La Liga

LIONEL MESSI will miss Barcelona’s match with Eibar after being given extra time off over Christmas.
The Catalan side face the relegation-battling Armeros on Tuesday night in their bid to reclaim ground in the LaLiga title race.

Lionel Messi and family posed in front of the tree to celebrate Christmas back in ArgentinaCredit: Instagram / @antonelaroccuzzo

The Barcelona star flew out immediately after the win over ValladolidCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But amazingly they will do so without Messi after allowing the 33-year-old an extended holiday in Argentina.
The forward jetted off to his hometown of Rosario for the festive season on Tuesday night.
The extra holiday comes as Messi weighs up his transfer options.
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are ready to pounce if he decides to leave the club when his contract expires in the summer.

The Spanish giants face a race against time to convince Messi that signing a new deal to remain with the club is his best option.
And if they can’t convince him, then they may decide to cash in by selling him in January.
Messi recently highlighted City boss Pep Guardiola as one of the best coaches he has ever worked under.
The Argentina legend flew back to his homeland immediately after Barcelona’s 3-0 win at Valladolid, which saw Messi beat Pele’s record of 643 goals for a single club.

Dressed in matching red pyjamas for an Instagram snap, Messi hugged wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro in front of the Christmas tree.
Barcelona’s players are already back in training after the usual winter break was abandoned in Spain.
They take on Eibar on December 29, and Messi will fly back to Catalonia that evening.
Huesca then welcome Barcelona to Estadio El Alcoraz on January 3 in a busy run of games which also features the four-team Supercopa de Espana.
Ronald Koeman will be without Ansu Fati, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto for the Eibar clash – but Ousmane Dembele could feature.
Down in 18th, Eibar travel to the Camp Nou having taken a solitary draw from their 12 LaLiga meetings with Barcelona over the years.

Current coach Koeman is determined to handle Messi with care for the remainder of the season, with the talisman in his mid-30s.
He told the club website: “In theory, it’s the same for every player.
“If he is fit to play and good enough, then he will.

“But, of course, Leo is older than before, although he’s a player who still wants to be in games, and especially to win them.
“He trains hard every day. He’s very engaged. As I coach I like to speak to my players, and I also speak to Leo about this and other things because he’s also team captain.
“There are squad matters, rules, and we speak about a lot of things, not just the way we play. That’s part of a coach’s day-to-day, you need to be in communication with your players.”

Lionel Messi arrives home in Argentina for the holidays ahead of transfer speculation More

REAL MADRID’S hopes of signing Kylian Mbappe have been hit by claims PSG will promise incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino the striker will stay.
The Spanish giants reportedly planned to land the French World Cup winner next summer but PSG could now extend his contract with an increased buyout clause of €250million (£225m).

France frontman Kylian Mbappe could be set to stay at PSG rather than join Real Madrid if Mauricio Pochettino takes over the Ligue 1 championsCredit: The Mega Agency

Ex-Spurs chief Mauricio Pochettino is in discussions over becoming PSG boss, amid claims he has been assured Kylian Mbappe would not leaveCredit: Reuters

Former Tottenham manager Pochettino is in advanced talks to succeed sacked Thomas Tuchel.
And AS suggest part of PSG’s pitch for luring Poch is keeping striker Mbappe, 22.
Last season’s Champions League finalists are only third in Ligue 1 as they bid for a fourth title in a row.
And Mbappe is thought to have had a tricky relationship with Tuchel.

Ex-Borussia Dortmund chief Tuchel is also thought to have disagreed with PSG over transfer policy.
So although his Christmas Eve exit was a shock for its suddenness, a split at sometime this season always seemed possible.
Pochettino, 48, had been eyeing the Manchester United job since Spurs axed him in November 2019.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revived United up to third in the Premier League and booked a Carabao Cup semi-final spot against neighbours City.

It means Poch is instead overwhelming favourite to take over PSG.

Football Insider claim he is still on Tottenham’s wage bill, at £8.5million a year, due to a clause in his contract.
So, while Real might be smarting if the Argentine moves to Paris, Spurs could be the financial winners.
Poch is already being linked with a January swoop for England midfielder Dele Alli, who is out of favour at Spurs under current manager Jose Mourinho.

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LIONEL MESSI still has ‘three or four years’ of playing at the highest level, insisted Carles Puyol.
The 33-year-old has been the star of the show for Barcelona since his debut for the Spanish giants in 2004.

Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol pictured together during a Barcelona game in 2012Credit: Getty Images – Getty

But Messi has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp when his deal expires next summer.
Inter Milan and Manchester City are among the long list of teams that reportedly want to sign him.
Barcelona legend Puyol has predicted Messi will continue to play at the top level ‘for a while’.
Speaking to Goal, the veteran defender said: “He is now 33 years old and takes care of himself.

“He is motivated and eager, and I think he has three or four years to go at this level if he is lucky enough to not have any major injuries and if he continues playing with the same desire to improve and keep winning, with that motivation.
“I think we still have Leo for a while.”
When asked how Messi has managed to have such a long and successful career, Puyol continued: “I am sure that talent is not enough.
“Talent is needed, of course, but also work and dedication, a desire to learn and be motivated to seek new challenges every day. We have seen it in Messi.

“He is not the same player today as he was when he started.
“He has been adding records and improving, he is a very complete player who can set the rhythm of the game, score free kicks, goals, give assists. He does practically everything!
“In the beginning he was very good, but one of those players who you give the ball and he does his individual move. He made the difference and scored goals.
“He was already very good [at a young age], but over the years he has become an even more impressive player, the best of all time.”
Puyol – who retired in 2014 – was in the team when Messi made his club debut 16 years ago.
Revealing his first impressions of Messi, Puyol said: “I knew he was a very good player.
“I was lucky enough to come up from the academy and you are always aware of the players who come up so you can try to help them as they did with me in my day.
“When he arrived he showed that he was a very good player, but not even those who trusted him the most could have imagined what he has become.

Lionel Messi has made 749 appearances for Barcelona Credit: Getty Images – Getty
“From the first day, he showed his quality with humility and his way of doing things. He would pick up the ball and go towards goal, he did not care who was in front of him.
“He always did everything with great respect and humility.”
Messi made history as he scored his 644th club goal for Barcelona to beat Pele’s record this week.
In total, he has scored 644 goals and made 279 assists in 749 appearances.
He has helped to guide them to 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League titles and lifted six Copa del Rey trophies.

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BUDWEISER have cheekily handed out beers to all the goalkeepers Lionel Messi has scored against throughout his incredible career.
Barcelona’s iconic forward broke Pele’s record of 643 goals for a single club with a strike against Real Valladolid on Tuesday to take him to 644.

Budweiser have sent beers to all goalkeepers Lionel Messi has scored against, including Juventus’ Gianluigi BuffonCredit: Instagram

Messi broke Pele’s record of goals for a single club with his 644th Barcelona strike on TuesdayCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

And Budweiser marked the occasion by gifting bottles to the goalies who had failed to keep Messi at bay.
Among those who received a special selection were Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon.
Chelsea’s world-record £71million stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga also received some bottles, looking pleased with himself as he posed for photos. 
Messi’s 644th goal came in a much-needed 3-0 victory over lowly Valladolid.

With his side already leading 2-0, thanks to first-half efforts from Clement Lenglet and Martin Braithwaite, Messi received a smart backheel from Pedri in the 65th minute.
The 33-year-old took it perfectly into his stride, before slotting an unstoppable left-footed effort beyond the helpless goalkeeper.
Messi achieved the feat in his 749th outing for the Blaugrana.
Pele, however, may privately refute the achievement – having claimed to have scored 1,283 goals during his illustrious career.

Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga received a few bottlesCredit: Instagram @kepaarrizabalaga

The world-record £71m signing looked pleased with his beersCredit: Instagram

But the official records show that only 643 came in ‘official’ matches – although it took just 656 of them for Santos to reach the tally.
On Saturday, when his record was equalled, the Brazilian, 80, posted a heartwarming congratulations to Messi.
He wrote: “When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path.
“Like you, I know what it’s like to love wearing the same shirt every day. Like you, I know that there is nothing better than the place we feel at home.
“Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel. But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona.
“Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, unfortunately will be increasingly rare in football. I admire you very much.”

Atletico Madrid ace Jan Oblak also got a special bottle or twoCredit: Instagram

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BUDWEISER have cheekily handed out beers to all the goalkeepers Lionel Messi has scored against throughout his glittering career.
Barcelona’s iconic striker broke Pele’s record of 643 goals for a single club with a strike against Real Valladolid on Tuesday to take him to 644.

Budweiser have sent beers to all goalkeepers Lionel Messi has scored against, including Juventus’ Gianluigi BuffonCredit: Instagram

Messi broke Pele’s record of goals for a single club with his 644th Barcelona strike on TuesdayCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

And Budweiser marked the occasion by gifting bottles to the goalies who had failed to keep Messi at bay.
Among those who received a special selection were Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon.
Chelsea’s world-record £71million stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga also received some bottles, looking pleased with himself as he posed for photos. 
Messi’s 644th goal came in a much-needed 3-0 victory over lowly Valladolid.

With his side already leading 2-0, thanks to first-half efforts from Clement Lenglet and Martin Braithwaite, Messi received a smart backheel from Pedri in the 65th minute.
The 33-year-old took it perfectly into his stride, before slotting an unstoppable left-footed effort beyond the helpless goalkeeper.
Messi achieved the feat in his 749th outing for the Blaugrana.
Pele, however, may privately refute the achievement – having claimed to have scored 1,283 goals during his illustrious career.

Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga received a few bottlesCredit: Instagram @kepaarrizabalaga

The world-record £71m signing looked pleased with his beersCredit: Instagram

But the official records show that only 643 came in ‘official’ matches – although it took just 656 of them for Santos to reach the tally.
On Saturday, when his record was equalled, the Brazilian, 80, posted a heartwarming congratulations to Messi.
He wrote: “When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path.
“Like you, I know what it’s like to love wearing the same shirt every day. Like you, I know that there is nothing better than the place we feel at home.
“Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel. But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona.
“Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, unfortunately will be increasingly rare in football. I admire you very much.”

Atletico Madrid ace Jan Oblak also got a special bottle or twoCredit: Instagram

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi collects record 7th Pichichi Award More