Lionel Messi was crowned the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eight time on Monday night at a ceremony in Paris and it did not go down well with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The award comes off the back of an incredible year for the 36-year-old, who guided Argentina to their third World Cup with one of the best campaigns the tournament has ever seen.

This was alongside helping Inter Miami to their first-ever trophy and claiming the Ligue 1 title with PSG.

Messi is now three Ballon d’Or’s ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in second place and the Portuguese superstar, who has a tendency to be salty when the Barcelona legend achieves something significant, was at it again.

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Cristiano Ronaldo caught being salty over Messi’s Ballon d’Or win

Whether it is Ronaldo himself or a member of his family, someone always has to comment on Messi’s achievements in the aftermath of their occurrence and it was the superstar who took to Instagram this time.

Ronaldo has apparently liked and commented on an IG post which said: “Hello friends. What we knew happened, they were going to give Messi another Ballon d’Or again. He went to retire in Miami, even though he already looked like he was retired at PSG preparing for the World Cup. He won the World Cup, yes, good, but with 6 penalties…

“The World Cup was 10 months ago, it’s November. Messi has 8 Ballon d’Ors, he should have had 5. He has Iniesta/Xavi’s Ballon d’Or, Lewandowski’s who won 6 trophies in one season and Haaland’s who was the top scorer.”

This is once again a bad look for Ronaldo, who clearly is not coping with the attention Messi has earned over the last year.

? Cristiano Ronaldo liked and commented on an IG post which said:

"Hello friends. What we knew happened, they were going to give Messi another Ballon d'Or again. He went to retire in Miami, even though he already looked like he was retired at PSG preparing for the World Cup.… pic.twitter.com/vVXIYZYZgf

— Football Tweet ?? (@Football__Tweet) October 31, 2023

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Presnel Kimpembe is set to hold talks over a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain soon despite some transfer rumours linking him with Barcelona, according to Fabrizio Romano in his exclusive column for the Daily Briefing.

Kimpembe has been a key player for PSG down the years, but he’s close to becoming a free agent at the end of this season, so one imagines there will be some other clubs around Europe keeping an eye on the France international’s situation.

Romano seems aware of speculation involving Barcelona, but he says he’s not hearing anything particularly concrete about that at the moment, and has suggested that Kimpembe will soon discuss a new deal with his current club.

It remains to be seen what the outcome of those talks will be, but one imagines PSG will surely be keen to keep Kimpembe on board, so it could depend on whether or not he wants to commit his future to the club or try a new challenge.

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“Presnel Kimpembe – My understanding for the moment is that Kimpembe will discuss his future with PSG in the second half of this season,” Romano said.

“At the moment, no decision has been made. I’m not aware of anything concrete with Barcelona as of today, they have different priorities.”

The post Exclusive: PSG star to discuss new contract soon amid Barcelona transfer links, says expert appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Lionel Messi has been crowned the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or after a memorable 12 months for the 36-year-old. 

The award is the Argentina star’s eighth, which extends his own record for the most Ballon d’Ors ever won, with Cristiano Ronaldo in second place with five.

This Ballon d’Or comes a remarkable 14 years after the Barcelona legend won his first in 2009 and it shows the incredible longevity of the sport’s greatest-ever player.

Messi beat the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the award, who also had sensational seasons for their clubs and countries, but the award was only ever going to go to one man following a special month in Qatar at the end of last year.

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Messi put together one of the greatest, if not the greatest, World Cup campaigns ever seen to help Argentina to a third World crown in Qatar last year. The 36-year-old played like a man possessed as he reached the pinnacle of football and it left the Argentine with nothing left to achieve in the sport.

However, the forward did not stop there; in his first tournament with Inter Miami, Messi guided the MLS franchise to their first-ever trophy by winning the Leagues Cup. The Barcelona legend scored 10 goals and assisted another across the seven matches to the title, which already makes him a hero in the Magic City.

That is on top of his campaign with PSG, where Messi scored 16 goals and assisted another 16 across 32 matches as the Paris-based club won Ligue 1 by one point.

Overall, it has been a memorable season for Messi and the World Cup winner is fully deserving of his eighth Ballon d’Or crown.

The post Lionel Messi crowned Ballon d’Or 2023 winner for record-extending eighth time appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid have defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the first El Clasico of the season and it was Jude Bellingham who stole the show once again.  

The Catalan side took the lead in the match after just six minutes through Ilkay Gundogan and the home side were in complete control at the halftime break.

However, Jude Bellingham took over in the second 45, the first being a sensational long-range effort and that was before the England star won the game with a last-minute winner.

This is without a doubt the biggest moment of the 20-year-old’s career with Real Madrid and it is scary to think where it could go.

?GOAL | Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid | Jude Bellingham (2)

Follow our partner page @ocontextsoccer pic.twitter.com/hyh1quS0pW

— VAR Tático (@vartatico) October 28, 2023

JUDE BELLINGHAM GIVES REAL MADRID THE LEAD LATE AGAINST BARCA!

HE'S DONE IT AGAIN ? pic.twitter.com/fQtV82WUyb

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 28, 2023

JUDE BELLINGHAM HAS DONE IT AGAIN!!! pic.twitter.com/EgQ3Lp0F6x

— TC (@totalcristiano) October 28, 2023

Footage courtesy of beIN Sports and ESPN

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The post Video: Jude Bellingham scores last-minute winner to win El Clasico for Real Madrid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jude Bellingham has drawn Real Madrid level with Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season and it may be his best goal yet for his new club. 

The England international has been sensational in a white shirt since moving to the Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund this summer but games don’t get bigger than El Clasico.

The 20-year-old has been quiet for most of the match but has pulled a stunning goal out of his bag of tricks to make it 1-1 in his first Clasico.

The goal has silenced the home fans as Madrid will now try and push for a winner.

JUDE BELLINGHAM INSANE GOAL ?

pic.twitter.com/fduoS66L4t

— MadridistaTV (@madridistatvYT) October 28, 2023

JUDE BELLINGHAM WHAT A GOAL! ? pic.twitter.com/GDVzJDx69J

— TC (@totalcristiano) October 28, 2023

JUDE BELLINGHAM TAKE A BOW ?

HIS FIRST ELCLÁSICO GOAL IS A BEAUTY ? pic.twitter.com/o2VpN1qM8O

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 28, 2023

Footage courtesy of beIN Sports and ESPN.

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The post Video: Jude Bellingham lights up El Clasico with best goal yet for Real Madrid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Barcelona have taken the lead against Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season and the goal came courtesy of Ilkay Gundogan. 

The midfielder pounced on some awful defending after just six minutes and clinically slotted the ball home to give the Catalan club a crucial lead.

The goal is the former Man City star’s first for Barcelona and it is a quality that was so useful to Pep Guardiola when the Germany star was in Manchester.

Gundogan scored 60 goals for the Premier League giants and he is now off the mark in a Blaugrana shirt.

?| Goal : Ilkay Gundogan
??| Barcelona 1 – 0 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/qKhYsBeAEx

— Football Gossips (@FGossips_) October 28, 2023

??| GOAL: Gundogan opens the scoring for Barca!

Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/D9M9rPjPda

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) October 28, 2023

What a start for Barcelona!

Ilkay Gundogan opens the scoring in ElClasico ? pic.twitter.com/dbotkI2QL5

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 28, 2023

Footage courtesy of beIN Sports and ESPN

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The post Video: Former Man City star scores first El Clasico goal to give Barcelona lead appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Barcelona (3rd in La Liga) take on Real Madrid (1st in La Liga) on Saturday 28th of October, at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, at 15:15 PM (BST).

The last time these two sides faced, Real Madrid smashed Barcelona 4-0 in the 2nd leg of the Semi Final in the Copa Del Rey.

Barcelona won their previous La Liga game, beating Athletic Club 1-0. The only goal being scored by Marc Guiu to secure the victory and three points.

Real Madrid drew their last La Liga game, drawing 1-1 with Sevilla. A goal from Dani Carvajal for Real Madrid and a David Alaba own goal for Sevilla.

How to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid

• Date: Saturday, October 28th, 2023
• Kickoff: 15:15 PM (BST)
• TV Network: Not broadcast in UK
• Stream: Viaplay
• Venue: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys

Team News:

Barcelona will be without Sergi Roberto, Jules Kounde and Pedri who are both out with injuries, whilst the likes of Joao Felix, Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong will undergo further fitness testing to determine their availability ahead of Saturday.

Real Madrid will remain without Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and Dani Ceballos through injury, whilst new signing Arda Guler has returned to training this week and could be in the squad.

Predicted XI:

Barcelona: ter Stegen, Balde, Martinez, Christensen, Cancelo, Gundogan, Romeu, Gavi, Lopez, Felix, Torres.

Real Madrid: Arrizabalaga, Mendy, Alaba, Rudiger, Carvajal, Tchouameni, Kroos, Valverde, Bellingham, Junior, Rodrygo.

The post Barcelona vs Real Madrid team news appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The spectre of a European Super League raised its ugly head again earlier in the week with news that a judgment would be made on it during December.

No one other than those making the judgment can know which way it’s going to land, but it’s safe to say that former pro and now pundit, Stan Collymore, isn’t a fan.

‘No, I don’t think a European Super League is the way forward. UEFA particularly have bent over backwards, with concessions, more games, more money. If you have a European Super League what’s it going to be predicated on?’ he wrote in his exclusive CaughtOffside column.

‘It’s gonna be very, very difficult for clubs such as Villa and Forest, who have won European Cups in the past, Celtic too, to get into if it’s invite only. That will have a massive impact.

‘I could certainly see an example of clubs already owned by oil states or oligarchs or hedge funds, that are now spending €400m on players and are mopping up their domestic league, will just give a cursory nod to the league that they come from whilst going on and playing in the Super League.

‘Any attempt to start to be able to get momentum, however, should see supporters put their clubs under the greatest pressure to say their clubs must not, under any circumstances, enter a European Super League.

‘I think that particularly with the English clubs, if they were to say no again, we will never join the ESL because the whole idea would be dead in the water. There would be no European Super League that would be worthy of the name.’

Supporters came out in force back in 2021 when it was announced that there had been an agreement for the Super League to come into force.

The protests were almost immediate and forced the clubs that had made the agreement to drop out one by one and even go so far to apologise to their supporters.

Only Barcelona and Real Madrid are left from the original 12 clubs and their fate in the project rests in the judges hands.

Even if the ESL isn’t a going concern post-judgement, Collymore believes we’ll see a derivative of it because of the money that is now in the game.

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‘Saudi Arabia, big American banks… the groundwork has already been laid in some respects. The pre-season International Champions Cup in America is their attempt at giving English and European clubs an insight into what potentially is possible,’ he added.

‘Come to America and play in front of 100,000 at the University of Michigan and we can make you richer than than you ever imagined. I could see a situation whereby the Saudis and the Americans, maybe even countries like India or China may want a little foothold.

‘Several entities will be needed to make it possible but just imagine if Manchester United are offered a billion pounds a season to play in any competition. The odds are that their owners are going to go absolutely yes because they then wouldn’t have to worry about whatever money comes into their club.

‘It’s a very persuasive argument.’

Essentially any organisation that has the money could effectively dangle clubs on a string and send them to all corners of the earth in the name of profit.

That’s a worst-case solution for many, who prefer the old traditions of the game which seem all but left in the past now.

The post Exclusive: Super League isn’t the way forward but clubs won’t turn down billions says Collymore appeared first on CaughtOffside.

This weekend’s El Clasico could be shorn of a number of big names because of injury, but that shouldn’t detract from Jude Bellingham’s performance if he continues in the same vain as he’s begun at Real Madrid and completely dominates the match against Barcelona.

The England international has enjoyed a stellar season to this point, but from a club perspective, it is always the performance level in the big game against the Catalans by which a player is judged.

Former pro, Stan Collymore, believes that Bellingham can elevate himself into the world-class category with another outstanding showing.

‘There’s no reason why Bellingham couldn’t dominate Saturday’s match because this isn’t a good Barcelona side by any means,’ he wrote in his exclusive CaughtOffside column.

‘As a defensive midfielder that has the ability to be able to get forward and who has already scored 12 goals I think… to be in that position before the clocks go back, I think most people would say he’s on his way to becoming world class.

‘I think with 20+ goals this season, 10+ assists and a great Euros where he perhaps comes up with an iconic Bryan Robson type goal, there will be no arguments.

‘The jack of all trades will be the master of all of them.’

Ever since the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo left La Liga, it appears that there have been suggestions that the Clasico isn’t quite the game it once was, however, that’s not something that Collymore ascribes to.

‘El Clasico, because of the political relevance; Real Madrid still very much seen as the club of the Spanish state and Barcelona, the standard bearers for their semi autonomous region, is still the biggest club game in the world,’ he continued.

‘There’s political elements that perhaps only the Celtic v Rangers games can compare with. If they had the kind of money and the kind of exposure that La Liga has, I think that would be the biggest game because it would be effectively split because of the religious rivalry. It’s very nasty and they very much don’t like each other.

‘If you are looking at the historical relevance, Europe’s most successful team are Real Madrid, and Barcelona bring a huge amount of relevance to modern football fans and youngsters because ever since the Ronaldo’s and Messi’s, the Ronaldinho’s and the rest, they are still a huge club in most people’s eyes.’

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There’s plenty at stake too, as Xavi’s emerging but depleted Barcelona side could leapfrog Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos with a win.

Should Girona have already triumphed against 18th-placed Celta Vigo, Real will be in third by the close of the weekend.

There’s clearly more than bragging rights at stake and in a fixture of this magnitude there always will be.

No quarter will be asked or given by either side and if Bellingham emerges as the best of the bunch again, his name will continue to ring around Madrid.

The post Exclusive: El Clasico winner would put Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham in the world-class category says Collymore appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Monday night should see Lionel Messi crowned as the Ballon d’Or for an incredible eighth time.

That’s three more than his nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo, and at least five more than anyone else.

By whichever metric you choose, there’s a cogent argument that the diminutive Argentinian really is the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time).

Ex-Premier League striker, Stan Collymore, believes that Messi deserves the award because of his World Cup heroics at the back end of last year.

‘If you’re looking for the fairy tale and the guy that’s come in and almost single-handedly won a World Cup then Messi is a worthy winner,’ he wrote in his exclusive CaughtOffside column.

However, given that Man City did the treble last season and were absolutely awesome whilst doing so, Collymore questioned whether two of their players actually deserved the honour in Messi’s stead.

‘However, if you’re looking in terms of numbers, Erling Haaland comes in and breaks the Premier League record – which is very difficult to do – in his first season, then he has a valid shout,’ he continued.

‘What about Julian Alvarez, who won the World Cup and scored goals, and provided assists for Haaland and his team-mates?’

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Like so many, Collymore appears bored by the whole notion of an individual award in what is a team sport, unless there are definable metrics by which a score can be given and the ‘best in the world’ is therefore exactly that because of the highest score.

‘I’m not a big fan of individual awards because they’re so subjective and almost pointless. What’s the criteria? Goals scored? Assists given? Influence over your team or any other metric you ascribe to?’ he added.

‘Then you get people like Pep Guardiola coming out and saying Messi should have his own award, and that will have weighed heavily on the minds of journalists and the people that vote for things like that.

‘[…] Brand Messi and brand Ronaldo have been very, very strong for a long time, but in years to come I would like to see some kind of criteria attached to the award in the same way that you would judge the Golden Gloves or similar.’

What’s almost certain is that no other player will ever come close to matching Messi’s eight Golden Balls, and he will remain forever at the pinnacle of football folklore.

Football will never, ever see his like again.

The post Messi deserves Ballon d’Or but Man City stars have legitmate claims says ex-pro appeared first on CaughtOffside.