In a single World Cup campaign, Lionel Messiโs route has been:
Group Stage
๐ฉ๐ฟ Algeria
๐ฆ๐น Austria
๐ฏ๐ด Jordan
Round of 32
๐จ๐ป Cape Verde
Round of 16
๐ช๐ฌ Egypt
Quarter-final
๐จ๐ด Colombia or ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland
Thatโs six straight games without facing one of the tournamentโs traditional heavyweights.
If things stay this way, it could take until the semi-finals before Argentina meet one of the elite nations.
And people wonder why some fans question how comfortable Messiโs path has been.
I went to the Morocco vs. Haiti game in Atlanta yesterday. One thing immediately caught my attention.
Right after scanning your ticket at the entrance to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, there were groups of people handing out "Muslim Hospitality" pamphlets. They showed where to pray and which food was halal. Then, just a few steps inside, there was a large sign with the same information.
It didn't feel like simple visitor assistance. It felt like the promotion of a religion.
The stadium doesn't hand every fan a printed map, stadium rules, or event information, those are all available online. Yet for Islam, there were printed pamphlets being handed to everyone and an entire team dedicated to distributing them.
No other religion had volunteers handing out pamphlets at the entrance. There were no Christian hospitality teams, no Jewish hospitality teams, no Hindu or Buddhist pamphlets, only Islam.
This is a soccer match, not a religious event. If someone wants to pray, there are churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques for that.
The irony is even greater considering that, according to many Islamic scholars, professional soccer itself is considered haram, and FIFA generates revenue from sponsors such as Budweiser. Yet instead of addressing that contradiction, there is an organized effort to promote Islamic practices inside the stadium. @FIFAWorldCup@FIFAcom
Ishaq, a 15 year old boy with autism, has been missing from his home in the Tower Hamlets area since Friday.
His family are extremely worried about his wellbeing.
Volunteers are searching the E3 area this evening.
Please contact the police or his mother with any information should you see him.
Full description of what Ishaq could be wearing and contact details on poster below.
@Corballyred@LFC Mateee, weren't u against his appointment literally a couple of days ago. I have never seen a bigger flip flop no offence ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
@Corballyred@LFCLaurie Salah gone
Robbo gone
Konate gone
Ekitike out till January
Isak injury prone
Wirtz hasn't got started yet
If anyone expects us to be winning the league or champions league next season is delusional