France Ligue 1

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Watch Lionel Messi leave Kasper Schmeichel planted with stunning free kick as PSG star forgets Barcelona transfer talk

      by

      LIONEL MESSI curled a stunning free-kick beyond Kasper Schmeichel as Paris Saint-Germain beat Nice.The Argentine is looking full of confidence again in front of goal after producing an underwhelming tally in his debut campaign in France.

      Lionel Messi bends home a free-kickCredit: Reuters
      The Argentine is congratulated by pal NeymarCredit: Reuters
      In the 28th minute of Saturday’s clash, Messi rolled back the years with an amazing effort.
      After Neymar’s dummy run, the 35-year-old caressed a shot into the top corner.
      Such was its accuracy that former Leicester stalwart Schmeichel barely moved as it flew past him.
      Neymar, 30, jumped into Messi’s arms as he celebrated the amazing goal.
      Read More Football News
      While it also drew a smile from Kylian Mbappe, who was watching on from the substitutes’ bench.
      The Frenchman was afforded a rest by boss Christophe Galtier, with former Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike given a start.
      PSG weren’t smiling two minutes into the second-half, when they were stunned by Gaetan Laborde’s leveller.
      Mbappe was ultimately called upon ten minutes later, replacing Ekitike to join Messi and Neymar up front.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      And it was the 23-year-old sensation who eventually swept PSG back into the lead on 83 minutes, with Galtier’s men seeing out a 2-1 win to climb back above Marseille at the top of the table.
      Schmeichel wasn’t the only former Prem player in a Nice starting line-up brimming with them.
      Mario Lemina, Aaron Ramsey and Ross Barkley all lined up for the underdogs as they took on last year’s champs.
      Arsenal loanee Nicolas Pepe was left on the bench, as well as ex-Wigan flop Andy Delort.
      Messi appears to have left PSG exit talk behind, after it was reported that Xavi wanted to bring his pal back to Catalonia in August.
      He has started the campaign with a flourish, scoring seven goals and laying on eight assists in just 11 appearances.
      Kylian Mbappe celebrates his late winnerCredit: AFP More

    • 213 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      PSG chief admits signing both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe was a ‘mistake’ as pair’s feud hots up

      by

      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN made a mistake in signing both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the club’s sporting director Luis Campos has admitted.The Ligue 1 champions signed Neymar for a world record fee of £198million in 2017.
      Neymar and Mbappe have been team-mates at PSG for five yearsCredit: AFP
      That same summer they agreed a loan deal for Mbappe to join from Monaco.
      Then in 2018, PSG signed the French superstar on a permanent transfer worth up to £165m.
      Both have enjoyed successful spells at the club, albeit without winning the Champions League.
      And Campos has now conceded that it was an error to bring both players in.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Speaking to the Rothen s’enflamme podcast, he said: “We made the mistake in the past of recruiting two players in the same position.
      “The transfer window is not good because we lack players in key positions and because we have an overlap of players in other positions.”
      The comments about the pair come after Neymar walked out of an interview earlier this week when asked about Mbappe.
      While away on international duty, the Brazilian was asked about his relationship with Mbappe.
      Most read in Football
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
      And he simply gave the response: “With Kylian? I don’t know.”
      Neymar has scored 111 goals in 155 games for PSG, winning four Ligue 1 titles in the process.
      Mbappe has helped the club win the same four league titles, while contributing 181 goals in 226 matches.
      But the pair are embroiled in a bitter feud which is affecting the PSG dressing room.
      Read More on The Sun
      Reports in the summer suggested Mbappe would be open to seeing Neymar leave.
      Meanwhile, it has also been claimed that Neymar is gobsmacked by the power Mbappe has at the club following his lucrative new deal.
      Yet despite reports of unrest, Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi remain one of the most formidable attacking line-ups in world football. More

    • 250 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Lionel Messi slammed after 52 private jet trips in three months causing 150 years worth of CO2 to be released

      by

      LIONEL MESSI has been slammed his private jet made 52 trips in three months causing 150 years worth of CO2 to be released.The Argentine superstar has just returned to Paris Saint-Germain after heading to the United States to play for his country.
      Lionel Messi has been blasted by French media over his global footprintCredit: Instagram
      The 52 private jet trips in three months his plane has made has caused 150 years worth of CO2 to be releasedCredit: Instagram
      The 35-year-old forward was in sensational form for the South American nation as he took his tally to 90 goals in 164 caps.
      Messi fired two in a 3-0 win over Honduras before striking a hat-trick in Wednesday’s 4-0 thumping of Jamaica.
      However, he appears to have scored a major own goal with his carbon footprint.
      Messi leases a stunning £12million luxury jet for his travels, and he often lends it to his family and friends too.
      READ MORE ON LIONEL MESSI
      Now French publication L’Equipe have taken aim at the Barcelona legend for the whopping carbon footprint it has left on the planet.
      They claim that his jet has made 52 trips all over the planet from June 1 to August 31.
      And they have calculated that means that the aircraft has released as much CO2 as one person would over 150 years in just three months.
      Messi’s plane was made by a company in Argentina and designed for Messi as well as his family.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      It boasts a number of incredible features, including its very own kitchen and has two bathrooms and enough seats for 16 people.
      Incredibly, the chairs can also be folded up and turned into eight beds.
      To top things off, the steps feature the names of Messi and his family – wife Antonella, plus children Thiago, Ciro and Mateo and also boasts his No10 on the tail.
      The Argentine legend and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo pictured posing inside the £12m aircraftCredit: Reuters More

    • 263 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Ramos ‘had to stop Neymar and Mbappe rowing in dressing room’ as feuding PSG duo make ‘pact to keep issues private’

      by

      SERGIO RAMOS stepped in to stop Neymar and Kylian Mbappe rowing in the dressing room, according to reports.And the feuding Paris Saint-Germain pair have now made a pact to keep their simmering relationship issues private, especially with the World Cup just 52 days away.
      Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are at a standstill with their poor relationshipCredit: AFP
      Sergio Ramos had to restore peace in the changing room after one clashCredit: Getty
      Tensions have worsened between the two superstar forwards in recent years – but in particular in the last few months.
      It is said their relationship has deteriorated from “cold to polar” – and there are at a standstill with no way back.
      And reports suggest Mbappe does not want Neymar in the team at all while the world’s most-expensive player has been “left astonished by the influence the France striker has been given” since signing his £500million contract in May.
      Mbappe and Neymar publicly argued on the pitch during August’s 5-2 win over Montpellier when the Brazilian took the ball off his rival for PSG’s second penalty of the match – after his fellow forward missed their first.
      READ MORE NEYMAR NEWS
      AS state the pair clashed in the locker room afterwards and experienced defender Ramos – hardly known for keeping is cool – had to jump in to mediate the situation.
      He is said to have told Neymar to respect the decision that Mbappe is the designated penalty taker.
      Brazilian Marquinhos and Lionel Messi are also said to have intervened to help diffuse the situation – with the Argentine icon regularly acting as peacemaker between the two.
      There are now fears the growing discontent between the stars – who cost a combined £360m in transfer fees – could disturb the harmony within Christophe Galtier’s squad.
      Most read in Football
      Mbappe looked on course to leave PSG last summer before completing a dramatic U-turn and signing a bumper contract until 2025, with a £250m bonus and wages totalling a whopping £1.6m per week.
      As well as the huge financial boost, Mbappe was also granted greater influence at the football club with his voice playing a major role in football decisions as the board try to keep the 23-year-old happy.
      But Neymar, 30, has reportedly taken exception to this and allegedly privately accused Mbappe of trying to get the PSG chiefs to sell him this summer so the ex-Monaco ace could be the undisputed No1.
      Both players appear to have called a truce and are trying to keep the trouble under wraps.
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      They continue to celebrate goals together – and there have been plenty of them this term with ten for Mbappe and 11 for Neymar.
      And they refuse to comment on their bond in the media – with the Brazilian blatantly sighing and walking away during an interview during the recent international break.
      Mbappe, though, did admit he felt more “freedom” while playing for France compared to club football.
      It is understood neither player wants to make the situation worse because the World Cup is so close.
      Brazil and holders France will have ambitions of winning the tournament in Qatar so the forwards are keen to avoid any controversy or anything that could hinder their chances of glory.
      Neymar and Mbappe argued over a penalty against Montpellier in AugustCredit: Getty
      The pair continue to celebrate goals together and publicly hide their feudCredit: Reuters More

    • 188 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Ex-Arsenal ace Lacazette has ‘almost regained normal voice’ after surgery following high-pitched post match interview

      by

      ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE has almost regained his normal voice after undergoing successful vocal surgery.The former Arsenal striker raised eyebrows with a high-pitched interview while playing for new club Lyon earlier this month.
      Fans noticed Alexandre Lacazette’s vocal cord issue during this interview earlier this month
      It turned out that the Frenchman was suffering from vocal cord polyps.
      According to L’Equipe the condition left him unable to speak for months.
      Lacazette, 31, could have undergone surgery earlier but was desperate not to miss any games for Lyon.
      He decided to wait for the international break and went under the knife last Wednesday.
      READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
      The surgery reportedly went well, with Lacazette having mostly regained his normal voice.
      L’Equipe add that he is likely to be available for Lyon’s clash at Lens this Sunday evening.
      Lacazette has enjoyed a positive return to Ligue 1 since leaving Arsenal.
      He has scored four goals in eight appearances, also laying on an assist.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      The former Gunners skipper has been handed the armband at Lyon.
      Peter Bosz’s side currently sit sixth in Ligue 1 with four wins and a draw from eight games.
      They lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain last time out, going down to an early Lionel Messi strike.
      Lacazette, 31, as impressed since his return to Ligue 1Credit: Getty More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Lionel Messi to decide future after World Cup with PSG contract expiring next summer… but has no current transfer offers

      by

      LIONEL MESSI will decide his future after the World Cup – but has so far had no offers from any club. The Argentine hero signed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
      Lionel Messi’s current PSG contract expires in the summer and his future is unclearCredit: AP
      The Argentina icon hopes to lead his country to World Cup glory in QatarCredit: Getty
      But with that contract expiring next summer, it remains unclear where he will be playing his football in the 2023-24 season. 
      And SunSport can reveal the Argentine hero currently has no concrete options.
      Despite suggestions PSG want to offer him a one-year extension, the French giants are yet to table that deal. 
      Messi, 35, has not been sent any contracts from elsewhere, either, which as it stands would make him a free agent again in nine months.
      READ MORE ON LIONEL MESSI
      However, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is focused on the World Cup as he looks to lead Argentina to glory.
      Lionel Scaloni’s side face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in November’s group stages and they will be desperate to go one better than their runner-up finish in 2014 by lifting the iconic trophy in Doha on December 18. 
      After the tournament finishes, Messi will then sit down to make a call on his club career.  
      Despite rumours of a transfer return, former club Barcelona have made zero contact with the player directly since his emotional exit in August 2021. 
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Messi left his boyhood club when his contract expired last year and the club could not afford to give him a new deal. 
      The player was willing to take a huge pay cut to stay but employment law in Spain combined with LaLiga financial regulations prevented any extension from being possible.
      Messi joined PSG on a free transfer, forming a deadly strike force with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe but endured a tough first season at the Parc des Princes – despite winning the title.
      He scored just six league goals in his lowest tally since becoming a Barcelona regular in 2005-06. 
      But the ex-Barca captain has already managed four in eight appearances this term as Christophe Galtier’s men sit two points clear at the top of the table.
      After scoring a sublime chip on international duty last weekend, Messi revealed he was finally enjoying his football again after his struggles.
      He said: “I feel good, I feel different from last year. I knew it was going to be like this.
      “I’m more comfortable with the club, the dressing room, my team-mates, the game.
      “I feel very good again, so I’m starting to enjoy it again.”
      Messi left Barcelona in emotional scenes when his contract could not be renewedCredit: Getty
      He joined PSG as a free agent on a two-year deal until 2023Credit: Getty
      After struggling for goals last season, he has started the new campaign in red-hot formCredit: AFP More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Lionel Messi says he ‘feels very good’ as he enjoys football again following tough first season at PSG

      by

      LIONEL MESSI insists he is feeling “very good” as he continues to return to top form for both club and country.The legendary 35-year-old shocked the world in the summer of 2021 when he left Barcelona following 21 years at the Nou Camp to join Paris Saint-Germain.
      Lionel Messi says he is now ‘feeling very good’ with life at PSGCredit: AFP
      Despite his incredible goal record for the LaLiga side, he struggled to replicate those numbers for PSG during his first campaign in France.
      Messi scored just six times in 26 appearances in Ligue 1, with 17 assists, in an underwhelming season.
      However, the veteran seems to now be hitting top gear at the right time with the Qatar World Cup just weeks away.
      He already has six goals and eight assists in just 11 games for PSG this term and is continuing to break records.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Messi’s goal against Lyon last week was his 672nd from open play, which puts him one ahead of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.
      Last night he scored two for Argentina, including a sublime chip, against Honduras to take his international tally to 88 in 163 caps.
      And afterwards he admitted that he feels a lot more at home in the French capital this year.
      According to Fabrizio Romano, Messi said: “I feel good, I feel different from last year. I knew it was going to be like this.
      Most read in Football
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      “I’m more comfortable with the club, the dressing room, my teammates, the game.
      “I feel very good again, so I’m starting to enjoy it again.”
      PSG are currently two points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and have won both their two Champions League group matches so far.
      Messi is likely to be back in action for Argentina in Wednesday’s friendly with Jamaica before the nation’s focus switches to the World Cup in November.
      The South American and his side will face Saudi arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C in Qatar. More

    • 250 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Neymar hints at tension as he sighs and refuses to answer question on relationship with fellow PSG star Kylian Mbappe

      by

      NEYMAR has fuelled speculation of a rift with Kylian Mbappe after refusing to speak about his relationship with his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate.The pair are rumoured to have a frosty relationship at Parc des Princes, despite scoring 21 goals between them this season for Les Parisiens.
      Neymar refused to discuss his relationship with Paris Saint-Germain Kylian Mbappe
      Mbappe recently stated how he enjoys playing more with France than at PSGCredit: Rex
      It was claimed in July how Mbappe was keen for the former Barcelona star to be sold this summer due to his “indiscipline”.
      And it was then reported how PSG had put Neymar up for sale after Mbappe committed his long-term future to the club.
      Both men were hauled in for showdown talks by PSG last month following their penalty drama where they were involved in a spat over who should take the spot-kick against Montpellier.
      Following the match, Neymar liked many tweets slamming PSG’s decision to have the ex-Monaco ace taking penalties ahead of him.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      There was more on-field drama earlier this month when Neymar fumed at Mbappe after the Frenchman failed to square the ball for him which would have completed his hat-trick.
      Mbappe opened up on his friendship with Neymar at the start of September after admitting he has “cold moments” with the ex-Santos star.
      Neymar was asked about his relationship with the 2018 World Cup winner after he helped Brazil beat Ghana 3-0 on Friday night.
      When pressed on Mbappe, Neymar said: “I don’t understand.”
      Most read in football
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
      He then added: “With Kylian?”
      A brief sigh followed, where he then remarked: “I don’t.”
      Neymar then chose to walk away from the interview as he refused to speak more about his team-mate.
      His comments come just a day after Mbappe revealed he enjoys more freedom while on international duty for Les Blues than he does alongside Neymar and Lionel Messi.
      He said: “I play differently. I am asked other things here in relation to my club. I have a lot more freedom here.
      “The coach knows that there is a number nine like Olivier [Giroud] who occupies the defences and I can walk around and go into space.
      “In Paris, it’s different, there isn’t that. I am asked to do the pivot, it is different.” More