The Afghan boy who became an online hit after wearing a homemade shirt bearing Lionel Messi’s famous number 10 has finally received the real thing – from the Argentine footballer himself.
Tag: football
Man City close on last eight
Manchester City moved within touching distance of a first appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals after a dynamic first-half display at Dynamo Kiev helped them secure a 3-1 last-16 first-leg win on Wednesday.City were irrepressible in the opening 45 minutes,…
Messi happy with ‘good’ win over ‘great’ Arsenal in Champions League
Lionel Messi has hailed Barcelona’s away victory against Arsenal in the first leg of the last-16 tie in the Champions League.The Argentine forward scored twice in the second half, including a penalty, to help the champions move closer to becoming…
BFF announce 22-memebr preliminary squad for FIFA friendly match
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Tuesday announced a 22-memebr of preliminary squad for the FIFA International Friendly match against United Arab Emirates (UAE) national football team scheduled to be held on March 18 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.The selected booters…
One killed in a football match clash
A young man was killed and 15 others injured in a clash between two groups during a football match at Baliar Chora village in Bhanga upazila on Tuesday morning.Mijanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bhanga Police Station, said the clash ensued following…
Argentina, Chile face rematch after Copa draw
Lionel Messi and Argentina were given a chance for revenge on Sunday after being drawn against reigning Copa America champions Chile in the group stage for this summer’s special centenary edition of the tournament.Argentina suffered an agonizing defeat to Chile…
Argentina, Chile face rematch after Copa draw
Lionel Messi and Argentina were given a chance for revenge on Sunday after being drawn against reigning Copa America champions Chile in the group stage for this summer’s special centenary edition of the tournament.Argentina suffered an agonizing defeat to Chile…
Injuries no excuse for Carrick ahead of crunch Cup tie
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has rejected suggestions the club’s lengthy injury list can be used as an excuse for failure in their FA Cup fifth round visit to third-tier Shrewsbury Town on Monday.Beleaguered manager Louis van Gaal has frequently…
Blatter says he won’t back any candidate in FIFA presidential election
Sepp Blatter said he will not support any of the five candidates standing to succeed him as FIFA president, though all but one of them had spoken to him about their bids.World football’s governing body, embroiled in a corruption scandal…
Football: Zidane keeps cool as Real march on
Zinedine Zidane won’t admit it yet, but 10-time winners Real Madrid remain on course for a sixth consecutive Champions League semi-final appearance after a clinical 2-0 win at Roma in the first leg of their last 16 tie on Wednesday.World…
Blanc praises match-winner Cavani but Chelsea retain hope
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc heaped praise on Edinson Cavani after the Uruguayan played the role of super-sub to give his side a 2-1 win against Chelsea in their Champions League last 16, first leg.Cavani replaced Lucas in the 74th…
Ronaldo back on Champions League goal trail at Roma
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane reckons Cristiano Ronaldo is on top form as the Portuguese looks to increase his Champions League goals tally when they visit AS Roma in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.Zidane, a Champions…
And for my next trick: Lionel Messi passes up 300th La Liga goal
Lionel Messi fakes to take a penalty then passes to teammate Luis Suarez to score his hat-trick and Barcelona’s fourth in the 6-1 beating of Celta Vigo.Messi has sidefooted his pass to Suarez from the penalty spot for the Uruguayan…
Welbeck returns to score late Arsenal winner
Danny Welbeck, making his first appearance of the season as a late substitute, headed a stoppage-time winner to give Arsenal a 2-1 home win over league leaders Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday Welbeck, who had not played…
Football: Fairytale title bid is piece of cake for relaxed Ranieri
As Claudio Ranieri returned to Leicester’s Belvoir Drive training base on Monday to start plotting the latest chapter in his club’s fairytale challenge for the Premier League title, it was hard to believe that just seven months ago the Italian’s…
Leicester outclass title rivals Man City to go six points clear
Robert Huth’s double and a Riyad Mahrez goal sent Premier League leaders Leicester City six points clear after a stunning 3-1 victory at shell-shocked title rivals Manchester City on Saturday.Leicester produced another exhilarating counter-attacking performance, playing with confidence and swagger…
FIFA under pressure to reform
By Lasse Højstrup Sørensen Unions and the sporting goods industry have had enough of FIFA and demand a showdown with the past and reform of football’s governing body. At last week’s forum on the future of FIFA, held in the…
Independence-seeking ICC to review ‘Big Three’ change
Cricket’s administrative body decided Thursday to stage a complete review of the constitutional changes which gave the major powers and revenues to Australia, England and India two years ago.The International Cricket Council (ICC) adopted the changes, empowering Cricket Australia, the…
FIFA election globetrotters avoid football’s real problems – expertsd
The battle for the FIFA presidency has turned into a gruelling round-the-globe marathon for the five candidates but observers say they are avoiding the real problems facing the scandal-infected world football body.With Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim…
Neymar in Barca squad to face Valencia
Brazilian superstar Neymar was included in Barcelona’s squad to face Valencia in their Copa del Rey semi-final,first-leg on Wednesday just a day after testifying in court on fraud and corruption allegations.Neymar and his father gave evidence to Spain’s National Court…
Neymar in Barca squad to face Valencia
Brazilian superstar Neymar was included in Barcelona’s squad to face Valencia in their Copa del Rey semi-final,first-leg on Wednesday just a day after testifying in court on fraud and corruption allegations.Neymar and his father gave evidence to Spain’s National Court…
Neymar, Barca in the dock over murky transfer
Barcelona star Neymar and president Josep Maria Bartomeu will be called to give evidence this week in the murky case over the deal which brought the Brazilian to the Catalan giants from Santos in 2013.Bartomeu is due to attend Spain’s…
Ronaldo hat-trick as Real hit Espanyol for six
The Portuguese led the way as Real sought to keep in the title chase after an inconsistent season so far that still leaves them in third place, four points behind leaders Barcelona.Karim Benzema headed in a whipped cross from James…
Young Liverpool thwarted by West Ham in second Wembley quest
Liverpool’s pursuit of a second Wembley Cup final appearance stalled at Anfield on Saturday as Juergen Klopp’s second-string side had to settle for an undistinguished goalless draw with West Ham United in the fourth round of the FA Cup.Four days…
Andy Murray overcomes Milos Raonic to reach final
The Australian Open hasn’t been straightforward for Andy Murray, the Scot who overcame Milos Raonic 4-6 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-2 in a slugfest Friday to appear in a fifth final in Melbourne.
Barca’s Suarez flying before second leg of Bilbao Cup clash
The combative Uruguay international was suspended for Barca’s last two Cup games for his part in a fracas after the last 16, first leg against Espanyol but his enforced absence has done little to tarnish his impressive statistics for the…
Van Gaal admits United fury getting worse
Louis van Gaal admitted the furious reaction of Manchester United supporters to their side’s dismal 1-0 defeat against Southampton was the worst he has experienced in an increasingly turbulent season.Van Gaal’s side failed to score at Old Trafford for the…
Real coach Zidane backs Rodriguez
Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez is working hard to get back to top form and remains a key member of the team, coach Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday.Rodriguez was sidelined by a thigh injury while on duty with Colombia in…
Barca back on top after Messi stunner
Munir El Haddadi, deployed up front in place of the injured Neymar, fired Barca ahead in the second minute at the Rosaleda Stadium on the south coast after smart work from Luis Suarez.However, the visitors were unable to exert their…
Real top money league again as club revenues surge
Real topped the list published on Thursday, with an annual revenue of 577 million euros (443 million pounds) as the combined figure for the top 20 Money League clubs rose by eight percent to a record high of 6.6 billion…