🚨 OFFICIAL: Messi family statement. ❗️
"The Messi family informs that Jorge Messi is currently going through a health situation.
"At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favorably within the condition he is experiencing.
"In light of the reports, rumors, and speculation that have circulated in recent hours, the family wishes to express its deep concern regarding the lack of sensitivity, respect, and discretion with which some individuals have treated a strictly private family matter.
"The family would also like to clarify that only Jorge’s immediate family has real and accurate information regarding his condition. Therefore, any version, statement, or information that does not come directly from the family and its official channels should not be considered valid or truthful.
"At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence, and humanity. A person’s health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media attention.
"We sincerely appreciate the expressions of affection, respect, and concern we have received, and we ask that Jorge’s privacy, confidentiality, and personal space—as well as that of his entire family—be respected throughout this process.
"Any relevant updates will be communicated in due course by the family and through the appropriate channels.
"Thank you for your understanding."
Riyad Mahrez on Lionel Messi meeting his daughter after Argentina vs Algeria:
🗣️ “After the match, I went over to Leo Messi with my daughter because meeting him had been one of her biggest dreams for years. She has watched his highlights, worn his shirts, talked about his goals, and imagined this moment so many times.”
“As a father, there are moments in life that mean more than football, more than victories, and more than anything that happens on a pitch. Watching your child experience pure happiness is something that cannot be described with words.”
“I told Leo that she had been dreaming of meeting him and taking a photo with him for such a long time, and immediately he stopped what he was doing, smiled warmly, and gave her his full attention.”
“She was so nervous that she could barely speak at first. Her hands were shaking, her eyes were full of emotion, and she looked like she couldn't believe the moment she had imagined for years was finally happening.”
“In that moment, there was no Argentina, no Algeria, no World Cup, no competition, and no rivalry. It was simply a little girl standing face-to-face with the person she had always looked up to.”
“What touched me the most was the way Leo handled the situation. He didn't rush, he didn't make it feel like an obligation, and he didn't act like a superstar. He made her feel special and comfortable.”
“He spoke to her, smiled for the photos, and treated her with so much kindness and respect. Those small gestures mean everything to children because they stay with them forever.”
“When we walked away, she couldn't stop smiling. She kept looking at the photo over and over again, almost as if she was checking whether the moment was real.”
“She kept saying, ‘Dad, I actually met Messi. I really met Messi.’ Hearing those words from my daughter was more emotional for me than people can imagine.”
“Football gives us unforgettable moments on the pitch, but for me, the most beautiful moment of the night happened after the final whistle when I watched my daughter's dream become a reality right in front of my eyes.”
No tenía que jugar en la Selección por estar en la MLS y usar pantalones anchos.
Siéntense y sigan mirando a uno de los mejores jugadores en la historia de la Selección Argentina de Fútbol.
Rodrigo De Paul es insustituible.
“¿SI PREPARAMOS ALGÚN PLAN PARA FRENAR A CRISTIANO? PARA SER SINCERO, NO. ÉL NO ES EL MISMO DE ANTES. ESTÁ MÁS VIEJO AHORA”.
Mukau, jugador de RD Congo. 🇨🇩😳🇵🇹
Vladimir Petković on Lionel Messi’s masterclass against Algeria in Argentina’s World Cup opener:
🗣️ “We came into this match with a plan, with discipline, with belief… but sometimes football puts you against a player who can destroy even the best preparation with a single touch of the ball.”
“What Lionel Messi produced tonight was not just a great performance, it was a football lesson delivered by one of the greatest minds and talents this sport has ever seen.”
“You tell your players to stay compact, stay focused, don't give him space… and then somehow he still finds a way to create magic where there should be none.”
“The most frustrating thing is that you can actually do many things right defensively and still end up suffering because he sees passes, movements, and opportunities that nobody else on the pitch can see.”
“At 38 years old, most players are talking about retirement, managing minutes, or slowing down. Messi is still deciding World Cup matches, breaking records, and making elite defenders look helpless.”
“I looked at my bench after his third goal and there was almost disbelief on everyone's face. Not because we were losing, but because we were witnessing something special that may never happen again.”
“People will talk about the hat-trick, the records, and the statistics, but what impressed me most was the authority. He controlled the match as if the game itself was moving at his pace.”
“I have coached against great players in my career, but tonight felt different. Tonight felt like football history stopping for ninety minutes to remind the world exactly who Lionel Messi is.”
“Es hora de que el mundo deje de esconderse y acepte el hecho de que LIONEL MESSI ES EL MEJOR JUGADOR DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS”.
Las palabras de Ronaldo Nazário, uff. 🚬
Tomense un momento para leer la declaración del DT de Argelia, rendido a los pies de Messi, pero con conceptos que no suelen escucharse.
🗣️ Vladimir Petković:
“Llegamos a este partido con un plan, con disciplina y con convicción... pero a veces el fútbol te pone enfrente a un jugador capaz de destruir la mejor preparación con un solo toque de pelota.”
“Lo que produjo Lionel Messi esta noche no fue solamente una gran actuación; fue una clase de fútbol dictada por una de las mentes y talentos más grandes que haya visto este deporte.”
“Les decís a tus jugadores que se mantengan compactos, concentrados, que no le den espacios... y aun así encuentra la forma de crear magia donde no debería existir.”
“Lo más frustrante es que podés hacer muchas cosas bien en defensa y aun así terminar sufriendo, porque ve pases, movimientos y oportunidades que nadie más en la cancha es capaz de ver.”
“A los 38 años, la mayoría de los futbolistas hablan de retirarse, administrar minutos o bajar el ritmo. Messi sigue definiendo partidos de Mundial, rompiendo récords y haciendo que defensores de élite parezcan impotentes.”
“Miré a mi banco después de su tercer gol y había una sensación de incredulidad en todos. No porque estuviéramos perdiendo, sino porque estábamos presenciando algo especial que quizás no vuelva a repetirse.”
“La gente hablará del hat-trick, de los récords y de las estadísticas, pero lo que más me impresionó fue la autoridad. Controló el partido como si el juego se moviera a la velocidad que él decidía.”
“Me tocó enfrentar a grandes jugadores a lo largo de mi carrera, pero esta noche fue diferente. Esta noche se sintió como si la historia del fútbol se hubiera detenido durante noventa minutos para recordarle al mundo exactamente quién es Lionel Messi.”
🇦🇷 EA SPORTS has predicted that Argentina will be the world champion in this World Cup.
😳 They have correctly predicted the winner of the FIFA World Cup in 2010 (Spain), 2014 (Germany), 2018 (France), and 2022 (Argentina) through match simulations.