International Football
Top Turnout as Football Greats Grace Messi’s Wedding
It is almost a register of ‘who’s who’ as great names in global football flock Rosario, the home town of Lionel Messi for his celebrity wedding holding this Friday.
His teammates past and present started arriving the previous day for the Barcelona ace’s star-studded wedding. Lionel Messi who clocked 30 last Saturday is set to wed his long-term girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo in one of Argentina’s most lavish venues.
Name them, the galaxy of stars, one is likely to lose count. Fellow Barcelona player Luis Suarez arrived with his wife Sofia Balbi and their children at Rosario’s airport.
Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets were seen stepping off a private jet with former teammate, Chelsea star, Cesc Fabregas.
Ex-Barcelona stars Xavi and Carles Puyol were also spotted at the airport.
The incredible venue, which also has a convention centre, contains a casino, spa, swimming pool, restaurants and an abundance of sporting facilities.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner return to his roots as Rosario marks the place of Messi’s birth.
Messi and his wife-to-be met in Rosario and have been inseparable since. The pair also still have friends in the city that they reportedly keep in regular contact with.
The couple, who have been together for 10 years and have two sons, will tie the knot at the City Center Rosario complex.
Guests will stay at the 188-room Pullman Hotel inside the complex, where rates start from $125 a night.
The entire area will be closed off to the public for the duration of the wedding.
Messi will have some time for a honeymoon before linking up with Barcelona for their pre-season tour of America next month.
New boss Ernesto Valverde will lead his side out to face Juventus on July 22, before testing his troops against Manchester United and Real Madrid on a tour down the east coast.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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