Argentina 3-0 Bolivia: Hat-trick hero Messi makes history as La Albiceleste stay unbeaten on road to
Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer in CONMEBOL history after his hat-trick guided Argentina past Bolivia 3-0 in World Cup qualifying.
Messi broke Pele s record as the top-scoring player for a South American nation thanks to his 78th and 79th international goals on Thursday.
The 34-year-old Argentina superstar moved level with Brazil great Pele (77) after opening the scoring in the 14th minute before moving top in the history books with his 64th-minute effort in Buenos Aires, where he completed his hat-trick during the closing stages.
Lionel Scaloni s second-placed Argentina remain unbeaten on the road to Qatar 2022 with five wins from their eight fixtures, while they extended their undefeated streak to 22 matches across all competitions.
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Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro is bullish that the club can contend for both the Spanish LaLiga and Champions League titles.
Reigning LaLiga champions Madrid return to action on Saturday against Eibar in the league, where they are third, six points behind leaders Atletico Madrid with 10 games to play.
Los Blancos will be back in continental action in midweek against Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final too.
Everyone knows what we are capable of, that we can do it, Casemiro told TVE.
We are going to fight until the end. We know that it is very difficult, but we will fight for both titles.
For Real Madrid all games are important. We are already used to playing the big games.
Headers and volleys!
Van Dijk should have been Liverpool s summer coup / Image via goal.com
Dagger in every fan s heart
Reading the apology to Southampton over ‘misunderstanding’ on the Virgil van Dijk pursuit felt like a dagger being jammed into a heart for all Liverpool supporters – the author of this article included – who hoped that the Reds were finally sitting on the verge of acquiring a top signing that would instantly elevate the profile of Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Adding insult to injury, Southampton are planning to pursue their complaint to the Premier League over an alleged illegal approach for Dutch defender after the British media reported that Virgil van Dijk had met Jurgen Klopp, presumably without the appropriate permission from his club.
And just like that, e…
Peter Moore is to step down as Liverpool chief executive officer at the end of August, the Premier League champions have confirmed.
Moore took up the post at Anfield in 2017 after spending more than 30 years in the United States with companies including Reebok and Microsoft.
Liverpool have enjoyed significant success in the past three years, winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Premier League, while the club recorded pre-tax profits of £42million and turnover of £533m in February, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic took hold in England.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group said Moore has strengthened the club s business operations through his leadership and wished him well ahead of a return to USA.
Moore said: I ve lov…
Eden Hazard described former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as special but conceded his own style is more in line with present Blues coach Maurizio Sarri.
Belgium superstar Hazard won a Premier League title and EFL Cup under Mourinho during the Portuguese s second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard s relationship with Mourinho reportedly soured towards the end of his tenure, but the forward has spoken of a desire to play under the ex-Manchester United manager again.
Sarri has found his own position in the Chelsea post come under increasing scrutiny, particularly since the 6-0 battering at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday.
But Hazard accepts the way he plays suits the type of football the Italian wants.
Speaking to Chelsea s official webs…
Thomas Tuchel described Carlo Ancelotti as an inspiration ahead of their Champions League meeting as Paris Saint-Germain host Napoli on Wednesday.
Ancelotti helped PSG to the Ligue 1 title in 2013, the French club s first league championship since 1994, before leaving to take over at Real Madrid.
He returned to the Parc des Princes with Bayern Munich last season but suffered a 3-0 defeat that brought about the end of his tenure at the Bundesliga giants.
Now back in his native Italy with Napoli, Ancelotti will hope for better fortunes with the Partenopei in the first of two successive Group C meetings with PSG, whose current boss was full of praise for his counterpart.
At first I admired him as a player, I saw him on TV, he was in a big club and you…
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Renato Sanches from Ligue 1 rivals Rennes in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that new PSG Sporting Director Luis Campos has stepped up the French champions’ pursuit of the 24-year-old Portugal international midfielder.
AC Milan are also interested in Sanches, but talks over a potential transfer have stalled, and PSG are now ready to swoop in and secure the services of the former Bayern Munich midfielder. It was Campos who signed Sanches for Lille when he was their sporting director.
Sanches made 20 starts and five substitute appearances in Ligue 1 last season, scoring two goal and providing five assists in the process. The Lille no. 10 made 14 starts and nine substitute appearances in the …
Napoli star Victor Osimhen will miss the Africa Cup of Nations after undergoing surgery on broken bones in his face.
The forward was hurt in a clash of heads with Inter defender Milan Skriniar as the Nerazzurri ended leaders Napoli s unbeaten start to the Serie A season on Sunday.
He was substituted in the 55th minute and taken for tests, which the club later confirmed had revealed multiple displaced fractures of the left orbit and cheekbone .
Osimhen had an operation on Tuesday that included the fitting of titanium plates and screws.
The club confirmed he will be out of action for three months, meaning he will play no part in Nigeria s AFCON campaign in Cameroon, with the tournament beginning on January 9.
Osimhen is Napoli s leading goalscorer…
Abby Wambach defended the United States after the reigning Women s World Cup champions routed Thailand 13-0 amid criticism over their merciless performance and celebrations.
USA put Thailand to the sword in Tuesday s record-breaking win as titleholders showed no mercy in their World Cup opener.
Alex Morgan scored five goals in Reims, where USA claimed the largest margin of victory ever at a World Cup in both the men s and women s tournaments.
However, some criticised USA s relentless pursuit of goals and celebrations while holding a substantial advantage, which frustrated former star Wambach – the team s all-time leading scorer with 184 goals.
For all that have issue with many goals: for some players this is there first World Cup goal, and they should …
Market: Fulham win
Odds: 10/11 @
Desperate to make a return to winning ways this weekend, Fulham will make the trip across the capital on Saturday afternoon when they face off against Luton.
Starting with the hosts, managing to make a thumping return to winning ways with a 3-0 romp against Blackpool last weekend, there is no doubt that Luton will be desperate to build off of that result. However, while the Hatters might still find themselves hanging onto their spot in the top-half of the Championship table, Nathan Jones men will know that they face a stern test on home soil here. Bringing an end to what was a worrying four-match winless run on either side of November s international break, Luton will still be worried by their recent issues at Kenilworth Road. In…