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Lionel Messi football icon

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Let's take a closer look at the career or Lionel Messi.  The Argentian player is widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever. How did his career develop? What were his best moments? Keep reading for the story of a football legend. Author | Peter Grainger Quick summary Messi has won seven Ballon d'Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. In 2020, he was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. Until leaving the club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona.  With the Spanish giants,  he won a club-record 35 trophies. This included ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four Champions Leagues. He is known for being a prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker. Records He holds the records for most goals in La Liga, a La Liga and European league season, most hat-tricks in La Liga and the Champions League, and most assists in La Liga, an individual La Liga season and the Copa AmĂ©rica. He also holds the record for most internationa...

Spain: Girona look the real deal

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Barcelona 2-4 Girona Barcelona finished the weekend in fourth place in the La Liga table and are now seven points off the top thanks to a painful 4-2 loss. Throughout this match, Girona dominated and made a statement about their title credentials as they convincingly won this Catalan derby.  Highlights Check out the highlights from the match in the video below.  FC BARCELONA 2 vs 4 GIRONA | LALIGA 2023/24 MD16 (youtube.com) The opening 45 minutes were just as wild and entertaining as any neutral could hope for, with both teams playing really well with the ball and taking big risks in possession that left them extremely vulnerable at the back. The home side started as the better side and could have taken the lead within the first 10 minutes. However, one bad pass in midfield allowed Girona to counter-attack and Viktor Tsigankov gave Artem Dovbyk an easy tap-in to put the visitors in front.  The 2023 La Liga winners answered quickly after a great corner taken by Raphin...

La Liga and Serie A matches to be played abroad

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Controversial news from UEFA  European league matches will be played abroad for the first time Author | Olivia T UEFA given approval for La Liga and Serie A to each host a match overseas this winter, marking the first time European league fixtures will be played on different continents in what could prove a highly contentious move. La Liga sides Villarreal and Barcelona will now meet in Miami in December in what would be the first European league fixture held outside Europe. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami hosted games in the Club World Cup In February, AC Milan’s Serie A match against Como is set to take place in Perth, Australia. As expected, this announcement has caused a lot of reaction and analysis from football fans across Europe and the rest of the world. One Barcelona fan from the United States told us: "I don't want this. If you want to watch your team play, you should go the city they're based in. They shouldn't come to you as it's a massive slap in the ...

Spain: Real Madrid are La Liga champions

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Real Madrid are La Liga champions once again.  They wrapped up the title by defeating Cadiz 3-0 at the Bernabeu before they watched Barcelona lose 4-2 at Girona. Ultimately, this has been an impressively dominant campaign for Carlo Ancelotti's men. They have lost just once all season, at local rivals Atletico Madrid in September, and are also unbeaten in their last 28 league games. Against Cadiz, Brahim Diaz starred for Real Madrid. The former Manchester City winger scored an impressive goal by firing into the top corner from just inside the box in the 51st minute. S few minutes later, Jude Bellingham doubled Real's lead by ghosting into the box and poking home from close range.  Joselu then sealed a comfortable victory in added time with a tap-in. Nacho raced through into the box and squared the ball for his teammate to finish with ease. Another excellent performance. When the match finished, they were only a few hours away from being champions officially. You can ...

Barcelona start new La Liga campaign with a win

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Mallorca 0 -  3 Barcelona Marcus Rashford made his competitive debut as Barcelona opened their La Liga title defence with a win at Mallorca, who finished the match with nine players. Author | Jack L Stadium |    Estadi Mallorca Son Moix Barcelona on the attack Raphinha headed in the opener from a precise right-wing cross by Lamine Yamal , before Ferran Torres added a second as Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo lay injured in the box after blocking a Yamal shot. Manu Morlanes was then booked for dissent following the incident and received a second yellow shortly after for a foul on Yamal. Vedat Muriqi was sent off for a high boot on debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia , a decision upgraded from a yellow after a VAR review . Barcelona took until the 60th minute plus stoppage time to score their third, with Yamal hammering in the goal near the final whistle.  The home fans backing their team despite defeat What impact did Marcus Rashford have? Rashford entered in the 69...

Sergio Ramos football icon

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It's time to explore another legendary footballer.  Sergio Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer renowned as one of the greatest defenders ever.  Author | Peter Grainger Known for his tackling prowess, aerial strength, leadership, and an impressive goalscoring record for a defender, he netted over 100 goals for Real Madrid. During his sixteen seasons at Real Madrid, he won multiple UEFA Champions League titles, as well as two UEFA European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Spanish national team. An overview of his club career Ramos was born in Seville and developed his skills in Sevilla ’s youth academy. After two seasons with Sevilla's senior team, he made a high-profile move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2005. He became an integral part of the squad, winning 22 major honours, including five La Liga titles and four Champions League titles. Ramos was pivotal to each of those Champions League triumphs, earning a spot in the Team of the Season each ti...

Luka Modric to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season

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Where does Modric rank among Real Madrid greats? The former Spurs midfielder has announced he will leave Real Madrid this summer following the conclusion of their Fifa Club World Cup campaign.  Author | Jack L Modric playing for Real Madrid back in 2013 Source | Paul Stephens Flickr The 39-year-old Croatia international, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, will make his final appearance at the Santiago BernabĂ©u when Real host Real Sociedad in their last La Liga fixture of the season on Saturday. Modric joined Real from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and has enjoyed a glittering 13-year spell in Spain, collecting 28 trophies including six Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns. Real Madrid begin their Club World Cup campaign on 18 June against Saudi side Al-Hilal, with group stage matches also lined up against Pachuca of Mexico and Austria’s RB Salzburg. READ MORE | News from across Spain This season, Modric has made 34 league appearances, contributing two goals and six assist...

Kylian Mbappé on form for Real Madrid

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Levante 1 - 4 Real Madrid Kylian MbappĂ© struck twice as Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the La Liga season with a comfortable win at Levante. Author |  Jack L Stadium | Estadio Ciudad de Valencia Full-time scenes The French forward’s brace, coming within the space of two minutes, secured a sixth consecutive victory and stretched Madrid’s lead at the top to five points over Barcelona. A closer analysis of what happened MbappĂ©’s first came from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, a delicately executed Panenka past Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan . Moments later, he doubled his tally with a composed finish after being slipped through by Arda GĂĽler, taking his total to seven league goals this campaign. VinĂ­cius JĂşnior had earlier opened the scoring with a moment of brilliance, bending the ball into the far corner with the outside of his boot from a tight angle.  READ MORE |  Real Madrid 2 - 0 Espanyol READ MORE |  Mbappe penalties rescue Real Madrid...

Barcelona restore three point lead at top of La Liga

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Barcelona 4 - 1 Girona Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona re-established a three-point lead at the top of La Liga with a comfortable victory over Girona.  Author - Ajay Stadium - Estadi OlĂ­mpic LluĂ­s Companys Ladislav Krejci's own goal had given Barcelona a deserved lead in the first half against their Catalan rivals. Girona, however, threatened to pull off an upset when Arnaut Danjuma equalized early in the second half against the run of play. Nevertheless, Poland forward Lewandowski put Barcelona back in front just after the hour mark with an improvised finish. He then scored his 25th league goal of the season following some excellent midfield play from substitute Frenkie de Jong. Ferran Torres rounded off the scoring late on with a low effort into the bottom corner. This was the perfect response from Barcelona, who watched their great foes Real Madrid fight back to beat Leganes and move level on points at the summit of the Spanish top flight on Saturday. They ...

Valencia appoint West Brom boss as head coach

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Update on Christmas Day We can confirm that La Liga strugglers Valencia have appointed West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan as their new head coach. Valencia paid a release clause, believed to be between three and four million to allow him to leave Championship club Albion. Read below for an idea on how this story developed and why they were interested in the first place.  --‐--------------- Will Carlos Corberán be leaving the Midlands for Spain? Valencia, struggling in La Liga, have officially approached West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberán Author - Jack L The West Brom manager spoke with the club's YouTube account recently While discussions between the clubs are ongoing, no agreement has yet been reached. The Spanish club are reportedly ready to activate the 41-year-old's release clause at Albion, believed to be in the region of £3-4 million.  This follows Valencia’s decision to part ways with head coach RubĂ©n Baraja on Monday after a dismal run of jus...

Football icons: RaĂşl

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RaĂşl González Blanco, known to most within football as RaĂşl, is considered one of the most important players in the history of Real Madrid. He is regarded as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time and also one of the best forwards ever. Key events in his career He started his career in the academy of the AtlĂ©tico Madrid before later moving to Real Madrid's youth academy and played at its various levels. He signed professional terms in 1994. He spent 16 years of his career playing for Real Madrid and is the club's second all-time top goalscorer with 323 goals and has the most appearances in the history of the club, with 741. With Los Blancos, RaĂşl won six La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, scoring in two finals, four Supercopa de España titles, one UEFA Super Cup and two Intercontinental Cups.  Throughout his time in Madrid, he would have played with some of their greatest ever players. This includes the likes of Zidane, Roberto Carlos, David Beck...

Kylian Mbappe shines for Real Madrid

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Real Oviedo 0 - 3 Real Madrid Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Real Madrid extended their flawless start to the La Liga season with a win at Oviedo. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere Mbappe , who had netted the only goal against Osasuna , made it three goals in two games, opening the scoring eight minutes before half-time with a composed finish from the edge of the box and later side footing home a second late in the match. Trent Alexander-Arnold was named among the substitutes after starting the previous fixture, with manager Xabi Alonso opting for Dani Carvajal at right-back. The England international came on for the final three minutes with Real already 2-0 ahead. READ MORE |  The latest La Liga news and stories Vinicius Jr, another player who began on the bench, added a third in stoppage time with a clinical strike. Alonso also handed a start to 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono in attack, and the teenager impressed with a lively display. Oviedo ’s ...

Spain: Isco has contract cancelled

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There has been an interesting development with of La Liga's most decorated players. Sevilla have reached an agreement to terminate Isco's contract, just four months after signing the former Spain midfielder on a free transfer. He joined Sevilla on a two-year deal in August after long and successful spell with La Liga rivals Real Madrid. He signed from Malaga in 2013 and helped Real win the Champions League five times and La Liga three times. However, he has now been released after just 19 games for Sevilla, scoring once and claiming three assists. It will be certainly interesting to see where he ends up next. Could a Premier League club sign him? There will certainly be plenty of interest in signing a player with som much experience at the highest level of football. One Sevilla fan told us: "I'm always worried about these kind of transfers. When a player has been at a club like Real Madrid for so long, it can be very difficult to integrate into another side. This h...

Real Madrid's perfect start to their La Liga campaign continues

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Real Madrid 2 - 0 Espanyol Real Madrid maintained their flawless start to the La Liga season with a hard-earned victory over Espanyol, making it five wins from five. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago BernabĂ©u Espanyol adopted a compact defensive shape that for long periods frustrated Carlo Ancelotti’s side, restricting their ability to produce the free-flowing football so often associated with them. The breakthrough came courtesy of a spectacular strike from Éder MilitĂŁo, the Brazilian centre-back unleashing a thunderous 30-yard effort into the top corner after 22 minutes. Espanyol’s resistance was further undone shortly after half-time when a lapse in concentration left Kylian MbappĂ© unmarked on the edge of the box. The forward, teed up by VinĂ­cius JĂşnior, made no mistake in drilling home his seventh goal in six games this season. There was also a welcome return for Jude Bellingham. The England midfielder, sidelined since undergoing surgery on a long-standing shoulder problem in ...

La Liga: Sevilla 1 - 1 Barcelona

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Barcelona failed to find a win that would have taken them up to fourth place in La Liga. Sevilla took the lead after Ivan Rakitic rolled the ball into the area for Alejandro Gomez's first-time finish. Ronald Araujo's header levelled before half-time and despite Jules Kounde being sent off for throwing the ball at Jordi Alba, Barca could not breakthrough. You can watch the highlights in the video below. Xavi's side do move up one spot to seventh in La Liga. Second-placed Sevilla failed to make up ground on league leaders Real Madrid and are now five points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's men. Already looking ahead to 2022 after a torrid 2021 Everyone associated with Barcelona will be hoping that 2022 brings better fortunes after losing superstar Lionel Messi on a free transfer, sacking manager Ronald Koeman and being knocked out of the Champions League group stage this year. Reports from around Europe seem to suggest that they have agreed a deal to sign Ferran Torres from ...

Real Madrid held by Rayo Vallecano

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Rayo Vallecano 3 - 3 Real Madrid Jude Bellingham continued his remarkable scoring streak, netting in his sixth consecutive La Liga game, but Real Madrid missed the chance to go top of the table after a gripping 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano. Author - Jack L You can watch the highlights of the match in the video below. The footage is from the Real Madrid YouTube account. The England midfielder brought Madrid level just before half-time, expertly heading Rodrygo's delicate chip into the far corner for his seventh goal of the season. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, missing the injured Kylian MbappĂ©, endured a shaky start at the Estadio de Vallecas. They fell behind after just five minutes when Unai Lopez nodded Jorge de Frutos’ cross past Thibaut Courtois. The hosts doubled their lead nine minutes before the break through Abdul Mumin’s towering header. Federico Valverde sparked Madrid’s fightback with a stunning long-range strike, and moments later, Bellingham levelled the scoreline. The 2...

Atletico hit five to stun Real in historic derby win

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Atletico Madrid 5 - 2 Real Madrid Simeone’s side end Real’s perfect start with biggest derby haul since 1950 Author | Jack L Stadium | Metropolitano Stadium Fantastic atmosphere in Madrid Atletico Madrid scored five goals against city rivals Real for the first time in almost 75 years as they came from behind to claim a pulsating derby victory. It was only the fourth time Atletico had scored at least five in a Madrid derby, the last occasion being a 6-3 triumph in November 1950. Real, who had begun the season with six straight La Liga wins and opened their Champions League campaign by beating Marseille, fell to their first defeat of the campaign. The five conceded equalled their heaviest league loss since a 5-1 reverse to Barcelona in October 2018. Different pictures from the stands Diego Simeone ’s side struck first when Robin le Normand headed them in front, but goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler turned the game in Real’s favour. Alexander Sorloth equalised in first-half stopp...

Barcelona come from behind as Rashford impresses again

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Barcelona 2 - 1 Real Sociedad Robert Lewandowski headed in a second-half winner as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Real Sociedad and move to the top of the La Liga table. Author |  Jack L Stadium | Estadi OlĂ­mpic LluĂ­s Companys Real Sociedad had taken a surprise lead in the 31st minute when Alvaro Odriozola slid in to finish Ander Barrenetxea's low cross on the counter-attack. Barcelona responded just before half-time as Jules Kounde met Marcus Rashford's corner with a powerful header to level the scores. Hansi Flick introduced Ballon d'Or runner-up Lamine Yamal in the 58th minute, and the 18-year-old immediately made an impact, beating a defender before delivering a precise cross that Lewandowski nodded home. Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, impressed once again, creating chances down the left and testing Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro with dipping shots either side of the interval. He was withdrawn in the 78th minute, with Flick likely considering the ...

Barcelona close gap at the top of La Liga

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Sevilla 1 - 4 Barcelona FermĂ­n LĂłpez scores and sees red as Barcelona close gap on Real Madrid Author - Jack L Stadium - Estadio RamĂłn Sánchez Pizjuán Sevilla 1 -4 Barcelona youtu.be/KuJLQ_W0joo?... [image or embed] — European Super Football ( @superfootball.bsky.social ) 10 February 2025 at 16:09 Barcelona moved within just two points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid after a superb victory over Sevilla, in a match that saw FermĂ­n LĂłpez score and then get sent off in a dramatic 15-minute spell. With the game level at half-time, LĂłpez came off the bench and made an instant impact, heading into the bottom corner with his very first touch to put Barça ahead. However, his night quickly took a turn for the worse when he was shown a straight red card for a knee-high challenge on Djibril Sow, following a VAR review. Robert Lewandowski had earlier opened the scoring in the seventh minute, reacting quickly to poke home Iñigo MartĂ­nez’s header for his 19th goal of the season. But Sevilla hit ...

Sevilla stun Barcelona with fantastic performance

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Sevilla 4 - 1 Barcelona Barcelona squandered the chance to return to the top of La Liga after being comprehensively beaten by Sevilla. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio RamĂłn Sánchez Pizjuán Sunny scenes from the stands in Sevilla Needing a win to overtake Real Madrid , the defending champions endured their heaviest defeat to Sevilla since a 4-0 loss in 1951. Robert Lewandowski missed a second-half penalty after Marcus Rashford had pulled one back with a left-footed volley in first-half stoppage time, briefly giving the visitors hope of overturning a two-goal deficit. Hansi Flick’s side were second best for much of the contest and deservedly fell to their first league defeat of the season against opponents who had not beaten them in La Liga for more than a decade. Source | FC Barcelona's YouTube channel Former Barcelona winger Alexis Sánchez opened the scoring from the penalty spot after captain Ronald AraĂşjo fouled Isaac Romero near the byline. Romero added a second from a...