Tag: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi terrorizes Eibar with four-goal performance

Lionel Messi was unstoppable on Saturday.

Lionel Messi entered Saturday’s home game against SD Eibar having not scored in his last four La Liga matches – his longest goalless streak in the competition in more than half a decade – but the Argentinian superstar decimated the Eibar defense and dropped four at the Camp Nou to lead Barcelona to a blowout victory.

Messi completed his third hat trick of the season – the best mark in La Liga – in the first half. His opener in the 14th minute was sensational, as he embarrassed two defenders to get inside the penalty area before coolly flicking the ball past the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net. Commentator Ray Hudson was blown away, as he frequently is by Messi.

For his second, Messi taught famous Greek mathematician Euclid “a thing or two about angles,” according to Hudson.

Messi completed his hat trick in the 40th, and added a fourth goal just before full time, with an assist from Barcelona newcomer Martin Braithwaite.

You can watch the full match highlights below.

[jwplayer aI0Gt7AD-q2aasYxh]

Floyd Mayweather thinks he, not LeBron James, should be Athlete of Decade

Floyd Mayweather believes LeBron James was named AP Athlete of the Decade because of his corporate connections.

Floyd Mayweather’s bankroll is bigger than any athlete collected in any sport over the last decade. TBE, the Biggest Earner Ever. Money buys a lot of toys. A garage full of them. But it doesn’t always buy recognition, or maybe respect.

Mayweather was overlooked by The Associated Press late last year in voting for Male Athlete of the Decade. LeBron James won in what looked to be a slam dunk.

But Mayweather, a slam dunk choice for boxing’s Fighter of the Decade, argues he should been voted the No. 1 athlete for at least the 2010-2019 decade.

“I love LeBron James, but when we talking about Male Athlete of the Decade, that’s me,” Mayweather said during an appearance on Drink Champs, a podcast hosted by N.O.R.E., a hip-hop artist. “That’s me. Hands down.”

Mayweather, who sounds as if he’s got a chip the size of a Ferrari on his shoulder, went  on to say why he thinks he was the best, better than James and better than any of the other contenders – sprinter Usian Bolt, NFL quarterback Tom Brady, swimmer and all-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps and soccer’s Lionel Messi.

“We talking about from 1996 to 2020, and I’ve never received Athlete of the Decade,” Mayweather said. “At the top of Forbes, and I’m my own boss.”

Forget the decades. Mayweather was never voted AP’s Male Athlete of The Year. Any year. Meanwhile, James got the annual award three times – 2013, 2016, and 2018. He won NBA championship rings in Miami and Cleveland. He was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player three times – 2010, 2012 and 2013. Other than beat Conor McGregor, James pretty much did it all during the last decade.

But Mayweather argues that James’ ties to major corporations paved the way to his decade honor.

“No Gatorade behind me, no Sprite behind me, no Nike behind me,” Mayweather said. “You got to realize, these are billion-dollar companies. And we like to call it ‘placement.’

“So, if they paying – you get what you want if you paying enough. But if we going off just honesty, I’m the Athlete of the Decade. Of the last two decades actually.”

Tiger Woods won it for the 2000-2009 decade. For the most part, boxers have been left out of the debate, another sign that they’re engaged in a sport on the fringe. Since 1931, only four boxers have been voted Athlete of the Year – Joe Louis in 1935, Ingemar Johansson in 1959, Muhammad Ali in 1974 and George Foreman in 1994.

Foreman won for a compelling comeback in which he won a heavyweight title. Maybe, that’s why there are repeated rumors about a Mayweather return. A comeback might buy what his cash can’t.

How to Watch Real Madrid vs. Celta de Vigo, La Liga Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch Real Madrid vs. Celta de Vigo Live Online.

La Liga leaders Real Madrid hope to beat Celta Vigo for the fifth time in a row when they host the Galicians at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Celta ended its four-match winless streak by surprising Sevilla 2-1 in Week 23 to climb out of the relegation zone, but a trip to the leaders could result in them slipping into the bottom three once again.

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Real Madrid vs. Celta de Vigo

  • When: Sunday, February 16
  • Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
  • TV: beIN Sports
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Los Celestes have taken one point from the last possible 33 when facing Real in La Liga and their last league win over the capital kingpins came at Balaidos in May 2014. Celta hasn’t taken as much as a point from the Bernabeu in its past seven trips to the ground, having last defeated Real away from home in April 2007.

Zinedine Zidane’s high-flyers responded well to their shocking Copa del Rey exit at Real Sociedad’s hands, thrashing Osasuna 4-1 away in Week 23 to maintain a three-point lead over rivals Barcelona. Real remains undefeated in its last 14 league outings and has conceded a single goal in its last four home fixtures at the Bernabeu.

That isn’t a good sign for a Celta team that’s triumphed only once away from home in Spain’s top flight this term, even more so when considering that 3-1 win at Villarreal was all the way back on November 24.

Zidane is approaching a fully fit squad after being forced to contend with a series of injuries in recent months. Eden Hazard could make his first appearance since November following speculation he could have returned at Osasuna, though Marco Asensio, James Rodriguez, and Mariano Diaz all look likely to sit out in Week 24.

Celta boss Oscar Garcia will welcome right-back Kevin Vazquez into his options after he was suspended for the win over Sevilla, while left-back David Junca is also targeting a return.

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Ben Golliver: Bucks’ Giannis …

Ben Golliver: Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, asked to pick between Real Madrid & FC Barcelona: “I love both of these players, Messi or Ronaldo, that used to play in Real, but I’ll probably go with Real. There you go, Real.” pic.twitter.com/2Z0uAL7XVd

Valencia vs. Barcelona Live Stream, La Liga , Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time, How to Watch

Watch Valencia vs. Barcelona Live Online.

Quique Setien sealed a 1-0 win over Granada when he made his debut as Barcelona coach in Week 20, with the new boss seeking a second straight league win when the team travels to Valencia on Saturday. Los Che haven’t lost a domestic fixture at the Mestalla since it surrendered 1-0 to Eibar in April. However, the team is unbeaten in 11 matches and hopes to preserve that record against La Liga’s leaders.

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Valencia vs. Barcelona

  • When: Saturday, January 25
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
  • TV: beIN Sports
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Lionel Messi’s 76th-minute strike against Granada ensured Setien secured three points in his debut with the Blaugrana, who suffered a 2-0 defeat away to the same opponent in September.

One could interpret that as one improvement already upon what Ernesto Valverde had achieved with the club, not to mention the fact they accounted for more than 82 percent of possession.

Valencia was left reeling in Week 20 after it suffered a 4-1 hammering away to Mallorca, with the loss made all the worse by Dani Parejo’s sending off after he received two yellow cards. Manager Albert Celades could have striker Rodrigo back for the visit of Barca, but the attacking duo of Goncalo Guedes and Manu Vallejo are doubtful to return in time.

If it’s of any comfort to Saturday’s hosts, Barcelona will be without the services of striker Luis Suarez, who recently underwent surgery on his right knee and is expected to be out until May.

Winger Ousmane Dembele will also be out of the running due to an ongoing hamstring problem, though midfielder Arthur could be in contention to make his first start since December 1.

Valencia held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw the last time the team made the trip to the Mestalla in October 2018, later beating the Catalan giants 2-1 in Seville to clinch last season’s Copa del Rey.

When these teams last met in September, Barca got revenge with a one-sided 5-2 win at Camp Nou, a result newcomer Setien will hope to replicate in his first away game in charge.

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Report: LeBron James named AP male athlete of the decade

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has had a decade to remember in the 2010s.

As one of the best NBA players ever, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has made an indelible mark in the 2010s.

James has had so much success in the decade that he was recently voted as the AP’s male athlete of the decade, according to an article from the AP’s Tim Reynolds. 

According to the AP, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady came in second for the voting. Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi and Michael Phelps rounded out the rest of the top five.

While James burst onto the scene in the 2000s, the 2010s is where he made a legacy. James won all three of his championships in the decade, and he also won three Finals MVPs. James leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a title in 2016 will always be near the top of his long list of accomplishments.

On top of that, he won three MVP awards in the decade, and he is currently No. 4 on the league’s all-time scoring list.

The influence James has had in helping change the business of basketball is arguably just as good as his on-court performance.

When James left Cleveland for the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010, he changed NBA free agency, ushering in the player empowerment era. With his company Uninterrupted, James has also helped athletes share their stories from their perspectives.

Aside from his basketball achievements, though, James has made a difference off the floor. His philanthropy in establishing the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, shows his commitment to helping his community.

The 2010s have been a memorable decade for James. As he continues his career in Los Angeles, winning more championships and earning any other accolades will only add to his legacy.

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Floyd Mayweather tops Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes in decade

Floyd Mayweather earned $915 million in the decade, more than any other athlete in the world, according to Forbes.

Never has Floyd Mayweather’s nickname been more appropriate.

“Money” earned more cash than any other athlete in the world over the past decade, according to Forbes Magazine.

Mayweather made $915 million during that period, $115 million more than the next highest-paid athlete, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. And remember: Mayweather fought only once – against MMA star Conor McGregor – after 2015, which means he left a lot of money on the table.

The former five-division titleholder reportedly made a good portion of his total – around $500 million – in two fights, against rival Manny Pacquiao in 2015 and against McGregor. Those fights generated more than 9 million pay-per-view buys.

Forbes reported that Mayweather generated $1.7 billion in pay-per-view revenue in his last 15 fights, beginning with Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.

His march toward ungodly riches began when he split with promoter Top Rank in 2006 and started his own company, Mayweather Promotions. He had to pay $750,000 to opt out of his contract. He soon dropped his “Pretty Boy Floyd” nickname, adopted “Money” and then made financial history.

Pacquiao landed at No. 8 on Forbes’ list for the decade at $435 million. No sport had more than two representatives on the list. According to Forbes, Pacquiao generated 20 million buys and around $1.3 billion in 25 pay-per-view fights.

What did Mayweather have to say about the news? He Tweeted simply, “Congratulations to every athlete on this list!”

Here is the Top 10:

$915 million – Floyd Mayweather (boxing)
$800 million – Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer)
$750 million – Lionel Messi (soccer)
$680 million – LeBron James (basketball)
$640 million – Roger Federer (tennis)
$615 million – Tiger Woods (golf)
$480 million – Phil Mickelson (golf)
$435 million – Manny Pacquiao (boxing)
$425 million – Kevin Durant (basketball)
$400 million – Lewis Hamilton (car racing)

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid highlights: What we saw from El Clasico

The match ended in a draw, but there were still plenty of highlights in the matchup between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Barcelona and Real Madrid took part in another edition of El Clasico on Wednesday, a game that was rescheduled from October after the previous game was postponed due to Catalan protests.

The match ended in a 0-0 draw, and what it lacked in goals, it had in drama. Barcelona’s Gerard Pique cleared a shot off the line, only for Sergio Ramos to go and block a shot from going in at the other end moments later.

Later in the match, Messi would put the ball on Jordi Alba’s left foot, in alone on goal, only for Alba to drag his shot just wide.

In the second half, Gareth Bale had multiple clear chances, including a ball go in the net for Real Madrid, only to have it called back for offside.

It ended 0-0. See all the action below.

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The Best XI in men’s world soccer for 2019

Looking at the lineup of the best eleven soccer players in the world for the year 2019.

The year 2019 is about to come to an end, and people like to read lists on the internet, so how about we determine the best eleven men’s soccer players of the year 2019?

The criteria isn’t all that specific, just basically the people who I thought gave the best performances of the past year in men’s soccer. I lined up my fake team in a 4-3-3, with actual assignments for left back and right back. Why? Why not. It’s more fun that way.

We’ll have a poll at the bottom with a notable omission, and you can let me know what else I screwed up on Twitter.

Let’s get to the Best XI for 2019.

Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

Oblak was very hard to leave off, but Becker’s ability to play the ball with his feet opened up everything that Liverpool wanted to do. Along with Van Djik, he was the final piece of the puzzle that resulted in Liverpool’s Champions League victory.

Left Back: Jordi Alba

Marcelo was definitely in for a shout here, and I looked at Liverpool’s Robertson, but Alba is consistently fantastic for Barcelona. When your left back is technical enough to play anywhere on the field, that’s a good problem to have.

Center Back: Virgil Van Dijk

Runner up for the Ballon D’Or, Van Dijk is everything you want in a center back. He’s so good that he doesn’t even need to tackle that often — the opponents know not to even go near him. He sucks the air out of opponents’ attacks, consistently. That’s so hard to do.

Center Back: Kalidou Koulibaly

There are a lot of fantastic CBs alive right now, but none may be more gifted than Koilibaly, the rock at the heart of the Napoli defense. With respect to De Ligt, Ramos, Chiellini, and others … I’m giving it to Koulibaly.

Right Back: Trent Alexander-Arnold

One Ballon D’Or voter said Trent AA was the best player in the world last year, which is a bit much, but I feel confident giving him the nod over Joshua Kimmich as the best right back this year.

Midfielder: N’Golo Kante

Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports

Kante has struggled with injuries at times, and last season had to learn a new position, essentially, on the fly, thanks to the coaching of Maurizio Sarri. But he’s still my platonic ideal for a midfielder. He covers more ground than anyone, he plays beautifully, and he makes everyone better. Plus, that smile. THAT SMILE.

Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne

With apologies to his teammate Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne is the most talented attacking midfielder in the Premier League, someone who has every tool in the toolkit. He can dribble, he can pass, he can shoot, and he can do it all with both feet. A perfect soccer player.

Midfielder: Frenkie De Jong

De Jong is an interesting one because now that he’s with Barcelona, they’re asking him to do a lot less than he was doing at Ajax last season. But Ajax’s run last season was part of 2019, and he was absolutely sensational. In he goes.

Forward: Kylian Mbappe

This was a hard one to include, because Mbappe’s been injured at times and Sadio Mane has been absolutely unbelievable for Liverpool. That being said, when he’s healthy, I’m not sure there’s a more unstoppable player alive (not named Messi) than Mbappe.

Forward: Lionel Messi

Getty Images

Yeah, he’s still the best player in the world. Not really sure what else to say.

Striker: Robert Lewandowski

Lewa has been absolutely unreal this year for Bayern Munich, somehow improving on past seasons to be the best pure striker alive. Yes, I left off Cristiano Ronaldo. No, it wasn’t an accident. Lewa has been better, by a bit.

[opinary poll=”should-cristiano-ronaldo-be-in-the-best-” customer=”forthewin”]

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