Aidon McKee

SDSU Alum | ⚽️

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

❤️‍🩹🇦🇷 Leo Messi: “Dad, you kept asking me to play in one last World Cup… just days before it began was when your condition got worse”.

“It was the first time you weren’t going to be there with me at tournament… but Mom kept telling me you were going to get better and that you’d be well enough to travel”.

“I kept telling you we were going to reach the World Cup final so you could make the trip, this was my mission once again”.

“After every match, I waited for and missed your message. That’s when I realized how serious the situation really was”.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about going as far as possible, give you more time and the chance to watch one of the games”.

“We reached the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you another one. I couldn’t”.

“My legs just couldn’t give me any more”.

“This time I tried to push beyond what my body could handle, but I couldn’t”.

“I never managed to feel physically right”.

“We didn’t become champions Dad, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play in it… as you told me, always”.

[Barça Universal @BarcaUniversal]

.@_Futbolero_: "They wanted Olise: They sign Diomandé for 150 M€."

"They wanted Vitinha: They sign Bernardo Silva at 32 years old."

"They wanted Hakimi: They sign Dumfries at the worst moment of his career." T

"hey wanted Bastoni: They sign Konaté, the worst center-back of last Premier League season."

"They wanted Rodri: Barça takes him and we'll see who they bring in now."

"Masterclass by Florentino Pérez!"

[Aidon McKee @Aidon_mckee]

Hahahahha

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨🔵🔴 BREAKING: Rodri’s agent confirms he’s picked Barcelona over Real Madrid.

“Out of respect for Madrid, as they have been class, Rodri informed them that his decision is to join Barça”, quotes from his agent Barquero reported by @ellarguero.

Personal terms, 100% agreed. 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

[Yahoo Fantasy Sports @YahooFantasy]

This guy's fantasy punishment was to play golf without a ball with strangers 😭

(via Connor Marritt/TT)

[FC Barcelona @FCBarcelona]

We enjoyed every moment with you, Rashy 💙❤️
Good luck in your new chapter!

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🔵🔴👋🏾 OFFICIAL: Marcus Rashford says his final goodbye to Barcelona as he returns to Man United for pre-season.

“Extremely grateful to everyone at the club for turning my time here into such a positive and unforgettable experience. I’ve loved every moment and will carry those special memories with me.

Wishing the club and all the fans the very best of luck and massive success this season.

Visca el Barça!”.

[Ian Rapoport @RapSheet]

The #Vikings have signed veteran OT Brian O'Neill to a contract extension.

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Until 20 years ago, the Spanish national team identified themselves as “La Furia Española” (‘The Spanish Fury’). It embodied the style Spain wanted to play — tough-tackling, with fast and lively transitional football.

Luis Aragones changed that after his appointment as Spain coach in 2004.

He decided the team needed to be based around a different type of player given the quality at his disposal.

He left out the country’s most popular player, Real Madrid captain Raul in 2008, and made Barcelona midfielder Xavi the conductor of his fluid and possession-oriented style. Xavi was surrounded with equally technical and skilful players such as Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.

That decision to go from La Furia to tiny technicians produced instant success.

Spain won the 2008 European Championship and followed it up with that World Cup win two years later, along with the 2012 Euros (the latter two were won under Aragones’ successor Vicente del Bosque). When Spain lifted the World Cup in 2010, they did so with seven players from Barcelona, more than any other side.

Spain's 2026 World Cup win heralds a new golden era for Spanish football — one that follows a similar pattern to what made the national team world beaters the first time they lifted the trophy in 2010.

Eight players in Luis de la Fuente’s squad play for Barcelona.

📝 @polballus

🔗 https://t.co/dcrsBYZL4a

[FOX Sports @FOXSports]

One result doesn't change everything that came before it. The trophy cabinet speaks for itself.

[jαck. @Utd1Optimist]

Bro gambled all his aura for INFINITE AURA, fairs

[ESPN.com.mx @ESPNmx]

Gracias, Messi 🐐

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Pau Cubarsi made his senior Barcelona debut just days before turning 17.

He has not looked back since, even if his development has arguably been overshadowed by Lamine Yamal’s remarkable rise.

The teenager is the closest thing Spain have had to the World Cup and European Championship-winning centre-back Gerard Pique in a long time.

Not least because Spain’s historic defensive record from their World Cup win had a lot to do with his fine defending.

✍️ @Laia_Cervello

🔗 https://t.co/xYZTESSEEz

[Pain.𝕏 @GBarca_]

The greatest there is.

The greatest there was.

The greatest there ever will be.

[Kalshi @Kalshi]

Generational.

[Reshad Rahman @ReshadRahman]

Leo, Thank you.

The greatest ever player in the history of football. He’s completed the sport like nobody ever has.

Troll him all you want for today, but your “GOAT” isn’t even near Messi’s level.

[Inter Miami News Hub @Intermiamicfhub]

🚨 Lionel Messi’s record in finals:

▪️ 51 finals played
▪️ 35 goals scored
▪️ 17 assists provided
▪️ 48 trophies won

⚽️ Most goals in finals
🅰️ Most assists in finals
🔥 Most goal contributions in finals
🏆 Most trophies won

The greatest big-game player football has ever seen. 🐐

[LEO MESSI FAN ZONE @LeoMessiFanZone]

🚨WORLD CUP GOLDEN BALL 2026! 😳👀

WhoScored Ratings
🇦🇷 Messi 8.82 (1st)
🇪🇸 Rodri 7.30 (32nd)

WhoScored MOTMs
🇦🇷 Messi 6 (1st)
🇪🇸 Rodri 0

Official MOTMs
🇦🇷 Messi 5 (1st)
🇪🇸 Rodri 1

FIFA Power Rankings:

Attacking
🇦🇷 Messi 8.28 (3rd)
🇪🇸 Rodri 4.35 (233rd)

Creativity
🇦🇷 Messi 8.21 (2nd)
🇪🇸 Rodri 5.92 (80th)

Leo Messi should have picked up a third Golden Ball award. But FIFA gifted this to Rodri! 😀🥶

[ESPN @espn]

Messi can walk away from international football with no regrets 🐐

[Laurie @LFCLaurie]

As great as Rodri has been, not giving the Golden Ball to a THIRTY-NINE year old with 12 G/A who singlehandedly dragged a woeful Argentina side to the final is a joke.

[Ballon d'Or @ballondor]

SIMPLY... THANK YOU, LEO. 🇦🇷✨

Lionel Messi has played his final World Cup match. 💔🏆

It was a journey filled with records, goals, and glory. Your legacy and your 8 Ballons d'Or are eternal. 🌕

🔗 More about his golden career on https://t.co/qkKEZsNOIB!

#ballondor #worldcup #argentina #messi