Koulibaly 🗣️: “ I will never forget that day. In the tunnel before the match, I shyly asked Leo if we could swap shirts later. He smiled gently and said ‘OK’.”
“But after the final whistle, the pitch was so crowded, and Leo quickly went inside. I went back to our dressing room feeling a bit sad, thinking: ‘He is a massive superstar, he probably just forgot about me’.”
“Suddenly, the door to our dressing room opened, and everyone went completely quiet. It was Messi. He walked straight up to me, handed me his shirt, gave me a warm hug, Then he smiled and walked away.”
“The greatest player in the world came all the way to our dressing room just to keep a simple promise to me. That is pure class.”
Thierry Henry on Lionel Messi becoming the oldest player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick and the player with the most goals from outside the box in World Cup history:
🗣️ “I honestly don't know what more there is left to say about Lionel Messi anymore. Every time you think he has reached the top of the mountain, he somehow finds another peak that nobody else has ever climbed before.”
“The oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick. Just stop and think about that for a second. At an age when most players are retired, coaching, or sitting in television studios, Messi is still breaking records on the biggest stage in football.”
“And it's not just the hat-trick that amazes me. He now has more World Cup goals from outside the box than anyone in history. That tells you everything about the level of technique, vision, and confidence we are talking about.”
“These are not lucky goals. These are moments of genius. The type of goals where everyone in the stadium knows what he wants to do, but nobody can stop him from doing it anyway.”
“What makes this even more incredible is that this is his sixth World Cup. Six World Cups. Different generations, different teammates, different opponents, yet the same outcome every single time Lionel Messi deciding matches.”
“People always ask what makes certain players special. Well, special players break records. Legends create records. Messi is doing both at the same time while carrying the expectations of an entire nation.”
“I've played against some of the greatest footballers in history, I've watched some of the greatest footballers in history, but what Messi continues to do at 38 years old simply doesn't make sense.”
“This is no longer about talent. This is no longer about numbers. This is football history unfolding right before our eyes, and every single match feels like another chapter in a story that nobody thought was possible.”
Lionel Scaloni reacts emotionally after Lionel Messi’s hat-trick:
🗣️ “I honestly couldn’t hold it back anymore… when Lionel Messi scored that third goal, I completely broke down on the sidelines because of everything that moment represented.”
“It wasn’t just about the hat-trick or the scoreline… it was about everything he has done for this team, for this shirt, for this country, and for the millions of people who have followed his journey from the very beginning.”
“As a coach, you are supposed to stay calm, think clearly, make decisions, and control emotions in every situation… but sometimes football takes over and reminds you that you are also just a human being.”
“When you see a player give absolutely everything over so many years, carry so much pressure, and still perform at this level in a World Cup, it becomes emotionally overwhelming even from the touchline.”
“He doesn’t just score goals for Argentina or win matches… he carries the hopes, dreams, and emotions of an entire nation every single time he steps onto the pitch.”
“In that moment after the third goal, I wasn’t thinking like a coach anymore, I wasn’t thinking about tactics or the game… I was just proud, emotional, and deeply grateful to be witnessing something like that so close.”
“You look at him and you slowly realise that what we are watching is not normal anymore… this is something that belongs in football history forever, something that will never be repeated in the same way.”
“That hat-trick didn’t just change the game or the result… it created a moment of pure emotion that will stay with me for the rest of my life as a coach.”
🚨 BREAKING: Jamie Carragher blasts FIFA and Canada over Thomas Partey visa controversy
"This is an absolute disgrace from a tournament planning point of view. You spend years building towards a World Cup, qualifying, preparing squads, getting everything right — and then something like this happens days before kickoff. It’s just not acceptable at this level of football."
"If Thomas Partey is part of Ghana’s plans and has been cleared to be in the squad, then how does it get to a point where a visa issue knocks him out of the opening game against Panama? That’s not football, that’s administration failure."
"I don’t care who is responsible — FIFA, Canada, immigration — someone has to take accountability. You cannot tell fans to invest emotionally in a tournament and then allow situations where key players are missing because paperwork wasn’t sorted in time."
"At the very least, these issues should be resolved weeks before the first match. It’s unfair on the player, it’s unfair on Ghana, and it damages the integrity of the competition. This is exactly the kind of chaos that should never happen at a World Cup."
The World Cup hasn't even started yet and Norway already have the three best team photos 😭
First they dressed up as Vikings before travelling.
Then came the perfectly aligned official squad photo.
Now they've all posed in the shirts of their first clubs.
The Vikings don't miss.
Blood Sisters 2.
You people, whatever Jessica Obasi (Mrs. Nze) was paid to play "Mimi" was not enough.
Every time she was on screen, I sat up in anticipation. Top stuff. Loved it!!!
#BloodSisters2
🇬🇭 A new video of Okomfour Kwadee is making waves online. The footage shows the veteran hiplife artiste spending quality time with friends and loved ones, with many fans expressing joy at seeing him share happy moments with those around him.
🚨💙 Pep Guardiola will take up a role as a Global Ambassador for the City Football Group.
He will give technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Manchester City will build a STATUE of Pep Guardiola. 🔵✨
It will feature on the approach to “The Pep Guardiola Stand” at the Etihad Stadium. 🏟️