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      Heartwarming moment young Arsenal fan is left in shock after Bukayo Saka gives him his boots

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      BUKAYO SAKA made a young fan’s day by giving him his boots after Arsenal’s pre-season friendly against MLS All-Stars on Wednesday.The 21-year-old played 45 minutes as the Gunners earned a 5-0 win over the MLS side.
      Saka gave his boots to a young fanCredit: Twitter @afcstuff
      He also took a picture with the supporterCredit: Twitter @afcstuff
      Despite being substituted at half-time, he stuck around after the game to meet some fans – one of which was holding a sign that read: “Saka it’s my birthday, can I get a pic?”
      After greeting the young supporter, Saka handed him his match-worn boots before posing for a selfie with his MVP trophy.
      Fans took to Twitter to praise the winger, with one person tweeting: “Bukayo Saka’s heartwarming gesture of gifting his boots to a young fan demonstrates that he’s not just a talented footballer but also an inspiring role model both on and off the pitch. A true class act!”
      Another said: “That might just inspire that boy to become a baller. Great gesture, Bukayo!”
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      A third wrote: “Saka handled this so well.”
      While another commented: “This kid will cherish this moment for the rest of his life!”
      Arsenal claimed a convincing win over MLS All-Stars thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Gabriel Martinelli and new boy Kai Havertz.
      Jesus opened the scoring just five minutes into the match with an audacious strike into the top-left corner of Roman Burki’s goal.
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      Trossard then followed it up with another excellent finish before Jorginho netted a penalty to make it three.
      Martinelli then latched on to a superb through-ball from Martin Odegaard before passing the ball into the bottom-right corner.
      And Havertz, who received criticism for his performance in the MLS All-Stars skills challenge just one day prior, capped off the performance with a composed half-volley into the back of the net. More

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      Fans are paying almost £1000 to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami debut, but football will never truly conquer America

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      LIONEL MESSI makes his debut for Inter Miami on Friday and some people are paying more than $1,200 (£933) for a ticket.If curious Americans really want to know what all the fuss is about, they could just hang about at the mall to see the little fella doing his grocery shopping . . . and it won’t cost them a dime.
      Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami, but ‘soccer’ will never conquer the USCredit: Reuters
      Messi was recently pictured in a Florida supermarket with a trolley loaded with breakfast cereal — and hardly anyone recognised him.
      The greatest player of all time is getting $60million (£47m) a year to swap football for ‘soccer’ after rejecting an even more lucrative offer to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
      And the fact he has chosen the MLS over MBS is proving to be a great source of pride for our Trans­atlantic chums.
      Ronaldo, obviously, claims that the Saudi League is already bigger than soccer in the States and they’re certainly paying a hell of a lot more for their washed-up stars.
      Read More on Football
      The big problem facing the game in the land of the free transfer is that it will always be chasing American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey and Nascar in the battle for ratings.
      Nine Premier League teams are currently out here preparing for the new season, kicking off with Arsenal’s 5-0 win against Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars.
      On Tuesday evening, Mikel Arteta’s bemused players participated in the ‘All-Stars skills challenge’ which involved rival keepers belting the ball at each other from ten yards away and various shooting, passing and control competitions.
      It was a bit like It’s A Knockout but without the risk of running into Prince Andrew.
      Most read in Football
      And as dreadful as that sounds,  and was, they still managed to attract a remarkably enthusiastic sell-out crowd.
      It summed up the precarious existence football leads in America, where the game is desperate to be taken seriously but still needs to divert its paying public with constant gimmicks.
      So the MLS has now been paused mid-season to accommodate a tournament against teams from the Mexican League, starting with Messi’s debut against Cruz Azul on Friday.
      And League commissioner Don Garber has again rejected the idea of  promotion and relegation because the ‘franchise’ owners are not prepared to take the risk of demotion.
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      Fans will have to pay almost £1,000 to watch Messi’s debut for Inter MiamiCredit: Getty
      Just like Freddie Mercury, the American sporting public has no time for losers.
      That’s why the Women’s World Cup is generating far more interest than the men’s game. Because the USA actually has a chance of winning it.
      Yet there is no doubt that the game is starting to establish a toehold.
      The MLS has just signed a $250m (£194m) contract with Apple TV and a $380m (£295m) kit deal with adidas.
      Read More on The Sun
      The recent LAFC v LA Galaxy derby attracted a record 82,000 crowd and in three years’ time the US will host the World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
      So the interest is clearly there. But holding America’s attention is like  trying to herd cats — because there’s always something bigger, brasher and shinier just around the corner. More

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      Jordi Alba completes Inter Miami transfer as Lionel Messi’s former team-mate becomes third ex-Barcelona star to join

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      JORDI ALBA has reunited with former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.Alba has completed his move to David Beckham’s MLS club and becomes the third Barca star to move to Miami after Sergio Busquets.

      Jordi Alba is set to reunite with ex-Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter MiamiCredit: AFP
      Alba has signed a deal with Inter Miami until the end of next yearCredit: Rex
      Messi is expected to make his Inter Miami debut on Friday against Cruz AzulCredit: Reuters
      The American outfit confirmed the left-back’s arrival to the US on social media.
      The Spain international has put pen to paper on a contract that runs until next year.
      Inter Miami tweeted: “Oficial. Bienvenido [Welcome] @JordiAlba.
      “We have signed Spanish international defender Jordi Alba to a contract through the 2024 season.”
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      Alba spent nine years playing with Messi at Barcelona after his arrival from Valencia in 2012.
      The 34-year-old amassed a total of 27 goals and 99 assists in 459 appearances with the Blaugrana.
      The Spaniard also won six LaLiga titles, five Copa del Rey trophies and the 2015 Champions League with the Catalan giants.
      Alba’s expected debut date with Inter Miami is currently unknown after just joining Tata Martino’s side.
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      But Messi is expected to debut against Cruz Azul on Friday in the Leagues Cup.
      Tickets to watch the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Inter Miami bow will cost anywhere from $350 (£272) to $2,000 (£1,555) on Ticketmaster.
      The Argentina captain put pen to paper on a deal with Inter Miami until 2025 after running down his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. More

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      What is the Leagues Cup?

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      LIONEL MESSI will be thrown straight into the thick of things as he prepares to make his debut in the US. The Leagues Cup gets underway this week and there are plenty of teams vying to get their hands on some silverware.
      Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami earlier this summer in a huge deal for the MLSCredit: Getty
      Messi already has a cabinet full of trophies at home, but he’ll be after his very first with Inter Miami on American soil later this year.
      Though the MLS is still in the middle of its season, the Leagues Cup will now take precedent for North America’s best players.
      What is the Leagues Cup?
      The Leagues Cup will all 29 MLS clubs thrown into a World-Cup style competition with the 18 Liga MX clubs to compete for one trophy.
      Both the MLS and Liga MX, the top league in Mexico, will come to a halt while the Leagues Cup is going on.

      The winner will eventually qualify for the last-16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
      Every team will play two group stage games each, and the top two teams from each group will make the round of 32.
      No draws are allowed, so if a game is level after 90 minutes, the game will go straight to penalties.
      A team gets three points for a win, 1 point for a draw after 90 minutes, and an extra point if they win the shootout.
      Most read in Football
      When is the Leagues Cup?
      The Leagues Cup will be held between July 21 and August 19.
      The first game of the tournament will be between Messi’s Inter Miami and Cruz Azul. More

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      Lionel Messi already a legend in Inter Miami WhatsApp chat after sorting new team-mates out with tickets

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      LIONEL MESSI is already a legend in the Inter Miami group chat after sorting his new team-mates some tickets. The Argentine legend was unveiled as the MLS’s newest and biggest superstar at a welcoming event in Fort Lauderdale, where he was presented with a jersey.
      Lionel Messi during Inter Miami trainingCredit: Alamy
      But the ceremony was so in-demand not even Miami forward Leonardo Campana could get enough tickets.
      So it shocked DeAndre Yedlin & Co when the main man himself surprisingly popped up to save the day.
      Yedlin told media: “Actually for the little event that he had, well, I say little event…
      “The big event that he had on Sunday, Campana was looking for tickets and he put in the group chat, ‘Hey, does anybody have any tickets?’
      READ MORE ON MESSI
      “And then I didn’t even know that Leo was in or Messi was in the group chat yet.
      “But he popped up straight away and said, ‘How many do you need though?’ Straight away like that.
      “So just from there I was like, ‘Wow.’ Straight off the bat. They’ve known each other for maybe, I dunno two days, three days or something.
      “But just to show that generosity, that is a great first example of how he is.”
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      Messi, 36, left boyhood club Barcelona in 2021 amid their financial woes and signed for PSG.
      He spent two seasons in the French capital, winning the league title twice, before leaving for America on a free.
      He is believed to be on wages of around £830,000-a-week after signing for David Beckham’s Miami.
      Messi has been joined in Florida by ex-Barca team-mate Sergio Busquets with Jordi Alba also set to arrive.
      Lionel Messi and Inter Miami boss David BeckhamCredit: Reuters More

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      Arsenal 5 MLS All-Stars 0 LIVE RESULT: Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber debut, Kai Havertz scores first goal

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      ARSENAL annihilated the MLS All-Stars in their second pre-season friendly at Audi Field in Washington. Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber made their first appearance ever since their arrival in the summer transfer window.
      Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Gabriel Martinelli were on target as was Kai Havertz, who scored his first ever goal for the Gunners.
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      That’s all from Washington
      Arsenal beat Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars 5-0 at Audi Field in Washington during their second pre-season friendly.
      The Gunners opened the scoring after just five minutes when Bukayo Saka found Gabriel Jesus just outside the area and the striker fired a beautiful flick that tapped Roman Burki’s right-hand post before hitting the net.
      The North Londoners doubled their lead on 23 minutes when Saka again found Leandro Trossard from the right and the versatile forward produced a wonderful shot from the edge of the box that hit Burki’s bottom left corner.
      Mikel Arteta’s men earned a penalty-kick in the first few seconds of the second half when St. Louis City’s Tim Parker handed the ball during a challenge with Jesus.
      Jorginho stepped up and easily beat DC United’s Tyler Miller to practically seal the win.
      Arteta then handed debuts for summer signings Jurrien Timber and club record £105million transfer Declan Rice in the 65th minute.
      The two arrivals helped Arsenal score two more goals as captain Martin Odegaard found Gabriel Martinelli with a wonderful ball from midfield and the Brazil international finished brilliantly in the 84th minute.
      And Kai Havertz scored his first ever goal for the club in his second appearance as he picked up a cross from Marquinhos and beat New England Revolution’s Dorde Petrovic with a clinical finish one minute before full-time.
      That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a great night!
      Credit: Getty
      Declan Rice shines
      Arsenal’s record signing Declan Rice impressed in his first ever appearance for the club.
      Rice came on during the second half and immediately looked at home.
      The England international appeared to play more as a No6 rather than a No8 and anchored the Gunners’ midfield.
      The 24-year-old only spent 26 minutes on the pitch but left immense promise for the future and manager Mikel Arteta could indeed build the team around him.
      The ex-West Ham captain inspired confidence and composure as he helped the North Londoners maintain possession and build from the back.
      Credit: Getty
      Arsenal vs MLS All-Stars analysis
      Here’s what SunSport’s man on the field Martin Lipton made of Arsenal’s dominant win over the MLS All-Stars:
      Declan Rice made his Arsenal bow as Mikel Arteta’s men cruised past Wayne Rooney’s woeful MLS All-Stars.
      The £105million midfielder was part of a slew of second-half replacements as Arteta gave his entire squad a run-out.
      And while there is far more to come from the England ace, he looked immediately at home among the Gunners stars as he anchored the middle of the park.
      Rice’s unexpected 26-minute appearance was a further positive for Arsenal, who won without breaking out of second gear.
      First-half stunners from Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard made it oh so easy, with Jorginho’s penalty at the start of the second half ensuring the victory before Rice trotted on to wild acclaim from his new supporters and fellow subs Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz added more home pain.
      Arteta hopes his new “lighthouse” will be the missing link, with Rooney calling on him to become the “leader” of the Gunners pack.Martin LiptonSunSport
      Credit: Getty
      More player ratings
      And here’s how SunSport’s Martin Lipton rates every Arsenal sub:
      Karl Hein: 6
      Martin Odegaard: 7
      Kai Havertz: 6
      Gabriel Martinelli: 6
      Declan Rice: 7
      Takehiro Tomiyasu: 6
      Jurrien Timber: 6
      Folarin Balogun: 5
      Kieran Tierney: 6
      Marquinhos: 5
      Auston Trusty: 5
      Credit: Getty
      Arsenal player ratings
      Here’s how SunSport’s Martin Lipton rates every Arsenal starter from Audi Field:
      Aaron Ramsdale: 6
      Ben White: 6
      William Saliba: 9
      Gabriel Magalhaes: 5
      Jakub Kiwior: 6
      Fabio Vieira: 5
      Jorginho: 7
      Leandro Trossard: 7
      Bukayo Saka: 8
      Gabriel Jesus: 7
      Eddie Nketiah: 7
      Credit: AP
      Arsenal vs MLS All-Stars stats
      Arsenal dominated 56 per cent of possession against the MLS All-Stars.
      The Gunners registered 16 shots, but only five of them were on target.
      The All-Stars, on the other hand, only managed seven shots, one of which was on target.
      More below:

      FT: Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
      Arsenal destroyed the MLS All-Stars at Audi Field in Washington during their second pre-season friendly.
      The Gunners broke the deadlock after just five minutes when Bukayo Saka drove the ball down the right and found Gabriel Jesus behind him.
      Jesus fired a beautiful flick that tapped Roman Burki’s right-hand post before hitting the net.
      The North Londoners doubled their lead on 23 minutes when Saka found Leandro Trossard from the right and the versatile forward produced a wonderful shot from the edge of the box that hit Burki’s bottom left corner.
      Mikel Arteta’s men earned a penalty-kick in the first few seconds of the second half when Tim Parker handed the ball during a challenge with Jesus.
      Jorginho stepped up and easily beat Tyler Miller to pracically seal the win.
      Arteta then handed debuts for summer signings Jurrien Timber and club record transfer Declan Rice.
      The two arrivals helped Arsenal score two more as captain Martin Odegaard found Gabriel Martinelli with a wonderful ball from midfield and the Brazil international finished brilliantly in the 84th minute.
      And Kai Havertz scored his first ever goal for the club in his second appearance as he picked up a cross from Marquinhos and beat Dorde Petrovic with a clinical finish one minute before full-time.
      Credit: AP
      FT: Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
      Peep!
      That’s full-time in Washington!!!
      90+5 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
      Chance!
      Arsenal summer signing Havertz almost completes a brace with a beautiful curling shot from the edge of the box that just misses the crossbar.
      90+3 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
      Havertz has hit the back of the net in his second Arsenal appearance since his arrival.
      The versatile forward showing he could indeed be revitalised under Arteta.
      Credit: AP
      90 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
      Six minutes of added time to go.
      Almost mercifully over for the MLS All-Stars…
      89 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
      Marquinhos delivers a beautiful cross from the left and finds Havertz in the far post.
      The versatile forward chests it down and fires a powerful left-footed shot that gives Petrovic no chance.
      89 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
      Goal!
      Havertz scores his first Arsenal goal!!!
      88 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
      Chance
      Arsenal captain Odegaard tries a shot from the edge of the box but sends it wide.
      87 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
      It;s hard to imagine Arsenal won;t score a fifth.
      The MLS All-Stars haven’t lived up to their reputation tonight in Washington…
      84 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
      Arsenal captain Odegaard delivers a fantastic long ball from midfield and finds Martinelli on the left.
      The winger drives the ball to the area and beats Petrovic with a clinical finish to hit the MLS keeper’s bottom left corner.
      84 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
      Goal!
      Arsenal make it four with Martinelli!!!
      83 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Rice continues to play a deep role but a lot of balls go through him first.
      The midfielder is already inspiring composure in the middle of the park.
      Credit: Reuters
      80 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Substitution
      Arsenal boss Arteta throws in his second American player after Balogun.
      Trusty comes on for White.
      78 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Chance!
      Arsenal come close to a fourth with a close-range shot by Martinelli from the left that goes over the crossbar.
      Cooling break at Audi Field!
      75 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Rice is dictating a lot of the game with some accurate passing and good runs.
      It is evident already that the Gunners will build a lot of their game around the midfielder and will look for more composure in their game.
      73 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Rice is playing in a rather deep role in midfield, more like a No6 rather than a No8.
      Fans still going crazy every time the England international touches the ball.
      Credit: AP
      Credit: Reuters
      70 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Tempo has slowed down as the MLS All-Stars don’t have an answer against Arsenal’s impressive side.
      But after so many changes, we are surely going to see some more action.
      68 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Substitution
      More changes from MLS All-Star boss Rooney as Petrovic, Kamara, Jordan Morris, Giakoumakis, Herrera and Choiniere come on for Espinoza, Almada, Aidan Morris, Gil, Fereira and Miller
      67 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
      Rice gets a massive ovation as he enters the pitch for the first time after his £105million move from West Ham.
      Fans go crazy every time he touches the ball and it seems he is playing either as a No6 or No8.
      Load more entries… More

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      Who are Lionel Messi’s parents?

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      BEFORE Lionel Messi was one of the greatest football players of all time, he was only known as the son of Jorge Messi and Celia María Cuccittini. His parents have stood by his side since the beginning, and now they play a crucial role in his brand.
      Lionel Messi is the son of Jorge and CeliaCredit: Instagram/ jorge.sole
      Who are Lionel Messi’s parents?
      Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, to Jorge and Celia.
      Growing up, Jorge worked as a factory worker while Celia worked at a magnet manufacturing workshop.
      Now, Celia often stays out of the spotlight, while her husband works on growing and running their son’s career.
      When did Jorge Messi become Lionel’s agent?
      Lionel’s parents always knew their son was special, which is why Jorge took an early interest in managing his career.
      Read More on Lionel
      Since the early 2000s, Jorge has served as Lionel’s agent. He is often the go-to guy when it comes to Lionel’s career and business decisions.
      “He tries to do everything for his son. He has not learned how to step back and move aside and let other people work in a more professional way,” a source told The Athletic.
      “They are a good family, they love each other, but they do not seem to be particularly good at building relationships with people who can help them.”
      Jorge runs things remotely from Rosario and has an office in central Barcelona, with a receptionist, a German financial controller, private banker Alfonso Nebot, who takes care of his investments, and a former Barcelona employee Pau Negre, responsible for his international commercial work.
      Most read in Football
      At this time, it is not known if Jorge will move his operation now that his son is playing in the MLS for Inter Miami.
      Lionel Messi’s father is also his agentCredit: Instagram/jorge.sole
      How many siblings does Lionel Messi have?
      While Lionel might be the most well-known Messi family member, he is not Jorge and Celia’s only child.
      Jorge and Celia are also the parents of Lionel’s older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and his younger sister, Maria Sol.
      While the Messi kids might have a high-profile brother, they often stay out of the spotlight as much as possible. More

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      I get asked to bring League Two stars to MLS – I have to tell them they’re nowhere near good enough, says Wayne Rooney

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      WAYNE ROONEY has said that agents of League Two players often ring him to get a move to the MLS.But they are “nowhere near good enough” according to the England legend and now DC United manager.
      Wayne Rooney says he is baffled by agents offering League Two stars to the MLSCredit: Alamy
      Rooney was speaking as he prepares to manage an MLS All Star side in a friendly against Arsenal tomorrow.
      He was pugnacious as ever in his views, as he said how Harry Kane is being held “prisoner” by Tottenham Hotspur.
      But he also had a message to detractors of the MLS.
      Speaking on the quality of the league, Rooney said: “Messi coming has surprised people.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      “Even now I’m still getting agents phoning me up and telling me there’s a striker in League Two and he’s ready now to come to the MLS and I have to tell them ‘He’s nowhere near good enough to come and play in the MLS’.
      “That’s a lack of understanding of the league and maybe a little bit  of disrespect towards it.”
      Messi’s arrival has sparked a renewed interest in the MLS – which arguably hasn’t been seen since David Beckham made the move to join LA Galaxy in 2007.
      The Argentine’s arrival has been partly funded by lucrative sponsorship deals – with Apple and Adidas both committing to part-fund Messi’s £830,000-a-week wages.
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      And his new club Inter Miami look set to add more well-known stars to their squad – with Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba all linked with moves to the Miami side.
      Rooney admitted that he does not see himself as the finished article in a managerial sense – but sees the MLS as a perfect place to sharpen his tactical nous.
      He said: “I know I am not where I want to be as a finished article.
      “The next few years are really important in terms of me getting to grips with the role and getting the best out of myself and eventually out of the players.
      “But it’s also just seeing different challenges.
      “I’ve had to learn about handling languages, culture, religion and understanding all those different scenarios which you will have to deal with.
      “Patience is key, understanding that you are going to lose games, that you’re not going to win every game.
      “Everyone faces different challenges but I really want to face them and figure them out myself.
      “Derby and then here will be a big help for me to figure them out and face those difficult moments” More