana’s famed La Masia academy at the age of 11 back in 2004 and as a 14-year-old, he achieved YouTube stardom by starring in a video with Barca legend Ronaldinho.

A number of Barca academy prospects showed off their skills to the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner, who didn’t hesitate to bust out all sorts of tricks and puzzles.

But it was Ceballos who made the biggest impression. The young lad, who previously played for Racing Santander, performed a number of moves, including juggling the ball on his head while removing his shirt at the same time.

Even now some people think that it’s a young Messi in the video, with the shaggy hairstyle and cultured left foot the same.

He wasn’t just a freestyler, however, and showcased his talents on the pitch – winning the best player for a youth tournament during which he scored eight times for Barca’s Under 12
Ceballos, having played alongside Sergi Roberto and Gerard Deulofeu, was deemed to more talented than Messi and someone who could achieve great things in his career but persistent injuries led to him being released by Barca.

He was then picked up by Spurs in 2011, with Harry Redknapp giving Ceballos the chance.

The forward excelled for the reserve side and at one point scored 10 goals in 13 appearances before being loaned out to Portuguese side Arouca, who handed him his professional debut.

Image: Getty
Image: Getty
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But he only ever made the substitutes bench for the Spurs first-team and was released at the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

“When I was eighteen, I signed a four-year contract at Tottenham. Harry Redknapp saw my talent,” he told Het Belang van Limburg.

“In training I played with stars like (Gareth) Bale. But when (Andre) Villas-Boas was in charge, I was shaking. I was loaned to Portuguese side Arouca.

“Last season Charlton came with a three-year contract, which I could not continue because of an injury.

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“Why I myself never came through at Barcelona or Tottenham? Maybe I was formerly not always the right choices. And you need luck. So good luck.”

Image: Getty
Image: Getty
Ceballos ended up at Charlton Athletic in League One, before plying his trade with Sint-Truiden in Belgium and later Qatar with Al Wakrah and Qatar SC.

He is currently playing with Sabah in the Azerbaijan league.

Featured Image Credit: Catalan TV3

Topics: Barcelona, La Liga, Tottenham Hotspur, Lionel Messi
Josh Lawless
Rasmus Hojlund explains why he believes Cristiano Ronaldo is the GOAT, not Lionel Messi
Rory O’Callaghan

Hojlund, 20, could make his debut for Manchester United on Sunday when they take on Arsenal at the Emirates.

United fans have had to wait to see the Denmark international, who is yet to feature following his £64m move from Atalanta because of a back problem.

But he is being tipped to feature against the Gunners and now looks set to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Ronaldo, who scored 145 goals in 346 games for United in two separate spells at Old Trafford.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the trip to Arsenal, Hojlund revealed his boyhood love for the Red Devils and why Ronaldo is his biggest idol.

After being asked when he first knew he wanted to play for United, Hojlund said: “My father introduced me when I was young – he was a fan as well.

“He introduced me to Cristiano and wanted me to idolise him because he has a good mentality and stuff.”

“That’s the reason why he’s there today and why he achieved so much in his career,” added Hojlund.

“For me, he is the best player ever. Of course he had the talent but in the end, it was about how hard he worked.

“I’ve seen a few interviews with previous Man Utd players and they all say he wasn’t a complete footballer when he came.

“But he was very skilful and developed.”

United fans will no doubt be hoping Hojlund will go on to have the same success as Ronaldo after joining the Red Devils.

When asked what he will bring to the club in his debut season in English football, Hojlund added: “What you can expect from me is hard work and a guy who wants to perform and help the team and want to die for this badge.”

How do you think Hojlund will do at United? Let us know in the comments.