Misc
Rangers – Life after liquidation
Rangers after their liquidation will start again from fourth division Scottish league. Following their plea to play Scottish football again, Rangers have been granted conditional membership of the Scottish FA that allows the former champions to play their League Cup first round tie at Brechin City on 29th July.
Rangers – Life after liquidationA look forward in future
Rangers will begin next season in the fourth tier Scottish league, Scotland’s lowest professional league, after the move was approved by the country’s soccer authorities on 27th July.
Rangers, Scottish champion a record 54 times, were put in bankruptcy protection because of tax debts exceeding $30 million. The team is now set to visit grounds with seats for just a few hundred fans next season.
With almost the whole team and its staff in an unsettled state the club will move forward in search of first division football which is not coming anytime sooner. It gets though for Ally McCoist and his side having only a few known players left in the club. Players like Lee McCulloch an experienced forward, goalkeeper Neil Alexander and Scotland left-back Lee Wallace have stuck with the club. These players have registered with Rangers last season and allowed their contracts to be transferred to the relaunched Ibrox club will be an integral part of the club next season.
A Double Boost
Rangers who saw many players leave or had to leave them due to salary issues with players not willing to have a pay cut made a double signing to start things off in the summer.
Rangers have confirmed in their official website the signing of former Hearts midfielder Ian Black and the re-signing of striker Andy Little after securing conditional Scottish Football Association membership.The duo become Ally McCoist’s first signings of the summer as the manager looks to swiftly bolster his decimated squad ahead of the new season, when Rangers will start life in the Fourth Division of Scottish football.
Black, who was out-of-contract at Tynecastle this summer having joined the Edinburgh outfit three years ago, has penned a three-year deal with the club.
Little, the 23-year-old Northern Ireland international, who spent the early part of last season on loan at Port Vale before returning to his parent club, returns on a two-year contract with the option for a further year.
Rangers kick off their summer with a game against Brechin City. However, they may be able to use the pair for the game as they have to be registered still.
With a new division, a new phase and with almost a new team Rangers and their fans will have a very different start to the campaign next term. But fourth division Scottish football will not be a tough hurdle to climb but still its a long way to go before they again see first division football
Barcelona
Lionel Messi 2023 – Net Worth, Salary, Endorsements, Wife, Tattoos, Cars and More
Lionel Messi 2023 – Net Worth, Salary, Endorsements, Wife, Tattoos, Cars and More
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer to ever step foot on the green grass, and here we learn more about the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner’s net worth, salary, contract, and more.
Lionel Messi Facts
Lionel Messi Net Worth and Salary
Lionel Messi has a net worth of about $ 600 million. That figure does not come as a shock considering he is arguably the best player the world has ever seen during an age where players are paid handsomely by their clubs. This figure is largely down to his career at FC Barcelona.
The Argentine superstar left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 after 21 years at the club. He signed an astonishing deal at PSG that sees him early with a weekly salary of £500,000.
According to Jorge Mas, Messi will earn approximately $60 million per year, which includes his salary, ownership stake in Inter Miami, and signing bonus. The contract is effective from July 1, 2023, until late December 2025.
Lionel Messi Club Career
Anyone who has heard about football knows Lionel Messi. The Argentine sensation arrived in Spain in 2000 from Newell’s Old Boys. At 16 years, 4 months, and 23 days, Messi finally made his much-awaited senior team debut for Barcelona in a friendly against Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto in November 2003.
Since then, Messi has won almost everything in sight. The 9-time La Liga player of the year has also won the league title 10 times in his career and 15 other domestic cup trophies. Lionel Messi is also a record six-time Ballon d’Or winner, which is one more than that of Cristiano Ronaldo.
He has also been awarded the UEFA Player of the Year Award thrice along with a Best FIFA Men’s Player title in 2019. His record at Barcelona makes for astonishing reading. Messi scored 672 goals and provided 306 assists during his 778 games for the Catalan giants. He made his debut for PSG against Reims in a Ligue 1 match on 29th August 2021.
Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain is set to expire on June 30, and he will leave the club this summer. He is set to join MLS Team Inter Miami as a free agent on July 1 2023.
Lionel Messi’s International Career
Lionel Messi is probably the only player to have been called Diego Maradona’s successor and actually go on to live up to that title. In fact, Messi actually bettered Maradona in every way when it came to stats and trophies at the club level. But what made Barrilete Cosmico a divine figure in Argentina was his role in Argentina’s 1986 FIFA World Cup win on home soil.
That was the argument used by many to state that Maradona’s legacy was greater than that of Messi because of international trophies. Once Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Euro 2016 with Portugal, the pressure was on the mesmeric Argentine to win something with La Abiceleste.
Messi led Argentina to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final but failed at the last hurdle against Germany. He also lost in the Copa America finals in 2007, 2015, and 2016. But his golden moment finally came in 2021, when Messi captained Argentina to a 1-0 win against Brazil in the Copa America final. That was his second major accomplishment after a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
The post covid time has been working well for the Argentine, as he led Argentina to three major trophies including Copa America in 2021, CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions and World Cup in 2022.
Lionel Messi’s Family, Girlfriend, and Personal Life
Lionel Messi was born on 24th June 1987 in Rosaria, Argentina to Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini. His father was a steel factory manager while his mother worked in a magnet manufacturing company. Lionel was the third of their four children.
He has two brothers – Matias and Rodrigo Messi, and a sister named Maria Sol Messi. Lionel Messi met Antonella Roccuzzo as a five-year-old, who was the cousin of a childhood best friend. The two entered into a relationship in 2008 and made it public in 2009.
Messi and Roccuzzo married each other in 2017, and have three sons together. Their first child, Thiago Messi, was born in 2012. Mateo, their second son, entered the world in 2015, while Ciro Messi arrived in 2018.
Lionel Messi Sponsorships, Endorsements
Messi is Adidas’ biggest client, earning $ 25 million yearly from his deal. He also has sponsorships and endorsements from Gatorade, Pepsi, Budweiser, Lays, Konami, Dubai Auto Expo, Jacob and Co. He earns a significant amount of wealth from numerous sponsorship deals which is understandable considering his reach and popularity.
The Argentine according to a report from Reuters has entered the world of NFTs and Fan Tokens with his recent $20 million deal with Socios.com, an all-in-one fan influence & rewards app. Messi even received a large number of fan tokens when he moved from Barcelona to PSG. He will be the brand’s global ambassador and promote Socios.com.
“Fans deserve to be recognized for their support,” Messi said in a statement. “I’m proud to join Socios.com’s mission to create a more connected and rewarding future for fans around the world.”
Messi has his own brand, which is branded with his last name that has become synonymous with the sport over the years. It is unclear how much money he rakes in through this avenue but given his popularity, it won’t be a small amount.
Lionel Messi has signed a contract with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). The deal includes profit sharing with MLS partners Apple and Adidas, in addition to his playing contract. Messi also has the option to purchase a minority stake in the club, similar to David Beckham’s arrangement when he joined MLS in 2007.
Lionel Messi Tattoos and Cars
Messi is heavily inked and all his tattoos hold some personal meaning. The Argentine striker has the birthdates of his wife and three children inked on his right shin and calf. The bottom portion of his left leg features a football and the number 10, and he also has a crown on his right arm- the same as Antonela.
His left leg also features Thiago’s handprints and his name, and he also has a tattoo of his wife’s lips on his hips. His right arm features a prominent rosary, as an ode to his hometown of Rosario. Messi also has a portrait of his mother on his back and a large tattoo of Jesus on his right arm.
The legendary forward also boasts of some really fast and expensive cars. He is believed to have a Pagani Zonda Tricolore, several Audi Cars (Q7, R8, A7), a Mercedes SLS AMG, Ferrari F430 Spyder, Maserati Gran Turismo MC Stradale, an Escalade and a Range Rover Vogue.
Lionel Messi’s Social Media
Read More:
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FAQs about Lionel Messi
Argentina
Top 10 Best Football Players of All Time
Top 10 Best Football Players of All Time
Football is the most popular sport known to man, and today, we treat you to a list that reveals our top 10 best football players of all time. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Manuel Neuer, and Lionel Messi to Paolo Maldini, we will try our best to include players representing every era and position on the pitch.
Without further ado, here are our Top 10 Best Football Players of All Time.
10. Manuel Neuer (GERMANY)
For the past decade and a half, Manuel Neuer has constantly made himself known as the world’s best goalkeeper. There are greats such as Lev Yashin, Dino Zoff, Iker Casillas, and Gianluigi Bufffon. But Neuer is perhaps the most complete goalkeeper in that lot.
From distribution, to on-the-ball abilities and shot-stopping talent, Neuer barely has a single hole in his game. The two-time German player of the year also won the 2014 World Cup with Germany and took home the Golden Glove award. He is a living legend and should be remembered as the player who revolutionized the role of a goalkeeper.
9. Romario (BRAZIL)
In a career that spanned nearly 24 years, Romario scored 1,000+ goals in his career. The dynamic Brazilian striker was an absolute menace on his day – and nearly every day was Romario’s day during his heyday. Having played for numerous clubs in his career, he is best known for his spells at Vasco da Gama and Barcelona.
He is one of Brazil’s all-time great forwards and led them to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, having scored 5 goals and also taking home the Golden Ball award. He retired from professional football in 2009 as one of the greatest players the world will ever see. His longevity and lethality are what gives him the edge over the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Neymar on this list.
8. Luis Suarez (URUGUAY)
Perhaps a player that doesn’t get the credit he deserves, Luis Suarez has scored goals by the bucketload wherever he went. The Uruguayan striker started his career, much like many legends, at Ajax and scored 111 goals in 159 games. Liverpool took notice and brought him to England, and Suarez single-handedly led their unexpected Premier League title charge in the 2013/14 season.
A move to Barcelona followed and he really exploded onto the scene there. Suarez played a massive part in Barca’s treble in 2015. He was sold to Atletico Madrid in 2020 as he was nearing the end of his prime. But the legendary striker showed he still had it in him as he guided Los Colchoneros to a historic La Liga title. He also has a fearsome rate of a goal every two goals for the Uruguay national team.
7. Ronaldo (BRAZIL)
Ronaldo Nazario is a debatable inclusion in the top 10 football players of all time. His career was cut short by fitness issues and injury. But during his heyday, Ronaldo was basically a cheat code. He had immense pace and acceleration for a player of his height and physique. He dribbled like the ball was glued onto his boot, and he was simply unerring in front of goal.
His spells at PSV, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Barcelona cement his status as the greatest number 9 to ever live if we give a big weightage to individual ability over longevity. Ronaldo’s peak came in the 2002 FIFA World Cup where the masterful striker was the foundation on which Dunga’s Brazil built their trophy-winning campaign. It is a shame that injuries ruined a career that would have been laden with Ballon d’Or and Golden Boots.
6. Zinedine Zidane (FRANCE)
There have been midfielders like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Steven Gerrard that have mesmerized the world with their abilities in the centre of the park. But no one summed up the essence of being a central midfielder, a playmaker, and a captain as Zidane did for France, Juventus, Real Madrid, and Bordeaux.
A smooth operator, the tall midfielder had a feather touch and the passing range to envy. His vision was unmatched and his ability to read the game, sublime. Zidane was a pillar that the Real Madrid and Juventus team during the early 2000s and late 1990s respectively. His only regret would be to not win a FIFA World Cup because heaven knows Zidane deserved one. Perhaps, he has his own headbutt to blame for that.
5. Paolo Maldini (ITALY)
Paolo Maldini was the complete defender. The blue-eyed Italian was one of the most elegant footballers the world has ever seen. He could play as a left-back and a centre-back. The towering physique of Maldini was coupled with his surprisingly quick speed and sublime ability on the ball.
Franz Beckenbauer and Virgil van Dijk are both players that mimic a similar style, but Maldini’s longevity, versatility, and legacy trump the duo on this list. The AC Milan and Italy legend is the closest thing we have had to a perfect defender.
4. Pele (BRAZIL)
Pele scored 1279 goals during his senior career, including friendlies, and that is still a Guinness World Record. He guided Brazil to a World Cup as a 17-year-old in 1958, and then again in 1962. Pele was again instrumental in Selecao‘s 1970 World Cup win.
He spent his career playing for Santos and never really had the task of going up against Europe’s best clubs in the ’60s and ’70s, but it would criminal not to consider him at least one of the top 4 greatest football players the sport has ever seen.
3. Diego Maradona (ARGENTINA)
Diego Maradona was Lionel Messi before it was cool. The pocket-sized Maradona was simply unstoppable. Teams had to double, sometimes triple mark him. The Argentine’s ability was impeccable, his dribbling was mesmeric, and his eye in front of the goal made him a cold-blooded hitman.
His success with Argentina made him a legend. Maradona led them to an unforgettable 1986 World Cup win, a tournament that made him a God in his home country. That was also the time he led Napoli to an unthinkable Serie A title in 1987. If not for a troubled career off the pitch, Maradona could have had a few more years at the top. May the legend in rest in peace.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (PORTUGAL)
Cristiano Ronaldo is not a better footballer than Diego Maradona when it comes to individual abilities. But the Portuguese’s longevity, goal-scoring record, and an overflowing individual and team trophy cabinet make him our second-best football player to ever exist.
A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo has 5 UEFA Champions League titles to his name as well as the 2016 UEFA Euros. The World Cup is, perhaps, the only trophy that eludes him and he can cement his status as the ‘GOAT’ if he somehow manages to lead Portugal to the trophy in Qatar.
1. Lionel Messi (ARGENTINA)
There is no list in the world that should have Lionel Messi anywhere but as #1 when it comes to the greatest footballers ever. Messi’s lengthy career is not one that has had its up and downs. Ever since his debut for Barcelona as a teenager, Messi has kept up his standards that have never dropped.
A record 6-time Ballon d’Or winner, he is widely considering by the football world as the best to ever do it. Goals, assists, on-the-ball ability, longevity, and set-pieces, there is no weakness in Messi’s armour. Now at PSG, he will only add to his tally of trophies which saw a career-changing inclusion of a Copa America title in the summer of 2021.
Read More on Football:
- Who is Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and what’s his net worth in 2021?
- Why NFTs Are Game Changers For Soccer Clubs
- Top 10 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History
Notable absentees from our list of the Top 10 Best Football Players of All Time
Johan Cruijff
Steven Gerrard
Franz Beckenbauer
Eusebio
Ronaldinho
What do you think of our list? Have your say in the comments below!
Arsenal
Wenger set for the sack, Arsenal board eye multiple targets
(Disgruntled Wenger could be set to leave this summer having taken charge of Arsenal since 1996)
Arsenal manager and long time Premier League veteran Arsene Wenger could finally look set for the sack with the Gunners board reportedly lining up a list of managerial targets to succeed the 68-year-old.
The longest-serving manager in Premier League history with 22 seasons under his belt overtaking Sir Alex earlier this year looks likely to get the chop this summer with one source even stating “Wenger had a board meeting yesterday [Monday] and today [Tuesday] told all first-team players and coaches if club isn’t in the Champions League next season it is all change in the summer.”
Arsenal who currently sit in 6th place are far from the gun slinging, dynamic and utterly terrifying side of the 2003/2004 season have looked toothless and pretty spineless in recent seasons with the North London based side showing their ineptness in their 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City.
The scoreline aside it was the performances that annoyed most Arsenal fans with poor defending, poor communication but most importantly a lack of work rate and desire from many of the Arsenal players with the likes of main man Mezut Ozil literally walking at some points of the game.
Should the Arsenal board finally look set to cut ties with the Frenchman after rewarding him with a 2-year contract extension last summer the Red half of North London has multiple managerial targets with a number of former players linked with taking the helm at the Emirates.
Arsenal legend, former Academy coach and current Belgian assistant manager Thierry Henry has thrown his hat into the ring for the Arsenal job, former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta who is currently doing his apprenticeship with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and current New York City FC manager and former Arsenal midfield destroyer Patrick Viera all linked to the job.
Away from Arsenal’s former players Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann and Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim all linked with a move to the English capital.
(Thierry Henry was pushed out from Arsenal after criticising Arsenal on Sky Sports)
The only constant between the plethora of managers is the fact they are all quite young in managerial terms, which means that Arsenal are looking for a new manager to come in and stay in charge for over a decade like Wenger had done having arrived virtually as an unknown entity after arriving from Nagoya Grampus in the Japanese league.
Furthermore, while all have very different levels of experience, playing styles and stature they all have an emphasis on youth development, and with young stars like Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Cohen Bramall all among a number of serious talents for Arsenal FC.
Wenger, however, is stuck in a world of his own and in a bubble, he believes that he will stay beyond this season, win the league next season and be rewarded with a new deal. Yet doesn’t want to spend. What logic is there?! The gap is currently so big between the Top 4 and Arsenal, Burnley look like the more likely rival.
In the words of ArsenalFanTV “It is time for Wenger to go!” It is no longer the swash bucking style of yesteryear, but a misfiring Arsenal team with the players no longer playing for the manager, and that is the saddest thing of all.
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